Cavan wearing Bernstein's New Year outfit. Bernstein is now 16 years old...

Happy New Year!

Cavan's grandparents were so excited this CNY. Last year, we were in confinement so couldn't go out. This year, they were raring to bring their "prized" grandson around for visits.

Chinese New Year with Yeye and Ah Ngin

Hari Raya Yee Family

Presents

This has got to be one of my fav activities- opening presents! But of course I had to respect the owner of the pressies and leave it to Cavan to carefully tear the wrappers. Come on baby, I can't wait!








A month ago... the same delighted baby opening Christmas presents...

I wish...

Cavan's 1st birthday. With his blueberry and chewy chocolate ice cream cake. So yummy!

A collage of Cavan

Cavan loves doing actions! Here he was, practising "gongxi gongxi" although it's still a month away from CNY.

Cavan's dedication on Christmas Day 2005

Me & Mummy

Milestones

Here are several of Cavan's development milestones that we'd like to remember:'

2 weeks old
- reaches out for objects
- showed interest in books, newspapers, PDA. Got excited by kicking and waving arms when these are shown to him. Can maintain eye contact with these objects for a long while, as if reading contents.
- smiles...

5 weeks old
- same trademark expression when excited: waves arms and kicks legs. When overly excited, straighten arms and legs

7 weeks old
- reaches out for objects and wants to grab them.

8 weeks old (2 months)
- Lifts head when lying on stomach

9 weeks old
- babbles and 'talks' in vocab like "yea", "lah lah". Shrieks when excited

12 weeks old (3 months)
- grabs things. Able to hold own bottle.
- Laughs loudly
- smiles at anyone, even newscaster on TV

15 weeks
- turns from back to stomach
- neck stablilises but still jerky. Can carry upright without needing to support his head.

20 weeks old (4 months)
- flips several times. Head and neck more firm.
- sits with support
- likes to tap on things, on people and kick things

5 months old
- sits in baby chair

5 and half months old
- sings with good tempo and tune "Dada..."
- eats baby biscuits (1st solids)

6 months old
- eats porridge
- starts to scream loudly
- starts to discriminate against strangers
- object permanence
- makes funny faces

Examining the soccerball...

Cavan's 1st trip out of Singapore

We brought Cavan to Grace Retreat at K.L., Malaysia, 13-17 June 2005. Drove as a group and TC & family. Thank God, Cavan did not fuss as we put him in his car seat. Watching the trees pass by and the big blue sky, he got drowsier and drowsier and finally, fell asleep!

After the 4-hour ride (or so), we finally reached Sheraton Hotel.

Cavan had enjoyed his 1st swim at the pool during the retreat. He also had a wonderful time with his friend, Faith, although they had quite an enounter...

Faith: Hey, there's Cavan!
Cavan: La la la la la...












Faith: Hmmm... Is anyone looking?
Cavan: Hm?











Faith: Muaaaarck!
Cavan: *Gasp!*










Cavan: Will mommy scold me?

Passport Photo

This was taken when Cavan was 13 weeks old. We needed a photo for his passport so we looked for one that showed his features clearly. This seemed ok except that the background has to be white. So we did a bit of touch-up.








We also cut off his hair that was sticking out. After changing the properties to suit ICA's specs, we sent the softcopy to apply for his passport. Yep! It went through!

7 weeks old

Instruction:

To stick out tongue, press cheek firmly.

Looking up

5 weeks old

Confinement 'man-ny"

Many people would engage a confinement nanny. Clem was my confinement nanny. And he did it so well. From caring for baby, cooking my confinement meals to doing all the housework.

The only thing I did was to dispense milk.

Even then, whenever I get ready to nurse, he would prepare hot towels to massage my breasts and a warm glass of milk or honey to "bring on" BM. Same routine even in the middle of the nights.

Food-wise, it was more than what I could ask for. As my confinement was in the same period as CNY, markets weren't open. My mom stocked up one month's supply of meat, liver, fish, veg etc. Clem would take stock of what's in the fridge and plan every meal. If in doubt, he would ask his mom who is another great cook. Usually he would whip up a healthy 4-dish meal consisting of fish, meat, veg and soup. In return of his love, I would gobble up everything he cooked. I suspect it was becos of this that I did not manage to bring my weight down.

The only thing that my tastebud still couldn't agree with was his ginger french toast. It was normal french toast, dipped in egg, except that it was sprinkled with shredded ginger. Shudder.

Initial struggles

Somehow, my mom and mom-in-law couldn't be with us daily to help out as arranged. Clement & I had to do everything on our own. It was tough in the initial week. I was still recovering from my stitches and both of us learning about our new baby and having to do eveything ourselves. Finally, the crunch came when my stitches dropped off and my wounds opened up. I went back to my gynae and he asked if I had moved around too much. That same day, we also brought baby to the PD. He was surprised that baby hadn't put on weight despite me feeding him sufficiently. He asked if I had been on a diet. The truth is at times, we were so overwhelmed and tired that we skipped meals. That could be the reason.

I went home and wept, as I felt so helpless. I also felt guilty about baby not putting on weight.

Clement consoled me and encouraged me. I know it had been hard on him too, cos he's been the one doing everything.

But through this, we learnt so much more without having to rely on our parents. Our parents had also been much help whenever they can. What we appreciated most was the fact that they reserved much of their comments to themselves. They left it to us to try it out on our own, without piling on unsolicited advices. They understood it was time for us to grow...

God's Amazing Creation

Having a baby in itself is a miracle. It's amazing how a bunch of cells can eventually develop into a full-sized human body. During my pregnancy, I'd read a week-by-week development of baby. Each week something amazing takes place. Something that would eventually help babies to survive the great big world out there.

After birth, it's even more amazing how God works to sustain the precious little life. For 3 days, the baby can go without food, as God had made it that the baby has enough reserve to last for 3 days. It's during this period of time that the new mom learns how to breastfeed. God had it all planned to allow mom to try and error.