Me: Dillon, can you please stop asking me so many questions while I was driving?
Dillon: Why?
Me: Because Mommy is driving and I need to focus, otherwise I will hit other cars, ok?
Dillon: Ok……..

Then one day, when both of us are travelling in the car again:

Me: Next Tuesday you have spelling test right?
Dillon: Yes, Tuesday.
Me: Ok let’s do a revision now, you spell for me the word…..
Dillon: You don’t ask me so may questions, focus on driving your car please, later you hit other cars.
Me: ………………… (I’m really speechless!)

Dillon: That is Mommy and Papa.
Me: Yes right.
Dillon: When did you took the photo?
Me: The time when we got married
Dillon: How come I was not in the photo?
Me: Ermm…..you were not around at that time my dear.
Dillon: Where was I? (angry) Why you didn’t bring me along?
Me: Mommy has not give birth to you, after we took this photo and got married, then only you came to this world (seriously I don’t know if he can digest all this….)
Dillon: Then why didn’t you give birth to me earlier then?
Me: (quickly switching the topic) Don’t worry we’ll bring you and meimei for a family portrait next time ok?

Phew………it’s so mind challenging to conversate with kids.

It has video clips of interviews with paedtrician & doctors who talk about the common issues and knowledge related to pregnancy and also child care. Basically what you’ll wanted to know is there, and they are adding in new clips constantly. Unfortunately, the clips are all in Mandarin so it’s only useful to those who can read and understand Mandarin.

Visit www.mombaby.com.my and sign up for free, I hope that you find it helpful too.

Just to share the video here with everyone, esp parents.

Children See, Children Do

It is absolutely true when people says you know how the parents are like by looking at their kids.

Your Clothes
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

The Baby’s Name
1st baby: You pour over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.
2nd baby: Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right? It might as well be you.
3rd baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger points.

Preparing for the Birth
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don’t bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn’t do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

The Layette
1st baby: You pre-wash your newborn’s clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby’s little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can’t they?

Worries
1st baby: At the first sign of distress–a whimper, a frown–you pick up the baby. 2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Pacifier
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby’s bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Sleeping
1st baby: Sleeps in your bedroom for the first six – eight weeks
2nd baby: Sleeps in your bedroom for the first two weeks
3rd baby: Goes right from the hospital nursery into their own room

Baby Book
1st baby: You religiously make entries every day, carefully noting the number of spit-ups and bowel movements for the first year
2nd baby: You enter a few facts each week but stop after 6 months
3rd baby: You buy the book but enter the child’s name, birth weight, and length on the first page

Diapering
1st baby: You change your baby’s diapers every hour, whether they need it or not. 2nd baby: You change their diaper every 2 to 3 hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour. 2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home 5 times. 2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn’t squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing a coin
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When 2nd child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for coin to pass.
3rd child: When 3rd child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!!

I myself did not install Astro at home because no one actually watches TV programs. My hubby & I mostly watch drama series or movies in DVD when we have time. I was once tempted to install Astro for Dillon to watch the educational or cartoon programs but when I think over it again, maybe it’s not the time yet, plus now the subscription fee is going to increase…. Currently Dillon is enjoying his VCD & DVD shows.

Just wondering how many of you have Astro at home for your kids to watch? Are the kids programs really good & interesting for them? Or you would rather buy the VCD or DVD for them instead of letting them becoming Astro TV addicts?

Ask Dr. Sears
Covers topic on pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleep & discipline issues, kids nutrition, health/illness etc.

Pediatrics
Medical advices, experts’ Q&A, Information and advice on dealing with common parenting issues and problems, including nutrition, growth, development, sibling rivalry, potty training, managing behavior problems and temper tantrums etc.

Young Nutrition
nutrition advice, experts’ opinions & recipes

Plucked this from babycenter newsletter as well. It is a comprehensive guide on kids development covering the following aspects:

Behavior & discipline Development Food & drink Health & safety Home & indoor activities Out & about activities Sleep

I do find the info pretty useful & it has clear some of my doubts along the way. Hope others will enjoy reading it too.

Here is a milestone chart I plucked from babycenter newsletter and I found it is interesting to read about what would kids normally achieve at a different age, which I’m sure we parents would like to find out as well. However each chart is meant as a guide, not as a source of concern or worry. Have fun reading it.

Milestone Chart

Anyway, here is the Baby Tooth Chart where I use to keep track, you can print it out & record accordingly, stick it on the wall or keep in your baby’s diary. The ages listed in the list also serve as a guideline as to when to expect the teeth to erupt.