Into fall now...

We're into the new season since a week ago.

"But you know that's just an arbitrary date?" the husband pointed out.

He's right, of course, though I must say the calendar's pretty accurate, if the leaves falling is anything to go by... it's started indeed!

Right: Jon's not so interested in lending a hand with the raking; he scoots off to play ball, preferring that to jumping into a pile of leaves. Or maybe he's thinking, like me, "Why bother?", because here comes the next accumulation on the ground, then another, and another!

Fruits, like apples, and pumpkins, have ripened, too. And even as I blog this quick post, Ben and Nana, with his class, are picking Gala's (maybe?), and (I'm hoping) Fuji's, and whatever variety's ready, at an apple farm this morning!

I'll really like to capture the fall colours, when the time is right/ripe. It's my favourite thing about the season. Might it be yours, too? =)

It's also soccer season this time of the year; soccer is Jon's favourite sports next to baseball!

This was three Saturdays ago now, at the opening game, also Kaitlyn's first one, never mind she slept through it.

And now, was Jon being the protective elder brother when he said, "I want to keep the fame (?!) down on Kaitlyn!", regarding her "public appearance" among his schoolfriends?

I had to tell him though, that boys aren't really into babies, haha!

All about me

On his "All About Me" day in school, Ben got to lead his friends in a cheer of his name, and also filled a box with five things about himself to share with them.


And isn't it wonderful that this segment, to help the kids know they are unique individuals, came at about the same time Ben was feeling left out?

"I praise You because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made..." - Psalm 139:4

It's really nice too, that I made it for that session, at Ben's request! This is the first time after Kaitlyn's arrival, I wasn't just waiting in the carpool line to pick up Ben and Jon, or having to hurry off to squeeze in an errand before her next feed. But actually getting to spend some time in school; I miss doing that!



Back to Basics...
A friend was teasing when she suggested that I change this blog's name to "Back to Square One". Referring to, how, I'm at the "baby goes everywhere I go" stage again. Before, my hands were full with two; and now with three, I'm still functioning, yes, but even more overwhelmed!

Feeling the effects of exerting myself, more than gushing with new-mom joy, I went ballistic =(. Some of you know I like to push myself to take care of this and that. At this point though, I'm not liking myself very much for doing that.

The same message behind the "All About Me" segment -- that we are God's unique creation, no matter what -- is what I need to know for myself right now. My worth is not dependent on what I do or try to do, or what I get done or not. Simply that, I'm me!

Guess I have to know that I know this, in order for me to help my own children know it, too. Know what I mean?

Here's looking at you...

Ben looks at Kaitlyn through his (toy) binoculars, and tells us she's bigger already.









Ben to Kaitlyn: Want to have a look?


She's grown, yah...

... no longer swallowed up by this chair, yay!


The thing with babies, besides their size, they always look a little different each time, don't they? And I thought these shots of Kaitlyn before the fifth week was just up, show more of a little girl look already!

Now she just broke out with rashes on her forehead and face =(. Can it be just a heat rash? I hope it's not eczema; both her brothers had it when they were little.

Does anyone, if your child had infant eczema and you were nursing, had to abstain from certain food -- in my case, eggs, dairy products, seafood, nuts, and some citrus fruits, so that the rashes will not flare up too badly for the baby? Only one pediatrician we saw, back in Singapore when Jon was little, had suggested this.

P.S. Here's more information on eczema causes and treatment from Dr Greene, that may explain why some babies get "negatively affected" when nursing moms consume allergenic food.

P.P.S. Hmm... looks like there is a difference between baby acne and eczema.

I'm going to wait and see how Kaitlyn's rashes go; meanwhile, keep her face clean as many of you recommended (thanks!). Hopefully, I don't have to remove those food items from my diet -- the way I did for both boys until they were at least a year old, as it'll mean quite a lot of things I can't eat!

Red eggs!

The red eggs said it all -- that it was more than the regular day, and not just another dinner.

This was last Friday, to mark Kaitlyn turning a month old!

Getting the eggs, dinner preparations, homework, and the cake done (using those boxed cakemix that's great for moms strapped for time!), after I'd driven the boys back from school that day...

... while Kaitlyn napped under the watchful eye of Nana, in between fussing, partly because she needed a feed. Things weren't as orderly as I'm relating them now. But finally, it was our turn to eat!

Breaking red eggs together over dinner...


Red eggs were also a must-have in the one-month favours that went out to friends, as a token of our appreciation.

I have you to thank too, for your well-wishes and prayers, your kindness and generosity! Bless all your hearts! I'm especially warmed by the friendship of old and new faraway friends who took the trouble to send us gifts from across the miles, and not just for our baby, but there's something for the rest of us also. How very thoughtful... THANK YOU!

And here, check out lil Kaitlyn's different expressions in one evening!


No doubt the last few weeks have been especially hectic, but there are these and many more moments, besides the birth of our #3 BaoBei ("precious one"), to treasure, and praise God for!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..." - James 1:17

Think happy thoughts

On Picture Day this week...

I asked the boys to 'practise' smiling first thing in the morning, before sending them off with a "I love you", and "Don't forget to smile big smiles!".

And I hoped too, they would be thinking happy thoughts when their Kodak moments were captured by the profe$sional photographer in school later that day!

To be honest, I'm the one guilty of not always sounding chirpy, or thinking happy thoughts. Just been wishing Kaitlyn will distinguish night from day soon! My sleep has been scarce, and the graveyards shifts the most tiring!

But practicality dictates that I get back into the swing of things fast. Besides basic needs like cooking and laundry I can't detach myself from and went back to doing after the first few days, I also resumed driving the boys and running errands after the second week, ahead of Kaitlyn turning a month old this weekend. My MIL had said at the outset, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". Referring to how (we think) our American counterparts do not practise confinement after the birth of a child.

It's true that when there are other kids and everyday stuff needing to be done, besides just the baby to take care of, it's hard for a mother to find quality rest. By the same token, Vern has his deadlines to focus on. So it's good while my MIL is still visiting us, she is able to take care of Kaitlyn when my hands are full with the boys, and especially when I go and drive them home from school. That's also when I'll squeeze in a quick grocery stop with the boys on the way back, before the baby needs to nurse, and then I'll have to make dinner and get on with the rest of our evening routine.

With the jet lag at first and with the ailments getting to my MIL more now, I try not to overly bother her in the day and leave her to have a good sleep in the nights. But I am not zonked.

Day by day...

by the grace of God, we manage life one day at a time...

And in the larger scheme of things, I concluded, it should not matter that I did not cook for myself those sesame oil and gingery dishes during my "confinement" month, but just regular food we could all enjoy together. One has only this much energy before I'm running on empty. I'm not some super woman.



Then, listening to the old Christian song "Nothing but the blood of Jesus" whilst driving to school to fetch the boys, my eyes filled with tears, touched by how much our Heavenly Father has done for us. And yet, there I was, getting upset with the husband, over the housewifey and motherly duties expected of me.

I thought also, about what my own dad told me before Kaitlyn's arrival -- to not worry, but be happy, for it's important to stay positive! And there is indeed so much to rejoice, so much to be thankful for!

So with that, it's on a cheery note I'll like to end this post...

Jon trying to get a smile out from Kaitlyn...

... and she has started smiling, except I've not been quick enough to grab the camera to capture a shot of it!

And now, don't babies all like to look at faces... monkey faces included? ;p

Wishing you a happy, and worry-free weekend!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable— if anything

is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

~ Philippians 4:8

"I want my mommy!"

Above: Ben playing mommy to Croco, his plush crocodile.

That first day I came home from the hospital, Ben plonked himself next to me
when I was nursing Kaitlyn, and let Croco "drink from him" to its heart's content!

But now, it's no laughing matter when today, Ben, with tears welling up in his eyes, said out loud what I sensed had been bothering him:

"I want to be a baby!
"I don't want to grow up!"

After Kaitlyn's arrival, Ben has pretended to be, and will in fact, act like a baby himself. Asking for me ("I want my mommy!"), making an announcement when he needs to go ("I have a poopy diaper!"), and yes, getting very easily frustrated whenever things don't seem right.

It was just last night when he noticed I'd hung Kaitlyn's (wet) face towel on a separate hanger from her bath towel, and asked, "Why is Kaitlyn so special?" (read: special enough that she gets two hangers). And I realised that my little boy was feeling it. Feeling displaced from his "baby of the family" title.

How would you assure an older child that he is no less special than the new baby?

Since he was little, Ben would go where I go, and vice versa. But now, it's as if all of a sudden, the baby's birth has catapulted him into "big brotherhood", with the unspoken expectation for him to grow up overnight.

Older brother Jon, too, had to do the same when Ben came along last time. And I know, Ben's not such a little boy anymore. But something about being sandwiched between an older brother and a younger sister, seems to add to the adjustment difficulty. Ben also thinks that "Jon thinks Kaitlyn is special". Referring, probably, to that gentle side of his Gor Gor, that's not quite the case when Ben and Jon play, because that's just how brothers and boys will play with each other.

What will you do to assure the older kids that they are still every bit special, and always will be? Any suggestions? It's not easy to carve out that one-on-one or "special" (as I like to call it) time with each of my two boys right now. I try and steal moments with them, not just be caught up with the everyday stuff.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn is feeling better, after the saline solution and bulb syringe helped clear her stuffy nose. Thanks for backing us up, I appreciate your support and prayers!

Now to also work on that night-day mixup. As if the eat-poop round-the-clock isn't exhausting enough for any mom, night after night, I fight to keep awake with a baby who doesn't want to fall asleep in the wee hours. So yes, if Kaitlyn can know night is night, that'll really make my day!