I haven't, but Adrian has. Twice now.
Remember how I mentioned several months ago that he was a super sleeper that slept so much, he needed to be jostled awake just to feed? Well, that was a different baby. The Adrian we have now is very.....challenging with his sleep patterns. I'm not going to say its a problem because so far, I have not complained about it and I'm holding on tight to the notion that if I don't acknowledge it as a problem, then it really isn't a real problem.
Nevertheless, after a particularly difficult week, I took him to the osteopath last Friday. I never knew what osteopaths did and when a friend of mine mentioned (nearly a month ago) that she took her daughter to one to help with her sleep, I was intrigued but didn't act on it because I felt that I could get things under control. Until I lost too many sleep battles.
So what exactly do they do? The center we went to specializes in osteopathy in the Cranial Field, a very gentle approach that is suitable for babies. It aims at "restoring the structure and function of the body to a state of balance and health using drug free, manual therapy. The treatment process involves a subtle manipulation to the small rhythmic motions in the tissues and organs of the body." Their brochure and the posters on the center's walls indicate that they can help with everything from ear infections and colds to ADHD and even mastitis. They're magic doctors that help with EVERYTHING! So, I gather that its not that they fix sleep issues in babies but instead, they help to align the body so that everything is working as it should and this in turn may translate into the baby sleeping like the proverbial baby.
Honestly, I can't tell if the osteopath is actually doing anything or is just resting her hands on Adrian's back. But, whatever it is that she's doing, it is having some effect on him. I still have the dark circles under my eyes and am as grouchy as last week but, there has been a change. Adrian is sleeping a lot more peacefully. He even nearly fell asleep on the way to his session today instead of screaming the whole way. I like how things have been progressing so far.
Now that I have put this down in black and white, he'll probably keep me up all night again. Should I actually click "Publish Post"? If I have a good night, you'll hear from me tomorrow morning.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Tree Planting
Today, Aaron and I did our tiny little bit for the environment. We planted two trees.
It was a lovely day and coincidentally, the event today comes at a time when Aaron is beginning to be aware of how we damage our environment and how we need to be responsible in order preserve it for future generations.
We borrowed a book about endangered animals recently and that sparked his awareness of how hunting practices and also encroachment into natural habitats are causing many animals to become extinct. The book was about a little boy that ended up making cards to sell in order to raise money to protect animals.
So of course, Aaron thought that it was the only way he could help and he had to help. That started us talking about how we can help by being more conscious in our everyday lives. Not just for animals but all aspects of the environment.
I'll be honest. I have neglected to raise these issues with Aaron previously. It just never occurred to me to talk about these things but his interest and eagerness to 'do the right thing' has now motivated me to raise him to be more environmentally conscious. Of course, its going to have to start with me.
Its not hard and I do believe that teaching children to care about our environment should be as natural as teaching them to identify various construction machinery or learning about the various professions. Things are still a little simplistic now but in time, I'm sure he will grow up to have the type of mentality that will nurture and preserve our environment for future generations.
It was a lovely day and coincidentally, the event today comes at a time when Aaron is beginning to be aware of how we damage our environment and how we need to be responsible in order preserve it for future generations.
We borrowed a book about endangered animals recently and that sparked his awareness of how hunting practices and also encroachment into natural habitats are causing many animals to become extinct. The book was about a little boy that ended up making cards to sell in order to raise money to protect animals.
So of course, Aaron thought that it was the only way he could help and he had to help. That started us talking about how we can help by being more conscious in our everyday lives. Not just for animals but all aspects of the environment.
I'll be honest. I have neglected to raise these issues with Aaron previously. It just never occurred to me to talk about these things but his interest and eagerness to 'do the right thing' has now motivated me to raise him to be more environmentally conscious. Of course, its going to have to start with me.
Its not hard and I do believe that teaching children to care about our environment should be as natural as teaching them to identify various construction machinery or learning about the various professions. Things are still a little simplistic now but in time, I'm sure he will grow up to have the type of mentality that will nurture and preserve our environment for future generations.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Ups, Downs and New Worries
I know Mothers Day was over a week ago but I didn't think of this mothering topic until today. Thats what happens when you become a disorganized mom of two I guess. Even your thoughts get out of sync with the calendar year.
I've been in my new job as Mother Of Two for over four months now and here are some of my observations:
THE UPS
* The cute baby smiling and cooing at me everyday!
* The cute little boy still smiling at me but now, also chatting and helping me out each day.
* The two kids smiling and making noises at each other. This, I absolutely LOVE! Aaron hasn't been jealous and Adrian seems to know that this other little guy is one day, soon, going to be his best mate.
* Not wondering or even hoping that a baby will sleep through the night. This one plagued me for months with Aaron and he didn't really sleep a 5 hour stretch until nearly 3 years old.
* Not worrying if screaming in the car seat will make the baby feel hurt, abandoned and scarred for life.
* Being able to tote the baby along to Aaron's various lessons, to the malls, parks and anywhere else that we feel like going. I didn't go out much when Aaron was a baby because I was always trying to stick to a schedule at home. No such discipline second time around and life is so much more interesting!
* In general, just being a lot more relaxed about everything because I've been through most of it before. I'm experienced!
THE DOWNS
* After slowly clawing back some time for myself from the time Aaron was about two and a half, its suddenly all gone.
* I now count things like the waiting time at doctors appointments (my own, without the kids) as "Me time" where I just sit and do nothing.
* Life is twice as unpredictable as it was before. I have made many resolutions to go back to daily blogging but so many things come up each day and I have dropped so far behind that I've become a weekly blogger.
THE NEW WORRIES
* Is Aaron going to be overly enthusiastic while I have my back turned and try to pick the baby up or something similar?
* Will I be able to give Adrian the same early years focus as I did for Aaron?
* Will we really have enough money to clothe, feed and educate two boys?
* Will they grow up to be best friends?
* Will I be able to contribute to society in some other way once the boys are both in school?
I'm sure there are more but these are the main ones in the front of my mind. Thankfully, there are more UPS than DOWNS. Phew! Unfortunately, the list of new worries gets tacked onto the end of the 'old worries' list which is already a mile long. *sigh*
Well, thats all the time I could claw out today for blogging. I'll hopefully be back within the week.
I've been in my new job as Mother Of Two for over four months now and here are some of my observations:
THE UPS
* The cute baby smiling and cooing at me everyday!
* The cute little boy still smiling at me but now, also chatting and helping me out each day.
* The two kids smiling and making noises at each other. This, I absolutely LOVE! Aaron hasn't been jealous and Adrian seems to know that this other little guy is one day, soon, going to be his best mate.
* Not wondering or even hoping that a baby will sleep through the night. This one plagued me for months with Aaron and he didn't really sleep a 5 hour stretch until nearly 3 years old.
* Not worrying if screaming in the car seat will make the baby feel hurt, abandoned and scarred for life.
* Being able to tote the baby along to Aaron's various lessons, to the malls, parks and anywhere else that we feel like going. I didn't go out much when Aaron was a baby because I was always trying to stick to a schedule at home. No such discipline second time around and life is so much more interesting!
* In general, just being a lot more relaxed about everything because I've been through most of it before. I'm experienced!
THE DOWNS
* After slowly clawing back some time for myself from the time Aaron was about two and a half, its suddenly all gone.
* I now count things like the waiting time at doctors appointments (my own, without the kids) as "Me time" where I just sit and do nothing.
* Life is twice as unpredictable as it was before. I have made many resolutions to go back to daily blogging but so many things come up each day and I have dropped so far behind that I've become a weekly blogger.
THE NEW WORRIES
* Is Aaron going to be overly enthusiastic while I have my back turned and try to pick the baby up or something similar?
* Will I be able to give Adrian the same early years focus as I did for Aaron?
* Will we really have enough money to clothe, feed and educate two boys?
* Will they grow up to be best friends?
* Will I be able to contribute to society in some other way once the boys are both in school?
I'm sure there are more but these are the main ones in the front of my mind. Thankfully, there are more UPS than DOWNS. Phew! Unfortunately, the list of new worries gets tacked onto the end of the 'old worries' list which is already a mile long. *sigh*
Well, thats all the time I could claw out today for blogging. I'll hopefully be back within the week.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Things My Kids Will Never Know About
This week, I have been completely out of touch with the blogs I usually read. What can I say? Bad days, terrible nights and suddenly colder weather that the kids just seem to be rebelling against.
Anyway, I've been caught up on all those blogs and one particular post stands out. On Wednesday, Bilbo had a fascinating twenty points to determine if you're old or not. Well, I scored 0/20 so I guess I'm not old.
However, I am using Bilbo's post as a springboard for my own today. Here are things from my own childhood that my children will have no clue on.
1. The only type of phone about was the landline phones with a rotary dial designed to send interrupted electrical pulses. It took ages to make a call if the number had too many zeroes in it.
2. TV programs only aired from 5pm to midnight. And, there were only two channels when I first started watching. I think the English programs on the radio were only on at 2pm for a couple of hours and then again for a short time at night. This was in Malaysia and we weren't big on the radio back then so I can't really remember the details.
3. TV was the only place to watch anything. No DVDs, YouTube or illegal downloads. Actually, we didn't even have the old VHS tapes when I started watching TV.
4. The computer monitor was much like a 30cm x 30cm x 30cm solid cube. The screen was black with green or cyan words.
5. The only game we had was a cyan colored Lode Runner.
6. The game was preciously stored on a flimsy 5" floppy disk.
7. There was only one movie shown on a central screen in the front of the cabin during flights between Malaysia and Australia. The earphones were plastic, stethoscope-like things. It was a BIG DEAL...FREE new movies! (With budget airlines charging for everything these days, this particular blast from the past seems to have come full circle.)
8. The 20 cents I got for lunch money each day of Grade 1 could get me either a bowl of soupy noodles, a packet of deep fried noodles or an ice-cream sandwich (Anybody try these? A bread roll with a scoop of ice cream in side.)
9. Nuns are very often the grouchiest teachers on the outside but the most generous and kind hearted ones on the inside. They really do mean well. You just have to remember to end all your sentences with "sister" and stand up whenever they come in.
10. McDonalds was such a treat that we only got it when my father had to go to Kuala Lumpur for meetings. Back then, it was nearly three and a half hours drive away. Aaron and Adrian will not know about McDonalds because we never go there now. We're trying to go against nature and raise two kids who hate junk food.
According to his profile, Bilbo is 58 years old. That makes him about 24 years older than me. Its interesting to note the differences between his childhood and mine. And then, comparing my own childhood to my children's 30 years later. The thing that stands out to me is that there wasn't much change to the 'instant-ness' of life from Bilbo's childhood to mine. But from the time I was a child to now, it seems that everything is instant. There also seems to be so much more of everything material but much less time, even with all the 'instant-ness'.
Anyway, I've been caught up on all those blogs and one particular post stands out. On Wednesday, Bilbo had a fascinating twenty points to determine if you're old or not. Well, I scored 0/20 so I guess I'm not old.
However, I am using Bilbo's post as a springboard for my own today. Here are things from my own childhood that my children will have no clue on.
1. The only type of phone about was the landline phones with a rotary dial designed to send interrupted electrical pulses. It took ages to make a call if the number had too many zeroes in it.
2. TV programs only aired from 5pm to midnight. And, there were only two channels when I first started watching. I think the English programs on the radio were only on at 2pm for a couple of hours and then again for a short time at night. This was in Malaysia and we weren't big on the radio back then so I can't really remember the details.
3. TV was the only place to watch anything. No DVDs, YouTube or illegal downloads. Actually, we didn't even have the old VHS tapes when I started watching TV.
4. The computer monitor was much like a 30cm x 30cm x 30cm solid cube. The screen was black with green or cyan words.
5. The only game we had was a cyan colored Lode Runner.
6. The game was preciously stored on a flimsy 5" floppy disk.
7. There was only one movie shown on a central screen in the front of the cabin during flights between Malaysia and Australia. The earphones were plastic, stethoscope-like things. It was a BIG DEAL...FREE new movies! (With budget airlines charging for everything these days, this particular blast from the past seems to have come full circle.)
8. The 20 cents I got for lunch money each day of Grade 1 could get me either a bowl of soupy noodles, a packet of deep fried noodles or an ice-cream sandwich (Anybody try these? A bread roll with a scoop of ice cream in side.)
9. Nuns are very often the grouchiest teachers on the outside but the most generous and kind hearted ones on the inside. They really do mean well. You just have to remember to end all your sentences with "sister" and stand up whenever they come in.
10. McDonalds was such a treat that we only got it when my father had to go to Kuala Lumpur for meetings. Back then, it was nearly three and a half hours drive away. Aaron and Adrian will not know about McDonalds because we never go there now. We're trying to go against nature and raise two kids who hate junk food.
According to his profile, Bilbo is 58 years old. That makes him about 24 years older than me. Its interesting to note the differences between his childhood and mine. And then, comparing my own childhood to my children's 30 years later. The thing that stands out to me is that there wasn't much change to the 'instant-ness' of life from Bilbo's childhood to mine. But from the time I was a child to now, it seems that everything is instant. There also seems to be so much more of everything material but much less time, even with all the 'instant-ness'.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Still Around 30
I had an action packed birthday at SeaWorld yesterday. Years and years and years ago, I used to wish my parents would take me to places like SeaWorld for my birthday. Well, that never happened since my birthday is right in the middle of Term 2 of any school year.
So this year, I said I wanted to spend the day there. Of course I've been there before and it definitely doesn't provide the same thrills as it did twenty five years ago but I wanted to go because of Aaron. Its such a cliche to say this but the energy and excitement that he let out yesterday was one of the greatest gifts I could have received. Five birthdays ago, I would never have imagined myself feeling that there was nothing better to receive for one's birthday than an indulgent day with my son.
He was the perfect kid all day. No complaints when we waited for the shows, no frustrations while we waited in line for rides and no whinging during the car trip there and back. WOW!!! We took him on a couple of the non-kiddy rides which would definitely have been scary for a little guy but he liked it. I wish we had a photo of him coming down the Flume ride but the camera battery was flat.
Age is definitely just a number but I still prefer to be 'around 30' instead of 'around 40'. So for rounding purposes I'm glad I'm still 'around 30' but the thought of being 'mid 30s' will definitely take a little getting used to.
I got a whole lot of birthday wishes that I'm excited to go respond to now. Most of it came via email and Facebook but I also had two pleasant surprises in the mail. Snail mail and parcels aren't dead after all...
So this year, I said I wanted to spend the day there. Of course I've been there before and it definitely doesn't provide the same thrills as it did twenty five years ago but I wanted to go because of Aaron. Its such a cliche to say this but the energy and excitement that he let out yesterday was one of the greatest gifts I could have received. Five birthdays ago, I would never have imagined myself feeling that there was nothing better to receive for one's birthday than an indulgent day with my son.
He was the perfect kid all day. No complaints when we waited for the shows, no frustrations while we waited in line for rides and no whinging during the car trip there and back. WOW!!! We took him on a couple of the non-kiddy rides which would definitely have been scary for a little guy but he liked it. I wish we had a photo of him coming down the Flume ride but the camera battery was flat.
Age is definitely just a number but I still prefer to be 'around 30' instead of 'around 40'. So for rounding purposes I'm glad I'm still 'around 30' but the thought of being 'mid 30s' will definitely take a little getting used to.
I got a whole lot of birthday wishes that I'm excited to go respond to now. Most of it came via email and Facebook but I also had two pleasant surprises in the mail. Snail mail and parcels aren't dead after all...
Monday, April 26, 2010
Life Cycles
When we first moved here, the neighborhood was full of families and older people. The families have grown up, moved away and many of their houses have been torn down and apartment blocks built in their place. And the older people, well, they've also moved on.
So now, we're the only house in our street. There doesn't seem to be many families with children living here now. Most of the apartments appear to be occupied by young singles or couples without kids. The cyclical nature of neighborhoods is definitely apparent here.
The life of a mother to young kids means that I'm home on all Saturday nights. I'm not really a busy body but I do like observing my neighbors and their habits. Its inevitable since the back of our house looks into the living rooms of eight other homes.
This weekend was the ANZAC Day long weekend. And, one of our neighbors had a party on Saturday night. In fact, since we moved back in September, this particular neighbor has had a party on every single public holiday eve so far - Christmas, New Year, Easter and now ANZAC day. The only one that he skipped was Good Friday. This isn't a post complaining about other people's parties.
Its about cycles. The neighborhood is obviously going through the cycle of having younger people, younger families, families and then older people...something like that.
Richard asked me a simple question that made me think of another cycle:
"When was the last time you went to a party?"
I've been to a few parties recently. There was a friend's daughter's first birthday, Aaron's third birthday, another first birthday and my own birthday. Not exactly the types of parties Richard was referring to. And to answer his real question, I would have to say 2005.
I think I'm feeling a tiny bit bummed that I've come full circle with parties. The first one I ever went to was my own first birthday and now, I'm back to attending kiddy parties again. Somewhere in the middle, we had those great parties that my neighbor seems to be enjoying right now. Parties that only start at 10pm and went all the way to tomorrow. The kind with lots of people, lots of music, lots of drinks, LOTS OF CAREFREE FUN looking out for nobody else except myself.
I do see some light at the end of the tunnel because my parents seem to be going to a lot of fun parties, no longer with their kids in tow. And not the day time type of party either. For now, we'll have other kinds of fun with Aaron and Adrian as they start their Party Life Cycles.
So now, we're the only house in our street. There doesn't seem to be many families with children living here now. Most of the apartments appear to be occupied by young singles or couples without kids. The cyclical nature of neighborhoods is definitely apparent here.
The life of a mother to young kids means that I'm home on all Saturday nights. I'm not really a busy body but I do like observing my neighbors and their habits. Its inevitable since the back of our house looks into the living rooms of eight other homes.
This weekend was the ANZAC Day long weekend. And, one of our neighbors had a party on Saturday night. In fact, since we moved back in September, this particular neighbor has had a party on every single public holiday eve so far - Christmas, New Year, Easter and now ANZAC day. The only one that he skipped was Good Friday. This isn't a post complaining about other people's parties.
Its about cycles. The neighborhood is obviously going through the cycle of having younger people, younger families, families and then older people...something like that.
Richard asked me a simple question that made me think of another cycle:
"When was the last time you went to a party?"
I've been to a few parties recently. There was a friend's daughter's first birthday, Aaron's third birthday, another first birthday and my own birthday. Not exactly the types of parties Richard was referring to. And to answer his real question, I would have to say 2005.
I think I'm feeling a tiny bit bummed that I've come full circle with parties. The first one I ever went to was my own first birthday and now, I'm back to attending kiddy parties again. Somewhere in the middle, we had those great parties that my neighbor seems to be enjoying right now. Parties that only start at 10pm and went all the way to tomorrow. The kind with lots of people, lots of music, lots of drinks, LOTS OF CAREFREE FUN looking out for nobody else except myself.
I do see some light at the end of the tunnel because my parents seem to be going to a lot of fun parties, no longer with their kids in tow. And not the day time type of party either. For now, we'll have other kinds of fun with Aaron and Adrian as they start their Party Life Cycles.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Hey! What Happened?
Aaron is baby #1. That meant that I only had him to look after and I had my eyes on him all the time. I also had my camera on him so often that I actually have a video of the very first time he rolled over from his tummy to his back.
Adrian, baby #2. No less loved, but definitely less looked at (thats looked AT, not looked AFTER) and less photographed. Hey, my attention is divided now. And not just by two either.
Anyhow, I was out harvesting some of our okra when I heard Aaron yelling for me to come back. I had left Aaron to his lunch and Adrian on the floor, playing contentedly.
When I got in, Aaron was pointing at Adrian and shouting "Look! Look!". I took a quick look at the baby. He looked fine. Not hurt. Not crying. Whats the problem?
So I look back to Aaron, "What?"
And he says, extremely proudly and excitedly "Adrian rolled over! I saw him!".
D'oh! How did I miss that? He was having some tummy time when I left and now he was face up! Not only did I miss the actual roll over, I didn't even realize it when I saw him face up.
The best I could do was capture the moment immediately after the first roll over. He just looked so dazed....
Don't worry, I didn't put him on top of a sarong over the hard, tiled floor. Its actually a sarong, over a yoga mat, on top of the tiled floor.
This reminded me of a story that Mike left me about subsequent children:
First kid - Pacifier hits the floor. Mother grabs it and boils it in hot water to sterilize it.
Second kid - Mother picks up pacifier of the floor, wipes it off and gives it back to kid.
Third kid - Mother takes pacifier out of dogs mouth and sticks it back in kids mouth.
Adrian, baby #2. No less loved, but definitely less looked at (thats looked AT, not looked AFTER) and less photographed. Hey, my attention is divided now. And not just by two either.
Anyhow, I was out harvesting some of our okra when I heard Aaron yelling for me to come back. I had left Aaron to his lunch and Adrian on the floor, playing contentedly.
When I got in, Aaron was pointing at Adrian and shouting "Look! Look!". I took a quick look at the baby. He looked fine. Not hurt. Not crying. Whats the problem?
So I look back to Aaron, "What?"
And he says, extremely proudly and excitedly "Adrian rolled over! I saw him!".
D'oh! How did I miss that? He was having some tummy time when I left and now he was face up! Not only did I miss the actual roll over, I didn't even realize it when I saw him face up.
The best I could do was capture the moment immediately after the first roll over. He just looked so dazed....
Don't worry, I didn't put him on top of a sarong over the hard, tiled floor. Its actually a sarong, over a yoga mat, on top of the tiled floor.
This reminded me of a story that Mike left me about subsequent children:
First kid - Pacifier hits the floor. Mother grabs it and boils it in hot water to sterilize it.
Second kid - Mother picks up pacifier of the floor, wipes it off and gives it back to kid.
Third kid - Mother takes pacifier out of dogs mouth and sticks it back in kids mouth.
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