anZel/Arden

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

a ride down memory lane

We have been challenged the past couple of weeks with anZel cluster tantrum weekend and Arden’s fever. Arden took us down memory lane the past weekend. She started having a fever last Thursday. At one point, it was 103.9. She was like a ball of fire. With that, she slept in the intervals of 30 minutes with 10 to 15 minutes of inconsolable cry. She did that for two nights straight. It was a roller coaster ride down memory lane. This morning, she let it down/up a bit with only one hour of scream between 4 to 5 am. I hope she will turn a new leaf tonight. If not for her sleep deprived parents…at least for the new president and the country tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks.

Miss Styling (Glasses sponsored by Auntie Ginger)

From blog photos

One-on-one time with mum (sponsored by anZel who threw a huge tantrum; bubbles sponsored by Ulani and Auntie Ellen)

From blog photos

Miss Grownup

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Chowing down on fruit leather

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Styling in her birthday hat (sponsored by Auntie Celine)

From blog photos

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Devouring homemade ONE + HALF pork bun (sponsored by anZel’s teacher)

From blog photos

From blog photos

Boilermarker meet up

We met up with fellow boilermarkers today. It was great fun to see the next generation finally able to enjoy each others’ company like the adults. The pack had a great time, led by their fearless leader, April, followed by anZel, Levaunt, Arden, River and Levaunt’s soon-to-be born brother.

Warming up in the sun while waiting of the arrival of Levaunt

From blog photos

Check out my new rain boots

From blog photos

I am good at standing but still am working on the walking.

From blog photos

Levaunt (a.k.a. meatball)

From blog photos

Best buds

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Ditching the non-walkers

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From blog photos

Turkeys

On Wednesday afternoon, I received a call from anZel’s daycare director telling me that he was running a low grade fever. I knew exactly how I would spend my Thanksgiving…taking care of two turkeys.

Last night, dAd and I took turns to keep an eye out for anZel. He had no fever but was coughing non-stop the whole night. Despite his cough, we went to the city in hope he would get some much needed sleep sitting upright during the long drive. He took an unusual morning nap on our way there. We found a little park in the city and let the children christen the swings, then it was time for afternoon nap. Once we were home, we found that Arden has a low grade fever. She is a bit more crappy than usual but is in good spirit.

Although this isn’t the Thanksgiving weekend we had planned, we are grateful for all we are blessed with…especially the two turkeys we have.

Our wonderful turkeys

From blog photos

Photo taken by Grandma Helen

From blog photos

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Hair stylist: Grandma Helen

From blog photos

28 days

In less than a month, Arden will turn one. For the past few months, I have been asking myself “are we there yet?” Now, we are almost there. And I can hardly believe it. Has it really been almost one year? I feel like pinching myself until I am blue and black.

It’s such a cliché to say that Arden is unique. We all are, aren’t we? Because anZel was the only baby I took care of, I secretly wish she would be just like anZel (except the eating). As time goes on, I learn to adapt and find it rather refreshing to have a child who actually enjoys eating. I have learned to appreciate the different perspective Arden brings to our lives. First off, there is no bargaining with Arden. With anZel, we were able to negotiate early on. We could actually trick him to drink milk or say a word before rewarding with a toy. There is no such thing as negotiation. There is no bribing could get her to sign “more’ or say a word. She would do it when she feels like it.

My return to work gift from anZel’ was sleeping through the night (one week before returning to work to be exact). Arden was rolling over. She has recently learned that getting 10 hours of beauty sleep is a good thing. I have also realized the beauty of sleeping six hours straight!

Arden has gone through a serious bowel of separation anxiety when I first returned to work. At one point, it would benefit both of us if we could reattach her to my body. She has definitely come around. She would enthusiastically acknowledge my return from work after a long day, but could just as quickly return to her toys. We tried for the longest time to interest her in the stairs. One day, she discovered the stairs and has been keen on climbing them. She has yet to master climbing down. As soon as she is at the top of the stairs, she would go straight to the bathroom because she loves her bath with her brother! If we tell her that it’s bath time, she will start climbing the stairs. It’s an incredible to see them together in the bath. Last night, anZel helped to wipe his sister’s face and scrub her back.

Arden said her first word when she was about 9.5 months. It was flower in Cantonese. From there, she has branched out to speak other similar words. Her vocabulary has expanded to rice, milk, car, books, stinky, bye, and fly. She can recognize more of the photos in her picture book. Although she loves pushing a children’s chair as a walker, she still prefers crawling. She is able to stand on her own for several seconds at a time. We are hopeful that she will join all us in walking in 28 days.

70s

Sharing and playing nicely on Saturday morning…

From blog photos

We are having an incredibly warm Fall/Winter. It felt strange to be wearing short-sleeve in November. The children and I took advantage of the nice warm weather today for our late afternoon picnic.

Arden has grown so much, I can hardly believe that she is going to be one in a month. She is now able to say a few words. So far, she is able to say flower, rice, and give and dae di (dAd) clearly. She can say MaMa very well when she is upset or in the middle of the night. For the past three days, she was sleeping through the night without waking up to feed. The first night, I was woken up by the alarm clock anZel kindly set for me..at 4:30 am no less. Then the fourth night, she thought it was enough of the this sleep straight for 10 hours nonsense and started screaming “MaMaaa…..MaMaMa….”on top of her lungs at midnight. It took a good half hour to get her back to sleep.

From blog photos

From blog photos

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From blog photos

Weekend picnic

We started off from the house in a stroll (yes, one stroller) with both kids. anZel likes to ride in the front though he has complained that Arden was picked on his hands. Eventually, Arden tolerates her brother riding with her. Once we arrived at the park, we either get one the swing. It’s quiet a work out keeping both kids happy but I am happy to oblige. Then we throw our blanket down for a little afternoon snack. After an hour or so, we take our time to walk home (I mean I take my time to push the two of them home after my work out). The children finish it off with a nice warm bath.

Taking off

From blog photos

Arrive at the park in two piece

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Higher please…

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Want a piece of mine?

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TASTY!

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ALL DONE!

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I think I can eat this.

From blog photos

I can stand too!

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Whatever…

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Run anZel Run!

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anZel and Daisy

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Getting the water ready…

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HELLO, I am ready too!

From blog photos

Bath is fun!

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Did you say HAIR?

From blog photos

Quarterly report >> Y3 3q

For the past two weekends, I have been brave enough to take the children out to the park by myself for a couple of hours. I am happy to say that we all have a grant time. It’s hard to believe that I have come this far. It’s truly the first time I am able to enjoy the children fully and appreciate each of them, together and individually. There was no worry of someone falling off a chair and/or poking one’s eye with a silver wear. We enjoyed the warm fall weather and all that’s around us.

Our time together makes me realize how special the children are meant to me. Before having anZel, I never realized how much one can truly love a child and what it would be like to have someone truly depend on you with his/her life. And I certainly had never imagined being able to have the capacity to love another child just the same. When I hold Arden in my arms, my heart swells with love I have never experienced. She is the poster baby that I have never experienced…her porcelain skin, padded back and chubby fingers.

It has been 30 months since I started this journey. There isn’t a day that I am not grateful for the children I am blessed with. They have taught me a great deal about life. Life is certainly more challenging with the children, however, it’s sweeter and richer because of them. There aren’t words to describe the joy I feel when I see anZel bathing in the afternoon sun with a bowl of his favorite red grapes on his chest on the picnic blanket. There seems to be magic at the end of Arden’s index finger when she points. Most of all, I feel like I could give each children an infinite amount of kisses as well as hugs and still will feel like I can give 10 million more.

This Quarterly report has gone into a half-year report. Many milestones have gone undocumented. Part of me feels guilty of letting it all slips away. It’s so true that time goes fast when you have children. They do grow like weed. I look at some of the photos of anZel and I see dAd. I have to keep reminding myself to enjoy each moment with the children as that all things come in due time. There is no hurrying life, is there?

With 30 months behind me, I feel I have reached an important milestone myself. I wouldn’t have made it this far without a loving family, strong mums, amazing women and wonderful friends.

to dAd

The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unwinds a thread of his devising;
A thin, premeditated rig
To use in rising.

And all the journey down through space,
In cool descent, and loyal-hearted,
He builds a ladder to the place
From which he started.

Thus I, gone forth, as spiders do,
In spider’s web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken strand to you
For my returning.

by E.B.White

joy of motherhood >> 1q; y2

anZel has entered a new stage in his life. He has mastered one of the most powerful words in the world in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. That is “NO”. He dispenses generously it loud and clear throughout the day. Sometimes, it feels as if that’s the only word he knows. He has started to do more imaginary play recently. A couple days ago, he dropped a folded letter on the hardwood floor, put his right foot on it and said he was riding on a skateboard. I was shocked but proud of how creative he was with just a piece of paper. He has taken interest in cooking as well. He would put his little rubber ball in a scope, lay the scope on the apple of his Apple computer, push the button for the TV (next to his computer) and says he is cooking his meatball on the stove.

Over the Easter weekend, he had his first piece of Jelly Bean. I believed he is hooked for life. Anyone who offers candy will be in good terms with him. On our way to our friend Mike’s house on Easter Sunday, he asked if “Uncle Mike would have candy?” in Cantonese. We said you would have to ask in English. So we practice “Uncle Mike, could I have some candy, please?” Somehow, he was so eager to master the question that he asked for “money”. Nice try, kid!

We are still battling his lack of interest in food, even with bribe. He now weights 24 lbs with all of his clothes on. I have finally given in and let him feed himself several weeks ago. His pediatrician told me that his growth is fine and I should left the food issue alone. “Would you rather him be fat and miserable or thin and happy? he asked. I guess it would be more like anZel would be thin and happy. Mum, on the other hand, would be fat and miserable because relatives and acquaintances constantly hound her why she doesn’t feed her featherweight son.

It has been three and a half months since we welcome Arden home. She remains to be a cute and adorable blob of flesh. I am still amazed that we are blessed with such a beautiful little girl. I often admire the delicate veins under her translucent eyelids when she is asleep. A flash of her gum is pure joy. So far, Arden is a great sleeper. In that sense, I mean she likes to sleep, eat and sleep. If it were up to her, she would like to be held and sleep at all time. Arden’s lethal weapon is her cry. We always give in. Soon all of us will need hearing aids.

In preparing my reentry to work, I have started to trained Arden to nap in her bassinet. It has been five days. She has adapted remarkably well. After I swaddled her this afternoon, she was out cold in two minutes. Unlike her brother, she is an on-the-dot kind of girl and enjoys her routine.

I will be rid of the title mum of two under two in 14 days,. When I tell people the ages of my children, they often give me this sucks-to-be-you look. After all, the term two under two has drilled into our brains that having two children under two will permanently damage one’s brain (it’s true). So, should I expect the sky to clear after anZel’s second birthday? I doubt it.

I have realized that people (those with and/or without kids) will tell you things will get better. The fact is we are trying to give each other some sort of milestone to look forward to…to see the light at the end of the tunnel. “20 months apart, that’s perfect. They can play together.” “Three years apart is ideal.” “Six years apart works the best.” Really, I don’t think there is a perfect solution for deciding when to have first or second kid. It just all depends. As far as getting better, it also depends. There are benefits and challenges at each age/stage. When they are a blob of flesh, you won’t have to worry about them turning on the gas range. When they are two, you won’t have to worry about feeding them every two hours (for ours, we could skip feeding all together). Recently, I met a dad who has two girls. He told me that all of his summer weekends are booked because he would have to shuttle his girls to soccer practice or other children activities. So, it will get better, in some ways.

In talking to a dear friend today, I whined to her that it’s hard to be a mum. She said “but you have help.” Then I was finally able to tell her why it’s hard to be parents. For me, it’s hard because I can’t bear that there is only one of me when they both cry. No doubt it’s a physically demanding job as mum. All the picking up and rocking the kids have taken toll on my back. I never knew back pain until I have children. But all these can be overcome, especially when I am blessed with two healthy children. The hardest is when anZel wants me to be his playmate and Arden wants to nurse. Since anZel spends at least 40 hours out of the house, I cherish each second he has at home. Soon, I will be back at work. Each second I am at home is doubly precious.

are we there yet?

The house has been plagued with a bug which anZel brought home three weeks ago. Yes. THREE weeks ago. We all had the pleasure of fighting it, including six week old Arden. Last night, anZel threw up in his bed. We saw all his dinner and milk on him, his bed and his jammie. Because he was hungry, he asked to have more milk. He drank 6 oz slowly but threw it all up again a few minutes later.

So, with a six week old coughing like a life time smoker and a 22 month who can’t keep his food down from coughing, we are ready for Spring. Are we there yet? (It’s the first time I like the idea of Global warming. Maybe Spring will be in mid-February?)