She Is All Grown Up

Tonight marks the 3rd night in a row she went to bed without her best friend aka pacifier. Hooray! I didn't anticipate that she would wean herself off it, this soon and this easily! Pacifier is only given to her to lull her to sleep at night and nap, and we pull it away from her once she dozes off. She hardly cries for it in the middle of night and would go back to sleep quite instantly. Although she was not seriously addicted to it or can't live without it (and occasionally does fall asleep without it at all), 80% of the time, she needs it to go to bed.

*picture sourced from google search - modified

We had initially planned to wean her off at 1.5 years old. She is now 2 years and 4 months. Yes, we put our plans on hold. I can't even remember why. Lazy parents, I guess.

I had previously thought and imagined of countless ways to wean her off it. I was also afraid and worrisome of how was I going to cope with her tantrums during the process. But now that it happened, on her own accord, I am SO relief! And shame on me for having so little faith. I should have had more faith that when she is ready, things will just fall into places. "Isabelle, Mommy & Daddy is very proud of you! And thank you for making this such a breeze for Mommy"

*picture sourced from google search

Apart from feeling a great sense of achievement, I have a mixed feeling. This milestone dawned on me that my girl is growing up fast. I am missing her being a little baby. She is growing to be independent and I miss having her relying on me. She can do so many things on her own now that I feel she need me less. Sigh.

Does any Mommies out there feel the same or is it just me?

Mother's Day 2011

*Picture sourced from google search

Picture above ~ The hands creating the shape of love embracing a baby's pair of cute little feet. So much warmth and love. Perfect picture to symbolise a mother's love. Beautiful!

Isabelle was born on the eve of Mother's Day weekend in 2009 and it was not only an unforgettable day for me, but also for my Mom, because the birth of Isabelle was also her most memorable Mother's Day gift from me.

This year, Isabelle's birthday falls exactly on Mother's Day! Isn't that wonderful? But, I won't be able to celebrate it with Mom because she is away for her holiday.

Now that I am a mom myself, I do think that everyday should be a Mother's Day! Yeah, I can be that greedy :) Being a mom is seriously not an easy task. I believe that every moms on earth tend to feel that they either don't do enough for her children & family, or will never be good enough for them, although, I am very sure, all of us try our very best in everything when it comes to our family. And, not to mention, we do get to be taken for granted at some point of time. Not because our loved ones love us any lesser but I think it is just human nature. So I am guessing Mother's Day is a special day for those around us (the Moms) to express their love a little more than any other day.

So, how are you going to be celebrating this special day made just for us? A full day off sounds like magic to me! But no, that is not what I am getting. However, this year, I will be celebrating my day together with my precious's birthday! Now, what can be better than a double celebration?

I would like to wish all moms out there, a very happy and blessed Mother's Day and you deserve nothing and NOTHING but the best!

And to my Mom... I love you and being a mom myself, I love you even more! Thank you for putting up with me for over 30 years of nonsense and for everything you have done for me. Happy Mother's Day Mommy and may God bless you with many more joyful and healthy days and years ahead!

Our Nailstory

Since the day she was born, I clip her nails only during her nap time. I am a very timid & lack of courage careful mother. I was afraid I would accidentally clip her skin and hurt her.

Confinement nanny giving Isabelle the long waited nailwork when she was about 2 weeks old

But today marks another milestone for me and Isabelle! I finally gathered my courage and did it when she was wide awake. I sat her down on my lap and told her gently “Mummy is going to clip your nails and you are going to help Mummy by siting still. And we will be alright”.

In less than 2 minutes, we were done and I am so happy not only because I fought my fear but also Isabelle is such a good and understanding little princess. And I am so proud of her.

Blessed Are Today's Mothers

"To all the real moms who trade their eyeliners for dark circles, salon cuts for ponytails,long showers for quick showers,late nights for early mornings, designer bags for diaper bags and wouldn't change a thing. Lets see how many moms re-post this. This is for the moms who don't ...care... about what they gave up instead... LOVE what they get ...in return. Re-post this if you're a mom and love your kids!"

A friend posted the above caption in her facebook wall sometime last week. I reposted it in my wall because I can't help but to agree with a mother's sacrifices.

I also feel that whatever we, mothers of this current generation do, we cannot measure up to what our mothers (and mothers of past generations) did.

~ Hand washing laundry because there were no modern washing machines or dryer

~ Cooking over coals because there were no convenient microwave and oven

~ Boiling big pots of water to sterilise babies' utensils because there were no electrical steriliser

~ No disposable diapers and cloth diaper means more hand washing and drying

Above all that, no internet like what we have today to stay connected with outside world (for SAHMs) and stay sane within the 4 walls of the home.

When I remind myself of all the above and maybe more, I stop complaining, thank God & count my blessings... because all I sacrificed was long nails and long showers and that is so tiny compared to all the sacrifices of mothers' yesterday.

Being A Mom Taught Me...

Being a mom has taught me....

THE ART OF MULTITASKING

I can no longer take my own sweet time in most of the things I do. No more washing hair, scrubbing and cleaning my face separately during shower. I had to do it one shot. It is amazing I could do it in 1 minute when I used to do all that in 10 minutes before the baby came.

PATIENCE

Impatience is my trademark. Step on my tail & I will explode. I have learn to be patientand I am still learning.

BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT & PRIORITY SETTING

Staying up late to clean up the mess from the day while the rest has gone to bed and snoozing away so that the next morning, Isabelle & mummy has a clean place to play and spend the day. Prior to having Isabelle, all the chores can wait till weekend.

APPRECIATE CARTOON

I now watch more Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes a day than my beloved series in a year.

UNDERSTANDS FUSSY BABIES & EMPATHIZES FRUSTRATED PARENTS IN PUBLIC PLACES

I am not a snob. But before we became parents, scene of screaming kids and wailing babies really put us off. We would turn and give them the irritated please-shut-your-kid-up-you-are-disturbing-us-and-very-annoying look. We could not understand why can't the parents do something or just do not attempt to bring such difficult baby out to torture the rest of the public and please just stay home.

PUTTING MYSELF LAST, SACRIFICE & APPRECIATE

The real meaning of sacrifice and I can now feel what my parents specially my mother felt and went through raising me. Not only I appreciate what my parents has done for me but I know I want to give back in folds the love they gave me in any ways I possibly can. Thank you Mom & Pa.