New Sleeping Position

Lavigne's been sleeping on the stomach since I weaned her. My mother-in-law will definitely say she's like Daniel, her uncle. I've been told many times not to take pictures when the girls are sleeping since they were born but they look so cute in their sleep. Moreover, newborns sleep most of the time. So if don't snap when they are sleeping, then when?

Got Milk?

Today is the third day since I last breastfed Lavigne. It had been quite a smooth transition, so far. Everytime it's bedtime, she'd ask for nen nen but I'd tell her no more nen nen for her anymore because she's a big girl now. Sometimes she'd cry and fuss, other times she'd stop asking for it. I'd pat her to sleep or sing to her and pretend to sleep beside her. There was once she took almost one hour before falling asleep...other times just 10-15min.

Last night the engorgement was so bad I had to express some milk out manually. My breasts had become rock solid and I couldn't even carry Lavigne. Even Louisa commented that they looked big! My tops were 2 inches shorter when I wore them due to the enlargement of the mammaries. I sat in the bathtub after dinner to express. I had a laugh at myself as I felt like a cow. Hahahahah! Felt so much better after that though I didn't empty the breasts and they were still heavy. Ma, you repeatedly asked me if the old cow still has milk? Well, the above pic is for you.

It took me one week to wean Louisa. She'd wake the old neighbourhood with her cries at night. Adrian and I were so sleep deprived. She'd cry and cry non-stop for hours. During the day, I'd draw lines on my breasts with my eyeliner as she was afraid of anything black. She was put off and could only cry in desperation. Lavigne, on the other hand, is easier to handle. She's been weaned off the night feeds since 14mth so it makes things even easier.

I felt quite sad after I stopped breastfeeding Louisa. It was as if there was something missing. I missed the closeness but I was glad that she finally slept through the night after I had interrupted sleep for 18months since she was born. Surprisingly, I don't feel quite as sad to wean Lavigne. Not sure why though. I guess it's really time and she's getting a tad too long for me to feed her comfortably. I watched a TV program on extended breastfeeding some months back. There are mothers who are still breastfeeding their children who are 8!!!! Hats off to them. By many's standard, I should have stopped ages ago. I chose to continue till now and can't imagine myself breastfeeding Lavigne in her primary school uniform.

End of Breastfeeding Journey

It's about time. In fact, it's long overdue that I should wean Lavigne off the breasts. I had said that I'd wanted to be fair to both girls, will breastfeed them for an equal length of time. I don't want anyone of them come asking me why I breastfed one longer than the other. Louisa was weaned at 18mth but Lavigne will be 20mth soon. So I'm sure I'm going to get the question.

Last night will be officially the last time I breastfeed Lavigne. I had been telling her she's a big girl now and she won't be drinking anymore 'mummy nen nen' but 'moo moo nen nen' (cow's milk) instead. Everytime I told her that, she'd answer 'yah'. However, this morning when she woke, she asked for 'mummy's nen nen'. She cried a little when I refused to feed her. Then she tried getting back to sleep, asking me to 'pat pat' her. So it wasn't that bad. I'm only dreading bedtime in the evenings . I'm sure she'll cry for as long as she can. Now I just hope that Adrian will be supportive and take over her bedtime ritual while I stay away for she associates bedtime with me and my breasts.

I never intended to offer her cow's milk in a bottle. She's almost 2. It certainly doesn't make sense giving her the bottle now when she can drink well from a cup. However, Adrian feels we SHOULD give her the bottle. Right now while I'm typing this, he's getting her to drink from the bottle. I decide to give in for I don't want him to come blaming me for not giving her the bottle at some point of time like he did when I refused to toilet-train a few months old Louisa when my mother-in-law had told me to.

Lavigne is not entirely fond of cow's milk. She'll only have it with her cereals. As for the bottle, she finds it a novelty at this stage, suck a while then stop. Many of my friends are relying on formula for nutrient intake. When their children doesn't want to eat solids, they will pump them with bottles after bottles of formula. Here in UK, it's a totally different culture. Babies stop drinking formula from age 1 and move on to full milk instead. You should see the shelf that stocks formula in the supermarkets here. It is an entirely different picture from our NTUCs and Cold Storages - limited quantity and variety.

Should Lavigne goes on food strikes again and continue refusing to drink a substantial amount of cow's milk, I'll be in trouble. I certainly will not breastfeed her again but she won't get enough nutrients and calories. Argh!

Uncle Xinyu

Jean: Porpor and Gonggong are coming to visit you.
Louisa: When?
Jean: Soon....and they're going to bring you lots of presents.
Louisa: Yeah!
Jean: And then they will go with me to US to see Xiaoyi and Uncle Xinyu.

Louisa: Junyi, I don't want to talk to you already. (Leaves the room)

On our way home from school

Ros: Gonggong, porpor and Junyi have left.

Louisa: Why?

Ros: They have gone to US to see Xiaoyi (remembering not to mention Xinyu)

Louisa: Mum, mum....let's walk! Let's walk! I don't want to talk to you. Let's just walk!

She must have related Xiaoyi to uncle Xinyu

Xinyu, my youngest sis's boyfriend had appendicitis 2 years ago. Everytime Louisa jumps or runs around after eating, we'll remind her of Xinyu. We explained to her about appendicitis before. She would then stop immediately. However, these days whenever we brought his name up (nothing with regard to appendicitis), she'll freeze and leave the room, saying she doesn't want to talk anymore.

Qi, when you come next week, must help her get over her fear. :p

Gonggong and PorPor's Visit

My parents arrived early yesterday morning from Singapore. They are here enroute to USA to attend my youngest sis's commencement. Everyone was so worried the girls would not take to them. Lavigne will not have any memories of them and everytime we spoke on the phone, Louisa wasn't keen to speak to them. When we got back from the airport, Louisa and Lavigne were up and having breakfast. Needless to say, gonggong and porpor were so excited when they saw the girls. Louisa was very happy to see them and didn't display any stranger anxiety. Lavigne, on the other hand, kept looking at them, wondering who they were. My mum repeatedly stroked her cheeks and the little girl started to tear. However, a short while later, the girls were playing with their grandparents as if they'd been doing so all these while. Louisa even requested them to bring her to school. Everyone was relieved and very pleased. My mum kept saying they're not the kind who are afraid of strangers. I don't agree. I guess it's because we are family and there's some familiarity which made them bond very quickly. Lavigne called out to 'gonggong' and 'porpor' throughout the day and kept saying 'bye' to them and hugged each of them a few times before bedtime. I'm sure my parents slept very well last night. They have left for US this morning and when Lavigne came downstairs, she went straight to the living room which my parents were sleeping, thinking they were still there and put her finger to her mouth and said 'Shhhhh'. How endearing!

Disneyland Paris Trip Update 1

We're back from Disneyland. Adrian and I were totally worn out by the girls. I took over 500 photographs and am uploading some of them at the moment. Will write about the trip and post some pictures soon.

Disneyland Paris

We're heading to Disneyland Paris today. Surprisingly, I don't feel that excited. Not sure why, even though I'm a huge Disney fan. I hope the weather will be good and that the girls will have a wonderful time. Be back on 11th May.

Couplehood vs Parenthood

I am sad to say that eversince the girls came along, my world revolves around them and seldom around Adrian and I. Couplehood has given way to parenthood. We get so absorbed with looking after them to the extent that we've neglected each other. Gone were the days when we could leisurely have a meal or stroll in the mall; gone were the days when we could just have a lazy Sunday afternoon. It's now always the girls. Where do we go to? Parks, playgrounds, toyshops. I can't even remember the last time we went to a movie together. But then again, Adrian always says it's a waste of money to go to the cinemas. He feels it's more economical to watch a DVD at home. Now that we're here in UK, we no longer have the option to leave them with our family so that we can go out as a couple. Childminding is way too expensive. The best thing we'd done so far in UK was getting the girls to bed by 7.30pm. That leaves us some time to ourselves in the evenings. What we usually do is plonk ourselves in front of the TV and watch some HK serials. Nothing exciting but at least we're doing something TOGETHER and it is good bonding time.

It had also been quite sometime since we last took photo together. I'm always the person behind the camera snapping away. So when we went to Legoland a few weeks' back, we had the rare opportunity to take some together. That was only because my father-in-law, my bro-in-law and his friend went with us. We were thus able to have some child-free time. I guess I have to keep reminding myself why we are together in the first place. Though our children are very important to us, it is as important to keep the flame burning.

A rare couple pic