Weaning from breastfeeding

2 years, 8 months & 11 days. That's how long Gracia has been spending time in my arms nursing to her content and where our relationship grow ever so close together. As she is growing taller and heavier and my milk supply is really low by now, I have decided it's time to wean her off & partly because our mornings became a struggle when I have to rush for work and she wants to nurse from me. : ) I have never thought weaning a child off breastfeeding will be easier than I thought. All thanks to my friend Joan, who has creatively came out with a weaning method of her own and has success with her son that I decided it's worth a try on Gracia as she too, has a dislike for hair and would request for me to remove it when they are caught in her hands or in the bathtub. Her weaning method can be read from this link, http://petitehome.wordpress.com/category/breastfeeding/
That night when Gracia saw the hair, she was very shocked and asked gangsterdad why there was hair on mummy's ******. This couldnt stop me and gangsterdad from laughing. The next thing she asked was, "Mummy, can pull it out?" and a simple explanation like how eye lashes grow on both our eyes and it will be painful if we pull it out made enough sense to her. She accepted it very willingly and I did not have to wait for long before she fell asleep on her own. For the next few nights, Gracia would still request to be nursed and when I reminded her of the hair, she would tell me, "Let's check it out ok. We have to check it out everyday". Lol! Now, into the 2nd week of her weaning, she would only occasionally asked to be nursed at night and would fall asleep on her own happily without nursing when I reminded her of the hair. I am glad there are no more morning milk struggles when I am rushing for work and as a mum, the happiest thing I felt from here are that I have given Gracia the health and emotional benefits from breastfeeding. Even till now, I am still missing the way she would smile shyly when I play with her and missing the way she would look into my eyes while she was nursing. Definitely did not regret for persisting when breastfeeding was so difficult initially for me. :)

Posted by Lina

SNOWING CHRISTMAS???

Lately, facing some personal life change, I hadn't given hope of a happier day ahead much thought. I'd driven my taxi around island wide and even ventured into the TUAS south Quarter which is at the end of TUAS since started work last weeks, and my travels to the city's heart were not for pleasure. A few time I do not know exactly the way to my passenger destination, I was been criticized.

People crossed the street, laughing, talking, sometimes shimmying gleefully, carrying their shopping bags like a Christmas tree decoration to a Human's body. I sometime had trouble steering the car around because of all the traffic. I looked to my right and some white color form fall from Tangling Road, a holiday display that features fake snow for a white Christmas this season...

Under the spectacle's light-laden canopy teemed children, parents, and probably holiday tourists, they all look so happy and excited enjoying the snow, though everyone know it's fake... (Pirated Snow)! Quite a contrast of what is going on with our family. My baby Gracia had a flu last week and it passes the virus to me and then my wife... while we are all sick, I still continue to drive and my poor wife have to look after Gracia alone and we became a extremely tired family...

About this time in my life, middle age, I need to gulp santa's soul, the courage to go against the flow of the mundane while keeping the celebratory rhythm of humanity, to bop and dip like the Rebirth Brass Band. I need the power to stand as my unique self with heart brave enough to embrace every ordeal and blessing. A blend of Rudolph the reindeer and Christmas spirit perhaps?

So, tonight I took my camera like it was a talisman against dark moods, brought my beloved wife and daughter to Tangling Mall. And this is what I saw.

PHOTO BELOW: THIS IS WHEN THE FAKE SNOW JUST CAME OUT AND EVEVRYONE STARTED SHOUTING WITH EXCITEMENT.


PHOTO BELOW: LINA AND GRACIA LOOKING AT THE FAKE SNOW.


PHOTO BELOW: THOUGH PICTURE IS NOT SHARP AND IT'S A BIT BLUR, BUT IT'S THE ONLY PHOTO I TOOK WITH GRACIA THAT NIGHT.



Not spectacular photo. Nevertheless, I had the feeling that the cosmos worked with me. I didn't know what Christmas entertainment on Orchard Street offered for the evening, but when I saw gleams of shining smiles on Gracia's face, I knew I'd come on the right night.


PHOTO LEFT: GRACIA IS ENJOYING THE FAKE SNOW.








So, it was not the fake snow or the carefully styled Christmas decor that called to me from Tangling Mall as I passed it in my taxi. It was signs of joyous celebration, the hope that I might catch its Christmas spirit and spring back to life in my own spontaneous personality.




Oh... I wonder if the publishers for Young Parent will consider one of my photo on their magazine cover... anyone?

Her first day to school

On Monday, 7 Dec, my wife and I brought Gracia to Cherie Heart. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and we all had smiles on our faces. The first two-thirds of our Journey to childcare was calm, timeless, precious, and the closest thing to perfect. We were a happy, healthy, and safe family, Life was good, each moment, each breath was down right perfect.

My 2.5 year old Gracia, started her first day into a childcare on Monday and it's been a wild week filled with all sorts of emotions. The first day to the childcare provided me with a huge reminder of the importance of living in the moment and simply BEING in the moment with my children.

PICTURE BELOW: ONE OF THE STAFF CHECKING ON GRACIA.


I started getting nervous butterflies in my stomach by the time we reached the edge of the school. I was so excited for her to go to school, we have been waiting for this exciting moment for so long, but suddenly as her loving dad, as I turned the corner, I wanted time to stand to still. Actually, I think I wanted to turn back the clock. Each step we took closer to the school, I wanted to run the other way. I wanted to turn back time to grab on to the past.

When we finally arrived to the school, It made me nervous that Gracia did not know anyone else in her group. In a flash, like a stab to my chest, I realized my baby was moving into the next huge phase of her life...without me...and without anyone else she knows...I felt some elephant tears almost pouring out of my eyes.

I have heard that moms (and some dads) would probably cry on the first day of school. Though I never shed a tears when I saw Gracia clinch on to Lina and refused to let go, my heart was really pain, and Lina eyes were turning red at the moment. At that point, I wasn't sure if I was really going to cry. But even if I had, they would be tears of joy, tears of a proud dad, tears similar to those I will shed at a her wedding.



PICTURE BELOW: WE ARE STILL WITH GRACIA AT THIS MOMENT AND SHE HAD NO IDEA YET WE ARE LEAVING HER BEHIND WITH THE REST AND IS HAPPILY COLORING SOME PICTURE.


Ever since the first day to the childcare, I've been trying to figure out the balance between letting my daughter move into the bigger world and wanting to hold her tight and protect her from the world. I know somewhere in between is a fine balance that results in a raising a strong independent person who will contribute great things to our society. The million dollar question...where exactly is that balance?


PICTURE BELOW: GRACIA CRIED LIKE HELL AFTER SHE SAW MUMMY WHEN WE WENT TO PICKED HER UP


Have you experienced taking your child to kindergarten, a childcare? Did you cry? Were you emotional? Please, tell me, will this emotional phenomenon happen again on the first day of main stream primary etc? Have you discovered your own balancing act of giving your child freedom while also protecting him/her from the world?

YOUR TAXI UNCLE "NOT"

Collected my Vocational Taxi Licence on Monday and immediately went down to Sim Ming Road COMFORT to apply as their hirer ... not that I am a typical kiasu Singaporean.. but I heard there are long waiting list for those who decide to drive their new Hydai Sonata which is also my intention. The lady attended to me suggested a 2ND hand Sonata instead of a brand new one....

Reason 1: The waiting list would be shorter thus I probably will get it on 15 Dec which I had requested.

Reason 2 : I left only 12 point as a result of a red light camera offend last month... gosh... and with only 12 point left, it is risky for me to take up a brand new taxi becos it come with a one year contract.. (I only have to serve the remaining contract for a used TAXI).

Anyway, this coming 15th Dec.. I'll officially be a taxi driver (but for goodness sake, dun call me a taxi uncle OK). by left or by right, by up or down, I cannot associate myself with those typical taxi uncle whom mostly wear long sleeve button shirt(usually white), match with a black color pants and a 555 note pad in their shirt pocket to record their taking.... (pls dun sue me for discrimination), I have nothing against taxi uncle... they should be respected like anyone else who's decently earning hard cash to support their family... i just see myself as a different kind or generation of driver... perhaps, i am the only taxi driver who blog.... or maybe not.... its your guess...

A NEW AND PESONAL BOLSTER FOR MY BABY.

Lina decide to wean Gracia off her BF soon and so daddy bought her a bolster as a substitute to embrace her to sleep.... she's pretty excited and happy to have her own bolster....

DIY car for small people

Photos

These are two photo I took from Potong Pasir where I currently stay at my sister-in-law house...


Picture below was taken after 7am where you can see the light of the Sun cause by morning sun rise...



Picture below was taken between 6 - 6.30am where the color of sky are icy blue and the lights of the houses are still on...