Daryl on accepting and adapting to the arrival of his mei mei

See how serious Daryl look when he is feeding mei mei.

Daryl feeding mei mei.

Daryl carrying mei mei.

My 2 little bao bei!

Daryl seems to have accepted and is adapting rather well with the arrival of his little sister, Sheryl.

From the first time when he saw Sheryl in the hospital, where he seems like he is not fully aware of what is going on, thus he did not show much jealousy since we are not carrying Sheryl when he came. Also, he was so happy and busy playing with his Super Why Talking Plush Toy, the gift we told him is from Sheryl mei mei.

He show his jealousy on the first day we brought Sheryl home. I still remember how he cried and scream when he came home from his nanny place and saw me carrying Sheryl, where he say "don't want mei mei" and "beat mei mei". Then when he realised and know that I must carrying Sheryl to feed her etc, he sort of accepted and allowed me to handle Sheryl but he does not allow his daddy to carryl Sheryl, thus whenever Shawn want to carry Sheryl or say that he want to carry Sheryl, Daryl will ask and insisted Shawn to carry him.

However, he will try to "bully" or "beat" Sheryl by pushing or giving her a rough touch especially when I was carrying or feeding Sheryl.

Recall that the first time when we ask him to carry Sheryl and place Sheryl on his leg when he sat on the bed, he got frighten and start to push Sheryl away.

Now, after constant reminding and teaching him, he have learn to be gentle with Sheryl. He will sayang her gently and even kiss her. He will even say "我抱妹妹" when he heard Sheryl cry and will say "我喂妹妹" when he saw us feeding her. Also, in the morning, he will wake up when he heard Sheryl's cry and will insist on following me out of the room to see his mei mei.

We can only say that we are proud of our little boy on his ability to adapt to changes within the short time span of about 2 weeks and are also happy that he have learn to love and sayang his baby sister.

My two little Darlings when they are just born

Daryl is on the left and Sheryl is on the right.

Sheryl's gift to Daryl

Daryl happily playing with his ah yee and with ah yee's soft toy and his Superwhy.

Daryl stay overnight at my parent's house on 16th and 17th November when I delivered Sheryl and during my hospital stay. On 18th November, we let him stay overnight at his nanny's place as my mum will be working on 19th November and also, it save Shawn the trip to send Daryl to his nanny place on Friday morning and then rush to fetch both me and Sheryl as we are discharging on 19th November.

The talking Super Why plush toy.

As Daryl is very into the Superwhy cartoon series, thus we thought it will be a good idea to get him a Superwhy toy, and tell him it is his present from his mei mei, Sheryl. However, as Superwhy is a rather new cartoon series in Singapore, we are unable to find any shop carrying or selling it locally.

The only option is to buy online and ship it back to Singapore. But as the online shop only delivered within States, we have problem on the shipping part. Luckily, my dear cousin Desmond offered to help by troubling his friends in States to buy and ship back for us. Although the total cost is $89 as the shipping cost is already $59, it is still worthwhile as long as our Daryl like it.

Photo of Sheryl at birth

Birth of Sheryl

15th Nov - My usual gynae check up and gynae told me that I am already 2 cm dilated. However, as I did not feel any pain, gynae's concern is that perhaps, by the time I feel the pain, I could be in labour and might not be able to reach hospital in time....then my own worry is that my girl who weight 3.4kg during today check up might be too big for me to go for nature birth. As I went back to work after my check up, my colleagues are more worried than me, in case I suddenly go into labour while working.

16th Nov - I decided to start my leave coz I still feel some cramps in my tummy in the morning and also I do not want to panic my colleagues too. Then in the afternoon, as I still feel quite abit of cramp, we decided to go to my gynae clinic to do CTG check, however, when we reach it is their lunchtime, thus the nurse suggest that I check into TMC and do the CTG there.

CTG show that I have irregular contraction. Gynae come over at 2 plus and ask if I want to induce as he is worry that I might not feel the pain when I dilated and the moment I feel I be in labour since this is my number 2. After some consideration, we decided to induce (since gynae told me the level of pain for induce is the same as nature).

Insert the pill at 3pm. Sent back to ward to wait at 5 pm and was told to go back to labour ward if I feel more intense pain. However, as mentioned, we check into a 2 bedded for the 1st nite coz single room is not available, so actually, I feel abit uncomfortable especially when during the evening, where the visitors start to come in to visit my 'neighbour'. So at about 8.30pm, I decided to just go back to the labour ward to wait instead since after about 5 hours after the pill I still dun feel much pain.

Pain start to come in after 9 plus, but still bearable. Then at 10 plus I ask for laughing gas when I feel more pain. However,the pain start to get worse after 12am, and at 1am, I was only 3 cm dilated. The dilation was slow and pain was intense. So, I decide to opt for epidural instead. Then at about 2am, I was given epidural.

Pain was gone, but the suay me got all the side effect of epidural. I feel nausea, both my leg are numb and as the nurse ask me to lie on my left side initially, I lose the feel of my left leg totally, and it freak me out. Then I start to shiver and start to feel itch too. As I get all the side effect, I start to regret my decision to induce and take epidural. However the only good out of all the suffering is that I dun feel the pain and was able to relax thus in a way, I was able to dilate faster. At about 4 am plus, I was already about 5 cm dilated. At about 5 am, I feel that there are water flowing out and I call out to the nurse, who told me that my waterbag have burst and I was about 6 cm dilated.

At about 6 am plus, they push me into the delivery suite to wait for my gynae and I was about 8 cm dilated. Then at about 7 am I was about 9 cm dliated. I told the nurse to lower the dosage of the epidural so I can at least feel the contraction which I think will help to aid me when I need to push. Gynae arrive at 7 plus, and he say can start to push. With the good guidance from the gynae and nurses, after a few pushes, little Sheryl arrived around 8am on 17th November 2010.

Gynae put Sheryl beside me, and with the first look at my little girl, I turn over and told Shawn that Sheryl look exactly the same as Daryl when he was born. These 2 siblings just look so much alike in term of their baby look.

By the way, this time, Shawn did cut the cord for Sheryl after encouragement from gynae, nurses and me, something he did not dare to do when we have Daryl. When I later ask him how does it feel about the cutting, he say it is like cutting 'zhu chang' (pig intestine).

Sheryl was taken away from me shortly to do the necessary clean up and measurement and Shawn was ask to follow the nurses out, while gynae slowly remove the placenta. Gynae also told me that he did not perform episiotomy on me since I tear naturally. As I was on epidural, there is no required to inject me below to numb me before sewing me back, thus, I do not feel any pain at all.

In fact, this 2nd deliver is a more peaceful one as compared to my 1st delivery, coz for my 1st, it was chaotic as I was in pain and was in a way screaming away (accorrding to Shawn). Also, both Shawn and me feel that my gynae Dr Beh was calm and skilful in delivering our gal, as compared to the stand in gynae who deliver my son while my gynae was away in 2008.

Basically, it was a totally different experience for me as compared to delivering Daryl. In fact, if without the side effect of epidural, I think I do enjoy this delivery this time.

Daryl's 1st visit to Marche

I have been craving for Marche's Rosti with the sour cream and rootbeer since Monday. So we decided to go Vivio City Marche for lunch today to satisfy my craving. We are also glad that Daryl enjoy his homemake pasta with tomatoes sauce and the super smooth mash potatoes.

Clothes bought from our KL trip

These are the clothes we bought from a kids clothing shop in KL Chee Cheong Kai. Yes, we like to buy pajamas for Daryl coz he seem to outgrown them very fast. Muahaha

Clothes for Sheryl and Daryl

Well, I always thought that I will buy tons of clothes if I am expecting a girl. However, it seem that I did not. Or maybe it is because Sheryl is my 2nd child and since I already have a handful of baby clothes pass down from Daryl, there is no need to buy more since baby grow real fast. So far, very in control, only bought her a sleep suit from Taka baby fair and order a custom make romper for her and also Daryl.

Furthermore, it is only about 2 months to CNY after she is born, thus I thought it may be better to save the buying till then.

Daryl's favourite series - Super Why!

AMK Hub NTUC was having promotion and playing the Super Why DVD one day when we happen to be shopping for groceries. It caught Daryl attention and thus we decided to get 1 dvd - The Ugly Duckling to test if he really like to watch before we will buy the rest of the series.

It turn out that Daryl like it alot and he will even imitate the characters in the story to talk, sing and act. So 1 or 2 weeks later, we saw Compass Point Popular are having the promotion and even have the 2D cardboard of the main character and thus we let Daryl take a picture with it. There we buy the 2nd dvd for him.

However, it seems that Daryl really like this series alot, coz last Saturday when we went to Toa Payoh Popular, he hold on to another dvd of Super Why and refused to let go. But as we do not intend to buy, we put it back by force and he sort of cried the whole shop down. Haiz......TERRIBLE TWO!!!!

Mid Autumn Festival 2010

"stole" this nice picture from little Kaleb blog.

It is Mid Autumn Festival today. So after we fetch Daryl from nanny place, we went for dinner at the market near our house before we head to Bishan Park for Daryl to 提灯笼. We ran into little Kaleb and Wanlin at Bishan Park. So the 2 little boys have a little fun playing together.

Compass Point Shopping Mall

Wanlin told me that library's children corner is a good place for age like Daryl to explore and introduce to reading. Thus, decided to bring Daryl to the library since both Daryl and me are having lunch at Compass Point Shopping Mall while waiting for Shawn who are attending his friend's son full month celebration in Sengkang.

Daryl really enjoy his time there, even though he prefer to arrange the books in a straight line on the table then reading. Nevertheless, it is the first step in cultivating him to read.

It is the first time we let him try an aeroplane kiddy ride which he enjoy alot coz it does not move to and fro like those normal kiddy car ride.

Doraemon gift from Lynn

Daryl posing with Doraemon!

Daryl pressing Doraemon red nose!

Giant Doraemon from Lynn

My 35th Birthday is coming so my good friend Lynn and her hubby to be (Boon), asked me out for dinner and I brought my little terror along. As Boon will be slightly late due to work, we choose Fish & Co as our dinner venue. Anyway, there wasn't much choices in AMK Hub too.

While we are queuing for a seat, my little terror was getting restless and keep wanting me to carry. So to pacify and distract Daryl, Lynn decided to buy Doraemon for Daryl when she learn that he like it and she bought him the gaint Doraemon!

I need to rant!

Shawn was involved in the YOG project, thus basically he is working even on weekends. There are days where Daryl was already fast asleep when Shawn reached home after his work and still sleeping when Shawn left for work in the morning.

At the 2nd trimester of my pregnancy, at times I found it too tiring to be taking care of Daryl alone in the weekend as perhaps due to my pregnant hormones, I am a little less patient and easily irritated. Thus, I really appreciated my good friends and parents help during the weekend.

It was already very tiring for me to take care of an active 2 years old plus boy alone and it was even worse when he is sick. Thus, I decided not to bring him out except to my parents home this weekend after feeding him his medicine in the afternoon.

How did he get his running nose and bad cough, well I cannot be sure that it is not due to his outing during the long national weekend, although he was well until the day after national day.

It was okay, that you did not inform us that you are down with slight flu and cough, and did not wear a mask to cover up (although I do hope that you will), coz I do understand that all these was not an issue at all in the olden days where there are less strange and deadly virus around. It is me who should have been alert and not let Daryl share the soup with you. Nevertheless, it is still okay with me that Daryl might have caught it from you, as I do think that at his age, it is also good to fall sick at times to build his immunity.

What upset me is that you seem to imply that Daryl could have caught the flu bug due to bringing him to join the crowds, giving him food that in your view is of no nutrients. Come on, what do you expect from outside food. Yes, I do agreed that home cooked food is the best, but how can I cooked, when I was home alone with Daryl who now prefer to eat rice with dishes than porridge. Also, it is not true that fish and porridge is the best for kids at his age. If you go tell a PD, he will tell you that there are alot of nutrients that vegetable and meats will have and not fish.

Why I am upset? It is because, you seem to forget that I am Daryl's mother, so how will I want to give my son junk food right? Also, claypot rice do not mean that it is dry and hard, as I have told you, I give Daryl the soft portion, while the dry and hard portion, I eat it myself. Furthermore, that night, the mix vegetable rice are left with not much dishes and being a pregnant woman, I also have craving for food and since I am sharing with him, I need to get something that I would like to eat too.

I know you really dote and care for Daryl, thus, I do not fault you for what you have said although I do feel hurt and upset. I may not be as great as a mother like you, but being a full time working mum, I can only say I have tried and do my best. I even go to the extend of surfing net to search for nutritional soup receipe or food to cook for Daryl, and I was cooking almost every weekend before I was pregnant. I have sort of stopped cooking on weekend due to my morning sickness in the 1st trimester and now due to Shawn busy work schedule.

Our views on how to bring up a child might be different due to generation gap, but I know you mean well especially when it come to Daryl, but pls do not forget that like you, I am also a mother, and a mother to Daryl.

NDP rehearsal firework

Naughty Daryl prefer to stand and take individual photo of himself so it took quite a while to coax him to take photo with his ah ma hugging him.

We are trying to teach him to pose the V for victory pose, but he don't know how to so this is what it end up to be.

What is the father and son looking at? NDP rehearsal firework!

Tired Daryl who just wake up from his short nap and could not resist the comfortable sofa at Harvey Norman to just lie there to rest.

On Friday, my colleagues mentioned that there will be Firework today and people at various area like Marina Square should be able to catch it. Since the dress I rent from Maternity Exchange which was located at Marina Square was due for return today, so I thought we might as well stay there till 8pm to watch the firework.

Since Shawn was out in the morning for work, and we have no idea what time will his work end, I can only plan to bring Daryl out alone by myself, since my Dad do not want to watch the firework as the timing crashes with his favourite Taiwan Drama (yes, the never seem to end AI).

The garang mummy me is not worry about bringing my 12 kg over boy out alone but my good friend Grace who Daryl call her godma is worried coz I am already going to 6 months pregnant mah. Although I can managed to bring Daryl out alone, but it is really tiring to carry him if he refuse to walk or fall asleep lor.

Like today, Daryl refused to take his afternoon nap before we went out. So after lunch at Ajisen Bishan, he fall asleep when we are travelling on the circle line MRT and was still sleeping when we reach Promenade station. I can only managed to carry him and walk to Millenia Walk as it was really too tiring to continue carrying him and walk to Marina Square. Luckily, Shawn have already finished his work, so I arranged to meet him at Millenia Walk so that he can take over and carry our sleeping handsome. Daryl woke up in his daddy arms shortly after and we proceed to Marina Square.

We hang around Marina Square for about 4 hours over before it was finally 8 pm and we head to the crowded outdoor area of the food court to watch the firework. We did not finish watching the firework, as when it stop for a while, Shawn claimed that it have finish as he is tired carry Daryl so we head to the carpark. We heard the sound of firework in the carpark and realised it have not finish yet, and only managed to watch another 1 second of it when we are out of the carpark.

After watching the firework, we head to my mother in law place to pay her a short visit before we head home.

Visting Kaleb's on Thursday evening

Pictures taken and design by Wanlin.

Wanlin help me to pick Daryl up from his nanny's place since we are having dinner nearby after Shawn inform me that he have to work overtime last mintue. So we decided to bring Daryl up to her house to visit little Kaleb and also to let both boys have a short playtime together while waiting for Shawn to pick us (the mother and son) up later.

Surprisingly, my naughty and usually bold Daryl was shy and 'timid' at Wanlin's place, probably because he is in unfamilar environment ba. He was close to tears when his Kaleb didi pull his hair which he normally won't when they are in their weekend class. He dare not even snatch back the biscuit he was eating (given by Wanlin) when his Kaleb didi take it away from his hand (muahahaha).

Overall, he was like so 'kuai' and well behaved lor....not his usual terror behaviour back at home. He was okay and happy playing in Kaleb's play room after Wanlin switch on the nursery rhymes. He only stick to me after little Kaleb pull his hair again. But, he refused to go home when Shawn come to pick up. So, I concluded that he is not frighten by Kaleb pulling his hair or taking away his biscuit, but it is more like he is 'afraid' of the unfamilar environment and have yet to adjust himself to it yet.

Then when Daryl saw his daddy, the first thing he say to his daddy or I should say 'complain' is : "Didi.......hair (with his hand actioning pulling).....ta didi.......ah ma ta.....auntie ta...."

Confused Shawn look at me who are laughing away and I told him that Daryl is complaining that Kaleb didi pull his hair, who was later beat by his (Kaleb) ah ma and mother.

Muahahaha.....at times the way kids talk is like word guessing game lor.