Happy Chinese New Year

Well. This will be my last post before I take a week break from blogging. Will be leaving for my hometown in about 3 hours time. Yeap. Will be starting our hopefully 2 hours drive home at 3 am afterwards to hopefully avoid the massive jam that is expected. Travelling with Zoewe in the car was already pretty stressful last year when we went back for Chinese New Year. Travelling with Ryan as well this year, is even more stressful. I would not want to be caught in a 6 hours traffic snarl with a hungry crying screaming baby in the car.

We are hoping that we could probably spent next Chinese New Year in Kuala Lumpur and convinced our mother to come up and spent Chinese New Year with us since all the children are already in KL anyway. That way, we could spare ourselves from the stress and agony of the dreaded traffic jam going home and coming back.

We would like to wish all Chinese visitors a very Happy Chinese New Year and may the year of the Ox brings you her strength and perseverance, good health, much happiness and great prosperity and wealth.

Gong Xi Fatt Chai!

Steamed Chicken with Chinese Angelica (Dang Gui)

December and January 2009 have been pretty busy for me especially with my son back from New Zealand. We have been eating out most of the time and hence, I have not been cooking much.

After a long break from the kitchen, we wanted to have a home cooked dinner the other day. So out comes the recipe book and the chicken dish that I have decided to cook was the `Steamed Chicken with Chinese Angelica (Dang Gui)’, another recipe from the confinement recipe book. This dish according to the recipe is good for ladies after the 12 days of confinement.

It’s not a difficult dish to prepare. The process just involved marinating and then steaming the marinated chicken.

Ingredients:
3 chicken drumstick (cut into pieces)
10g Chinese Angelica (Dang Gui)
1 tablespoon of medlar seeds (Kei Chee)
5 tablespoon of Shaoxing wine
1 tablespoon fresh ginger juice
½ teaspoon of salt

Method:
Rinse cut chicken pieces and drain well.
Season with ginger juice and 1 tablespoon of Shaoxing wine
Soak Dang Gui and medlar seeds with Shaoxing wine for about 20 minutes.
Then combine with seasoned chicken pieces and salt. Mix well.
Marinate for about 10 minutes.
Steam over high heat for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Serve hot.

I could not ask for MORE...

Sorry for the recent silence as I have been pretty busy lately. Just came back from Damai Laut Golf Resort for short holiday, recharged to take on 2009.

I have a son (of whom I have talked about in my previous post) AND a younger daughter from my first marriage. I have not talk about her much because she was still rather young when she left for New Zealand and we have not talk much over the last two years. I sensed a growing distance between us although she used to stick to me whenever I was around then. Deep down in my heart, I have resigned to the fact that I might have `lost’ this daughter since she has adapted quite well to her new life and family in New Zealand.

Recently, she came back for a holiday with my son as well. Unlike my son who stays with me during his holiday here, she was with my ex-wife back in Penang most of the time.

My son wanted a holiday by the seaside and we have chosen Damai Laut Golf Resort near Sitiawan. My ex-wife was very gracious to suggest that my daughter, Lydia, tagged along so that we could renew our bonding. My wife is more than happy and I was ecstatic but yet apprehensive at the same time, as to how Lydia would react to her `other’ new family and me.

I am happy to say that the holiday went so well. Lydia still sticks to me like glue and despite not seeing me for the last 2 years and being 9 now, would still love to sit on my lap (making her brother a little jealous I must say). She gets along well with my wife and my wife has grown to adore her. Ryan on the other hand would like to bully her whenever Lydia is around. What melted my heart was when Lydia carried Ryan and Ryan seemed pretty happy at that.

If I said that `I am truly blessed’ in my previous post, I must say now that `I could not ask for anything more…’ I must say that my ex-wife has been very understanding and my wife has been a constant pillar of strength and support. 2009 has indeed been a very good start and whatever economic gloom and doom ahead no longer look so frightening and disheartening, with a thought that I have the love and support from all my loved ones. GOD has truly been good to me.

Milestone - He can sit unaided

Date: 17th January 2009
Time : 1:55pm

Ryan has also been trying to sit up on his own. He is a very determined baby and will strain to get it done. We can see him straining every little muscle to do it on his own but has so far been unsuccessful. He is also very resourceful. Since straining to sit up laying on his back is out of the question, he has tried rolling over and then trying to push himself up to sit. So far, all attempts have been pretty funny and needless to say, not very successful.

This afternoon, we were playing with him on our master bed. He was rolling all over the bed, cooing and laughing as usual. We did not pay much attention to all his attempts to sit up as it has happened before. I was chatting with my wife, when I suddenly, there he was, sitting on his own and looking at us with his cheeky grin. I looked at my watch, note the time and quickly ran out to grab my camera. We tried to encourage him to sit up again, and the result was the picture above. Another little milestone in his journey on his world.

Milestone - His First tooth!

Date : 10th January 2009

Ryan has the habit of biting anything and everything that he grabs. He particularly likes to bite my fingers whenever he catches hold of my hand. Several days ago, he put my finger into his mouth and gave me a bite and it was PAINFUL! Unlike previous bites where I could only feel his gum, this time I could feel something sharp biting into my finger. I looked at him and he smiled cheekily and gave me another good solid bite. His first tooth (the right central lower incisor) has finally emerged. Yet another happy moment and milestone achieved. Now I have got to be more careful when I put my finger into his mouth for him to chew because it is going to be a more painful event. As for Ryan, nothing taste better than his daddy tender fingers! Finger licking good!

Whatever will be, will be

As I watched Ryan sleeps soundly in the stillness of night, I can’t help but to think what he would grow up to be. Thoughts of him when he is 30 or when he gets to my age bring up all kinds of questions. Will he be successful by then? How would he look like? What would his career be? What kind of family would he bring up? What kind of a man would he be? Would I be still around by then, watching over him? Would I do a good job to make him a good man? Would I mess his life up? Would he still long for me like he does now? Would he still extend his arms when he wants a hug? Would he still want a hug from me?

Being a parent is certainly a heavy responsibility. The dificulty is not to provide the physical needs for them but the heaviest responsibility is to provide them a safe, peaceful and conducive environment and atmosphere for them to grow up as responsible and useful being. That to me is a far greater and difficult challenge then to provide the physical needs as I am imperfect.

When you are just a little boy
I asked myself, what would you be?
Would you be handsome, would you be kind?
Then this thought came to me

Oh daddy, daddy
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Oh daddy, daddy

When I hold you in my arms
I asked myself what would you be?
Would you be famous, would you be rich?
Then this thought came to me

Oh baby, baby
Whatever you’ll be, will be
Just know that your mommy and me
Hopes you’ll be the best you can be

I succumbed to temptation

Before you start thinking of all kinds of sin that I might have committed, no, I did not succumb to temptations for a voluptuous busty lady with legs that goes on forever.

Sometimes getting Ryan to take his nap or to coax him to sleep at night could be quite a chore especially when he is already sleepy yet he wanted to continue to play, while you are dead tired. And as I have posted in one of my earlier post, he has also developed this distasteful habit of chewing the string of his bolster to sleep. Very yucky.

Well, I was trying to get Ryan to sleep the other night but he was adamant that it was still too early. After many minutes (or hours to me, especially when you have a long tiring day) and after his last feed, there were signs that he was dozing off yet I can sensed that he was fighting to stay awake. As I was carrying him in my arms, I grabbed his bolster and passed it to him. He grabbed and instantly, his mouth was trying to get hold of the bolster string (with his eyes half closed).

I actually find his habit distasteful and am afraid that he would get addicted to it. But at the spur of the moment, without a second thought, I pushed the string right into his mouth and he happily grabbed it and started chewing and sucking, contented and within minutes, he was in his dreamland.

Then it dawned on me, as I watched him sound asleep that I have succumbed to the temptation of promoting his distasteful habit. Instead of trying to get him to break the habit, I was only too glad that there is something that could get him to sleep as soon as possible and freed me to have some time of my own. But if you asked me whether I would do it again, the answer is most probably yes. What a bad daddy!!

Related post: An embarrassing Habit

I like to move it, move it

This is the happiest moment daily for Ryan when he is taking his bath. He is so excited and really enjoys kicking his legs, splashing water everywhere. Often times, I would end up having to take a bath myself after bathing him, because I am all wet anyway.

For the last few days, he had started to show displeasure when I got him out from the tub because he still wants to play. I am sure he will screaming soon if I take him out from the tub in the next couple of weeks.

I got my wife to tape this a few days ago when I was bathing him and would like to share this moment with you. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Walker Ball

Ryan has his first taste of his walker on the 19th Dec 08. He has been busy figuring how to maneuver his walker the last couple of weeks and has develop a liking for a taste for speed, zooming from one corner to another, of course under the watchful eye of his daddy, mommy, kakak or grandma.

He has also developed his own first game with his walker called `Chasing the dog!’. Poor Zoewe is being chased whenever Ryan suddenly developed an urge to run her down.

Today, he has developed yet another game, known as the `Walker Ball!’ Maybe we should gather all babies between 6 to 12 months old and organized a walker ball tournament and who knows; we could set up a Malaysian team and organize international competition. Wouldn’t that be cool?

Related Post: Milestone: On his own walker

Milestone - First Attempt to Crawl

Date : 2nd January 2009

Time: 6:25pm

We noticed that Ryan has been attempting to crawl for the last couple of weeks. To encourage him, we will entice him with things that he is curious about and desperately wanted to have. Yesterday, while playing with him, we noticed that he has successfully had his first crawl. I quickly grabbed the camera and enticed him with a nappy. We were happy to be there to witness his first successful attempt to crawl and we are happy to share that moment with you too. It is indeed an good start for 2009!

I am truly blessed!

I started 2009 as one truly blessed husband and daddy. My eldest son Reuben from my first marriage is back from New Zealand (where he has migrated with his mommy) for his annual holiday. One of my biggest regret in my life is not being there when he grew up. I was too young, too engrossed in building my career and too inmatured. I was away most of the time and I truly missed all the hands-on experience in watching him grow. Suddenly, he stands before me, 17 years old, all grown up and taller than me! I thank God that he is still very very close to me despite meeting only once a year. This is my first of the many blessings in my life that I have not `lost' my eldest son as a result of my divorce.

With the arrival of Ryan, I was anxious as to how Reuben would react to his young step brother. I am blessed that Reuben has shown so much maturity and loves Ryan just like his little brother. We even got him to prepare Ryan's milk this afternoon and we really had a good laugh over it. What is amazing is that Ryan has also seemed to have taken a liking to Reuben, constantly seeking him out, smiling and inviting his elder brother to play with him. Seeing both of them playing together is priceless.

Finally, I have also worried about Reuben's reaction to my wife and how they would get along. But it seemed that my worries are unfounded. I noticed that Reuben has developed a close friendship with my wife. My wife has also grown to love him like her own eldest.

So, this new year, as we sat down together to have our meal and took the picture, I couldn't help but feel that I am the luckiest man alive and I am truly blessed!

2008. What a Year it was!

2008 will soon be but another memory. With the arrival of 2009, I can’t help but to reflect on what 2008 has been and what it meant. It has been a great year. Although there is not much of a significant progress in my own career, my wife’s career has certainly taken a great leap forward, although it comes with more responsibility, accountability and stress. From the family perspective, we see the addition of little Ryan into our family, a bundle of joy, a handful of responsibility and certainly a major factor in the changes of our lifestyles and priorities.

We have graduated from just a newly married couple with not many worries in the world to new parents with more worries than the world. From a happy-go-lucky couple who could practically just pack and drive for hours for a golfing holiday, to a couple who need to plan months ahead and take an entire day to pack to stuff that we need to bring along (which is like the entire house!). From a couple frequently found at Bernards, Champs or some nice restaurants or pubs on Fridays and Saturdays to a couple sitting at home busy trying to get Ryan to bed, expressing breast milk and getting his next feed ready before he screams his lung off.

2008 sees a golf addict (or so my wife claims) who frequents the driving range at Tropicana Golf and Country Resort every alternate day and hitting 200 to 300 balls, turning in my gloves and storing my golf bag in the store room rather than the boot of my car so that I could have more space for Ryan’s stuff when we travel.

2008 sees a bumbling fumbling husband and daddy struggling with the growth of Ryan, the mid night feeds, the baby baths, the changing of diapers (not forgetting moments being drenched when his little fountain suddenly came alive!) and dealing with the smelly poo poo.

2008 certainly has been eventful and life changing and I wouldn’t trade it for all the treasures in the world. So, here I am, bidding farewell to a year well spent and embracing 2009 with great expectations, excitement (despite all the economic gloom), anticipation and a brand new hope for better things to come.

Thanks for sharing part of our journey together since this blog was created in August and we welcome you to continue this journey with us and become part of our lives.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Daddy, Mommy, Ryan and Zoewe (woof woof!)

Smooch them while you can

Yesterday afternoon, Ryan just refused to sleep. He was playing on our master bed, tossing and turning, kicking his bolster with his little feet, smiling and laughing cheekily. Seeing him in such a good mood, I joined in. He loves to be tickled, especially if I kiss him under his armpits, his chest and his inner thighs. So, I was having a whale of a time, cuddling him, kissing him and tickling him until he was laughing so loud and screaming as if saying `No more! Enough! Enough! Haha!’

When I grew tired and I am sure he was, I was kissing him gently on his cheek which he adores. He will lie perfectly still and wait for me to kiss him again and if I kiss him at the back of his neck, he will be grinning and smiling.

What a moment it was! And it suddenly occurred to me, how long would my little baby allow me to smooch him like this. As children grow up, moments like this become rarer. How many 6, 10 or 15 year old boy would allow his daddy to smooch him all over? How many 12, 16 or 17 year old daughter would allow his daddy to kiss her on her cheek and tickled her pink?

So, I have decided to smooch Ryan every chance I get while he still enjoys and yearns for my kisses and cuddles before he grows up and the only cuddles and kisses he enjoys would be from his girlfriends. So, Ryan, here I come!!!!

When breast squeezing is NO FUN!

Yes. There comes a time when that happens. For some reason, my wife breast’s was engorged for the last couple of days. It was a painful experience. I could feel hardened lumps at several places and she was crying out in pain each time she tried to express the milk out for Ryan. I have always known my wife to be one who has very low pain tolerance. She is horrified of the needle and will whine over a simple paper cut. Yet the endurance she went through childbirth amazed me.

I can not comprehend the pain but I could certainly see that it must be painful. Each squeeze and stroke she took to try to unblock the blocked milk ducts was pure agony as I can see tears welling up in her eyes. Yet, being known as one totally dreadful of pain, she persevered and squeezed harder. When her hands grew tired, I helped and believe me, although many men might disagree, breast squeezing in moment like this is certainly NO FUN. With each stroke, as she grits her teeth to endure the pain, I could almost feel the pain too.

Breast milk, undoubtedly the best and most natural milk for babies with the correct amount of nutrient and antibodies certainly comes with huge sacrifices. Among the many obstacles a breastfeeding mommy has to endure include:-

• Cracked and painful nipples.
• Engorged breast.
• Discipline and stress of expressing breast milk regularly to ensure continuous flow or risk engorgement and reduce and ultimately complete stop of supply.
• Discipline to refrain from eating food that might not be healthy for the baby since it will affect the nutrients and quality of milk.
• To constantly ensure eating the right and nutritious food to ensure quality of breast milk produced.
• To constantly drink lots of liquid and soup to maintain or boost the supply of breast milk.
• The stress and concern when breast milk supply runs low.
• The inconvenience of wet shirt as a result of dripping as a result of not expressing overflowing milk.

I certainly hope that when Ryan is old enough to read and understand this post, he will begin to appreciate what his mommy has to endure to ensure that he gets the best. Meanwhile, there is little that I could do but to support and learn to appreciate her love for our baby.

A Season of HOPE, PEACE and LOVE

It’s Christmas eve! As Christmas approaches, it brings with it the close of another year. And what a year it has been. 2008 sees the arrival of Ryan, the hope and love of our lives. It brings a whole meaning to Christmas, the whole meaning of unconditional love, devotion and giving without any expectations in return. This will be our first Christmas together.

2008 also sees me discovering the joy of blogging and the wonderful experience I have while sharing with so many of you who have been faithfully visiting, commenting and encouraging a bumbling and inexperience daddy as he fumbles with the daily routine of bringing up the pride of his life.

2008 also sees the beginning of a world wide economic slump and gloom. To many, the uncertainties after Christmas are nerve wrecking. To many, their long unpaid compulsory leaves have already begun. `Ho Ho Ho’ seems hardly to be appropriate with the fear of losing their job or pay cut.

Yet, true Christmas spirit is about hope beyond our human’s comprehension. When God closes the door, He always opens a window.

So, clinging to this hope, we will celebrate this Christmas with Ryan and you and looking forward to run a good race and fight a good fight in 2009.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone!

Milestone - On his own walker

Date : 19th December 2008
Time : 1:30 p.m.

Ryan has been trying to take steps to walk although he could barely sit solidly on his own. Since the doctor said that he is longer than average, we were thinking whether he could sit on his walker and start running about.

At least I hope that he will enjoy himself on his walker and start exploring rather than wanted to be carried all the time.

So, out come the walker from the box (a gift from a friend) and after a quick and easy assembly, it was ready. So, we put him into his walker and immediately, he was away!

Barely half an hour later, he was pushing himself towards things that he fancied. Therein, lays the next challenge to us. We got to start child proofing our house. But then, that is part of the progress anyway.

An Old Ginger...

Chinese has a saying that `Aged ginger is more pungent’ (姜是老的辣). This meant that the elderly people are more experienced and hence better in handling situations. This couldn’t be more true when it comes to parenting and handling babies.

We have been having a `jolly good’ time feeding Ryan his solids. Besides squirming and twisting in his high chair, his hands are constantly waving and pushing. Every time we push a spoon near his mouth, he will attempt to grab the spoon as if he wants to feed himself. Occasionally, he will knock the spoon completely off our hand, resulting in the apple puree flying through the air. None is happier than Zoewe, our toy poodle who sits patiently to pick up whatever that lands near her. Too big a mouthful, and he will spit out the puree and smiled cheekily.

We are also fearful that he will choke and as a result, we are giving him small spoonfuls. Needless to say, the feeding takes a pretty long time.

My mum is currently here for Christmas. On seeing me feeding him this afternoon, she couldn’t stand all of Ryan’s antics and took over. Spoonful after spoonful was pushed into his mouth. Ryan’s with his puzzled look has little choice but to gobble and swallow every spoonful. Within 10 minutes, it was done! And that little monster wanted more! See how he bullies his daddy and mommy.

Of course, my mother was proud as a peacock. `See what ma-ma can do!’ she proudly announced.

Either my mom is super good in handling him (as they said aged ginger is more pungent) or that little monster knows that the only way to his grandma’s heart is to make her feel super important. Smart kid.

Wait till daddy feeds you next. No more Mr Nice guy with small spoonful. You better gobble and swallow or else…….

Excellent post from Spices of Life!

Umma, writer of the Spices of Life blog posted an excellent article a couple of days ago. Aptly entitled, WHAT TO EXPECT DURING PARENTHOOD, it listed down 10 things that any parent should expect in this wonderful journey and adventure of parenthood.

As I read it, I cannot help but to identify with every single one of the 10 listed, without actually and consciously realising it. Having a baby totally changes our marriage, our life style, our expectations, our hope and what we care for.

I am certain that many of my readers do read Umma's but in the event that you don't, do drop by her site and read this article. With your permission, I have set up the link here.

Read all about it at Spices of Life and welcome to the wonderful world of `parents going crazy with love'.

An Embarrassing Habit

Has your baby develop any habits that are unique to them? A specific habit that they used to soothe and calm themselves right before they fall asleep? A specific habit that sometimes can be distasteful, weird or embarrassing?

I noticed that Ryan has developed this distasteful habit of biting and chewing the string of his bolster every time he wants to sleep. He will happily chew away as he dozed off. I am not sure when the habit starts but I don’t think it’s going away soon. Every time, we pulled it out from him, he will show his displeasure. So, in order to make sure that it is at least hygienic, we have got the maid to change the bolster cover everyday. In fact, he has developed a liking to clutch his bolster tightly, covers his face and chews the string to sleep. (aiyoh..slap head, what an ugly sight especially in public).

But surprisingly, I understand that most babies will develop some form of a unique habit that they will naturally carry on into their adult life. My youngest sister has this habit of smelling the string of her bolster to sleep. (I think she still does that!). My wife needs her extra big pillow to cover her head. (She has even given the pillow an affectionate name - `chow chow’ which means smelly in Cantonese). My habit is even more embarrassing! My mother told me that I have a tendency to clutch and squeeze the corners of my pillows to sleep when I was young. And I know she is telling the truth because I still do that unconsciously when I want to doze off. (Now you know my dark side).

I just hope that Ryan’s habit of chewing will stop and he will pick up a lesser `yucky’ habit when he grows older.

Do you have a unique habit to share?

Preventing Food Allergy - Guide to Prudent Weaning

In my previous post on Food Allergy, probiotics have been mentioned as an important element to prevent food allergy. It has also been reported to be an important factor in reducing the risk of colic among young babies. So, what exactly are probiotics?

Probiotics are live cultures of friendly bacteria that are used as food ingredients. When ingested, they offer health benefits to the host such as:-

• Protection against allergic diseases
• Protection against intestinal infections which may cause diarrhea
• Help in the absorption of minerals
• Help in the synthesis of vitamins B and K

Breast milk is still the most important source with special properties to promote and encourage the growth of probiotics.

In this final part on Prevention of Food Allergy, we will look at a simple guide to prodent weaning. We will look at types of food that is safe to introduce to infants and at what age to best avoid the development and risk of food allergy.

Foods which are LEAST LIKELY to cause food allergic reactions (to be introduced from 6 months)

• Rice, Carrot, Pear, Apple, Prune

Foods which are usually well tolerated, but OCCASIONALLY CAUSE allergic reactions (to be introduced from 6 months)

• Barley, Oats, Wheat, Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Broccoli, Cabbage, Potato, Spinach, Corn (and corn oil), Banana, Turnip

Foods which are MOST LIKELY to cause allergic reactions (to be introduced from 9 months)

• Egg Yolk (must be fully cooked), Legumes (soya beans, beans), Fish

Foods which are HIGHLY ALLERGNIC (to be introduced from 12 months)

• Seafood (prawns, crabs, dried and fresh scallop), Egg White, Peanuts

Happy Weaning!

Other related post:-
Preventing Food Allergy – The role of bifidobacteria
Preventing Food Allergy – Causes and Symptoms
Preventing Food Allergy – Is my baby at risk

Ryans’ First solid milestone post:-
Milestone – Ryan’s First solid (Part 1)
Milestone – Ryan’s First solid (Part 2)
First Solids – Taste of Apple
First Solids – Taste of Pear