Turning 8 months seemed quite eventful as we saw gabe suddenly able to do loads of things at this stage of life. Even though he showed signs of being able to accomplish these tasks, he never really got to the point of executing them. He's now able to
Sit up on his own.
Sit up, sprawl towards a different direction on his tummy, sit up and sprawl towards... you get the idea.
Pull himself to standing.
Move himself towards an object he wants to grab.
Kneel, but always executed in weird positions except in the crawling one.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Random Shots - 7th Month
Early in the 7th month, still "swimming" on the mat but progressed to moving backwards.
Close up: note the use of the big toe
Mr. Kiao Ka. He really likes to cross his legs.
All dressed up and ready to go gai gai on a Saturday morning
Sleeping posture #101
The phhhhhoooo. Started this month.
Having fun with Papa
Signature ah pek smile
Acting cute
Excited by the passing buses as seen through our living room's window
Zonked out after a day in church. Photo courtesy of etphonehome.Mama!
It's most probably not my imagination. I think the boy can identify that I'm the mother, and at certain times of the day he'll display that understanding.
He'll call out "mmmmaa maaa" along with cries of attention when he wakes up in the morning or after naps. In times of desperation when he wants me to carry him, this will also be uttered. Somehow, he doesn't call out to the other "part time" caregivers like gabe's four grandparents in this manner. He'll go "mmm mmm" though, when he wants something or is excited by something.
It's been about two weeks now, since he first showed signs of understanding and "calling" me so I think it's more or less safe to say he does. *Huge Grin*
He'll call out "mmmmaa maaa" along with cries of attention when he wakes up in the morning or after naps. In times of desperation when he wants me to carry him, this will also be uttered. Somehow, he doesn't call out to the other "part time" caregivers like gabe's four grandparents in this manner. He'll go "mmm mmm" though, when he wants something or is excited by something.
It's been about two weeks now, since he first showed signs of understanding and "calling" me so I think it's more or less safe to say he does. *Huge Grin*
Mutilated Mat
The boy has found a new toy. Sitting on it isn't fun enough, so he rips the pieces up instead. He'll aim to dig out his favourite small letter "L", and can even shift his butt to make way for the piece he's sitting on to be taken apart.
Mixed Feelings
I got startled when I went into my room this afternoon. I'd put gabe down for a nap and gone into kitchen to stir something on the stove. A short while later, after stepping into the living room, I heard him "talking" to himself with hmms and ahhhs so he's obviously not sleeping yet and probably found something to entertain himself. So I went in to check on him, only to find him sitting nicely straight and upright in his cot!
My son has learnt how to sit up on his own!!!!!
In that moment, thoughts and feelings just came rushing: wow! He's hit another milestone; my little boy is growing up and time has indeed flown by; the process of independence is slowly taking place and it's both a good and "bad" thing; the husband MUST put the cot level down when he comes home tonight.
My son has learnt how to sit up on his own!!!!!
In that moment, thoughts and feelings just came rushing: wow! He's hit another milestone; my little boy is growing up and time has indeed flown by; the process of independence is slowly taking place and it's both a good and "bad" thing; the husband MUST put the cot level down when he comes home tonight.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Struggling with Blessings
By now you'd know that there's no doubt that gabe is derod's son, in the bottomless pit sense. He's generally easy to feed and just about eats anything I wave at him. Actually, the reality is that he'll look at you with open mouth and ahhhhh his way to whatever you are waving at him.
Gabe's popularity stakes are not too bad. He gets doted on by lots of people in church. Being the mother that I am, I've no problems passing him around to those who want to carry him on Sundays and there are times he gets taken to another storey and I've no problems with that either. I've also been quite adamant to train him socially, such that he won't develop into a sticky little one, so church is really a good way of exposure.
But combine the two blessings and the parents come face to face with a struggle.
You see, yesterday alone, gabe was fed lots of stuff without my permission nor my knowledge. Other than his milk and lunch, and some wholemeal bread the orforgods kindly shared with him for breakfast, the rest were not scheduled and pretty disturbing to me:
Oneh oneh. I'm not sure if it was served with the coconut but a well-meaning old lady of great-grandmother status popped it into his mouth before anyone could react. Good thing was, her daughter was there to stop any further feeding and proceeded to remind that the fella was only seven months old.
Chee chiong fun. I seriously don't think that oily foods dipped in sweet sauce is very healthy and appropriate for an infant.
Coffee cake. We've been instructed to keep eggs away from a baby's diet till much later. Cakes are therefore a no-no, let alone coffee cakes.
And all these without my knowledge! Somehow, derod happened to be within sight when they happened and told me about it much later. I'm not sure the extent this has to play for the event that we were to encounter that night but it seems to be the only unusual thing, leading me to conclude that its part is possibly great.
Gabe, who has slept through till morning since his fourth month, woke up in the middle of the night. Twice. On extremely rare occasions when this happened, I'd nurse him and pop him back into his cot, and he'll sleep through without any further protests. Yesterday, despite being given milk and comfort, he refused to go back to sleep and protested with LOUD crying which reverberated through the room at alarming volumes. We had to pat and sing him back to sleep. That was 2.30am. At 4.30am, we had to resort to breaking a rule: taking him to bed with us. Even then, his crying didn't really stop; he tossed and turned and grumbled and the three of us hardly slept.
Other than tummy discomforts, I can't really explain why or how this happened. Even if this is not a result of the foods, I'm still uncomfortable about the whole thing. But how do you manage when you know people had good intentions and they are just doting on him?
While we mull over this issue, could I plead with you dear friends, to please help me to stop any feeders when you happen to be a witness? Here's a thank you in advance, and any tips on this struggle are greatly welcomed.
Gabe's popularity stakes are not too bad. He gets doted on by lots of people in church. Being the mother that I am, I've no problems passing him around to those who want to carry him on Sundays and there are times he gets taken to another storey and I've no problems with that either. I've also been quite adamant to train him socially, such that he won't develop into a sticky little one, so church is really a good way of exposure.
But combine the two blessings and the parents come face to face with a struggle.
You see, yesterday alone, gabe was fed lots of stuff without my permission nor my knowledge. Other than his milk and lunch, and some wholemeal bread the orforgods kindly shared with him for breakfast, the rest were not scheduled and pretty disturbing to me:
Oneh oneh. I'm not sure if it was served with the coconut but a well-meaning old lady of great-grandmother status popped it into his mouth before anyone could react. Good thing was, her daughter was there to stop any further feeding and proceeded to remind that the fella was only seven months old.
Chee chiong fun. I seriously don't think that oily foods dipped in sweet sauce is very healthy and appropriate for an infant.
Coffee cake. We've been instructed to keep eggs away from a baby's diet till much later. Cakes are therefore a no-no, let alone coffee cakes.
And all these without my knowledge! Somehow, derod happened to be within sight when they happened and told me about it much later. I'm not sure the extent this has to play for the event that we were to encounter that night but it seems to be the only unusual thing, leading me to conclude that its part is possibly great.
Gabe, who has slept through till morning since his fourth month, woke up in the middle of the night. Twice. On extremely rare occasions when this happened, I'd nurse him and pop him back into his cot, and he'll sleep through without any further protests. Yesterday, despite being given milk and comfort, he refused to go back to sleep and protested with LOUD crying which reverberated through the room at alarming volumes. We had to pat and sing him back to sleep. That was 2.30am. At 4.30am, we had to resort to breaking a rule: taking him to bed with us. Even then, his crying didn't really stop; he tossed and turned and grumbled and the three of us hardly slept.
Other than tummy discomforts, I can't really explain why or how this happened. Even if this is not a result of the foods, I'm still uncomfortable about the whole thing. But how do you manage when you know people had good intentions and they are just doting on him?
While we mull over this issue, could I plead with you dear friends, to please help me to stop any feeders when you happen to be a witness? Here's a thank you in advance, and any tips on this struggle are greatly welcomed.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Gabe Says in "Papa and Mother Goose"
Papa was reading my Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes to me the other night. I'm not sure why, but it doesn't really sound the same as when mummy reads them...
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
A New Phase is Coming
Due to a bout of tonsillitis, the doctor has given instructions to stop nursing and give a substitute of formula milk in a bottle to the boy.
Flashback to seven and a half months ago when the parents were determined to ensure their son won't rely too much on either mother or bottle by giving a bottle feed every night. This plan worked for the first month. By the second month, there were nights of struggle, which we were slow to understand that it was simply a matter of rejection of the bottle. In the third month, for the trip up to Melaka, no bottles meant least contamination or hassle and since then, the bottle was The Abominable Thing in gabe's eyes.
The unexpected turn of events this week made us wonder how we were going to have a peaceful time with no nursing. We prayed that all would be well. Turns out the little one had absolutely no protest to the new arrangement. Whether it was the first or last feed, which children are usually more attached to their mothers, or any other feeds, it was just "bottle here, drink loh". By day two, he had already recognized the bottle. By this I mean that I'll be walking towards him, shaking the bottle to dissolve the formula, and this sight will get him grinning till he's got slits for eyes, waving his arms wildly and kicking impatiently.
Looks like weaning time is near. Nearer than I had anticipated. Way easier than I had imagined. Should I be glad? Yes and no, I guess, for different reasons.
Flashback to seven and a half months ago when the parents were determined to ensure their son won't rely too much on either mother or bottle by giving a bottle feed every night. This plan worked for the first month. By the second month, there were nights of struggle, which we were slow to understand that it was simply a matter of rejection of the bottle. In the third month, for the trip up to Melaka, no bottles meant least contamination or hassle and since then, the bottle was The Abominable Thing in gabe's eyes.
The unexpected turn of events this week made us wonder how we were going to have a peaceful time with no nursing. We prayed that all would be well. Turns out the little one had absolutely no protest to the new arrangement. Whether it was the first or last feed, which children are usually more attached to their mothers, or any other feeds, it was just "bottle here, drink loh". By day two, he had already recognized the bottle. By this I mean that I'll be walking towards him, shaking the bottle to dissolve the formula, and this sight will get him grinning till he's got slits for eyes, waving his arms wildly and kicking impatiently.
Looks like weaning time is near. Nearer than I had anticipated. Way easier than I had imagined. Should I be glad? Yes and no, I guess, for different reasons.
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