last Sunday of autumn; first Sunday of winter

Weather can change just like that in South Australia.

We went to Mt. Lofty in the last Sunday of autumn. Mt. Lofty is about 18 kilometers from Adelaide and it took us 15 minutes by car to get there. The sky was a striking cobalt blue, the air was nice and warm… and yes.. the cappuccino was extremely good (there’s a restaurant at the summit). Mt. Lofty, which is 750 meters above sea level, is a good place to have a good panoramic view of Adelaide. It is said that on a clear day, one would be able to see as far as Kangaroo Island (one day we will have to go see this island to verify whether kangaroos still live there).

A cairn of stones were erected on the summit, replaced several times, and an obelisk finally constructed in 1885. This obelisk which is a trigonmetrical survey station, is known as the Flinder’s Column.

Mommy and Daddy have fond recollections of this place. When lola came to visit in 2009, this is one of the places we took her to. We hope that she will come to visit us soon again.

The following Sunday was the first day of winter. It was so cold and it rained the whole day. We spent most of the day at home which turned out to be a good idea since you were coming down with a bad case of coughing.

It was a good time for you and Mommy to snuggle under the covers and read Monsters University again and again. Mommy thinks we scared Daddy at some point with the screaming of the robot child ;)


Sunny days are great but stormy days aren’t too bad especially if we’ve got good books to read (again and again).

A is for Apple Pie

You floored us
Last Easter
When you uttered
Your first three-syllable word:
"Apple Pie"

V is for Vacuuming

As Mary Poppins has said:

"In every job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job's a game!

And every task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree!
It's very clear to see!"

and off goes anton lee!

The Chinese say that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  You've definitely started your journey, little man!

 

post-birthday celebration at mommy's office

Heavy workload notwithstanding, Mommy and her office friends took time to celebrate your birthday. 

 

 

7 weeks and our breast-feeding journey

 

 

You are now 1 month and 3 weeks Little Pebble!

 

We went to see another pediatrician last 23 October. She said that you now measure 52 centimetres (about 20.5 inches) and weigh 3.5 kilos. We will likely be switching to this pediatrician. She supports breast feeding and is lucid with her explanations regarding most of Mommy’s queries. She also has a baby-friendly system of scheduling check-ups.  We see her on a particular time slot instead of waiting interminably until our turn gets called.  Mommy believes that we should limit your exposure to the hospital as much as possible especially with your undeveloped immune system. 

 

Remember we mentioned to you before that we will be breastfeeding you? It was challenging the first few weeks after you were born but we have finally gotten over the hump.  We did well as a team – you, Daddy, and Mommy. Mommy also had lots of support from her breastfeeding advocate friends.  

 

Thank you Ninang Cristine for this book!

 Why are we going through all this trouble of breastfeeding? Penelope Leach in her, “The Essential First Year” enumerates the following benefits:

 

1.       Breast milk is uniquely right for you adjusting itself to your age, stage, and even conditions. If the weather is warm and you need extra water for example, breast milk will adjust to the situation and provide it (which is why, we don’t need to give you water just yet).

 

2.      Breast milk changes within each feeding to accommodate your appetite.  This not only means more contentment but less risk of obesity.  The first milk you get from each breast, the foremilk, is low in calories so you can suck for thirst and pleasure without feeling too full.  It’s when you empty the breast that you get the high-nutrient hindmilk (this explains why you have to feed at least 10 minutes from each breast).

 

3.       Breast-fed babies have fewer or less severe respiratory infections and long-lasting colds and fewer episodes of wheeziness and glue-ear than bottle-fed babies.

 

4.       Breast-fed babies suffer fewer urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, and bouts of diarrhea (breast-fed babies will hardly get constipated too!).

 

5.      Breast-fed babies are less likely to develop juvenile diabetes (Mommy is concerned about this given her family history of diabetes).

 

6.      They are less likely to become obese in childhood (Statistics show that childhood obesity is on the rise which is easy enough to substantiate.  There is a substantial number of rotund formula-fed 10-month old babies in our building.).

 

7.       Breast-fed infants’ immune systems are more effective, which reduces the risk of disorders such as asthma and eczema, even where there is a family history of them.

 

8.       Breast-feeding reduces the small chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome even further.

 

Here’s the clincher why we must persist with breastfeeding, Little Pebble.  Research suggests that breast-fed babies turn out to be more intelligent.  Recent large studies found that six-year olds who have been exclusively breast-fed as babies score an extra 5.9 points in a battery of IQ and performance tests!

 

We have been spending quality time as a little family the past three weeks, bello. Daddy (a.k.a. the Master Chef) has been whipping up dish after dish for us. He probably fears you and Mommy might revert to Mommy’s bacholerette tuna dinners once Daddy goes back to work. Of course we won’t.  Ever since you’ve been in Mommy’s tummy, we don’t do those tuna-from-the-can dinners any longer, have we? Mommy has been learning to cook and even Daddy has noticed that Mommy has not mentioned anything about bringing her favourite Australian canned tuna when he flew over six weeks ago.  We are conscious now of what Mommy eats because you are ingesting the same. Mommy, whose blood probably contained more caffeine than water before she had you, is disciplining herself with her coffee intake.  While breastfeeding mothers are allowed about two cups of coffee a day, Mommy does not go more than a cup per day.  During your early weeks, she would just take a sip from Daddy’s espresso or cafe latte.  

 

Daddy has gone back to work this week and it’s just been you and Mommy getting up for the late night and early morning feedings.  We’ve missed a feeding or two (Mommy sleeps like a log).  Daddy said Mommy has to put the alarm clock far from her reach so she gets up instead of reaching over for it.  You’re not supposed to go for more than four hours without feeding.  So we will try that tonight, shall we, bello?

 

POSTSCRIPT:

 

You can now easily move your head from side to side.  Check out this video!
 

 

 

We’re still working on getting into a reading habit. We will eventually get there.

 

Thank you Diane for the bedtime book!
 

 

 

one month old!

You are now one month old, dearest Little Pebble.

Mommy was astounded to wake up one morning to hear you talking! Daddy who thinks that you’re an accelerated child was not a bit surprised.
 

 

 

                                                                                  Daddy and Mommy have been working this week to get your legal documents in order. We’ve been able to get your Certificate of Live Birth from the City Hall and we will be submitting documents this week to jumpstart your acquisition of a passport.  As we’ve told you before, little one, you’re a child borne from much travelling and your passport will be the beginning of wonderful adventures to come. We’ve taken you to a studio to have your picture taken and you looked smart in your photo, appearing all set to take on the world!

 



You’ve become a chick magnet in our building, Anton Lee Thomas! The ladies emit squeals of delight when you in your stroller pass them by in the morning on your way to get your morning sun. A couple of days ago, a Korean girl held the elevator door for you and followed you all the way to the swimming pool. On another day, two ladies approached you and said that you’re going to become the next Fil-Aussie hot sensation in show business! Mommy is not impressed with these.  You can’t have these adulations go to your head, young man. Mommy is telling you that looks fade but what the vagaries of Time will not be able to take away from you is a kind heart, a hearty sense of humour, and an unwavering faith in the Divine Providence. And no courting girls, until you've finished college, is that clear?
 

Daddy and Mommy are getting to know you better, Little Pebble. We know that when you are not fed on time you get so upset that you turn red all over, clench your fists, and it takes a while before you unclench your hands and return to your normal colour (Mommy wonders if watching all those boxing matches have any bearing on your behaviour).

You have also learned to amuse yourself and you make all sorts of funny sounds while you’re looking at your toy zebra or just studying your high contrast black and white panels.

Mommy is happy this week. She’s been able to have you sit attentively on her lap and you’ve finally paid attention to the book she has been reading to you.

But you know what’s been the best so far? It’s  those quiet moments after your bath in the morning, you looking content, and you staring at Daddy and Mommy as if assuring us, "Hey, you're not doing too bad a job."
 

4D real time

You are now 30 weeks little one. You’ve been active the whole weekend, are you doing cartwheels inside Mommy’s tummy?

According to “Pregnancy from Preconception to Birth”, you have continued to open and shut your eyes this week. While you may soon slow up growing in length (you measure 15 ¾ inches from crown to toe), you will continue to gain weight steadily until the time you are born. Right now there is about 2 pints of amniotic fluid surrounding you but that volume will decrease as you get steadily bigger.

You and Mommy had another ultrasound (your third one) last 16 July. Daddy and Mommy requested a 4D. We are so excited to see how you look like! Here’s a video clip in real time from last week:



The result of the ultrasound showed that you had a fetal heart rate of 126 times per minute and your estimated weight was 2 lbs. and 14 oz. Daddy said that you frown just like him!

We’ve already fixed the date little pebble. You’re coming to us on 17 September, Monday. That’s seven weeks and one day from today. Hang on there, and please don’t decide to come out earlier. Daddy is arriving on 13 September and we’d like that he will be the first person you lay your eyes on when you come out into this world.