Back in Malaysia (Week 26)

Tobey's journey on the plane was the most excrutiating experience for both him, me and SK. The night before the flight, both SK and Tobey started to feel unwell, and it only got so much worse on the flight. Tobey was too uncomfortable to settle down to sleep, so throughout most of the journey, I had to try to soothe him. It was AWFUL to see my usually happy baby to be so uncomfortable and unhappy. I will never want to put him on a flight again when he's unwell. Fortunately, once we landed, he recovered pretty quickly (except for the lingering phlegm...grrr). Even his dry rash went away. I just love this weather.

Oh, Tobey took his first plane journey with his baby friend Shean Wenn (baby Shean was a gem on the flight, such a sweetie). As usual, both of them clicked!


Tobey is having a ball of a time, basking in the constant attention of both sets of grandparents, uncles and aunties. As usual, he charms and it works. We managed to bring him out most days and he enjoyed looking around and getting attention from shoppers. Total strangers in shopping mall and restaurant seem to think that it's ok to touch his face or just simply stop and stare really 'closely'. SK suggested we should let him wear a t-shirt that says "Can look but don't touch" ;P

In terms of developement, he is making progress in learning to crawl. However, he is moving backward instead of forward. Still has to master the use of his knees. He also started to press on his cot rail or bath rim to try to stand...at the moment it's more of a squatting position.

Week 25

We went to Southampton for an overnight stay. Packed half the house along. We even brought the steriliser along! Tobey slept on a single hotel bed surrounded by pillows as the travel cot's base provided was too low. Woke up once during the night and had a tough time getting back to sleep. I bet it's because he's aware of his change in surrounding. All in all, it was a good first trial. Packing will be much easier the second time around.

He was a good sport throughout our exploration of that town and it's surrounding. Even when his stroller encountered a long stretch of bumpy old rocky-pebbled path on our way to the port. Charmed several shop assistants and shoppers with his smiles ;)

Week 23 & Week 24

These two weeks Tobey has been busy 'sociallising' with his baby friends. Week 23, Tobey went to visit baby Sam. Baby Sam is extremely adorable and inquisitive.
Both babies played along fine. You know, they pulled each other's shirts, shared toys, tried hard not to touch one another.....just incase people get the wrong idea.

However, on Week 24, baby Shean Wenn visited Tobey. Bear in mind, this is their second meet-up after they first met up on Week 18

They shared toys....
Tobey 'sayang'-ed baby Shean ......(actually I watched him like a hawk as he used to like to scratch faces)

and he even pecked Shean several times!!! Both babies actually sat and 'baby- talked' to one another for quite a while. Incredibly cute!

Now now now...Is it me or this boy is starting to show preference within his social circle :P

In terms of development, he's advancing in his finer motor movements, for example he is now able to move his wrist around when manipulating objects instead of moving his whole hand. We also witnessed him showing some gentler and more intentful actions. For example, he would gently touch one of his toy on the keys on his play xylo-piano to obtain a quieter note and the next minute he would decide to just hit it with full force to hear the outcome, before keeping still to ponder (on presumely the difference), and then continue his play. When SK and I sing, whistle (SK, I can't) whilst playing one of his musical toy, he would become very excited and would make alot of movement. Hopefully, when he's older, we can dance together! We realised he's outgrown his all his toys and we will need to get him more sophisticated toys to further encourage and to accompany his learning enthusiasm.

Week 22

This week Tobey got his BCG jab at the hospital. This little one looked at the needle going in and didn't even make a sound. He then kept looking at the nurse. I guess wondering what had she just done to him. He regained his appetite and most times ate all his lunch and dinner. As a result, he could go abit longer without food at night. I pray to God that this will last as that is one area that he's always lacking, sleep stretches. He needs his long sleep to rest properly. Of course, that will make me a better rested mummy as well. But if he decides to take longer afterall, I will accept it, as long as he's happy and healthy.

As you can see in the picture, nowadays he reaches further to grab objects and discovered the joy of bouncing whilst sitting down, especially on the mattress. Both of this developments see him tumbling to his front and back more often. He needs to learn to crawl.

His baby babbling produces more syllables nowadays, which amuses us till no end. Can't wait to hear his first word :)

Just pics

Current most favourite object...

.....colourful magazines. He will flip, crunch, hit, fling and taste it (which I'll try to stop) until the magazine is all soft and wrinkly....then he'll throw it to the ground and reach for another toy.

Week 21

Tobey was down with a cold from Tuesday to Friday. It wasn't nice as he still don't know how to clear the phlegm from his throat or to blow his runny nose. And he woke up quite often in the first two nights crying from the discomfort of his throat. We halted all his solid food intake and up his liquid intake. Thank God by Friday he's almost back to his old self. One thing I noticed about my son is that he has a positive spirit. Despite being so uncomfortable, he didn't really complain much but continue playing, albeit in a slower pace, and continue giving us his warm smiles.

The 'Trick or Treat'ers weren't that hardworking this year, hence we have quite an amount of leftover halloween sweeties. Tobey was excited beyond words when we allowed him to play with them



("Hmmm..I think there's more sweeties under the tin")

Week 20

Hi everybody! This is me, Tobey...

Let's see, this week my parents got me a new toy for my cot, it is Tigger from the Winnie the Pooh cartoon, I like! It has a springy tail that I can swing about!

(Tigger and me, best friends forever)

and I've also been practicing holding my own bottle. So far I can only hold it when it's half full.

I've also fell in love with one of my old toy.....my animal mobile.












I like to shake and swing it until it's all tangled...


and then get mummy to come untangle it for me...hehehe














I think I am slowly becoming a 'big boy' as nowadays, I don't really like to take my afternoon naps. I rather play with my toys. It's hard not being able to talk yet. So when I don't feel like napping when mummy put me in my cot, I'll just try to sit up with all my might and wiggle my way out. Drives mummy up the wall! kekekekke... I overheard mummy telling daddy that she'll let me set my new nap time from now on. I agree. Good stuff.

Well, till next week, take care all.

Love,
Tobey

Week 19

This week Tobey mastered the art of sitting unsupported when he concentrating on what he's doing (not when he's focused on his toys). He learned that if he's tumbling to his sides, he could use his hands to push himself upright again, and when he's tumbling backwards, he can head forward to avoid falling on his back. He's still practicing hard and relentlessly every chance he gets! During nap times, when he's got other ideas other than napping (like chewing on his toys), he'll try to sit up (It'll be interesting when he can climb down his cot). Sometimes, I had to resort to literally pressing him down (with all my might, as he's one strong boy) just to keep him horizontal. This boy can get really stubborn and this newfound skill of his (or rather ab strength) enable him to choose play over nap even though he badly needed some sleep! A bit like mommy.

He also managed to flip from front to back in his play cot. This came as a surprise to us as he hasn't really champion the skill of flipping from back to front yet. SK defended his dear son by saying that there's no benefit for him to flip from back to front,but by flipping from front to back he can actually get into a restful position. I think that's just the father in him talking. In my opinion, my son just hates to be on his front as it stops him from getting to his thumbs comfortably.

Current favorite habit would be swinging his toys really hard left and right until they flew off onto the floor. Can't wait to see what's next :)

Firsts

This weekend, it's Tobey's first propper attempt on the high chair...lasted 30 mins, I am happy!

and first time allowing us to keep a hat on his head throughout a trip

Chili Prawn

Thanks to Mae Pranom Brand- Chili Gravy for Fried Fish...a sauce that actually gives you want you expected of it.

Smile!

I think Tobey finally understands that he's suppose to sit still and smile when we point the camera at him.....

Week 18

We had a wonderful time over the weekend. Sk finally had a work stress-free weekend with us. It was so relaxing. We just went shopping leisurely, sat in a cafe, played with Tobey and had lots of walks. Tobey definitely enjoyed his time with his daddy and as for me, it's definitely a bonus when SK can take over in looking after Tobey whilst I had extra few hours of sleep on Sunday morning. Darn, I miss lie ins!

This week, we took Tobey to register his birth with the Malaysia Embassy in London. We also managed to get his passport done. Since we live no where near London and we needed to get there by 8:30 am so as to ensure the collection of passport falls on the same day, we left the house at 5:35am to avoid traffic congestion into London. Not nice. But it was a first for us to be driving through the central of London. We drove on Baker St., Oxford St., and even drove through Tower Bridge! Usually, we would be walking, clutching our backpacks, camera and map. London drivers are one hell of a confident bunch. Delivery vans would criss-cross impatiently and fast cars would go...well fast, in the middle of the morning traffic. The funny thing is there were still those brave souls who cycled to their destination!!!!!! Just imagine a cyclist in KL morning traffic. Then there's this cute little electric milk truck that zoomed calmly by. I thought those things only worked in places like kampung Norhampton, so it was a delightful sight.

We went to visit Tsulin and her lovely daughter Shean Wenn

Tobey was happy to meet Shean at last. Both babies are born 2 weeks apart and their mummies have been discussing about them since they were still in their respective mummy's womb! Shean and Tobey didn't really talk much to one another, but they are not shy to sit near together as well...infact they are quite comfortable with one another

see Shean even allowed Tobey to have his nappy change in her turf! Such a lovely host she is.

In terms of development, Tobey has been practicing 'sitting-up unsupported' alot this week. His fav place would be his cot as the mattress is softer for him to elbow himself up to sitting position. When he's sitting up, he would look over the rail and he finally saw where I've been sleeping all this while. Can't pretend I am not in the room anymore, he knows where to look for me now.

Since he's so into sitting, we finally assembled the travel cot for him to play in. No longer can just place him on the sofa and expect him not to tumble onto the floor

We've also put him in this empty nappy box when we wanna cart him into another room when needed. He loves it!

As for solid food intake. I've made my first homemade combi puree this week, made from rice, sweet potato, carrot and broccoli cooked over slow fire. He had no problem with it. But I discovered it was a task to not make too much as these homemade puree is awful for freezing as their texture doesn't stay smooth after defrosting. So the solid journey continues...

Week 17

Tobey had his 3rd vaccination jab this week (3 needles!!!). He was a brave boy, just cried for like several seconds and looked at the third needle going into his thigh. On that night itself, he had his first fever. We didn't think he mind that much, probably just thought the night just became really warm. We gave him some Infant Calpol (150mg of paracetamol for every 2.5ml) and that did the trick of bringing his temperature down. The next day, he refused his solid due to lack of appetite. But in true Tobey form, he bounced back on Friday and all energetic again.

Started him on solid, once a day ( except for that Thursday when he wasn't feeling well). Staple of rice cereal and rusk mixed with his formulae milk. Introduced him to sweet potatoes puree (he didn't like it. Could be too thick, will try again this coming week) and banana puree (he loves it but it gives him funny looking poo, so I'll leave that off for now). Looking forward to give him spinach and carrot puree soon.

He sits better (supported) nowadays. Often caught him balancing on his rocking chair whilst watching tele.


He also developed this strange habit of pursing his lips in all sorts of manner since starting solid. My guess is that he is experimenting in ways of keeping his food in. Funny boy, sometimes when he pulls such faces, he looks like an old man chewing without teeth!

Tobey is also more playful nowadays. He's would repeat a same action again and again as if it's a funny game. For example, when sitting on our lap, he would tilt his head back to look at us and give us a smile, then look back at his toy, then repeat the tilting action again and again till something else caught his attention. He also perfected his skill of putting his arms out and calling out to us if he wants to be carried. He would do so whilst looking into your eyes, making it much more difficult to ignore him.

His sleep pattern changes each night. But still at 5-6 hours stretches. So I am not too bothered. Probably just reaction to the starting of solid.

My Page Turner

Tobey has been perfecting his skill of 'turning pages' for a couple of weeks now. I know it's not much of a skill, but it's the first channel for him to show me that he understands what I say to him sometimes. When I sit him on my lap and read him his poem or story books, I would leave the next page/leaf loose from my grip, then I'll asked him to “ Flip the page for mummy, baby” and he would do so in his own way. Sometimes midway through the flipping process he would lick the bottom corner of the page first, then continue to flip it. There are times when he would not be intrested in what I am reading at all, he would just proceed in flipping one page after another without me asking him to do so, which can get quite annoying, as I could only read the first line of each page before he flips it over. I suppose it's not time to instill manners yet, but instead just allow him to practice his hand-eye co-ordination and pincer grasp techniques for now.