For the past 2 nights, I am quite unlucky with the midnight feeds. My objective of midnight feed is to push up their milk intake because they can drink more when they are in dreamy state. Its quite difficult to feed them during the day probably because they are feeling bored with the same milk they drink everyday and resulted that they are drinking quite little for the whole day. The mid-night feed is also to extend their sleep from mid-night to 6am when they normally wake up. Without this mid-night feed, they normally will wake up at 2am - 3am to ask for milk.
Reason that I said "Unlucky" is because both Joshua and Josiah became wide awake after the midnight feed. Last night, I started feeding Joshua because he kept moving on the bed but after feeding him, he suddenly became wide awake. I tried pacify him to sleep but Josiah suddenly started shouting for milk. Ann have to wake up to help prepare the milk because Felin was halfway expressing her breastmilk. Felin took over the pacifying of Joshua as I go feed Josiah but Josiah also became wide awake after my feed. OMG!!! Thats always my worry that both became wide awake after mid-night feed because thats the time I just look forward to bed. Ann and Felin are surely better than me on the pacifying part and we were successfully after about 2:30am.
As for today, Joshua managed to sleep after the feed but for Josiah, he suddenly cough and vomited really a lot on his cot and on the floor after his feed. He literally vomited on his own face and he can still smile at me after that. OMG again!!! My shirt was all full of his vomited milk too.
I quickly wake Ann up to help me clean up the mess. I quickly changed up and help clean Josiah and change his clothes. He just kept turning and twisting and smile at me. He wants to play and I quickly passed him back to Ann to pacify him to bed. He finally slept after 2am and here I am writing this post in my study room. Always feel bad that I can't pacify them as good as the ladies.
Tomorrow night we are driving back Malaysia again. Till I update again... Time to sleep. Very Tired now...Zzzz...
Twice the Joy
Friday, July 31, 2015
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
When life gets busy and stressed
When work and life gets busy and stressed, I'll look forward end of the day when I can get back home and see the babies. They are usually sleeping when I reached home but I'll be always be there to pacify them back to sleep whenever they wake up. When they wake up, it can be because their pacifier dropped, they are feeling hot and uncomfortable, just had a bad dream or whatsoever. I'll hold on to their small body and let them feel secure. I will stand firm beside the cot, looked at them and deep inside my heart whenever I hold them, I just want to say "I love you babies." Daddy is working hard and stressed up at times but both of you made me feel that its all worth it. I just want both of you to be happy and be useful people in future. I supposed this feeling can only be felt when we become parents ourselves. I never felt such when I'm still on my own. Thats why I will say Parenthood make our life more complete...
I haven't been updating for a week due to work and yet productivity in office dropped due to lack of sleep or rather interrupted sleep. Joshua is still waking up every hour or two throughout the night and we need to put his pacifier back to stop his noise every-time he wakes up. I always afraid he gets too awake and refuse to sleep or his noise wake Josiah up. As for Josiah, he was down with flu and cough again lately which also affect his sleep and appetite. I'm not sure whether teething are part of all these fussiness lately. Life are certainly not getting easier as compared to 3 or 4 months ago. They are demanding more attention and are more difficult to feed nowadays. Both Felin and I are really tired having to juggle between work and the babies but I will still think Felin have a very more difficult job everyday, having also to express breastmilk for them at home and in office.
I haven't been updating for a week due to work and yet productivity in office dropped due to lack of sleep or rather interrupted sleep. Joshua is still waking up every hour or two throughout the night and we need to put his pacifier back to stop his noise every-time he wakes up. I always afraid he gets too awake and refuse to sleep or his noise wake Josiah up. As for Josiah, he was down with flu and cough again lately which also affect his sleep and appetite. I'm not sure whether teething are part of all these fussiness lately. Life are certainly not getting easier as compared to 3 or 4 months ago. They are demanding more attention and are more difficult to feed nowadays. Both Felin and I are really tired having to juggle between work and the babies but I will still think Felin have a very more difficult job everyday, having also to express breastmilk for them at home and in office.
Joshua is able to sit really well now.
Josiah is super good in turning and twisting his body. He is always motivated to move forward.
Josiah always take initiative to get close to Joshua but Joshua always feel irritated by him.
Enjoying Tummy time with the babies.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Cultivating reading habits
Before starting my post, I just like to rand that I had to wake up 7 times last night between 12am to 5am because Joshua kept waking up whenever his pacifier dropped. Whenever he "Ah or Ay", I will quickly put the pacifier back into his mouth and he will stop almost immediately.
Felin and I rotate on who sleep on the side near to Joshua's cot every few days. Our sleep are rather interrupted and we tends to get really sleepy in the office, especially after lunch. Felin is worse than me as she has to wake up at 5:30am to express milk before going to work whereas I can sleep till 8am everyday.
At about 7:30am, I will be awaken by the babies' noises. Ann will normally be playing with them in the living room with some music from her handphone. I will lie on the bed, looking through investment news, Straits Times, emails and facebook before pulling myself out of bed at 8am.
The babies are always delighted to see me at that 8am moment and will not fail to give me a big smile. I'll carry them to the room and start our reading and flashcard time. This the most enjoyable time of the day for me because it is the only personal time I have with the kids. I will read, sing song and occasionally play the recorder or the ukulele for them. I hope that they can learn to be more focused and know how to listen and respond. Of course I hope to help them recognise items, colours, numbers and words early in their life. I want to gradually cultivate a good habit of reading when they are older. In the past, Ye Ye Nai Nai did not encourage us to read and Daddy have problem with language in school.
Its a long journey and I need to be trained myself on how to teach the babies. Lots of reading and learning to be done on my end too... Hope babies will have fun with me every morning.
Felin and I rotate on who sleep on the side near to Joshua's cot every few days. Our sleep are rather interrupted and we tends to get really sleepy in the office, especially after lunch. Felin is worse than me as she has to wake up at 5:30am to express milk before going to work whereas I can sleep till 8am everyday.
At about 7:30am, I will be awaken by the babies' noises. Ann will normally be playing with them in the living room with some music from her handphone. I will lie on the bed, looking through investment news, Straits Times, emails and facebook before pulling myself out of bed at 8am.
The babies are always delighted to see me at that 8am moment and will not fail to give me a big smile. I'll carry them to the room and start our reading and flashcard time. This the most enjoyable time of the day for me because it is the only personal time I have with the kids. I will read, sing song and occasionally play the recorder or the ukulele for them. I hope that they can learn to be more focused and know how to listen and respond. Of course I hope to help them recognise items, colours, numbers and words early in their life. I want to gradually cultivate a good habit of reading when they are older. In the past, Ye Ye Nai Nai did not encourage us to read and Daddy have problem with language in school.
Its a long journey and I need to be trained myself on how to teach the babies. Lots of reading and learning to be done on my end too... Hope babies will have fun with me every morning.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Mummy having Fever
The Babies growth development are getting faster. Currently Joshua is able to sit up really straight and stable now and when held up with his feet on the ground, he is able to stand rather firmly. He can't stand on his own yet but he knows that if he need to stand, his legs have to be firm. As for Josiah, he is able to flip and unflip to the extent that he is actually crawling forward. His 2 bottom teeth are rather clear as well now.
Friday was Hari Raya Puasa, Felin again are faced with an engorgement problem. She was really very tired and the engorgement came. We tried to get the milk out from 10pm to nearly 3am and she was saved by a pack of ice eventually. We don't understand why that pack of ice helped to clear her ducts but another bottle of milk was produced as a result of the cleared duct.
On Saturday morning, she developed fever and felt a pain on her breast. It is likely a result of infection. The fever subsided in the afternoon but shoot up again in the evening. It was fortunate that her parents were here and her sister had decided to stay over our place to help Felin or else Felin will have difficult getting adequate rest and her Fever may just get worse instead. I am simply not too competent in doing some stuffs like coaxing baby to sleep and she can't rest totally with me alone to assist. Whenever the babies see Daddy, it seems like playtime to them.
Breastfeeding is really a very painful journey for Felin but because of her love for the babies, she persisted in midst of her busy work schedule. She sacrifices her sleep and her weight keep dropping. I can literally feel her bones when I hold her. Hope the babies will remember this and appreciate how their mother love them in future...
Friday was Hari Raya Puasa, Felin again are faced with an engorgement problem. She was really very tired and the engorgement came. We tried to get the milk out from 10pm to nearly 3am and she was saved by a pack of ice eventually. We don't understand why that pack of ice helped to clear her ducts but another bottle of milk was produced as a result of the cleared duct.
On Saturday morning, she developed fever and felt a pain on her breast. It is likely a result of infection. The fever subsided in the afternoon but shoot up again in the evening. It was fortunate that her parents were here and her sister had decided to stay over our place to help Felin or else Felin will have difficult getting adequate rest and her Fever may just get worse instead. I am simply not too competent in doing some stuffs like coaxing baby to sleep and she can't rest totally with me alone to assist. Whenever the babies see Daddy, it seems like playtime to them.
Breastfeeding is really a very painful journey for Felin but because of her love for the babies, she persisted in midst of her busy work schedule. She sacrifices her sleep and her weight keep dropping. I can literally feel her bones when I hold her. Hope the babies will remember this and appreciate how their mother love them in future...
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Babies - "Ba ba ah ah ah...ma ma ma ma ma..."
The babies are quite funny lately. They will keep mumbling ba ba ba... ah ah ah every now and then. But yesterday, out of a sudden, Josiah mumbled "ma ma ma ma ma". Oh, he calls "Ma Ma" first. Not sure he knows the meaning but at least he is capable of making that Ma Ma sound. Its okay. I considered him starting to call us now.
Its 6m2days when it happened.
Its 6m2days when it happened.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Happy 6 months, babies...
Its the babies 6th month today. We had witnessed their growth over these 6 months with a lot of joy though we faces challenges which any new parents will have faced. The only difference is that we had double dose of the good and the bad. Felin and I aren't really very hands-on people. We don't normally learn new practical skills fast and naturally. Our characters are somehow slow moving and prefer to do things at a relaxing pace. Thats why I think our learning curve are probably a bit more steep than a normal new parent when we need to learn and adapt very quickly. Our decision to breastfeed and the fact that Felin is a busy working mother adds on to our stress.
6 months is fast for those who watch our babies in facebook or those who visit us occasionally but to us, this 6 months feel so long and we seems to accomplished so many things over this short time frame. I somehow feel overwhelmed that there are so many things yet to come and thousand of challenges still awaiting us to learn. The babies are getting more difficult because they knew what they want and is capable in making a lot of complains when they are not able to achieve their objectives. The way they shout and cry are very different from what we see compared to 2 to 3 months ago. Their cries back then were predictable which can just be hungry or wetting their diapers. Their cries today can be due to boredom, feeling hot, feel sleepy, just wanting our presence, etc...
Time will continue to crawl and we have years to learn in this parenting journey. I must continue to lead in this family as a Father, psychologically, financially and spiritually. May God bless me with good health, good business and wisdom in my relationship and career...
Let us recap pictures of their first 6 months.
3 weeks old...
6 months is fast for those who watch our babies in facebook or those who visit us occasionally but to us, this 6 months feel so long and we seems to accomplished so many things over this short time frame. I somehow feel overwhelmed that there are so many things yet to come and thousand of challenges still awaiting us to learn. The babies are getting more difficult because they knew what they want and is capable in making a lot of complains when they are not able to achieve their objectives. The way they shout and cry are very different from what we see compared to 2 to 3 months ago. Their cries back then were predictable which can just be hungry or wetting their diapers. Their cries today can be due to boredom, feeling hot, feel sleepy, just wanting our presence, etc...
Time will continue to crawl and we have years to learn in this parenting journey. I must continue to lead in this family as a Father, psychologically, financially and spiritually. May God bless me with good health, good business and wisdom in my relationship and career...
Let us recap pictures of their first 6 months.
2 days old...
1 month old...
2 months old
3 months old...
4 months old...
5 months old...
6 months old...
End of the day, nothing beats seeing them happy and in good health everyday. Its my daily prayer to ask God to keep them safe and let them grow up to be the men he wants them to be.
What expression is this, Josiah?
Felin tried blending pear with milk on Friday and this is the expression we got from Josiah. The pear is the greenish soft type and its definitely sweet. Joshua love the blend but every spoon that goes into Josiah's mouth, this is the expression we got from him... It looks as if the pear blend is sour or bitter.
Josiah's expression is still weird and seems to be thinking deep but surely looks better than the pear.
As for today, we tried sugar peas. I think it really taste good. Both of them completed the bowl that we prepared for them. They love it and seemingly asking for more after finishing.
I tried to take picture of Josiah's teeth at the bottom. A bit whitish at the gum...
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Joshua's Development
Of late, I noticed that Joshua really salivates a lot and been quite cranky. He don't sleep very deep and keep waking up in the middle of the night. It is worse compared to a week ago. When he wakes up, we will need to push the pacifier back into his mouth and he took longer than usual to fall back into sleep. Even during his feeds, he is not able to complete the full 150ml or 160ml of milk at one go. We need to split the feed into 2 or 3 in order for him to finish the milk. These 2 issues are making all of us rather tired as we need more time to feed and we have more interrupted sleeps in the night. We think these are just signs of teething and we are still looking forward seeing or feeling his teeth soon.
I'm having headaches sometimes while in office and I'm not in my best when meeting my clients even when I supposed to have good sleep. My productivity seems to come down and I'm not able to complete my work while in office. I used to work till 12am and occasionally full Saturday in office in the past but I can no longer do that because I miss the kids and I want to help out in the house so that Felin can rest better. I just have to do things faster and streamline some of my business processes.
As for the good part, I noticed that Joshua legs are getting quite strong. He can stand quite firm when I hold him up with his legs on the ground. Just a weeks ago, he will wobble and fall back to sit as if legs are like jelly. Well Done I will say for Joshua. I know he has strong legs. As for Josiah, his legs are still rather jelly when I hold him to stand.
I'm having headaches sometimes while in office and I'm not in my best when meeting my clients even when I supposed to have good sleep. My productivity seems to come down and I'm not able to complete my work while in office. I used to work till 12am and occasionally full Saturday in office in the past but I can no longer do that because I miss the kids and I want to help out in the house so that Felin can rest better. I just have to do things faster and streamline some of my business processes.
As for the good part, I noticed that Joshua legs are getting quite strong. He can stand quite firm when I hold him up with his legs on the ground. Just a weeks ago, he will wobble and fall back to sit as if legs are like jelly. Well Done I will say for Joshua. I know he has strong legs. As for Josiah, his legs are still rather jelly when I hold him to stand.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Babies are turning and flipping well
We occasionally put the babies on the mattress for tummy time. They are getting stronger on their neck and back every single day. They enjoy their new skills of flipping and turning. It is really fun just looking at them flipping and falling again and again. Josiah loves playing with Joshua but Joshua always seems irritated when Josiah kept trying to grab his hand to suck. They are doing well with their motor skills and as Daddy, I'm happy with it. In no time, they will start sitting on their own cot and I'll be worried when they are able to stand and crawl or walk about.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Josiah's first tooth
Josiah likes to put our fingers into his mouth and mother told me on Friday(3rd July) that she felt teeth on Josiah gum this time. I tried putting my finger in when I came home in the evening and really felt the teeth. However, we are not really able to see the teeth yet. Its somehow still hidden under the gum.
Nevertheless, I considered that as his first tooth grown. Its his 5m21d when this happened...
Nevertheless, I considered that as his first tooth grown. Its his 5m21d when this happened...
Successful Trip back to Malaysia
I was initially fearful about the babies going back to Malaysia and I suggested to Felin that we should just go early in the morning and leave late at night to celebrate MIW's birthday. Her Birthday is on 7th July. However Felin told me that she can get rejuvenated by staying over the night and having the opportunity to mingle with her family. She felt that there are many hands back home to take care of the kids. Turned out that Felin is right.
Felin woke up at 4:30am to express milk while I rose at 5:30am. We got ourselves prepared and departed at 6:20am. The immigration was slightly jammed already and we queued for nearly 20 minutes in the car lane. Just as we are reaching the immigration counter, Felin unexpectedly passed her old passport to me and I knew trouble is here. Felin tried searching frantically for her passport but obviously she had taken the wrong passport. Our car was stuck at the immigration counter because all the cars suddenly stopped moving probably because all the officers in Malaysia need to pray to start fasting. By the time all ended, we were back at home around 9:30pm. What a day...
We departed again at about 10:30am to brace the traffic jam and eventually reached Malaysia around 1pm. We quickly get all things prepared back at home and I was surprised that the babies seems to remember the place and like the house.
This trip back to Malaysia was successful. The babies slept well throughout the night. With MIW's feeding, both of them managed to drink over 1litre of milk today. Its because MIW woke them up at 11pm for feed when most of the nights, we will not do so. We managed to shop, eat well, sleep well and have great bonding time together, especially over durians. Everyone played with the kids and they seems to enjoy their companionship. MIW had an enjoyable birthday celebration and we must thank her for helping us out through the night so that all of us can rest better.
Jia Xing recently gave a new name to herself "Elisha". So here is Elisha and Joshua. Nice biblical names together...
Bringing Joshua out for breakfast
The full family photo. Wow. The babies are looking at the camera as well..
Wennie playing with Josiah while we had dinner. She is really good with babies and can feed and make Josiah sleep in her arms easily. Something I seldom able to achieve.
Wishing Dad and Mum in laws to be always happy and healthy.
Ann and Felin playing with the babies during the dinner. They really enjoyed the times together.
We eventually left at 1:30am on Monday and with a bit of traffic jam on the causeway, we reached home around 2:50am. We quickly unpack everything but this woke the babies up and we eventually only able to sleep at 4:30am. Felin still have to wake up at 7am to express milk while I woke up at 8:30am.
While typing this, babies are asleep and I have that bit of quiet time to complete this post. Glad that all of us enjoyed the trip back to Malaysia. The next one should be in September for FIW's birthday.
Felin woke up at 4:30am to express milk while I rose at 5:30am. We got ourselves prepared and departed at 6:20am. The immigration was slightly jammed already and we queued for nearly 20 minutes in the car lane. Just as we are reaching the immigration counter, Felin unexpectedly passed her old passport to me and I knew trouble is here. Felin tried searching frantically for her passport but obviously she had taken the wrong passport. Our car was stuck at the immigration counter because all the cars suddenly stopped moving probably because all the officers in Malaysia need to pray to start fasting. By the time all ended, we were back at home around 9:30pm. What a day...
We departed again at about 10:30am to brace the traffic jam and eventually reached Malaysia around 1pm. We quickly get all things prepared back at home and I was surprised that the babies seems to remember the place and like the house.
This trip back to Malaysia was successful. The babies slept well throughout the night. With MIW's feeding, both of them managed to drink over 1litre of milk today. Its because MIW woke them up at 11pm for feed when most of the nights, we will not do so. We managed to shop, eat well, sleep well and have great bonding time together, especially over durians. Everyone played with the kids and they seems to enjoy their companionship. MIW had an enjoyable birthday celebration and we must thank her for helping us out through the night so that all of us can rest better.
Jia Xing recently gave a new name to herself "Elisha". So here is Elisha and Joshua. Nice biblical names together...
Bringing Joshua out for breakfast
The full family photo. Wow. The babies are looking at the camera as well..
Wennie playing with Josiah while we had dinner. She is really good with babies and can feed and make Josiah sleep in her arms easily. Something I seldom able to achieve.
Wishing Dad and Mum in laws to be always happy and healthy.
Ann and Felin playing with the babies during the dinner. They really enjoyed the times together.
We eventually left at 1:30am on Monday and with a bit of traffic jam on the causeway, we reached home around 2:50am. We quickly unpack everything but this woke the babies up and we eventually only able to sleep at 4:30am. Felin still have to wake up at 7am to express milk while I woke up at 8:30am.
While typing this, babies are asleep and I have that bit of quiet time to complete this post. Glad that all of us enjoyed the trip back to Malaysia. The next one should be in September for FIW's birthday.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Time Flies
I didn't realise that my last post was nearly 10 days ago. Time really flies. I have been so caught up with work that I don't have the time and energy to write. I think the babies are really getting adorable by days and I just have to take more pictures of this cuteness and remember it for the rest of my life. Their heads are pretty firm and are attempting to crawl already. The below pictures were taken when they are 5m9d.
We are facing challenges for each of the babies lately. Josiah always have problem on the feeding part and Joshua on the sleeping part.
For every feed that we gave Josiah, he have to take several attempts to finish the whole bottle, sometimes over an interval of half an hour or over 1 hour. If he don't want to drink, he will stretch his whole body backwards and start shouting as a way to reject his milk. His hands will sweep all around and we have to grab his hand while feeding. I think I'm probably the most experienced person who knows his drinking patter n now.
As for Joshua, he seems to be a real light sleeper. He wakes up at the slightest noise and I have to act like a ninja in my house. His cot was beside me and I have to pacify him whenever he wakes up. One easiest way to pacify him is to stuff the pacifier into his mouth but the problem is the he likes to spit or sweep the pacifier off his mouth when he is in his nearly sleeping mode. When the pacifier is off, he will be easily disturbed and wake up again. For some nights, he can start making noise every 30-45 minutes and I have to search for the pacifier to stuff into his mouth before I go back to my bed. Its pretty tiring actually as my sleep are badly interrupted throughout the night.
Felin complained that she is really very tired after the weekend. She can hardly grab any sleep and yet have to meet the demand of work and yet needing to spend so much time on expressing milk. Her weight had dropped to only 45kg recently. Before pregnant, she is about 49kg. At peak of pregnancy, she is about 66kg. 45kg is probably the lowest she ever reached ever since her schooling days. She told me that she really want to stop the breastfeeding soon as its too taxing on her.
One simple gesture I can do for her every evening is to prepare her breast pump with a glass of Manuka Honey every 11:30pm before she start her routine.
I had also suggested to her to reduce her expressing from 4 to 3 times daily. Currently is 12-6-12-6. I'd proposed 5:30-1:30-9:30 pattern and she agree to implement it in July. This new pattern allows her longer stretch of sleep.
We are going to JB this weekend with the babies for MIW's birthday and its a challenge for us as they are no longer babies and they may find it more difficult to sleep in a unfamiliar environment. Well. Hope all will turn up well eventually...
We are facing challenges for each of the babies lately. Josiah always have problem on the feeding part and Joshua on the sleeping part.
For every feed that we gave Josiah, he have to take several attempts to finish the whole bottle, sometimes over an interval of half an hour or over 1 hour. If he don't want to drink, he will stretch his whole body backwards and start shouting as a way to reject his milk. His hands will sweep all around and we have to grab his hand while feeding. I think I'm probably the most experienced person who knows his drinking patter n now.
As for Joshua, he seems to be a real light sleeper. He wakes up at the slightest noise and I have to act like a ninja in my house. His cot was beside me and I have to pacify him whenever he wakes up. One easiest way to pacify him is to stuff the pacifier into his mouth but the problem is the he likes to spit or sweep the pacifier off his mouth when he is in his nearly sleeping mode. When the pacifier is off, he will be easily disturbed and wake up again. For some nights, he can start making noise every 30-45 minutes and I have to search for the pacifier to stuff into his mouth before I go back to my bed. Its pretty tiring actually as my sleep are badly interrupted throughout the night.
Felin complained that she is really very tired after the weekend. She can hardly grab any sleep and yet have to meet the demand of work and yet needing to spend so much time on expressing milk. Her weight had dropped to only 45kg recently. Before pregnant, she is about 49kg. At peak of pregnancy, she is about 66kg. 45kg is probably the lowest she ever reached ever since her schooling days. She told me that she really want to stop the breastfeeding soon as its too taxing on her.
One simple gesture I can do for her every evening is to prepare her breast pump with a glass of Manuka Honey every 11:30pm before she start her routine.
I had also suggested to her to reduce her expressing from 4 to 3 times daily. Currently is 12-6-12-6. I'd proposed 5:30-1:30-9:30 pattern and she agree to implement it in July. This new pattern allows her longer stretch of sleep.
We are going to JB this weekend with the babies for MIW's birthday and its a challenge for us as they are no longer babies and they may find it more difficult to sleep in a unfamiliar environment. Well. Hope all will turn up well eventually...
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