My Hobbit

Aaron is constantly trying to get down on the floor to 'walk'. With me holding his arms of course. So, yesterday, I decided to quickly dash out to get him a pair of shoes so that he can walk all over Changi if he felt like it.

I imagined a pair of those cute and soft baby shoes that I've often walked past. I headed straight for them but they were all too small! His feet are starting to remind me of the Hobbits. How did Aaron completely miss out on wearing those cute shoes? I eventually found this pair of more 'grown up' looking shoes that looked much cuter anyway. Reminds me of Michael Schumacher's red Pumas.

I need to get Fechr-ed

While I may tell myself that I don't care if my blogs traffic remains as minuscule as it is or that it doesn't matter that my PR is still zero, IT BUGS ME. I constantly read up on SEO techniques and try to visit as many blogs as I can to see how they do things. Content is definitely a big point but sometimes I come across blogs that have excellent PR with content that is just so-so.

Perhaps what I need is to Get Featured! at Fechr.com. This is a site that will feature a certain website for a full 24hrs. This should not only boost traffic on that day but maybe expose my blog to some other readers who may find it interesting. I'd better hurry and submit my URL.

What shall I wear?

Previously it was just a matter of what would look good and what was comfortable. Now, on top of that, I have to think about what will be convenient and safe. Convenient to feed Aaron discreetly in public. Safe from his constantly itchy fingers AND teeth. He just fidgets with all my clothes and if there is anything hanging off them, he tried to take a bite!

Non breastfeeders often think that a button down blouse is the easiest. I really haven't found that to be the case at all. If you undo the buttons from the bottom....you need to undo 4 out of 6 to get enough access. If you undo from the top, you're completely exposed, especially when the baby opens the shirt up more than is required. And have you tried doing up buttons while holding a baby?

So then, why not throw something over your shoulder? Like a scarf? That works when the baby is younger than 4 or 5 months. After that, he needs a view with his meal!

So what will it be? T-shirts or blouses that aren't too fitting normally work well. They can't be too long because its hard to yank up all that shirt and keep it off the baby's face. I also like those nursing tank tops that unclip at each shoulder strap.

For tomorrow, I'll be using a combination of the T-shirt and the nursing tank top. Its cold on those night flights and I don't want to be exposing my abdomen so this will be the perfect combination. Lift the short shirt up, undo the top of the tank and I'll have full access with complete coverage!

Did you really want to know all that? Perhaps not...but its the type of thing that I spend ages thinking about.

7 years and 1 baby later

His gift to me: 91 words.


My gift to him: Pictures worth THOUSANDS of words.


But seriously, there isn't any gift that he could have purchased that would have meant more to me anyway.

What does it take to embarras you?

We're all self conscious to a certain extent. Most of us are fairly easily embarrassed too. However, once you've been pregnant and endured multiple visits to the gynae and finally popped the baby out with the whole 'world' watching....it takes much less to make you embarrassed. So here's an example of how I didn't feel anything when normally I would probably have squirmed.

A standard conversation with an Indonesian mother goes like this:
Indo Mom with baby on hip: "How many months?"
Me with Aaron hanging upside down: "11, nearly 12."
Indo Mom with baby still on hip: "How heavy?"
Me with Aaron over one shoulder: "About 10kgs."
Indo Mom with baby STILL on same hip: "What formula do you have him on?"
Me with Aaron in a Superman pose: "Oh, my own milk."

Then this morning....one Indo Mom went further:
Indo Mom: "Really? How much milk do you have?"
Me with Aaron finally on hip but touching his toes: "Enough"
Indo Mom now leans over, sort of pokes at my upper chest and says: "Not very big"

She meant no harm though...and people here don't know what personal space is so....

Foot Reflexology for USD4.40

Richard ended up working a full day today but it didn't stop me from proceeding with what we had planned; Foot Reflexology. I had expected the place to be deserted, as it was last week when we went for our Neck/Shoulder massages, but it was FULL. I took the last recliner. You get these extremely comfortable 'leather' recliners to lounge on while they work on your feet.

I wouldn't say that the 60mins were 'relaxing' since the purpose of reflexology is for general health and involved kneading my skinny toes repeatedly with toughened knuckles. While I asked for a gentle session, the two middle aged men next to me were wincing in pain. Supposedly, it will hurt when they knead the part of your foot corresponding to whatever part of your body with a problem. I only felt some slight discomfort on the forth toes so either my face or my sinuses have some secret issues that I don't know about.

All in all, it was a good experience but I preferred the Neck/Shoulder massages that we got last week.

Didn't your Mama teach you? Part II

I think the list here should cover most of what needs to be taught to Aaron at this moment. The little guy will only be 1 next week! But, its never too young to start. Just think about how much cuter the well mannered toddlers are.

11) I missed a really important one in my previous list! Always use 'Please' and 'Thank You' without exception.

12) Use both hands when receiving (gifts, drinks, business cards etc). Except when its just being passed (eg the salt).

13) Use both hands when giving. Once again, the exception is when you are just passing something along.

14) When deciding on a gift, put thought into it and give something that the other person will enjoy. It shows you care.

15) When faced with the choice of two items and you are with another person, always offer the 'better' item to the other person.

16) Stand up when you're talking to somebody. Firstly, it shows respect for the other person. Secondly, it hurts your own neck to look up at that awkward angle. This one scored me a lot of points with the nuns at school.

17) When interacting in a group, use the language that everybody understands. No talking to one or more other people in something that the others don't understand. Also, no whispering.

18) No pointing. Its going to be tough if Aaron doesn't grow out of his current 'Magic Finger Point'. Its like his steering wheel. Imagine carrying him or pushing him along with that little finger always sticking out and dictating direction. I don't want that to morph into pointing at people.

19) No name calling. Definitely. Children will obviously be descriptive so it is important to teach them not to hurt others with their description. This one ties with not saying anything if you don't have anything good to say. I'll have to start watching what I say at home. I have a tendency to be 'descriptive' and I wouldn't want Aaron repeating when we're out.

20) I think this next one is usually only taught in the west. Opening doors, offering seats, allowing other people to walk first. I never notice it much in Malaysia. Its something that I would like to teach Aaron.

Thats about it for the 1 yr old's Manners List. Obviously, this would be a living document in my mind....