Erin's milestones

Erin is now at 7 months and here's her updates so far:

1. height and weight - average

2. started crawling by 6.5 months, even before learning how to sit up straight

3. finally learned how to sit up straight at exactly 7 months. Now crawling like speed demon

4. Already started solid by 6 mths. Munching away everything we gave her, and what she found on her own

5. her first solid food was an envelope!

6. still on breast milk :)

7. seen doctor due to fever - twice

8. she can fit both of her fists inside her little mouth

9. everyone likes her hair :P

10. Is learning to pull herself up and stand on her own

Turn & turn

I manage to saw Erin turned for the first time on 17th Dec, barely few days before reaching 4 months old. Now that she's getting used to turning herself, she'll do that every chance she got, even while trying to sleep!. We need to hold her still while patting her to sleep, else she'll turn again and cry cos she won't be able sleep in that position!

Angry Bird Craze

A year ago, I bought an iPad as a birthday present for my hubby. That iPad ended up being hogged by William instead, and thus he was introduced to Angry Bird. William did not even care how to play the game properly or its objective then. He just like the sound of the birds made as they were thrown out, plus saying the numbers of the levels bring played. He can even mimic the sound for each of the birds.

Now he slowly trying to play the game properly as more and more people went into the AB craze. This year alone, he receives many AB gifts from his friends at the nursery during each of their birthday celebration. My niece & nephews can be seen wearing AB t-shirt almost every day. My niece even requested for an AB cake to celebrate William's birthday which is coming in few days time. At work or visiting customers, you'll surely hear people using AB background theme/tracks as their ring tone.

When we went shopping, you'll see many kids and even adults wearing AB t-shirts as well. There was one day where my son went right in front of a guy with a big tummy wearing the AB t-shirt, point his finger at him, smile and said "Angry bird!". My hubby and myself laughed and at the same time apologized to the guy for William's action. Even the guy's wife which was standing next to him laughed out loud!.

Luckily when I asked William what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he just replied "red" instead of AB. Now I wonder what kind of cake that I can get which is red!

Making Penang Breastfeeding Friendly Part 2

The event is finally over, and there are total of 652 mothers all over Malaysia breastfeed their babies at 4pm! Woohoo!

The preparation was fun, many mothers volunteered to help out on the event. For myself including circulating flyers to my son's kindy, calling hospitals all over Malaysia to participate in the events and assist in sending streamers to Straits Quay management few days before the event. I was not much of a help on the day of the event though as William was getting hard to handle following the 1-minute simultaneous breastfeeding session. A total of 33 mothers breastfeed their baby at the event site, including myself with Erin :) Not forgetting that I also spoke to YB Betty Chew (Penang CM's wife) plus our photos being taken as well.

Making Penang Breastfeeding Friendly

There's an event organized by a non-profit group that I'm associated with, Mother to Mother Peer Support Group (MMPS) at Straits Quay on 9th October 2011 from 3pm to 5pm. This event is also supported by Penang state government which will launch the beginning of Making Penang Breastfeeding Friendly (MPBF) campaign there as well. Another agenda includes simultaneous 1 minute breastfeeding at exactly 4pm in celebration (late actually) of World Breastfeeding week. Fun games and prizes to be won at the event as well. For those who can make it, do bring your family along to the event.

Erin's Journey

Little sweet Erin was born on 20th August, after a two weeks alarm (red spotting) earlier that causes me to take leave from work in anticipating the birth anytime. There were frequent contractions especially late at night, but then it just stop the next morning. This just going on for 2 weeks and my hubby kept on asking "it is time, is it time".

Her birth was initiated due to sudden lack of movement in the womb. When I go for checkup, the doctor scanned everything, assuring everything was normal and suggested to go for CGT just to be sure. The first CGT result was not favorable, showing low heartbeat most of the time. I need to go for second CGT again as they suspect that it could be my stomach was empty. Though the second CGT was normal, the doctor advises to induce the labor due to the signs that I had earlier on, including the earlier CGT result. Furthermore the cervix is already at 2cm and can already feel the baby's head.

I was warded the next morning for the induction. A tablet was inserted to start the labour around 11am, but only manage to get few mild contractions and that's it. While waiting, CGT scan was done and again the result was not favorable. The nurse face was abit panicky and quickly redo the scan after asking me to move my body abit. There onward the baby was very active and everybody was relieved. There was no signs of labor whatsoever and doctor suggested to insert another tablet, which was done around 7pm. By then the contractions become stronger and more consistent. Around 9.20pm, there's already heavy bleeding and I called my husband telling that its time to come to the hospital.

By the time I was in the delivery room, it is already around 6cm. My hubby arrives few minutes later and the doctor broke the water to speed up the labour process. He then says should be in another 2 hours before the last phase of the labor comes in. But minutes later after the doctor went out, the contractions was so bad that I told the nurses that the baby is on the way out. The nurse quickly called the doctor back and by the time they get ready, the baby's head can already be seen. In just 3 pushes, little Erin was born into this world at 10.32pm. My hubby told me the doctor and nurses were having difficulty catching the baby because everything just happened so fast. I was relieved that everything was over. Erin was crying very loud. After quick cleaning, the nurse passed Erin back to me and she nursed for the first time.

Now I'm staying in a confinement centre, with Erin sleeping beside me. Even at night she's with me the whole time to establish easier breastfeeding journey. I'm happy to say that she's been breastfed exclusively and there are excess milk as well, which I'm planning to pass to William instead.

Platinum!

When I got back home yesterday, I noticed a letter from RHB bank. Now we had never associated with RHB bank before, so it is quite weird to get this letter as it was address to my son as well.

When I opened up and read the contents, I just can't help but to laugh. It seems that my son (currently not even 3 yrs old yet) qualifies for platinum credit card as a principal holder, with credit limit of 500K. Even my husband and myself are not qualify after working hard and saving for so many years but my son was offered such privilege.

The letter comes with forms for us to fill in, and is requesting for a copy of my son's IC to proceed with the processing. Now it will be interesting to know what will happen if we do submit with our son's particulars. Will the Bank Negara accept it or did the banking institute change the minimum qualifications for platinum card?

I'll keep the letter for many years to come. Just priceless....