家長這身份

老實說，我成為媽媽前從沒有當媽媽的憧憬。（不要誤會,我那兩個活寶貝是計劃生育的成果。）就因為這樣，成為人母後所經驗的每一件小事，我也覺得新奇得來有點古怪。

例如跟孩子們上親子班，好像抱著一舊小粉團唱歌跳舞，總覺得有禮貌的家長們暗地裏比試著孩子們的表現，覺得有點搞笑，但說不出為何搞笑。心裏又有點不安，想跟仔仔說這裏很不cool，媽媽想去飲杯alcoholic drink，你想一塊兒去嗎。。。

第一次參與parents’ day (一個讓家長們互想認識的gathering)，拿著盛滿即溶咖啡的紙杯，然後對著其他家長傻笑，跟著開始懷疑自己是否有社交恐懼症。。。

最有趣是哥哥上年九月開始要做功課。第一次見到那些手冊和回條上的家長簽名一欄，先大笑地說家長簽名這件事實在太retro，太老套了，定過神來，才猛然醒覺我就是那名要在虛線上簽名的老土家長！

Expectation

I was reading several entries under the label "Manki" in this blog just now.  They recalled me the days when Linus was just born and Lucas was less than two years old.  They also reminded me my tenderness towards Lucas when he was still a baby.  I tended not to punish or scolded him at that time.


Lucas is four years old now, my expectation on him is much higher than before.  I have to admit sometimes I lose my temper and patience when he is unreasonable, I punish him hard.


I suddenly remember he is still a very little kid, why should I set such a high expectation on him?


I should remind myself always to show my gentleness towards the little boys.


I love you Lucas.

當媽媽的感覺

當媽媽的感覺,就是孩子在他們的房裡睡著時,在客廳的我也會想念著他們°這是一種很牽腸掛肚的滋味......


我這個傻媽媽,竟然因為太念他們,在這個寒夜對著電腦偷偷哭了一點......

Christmas Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A letter I wrote long time ago

I am tidying up files in my computer, then I 'fished' out this one. A letter I wrote to unborn Lucas when I was in my first pregnancy.

Being a working mom?!

Dear baby,

You know, I am planning to be a working mom. A lot of friends suggested me to be a full-time mom, and someone ( I won’t count this person as a friend) even attacked me verbally as he thinks stay-home mom is the only way a mother should behave.

However, I do believe all decisions have merits and drawbacks. I am sure I love you devotedly since the first time I saw you in your first ultrasound picture. However, having a career in the same time doesn’t make me I love you lesser.

In an on-line forum of a group of working moms, some of the ladies do feel guilty to leave their new born baby at home, and feel jealous when they see their kids develop the intimate bonding with the maids. However, they stress that QUALITY TIME to stay with the baby is much more important. And impressively, they believe that their working life could also provide a positive model for the kids. Financially speaking, some of them are the main bread winners, and that is why they would not consider to quit the jobs, and other claimed that working hard to gain money is also for the good sake of their children, they want to save the education funds for their future.

For me, I would not limit my decisions; I plan to be a working mom because I want to connect to the outside world, and to continue my social personal growth. I do believe this will bring you and me a positive effect. And I can further safeguard our family financial security and provide you more opportunities for the future education.
Striving balance means that I have to choose, but the decision is not all-or-nothing. Since the first moment you appear in my life, I should face the fact that my career development will be slow down a bit, but I don’t care, I love you!!

It is really sweet.. and I am really lazy in my work.... How can I type such a long letter during working hours?

Linus wanna stand up!!

If you put a finger in each of Linus's palm, he will grab it tight and bring himself up, with his little mouth open, like those weightlifters. To keep the balance, he will even move one step forward.

He is such as gorgeous baby.

I always want to bring Linus out to open up his eyes, but he just keeps his eyes shut literally, because he always falls asleep when people carrying him.

When four of us go out, sometimes people pass by turn their shoulder to look at Linus, and then Lucas, and then the whole chunk of us, with their eyes wide open. We can tell they are astonished by our reproduction effectiveness.

Milk production in downward trend

I resumed work last than a month, my milk production has already slipped gradually from 1200 ml per day to 700ml this week.

Tiredness is the key reason of the reduction.

Which may not be bad, at least it is still enough for Linus's consumption, with the provision of reserved milk I save in past two months. And I suffered lesser from breast engorgement.

With the reference of last experience, I would not force myself too harsh, but I wish I could generate breast milk for 6 months.

I am a breadwinner!

After longer than 3-month maternity leave, I have resumed my work this Monday.

The feeling was not that fluctuating as last time when I was just a mother of one kid. Now I still missed my two angels, but I did not feel desperate, I know I can contribute my family in various ways.

My mom visited my babies everyday to ensure everything is on the right track. My nanny is also very helpful. Mom told me that Lucas talked to her and said "Mommy goes for work and Daddy goes for work". He is a very mature baby.

Anyway, I am happy to be one of the breadwinners in my family.

New hair cut

Finally, we convinced Lucas to have hair cut in salon.

He managed to sit on my laps and stayed still when the stylist trimmed hair at the top. However, when the scissors slided near his ears, he struggled and screamed for rescue. Then we had no other choice but to hold his head with some force and distraction to allow the stylist to finish her job. Thanks god it did not spend too much time.

See Lucas's new hair style, isn't it nice?

We treated him a cup of ice milk tea afterward, you cannot imagine that it is his favourite.

******

Recently, Lucas loves singing, his 'play list' includes ABC, My Bonnie, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Row Row Row your boat.

This morning he sang ABC with me and woke Jeff up. How sweet!!!

川字掌及黑眼圈

現在差不多是零晨，剛餵過立立。

他是一個非常固執的寶寶，不只硬頸，背脊也很硬，如果他不肯讓你掃風，他會挺得背部像木板般，誓要躺下來。

看看他的手紋，是川字掌。媽媽說川字掌的人很堅持己見。

我的右手也是川字掌，我媽和婆婆也是。

三小時後立立會再肚餓，我要爬起床再餵他。餵夜奶最折騰人，我也熬出黑眼圈來。但是看著他越見脹鼓鼓的兩腮，怎麼辛苦也覺值得。

中大歷奇之旅

今早我們到中大崇基用早餐。坐在室外雅座，看著校巴經過，朗朗興奮得很。(還有，他目不轉晴看著行過的女孩，笑得很燦爛。真是虎父無犬子。)

餐廳大柱上貼有Ms./Mr. CCBA的poster。我覺得很有趣，很有Miss California或Miss Phoenix之類選美的感覺，亦顯現這所大學的兼容及多元性。

之後我們到了崇基公園散步，那兒像一個完整的小型生態系統，有青蛙，珍禽，毛毛蟲，荷花等等。

走到運動場旁的一段，我看見一名金髮洋妞兒在跑道上跑過，當我告之謝菲，他以為我說謊以戲弄他，他說那兒沒可能有如此美好之事。我再告訴他那女的是穿上bra top及短褲，他說我越描越誇張，沒有人會信的。直到洋妞兒再跑到我們跟前，他才閉嘴。

春天的中大很舒服，在產假結束前要多點去啊。

Breast-feeding

Frankly, I am very exhausted about breast feeding. As it needs much energy to generate the milk, every time when I express the milk, I am falling asleep. Sometimes I even wet all my clothes and the pump is misplaced.

However, for the sake of my kids' health, I shall not give up at least these first few months. Hopefully I can continue to breast-feed when I get back to work.

A huge challenge is ahead, hopefully I have enough strength.

119 lbs and 8 lbs

119 lbs is my current weight, I am having a very good progress.

6 weeks had passed since Linus was born. I have a final postpartum check up today. My body recovered steadily, and I can start having aerobic exercise. I am planning to jog in every early morning.

Linus reaches 8 lbs, is a sturdy baby. His face is chubby and looks like a marshmallow.

******

Lucas is very emotional these few days, all his big teeth are coming out at the same time, he cannot sleep well and is lack of appetite, on top of these, the arrival of his little brother made him jealous. He is very rebellious in last few days. I have no choice but lectured and punished him several times. Punishment is the last resort and I always try to avoid using it, thanks god it works and he behaves very good today, and I can revive the praise tactic - highlight and appreciate his good conduct in an exaggerating way. Cheerful smile is shown across his face again!!

Weight-losing progress

I have burnt out around 15 pounds of fat within this month. My current weight is 121lbs. A very good progress.

Breast-feeding surely helps me a lot, and my little secret - Cindy Crawford A New Dimension DVD guided me back into shape progressively. It is my good workout 'friend'. I have owned it for many years. I did this workout everynight before my wedding (even it is a post-natal workout, I didn't know why I chose it at that moment), and also helped me to get back into fitness after the first child birth.

Hope I can be slender again soon.

Baby-mo

I hate reading those Hong Kong pregnancy or parenting magazines. They just drive me crazy, the content is usually about abnormality during pregnancy or diseases threatening children, or how to cultivate a little genius in order to enter elite schools. Come on, give me a break.

What a surprise that there is an exception in the market - Baby-mo. It is a Japanese parenting magazine but the translated and tailor-made version is available in Hong Kong. All topics are interesting in Feb vol., such as DIY hairdo for babies, 10 mins recipe, etiquette for family visits during Chinese New Year, etc. Not to mention that all baby models are adorable!!

Highly recommend to all mothers.

http://www.baby-mo.hk/

Muscle sore and night leg cramps

My tummy size is increasing. My body is heavier and my legs can't support very well, every night I have muscle sore and leg cramps. I couldn't sleep well in the past few days. I was almost awake in Friday night.

We will have a check-up again tomorrow afternoon, should discuss with my doc about the C-section arrangement. I should confirm with my bosses when and how long of my maternity leave will be within this week.

Cross my fingers!!

Amazing memories

Thanks Jeff, Mui Mui and cousin for giving me such a happy afternoon last Sunday. Without your help, I cannot have such a nice 'pregnancy album'!!

Little baby, thanks for keeping me in such as nice shape even in my third trimester. I am a lucky expecting mom.

Week 30

I am in the 30th week of pregnancy. Little baby seems turned himself upside down already, because I can feel his legs in my upper tummy, kicks me sometimes right under my rib cage.

I remember when Lucas was inside me, he loved to kick my rib cage in the 8-9 months, sometimes even caused me pain. My doc said it was normal.

The feeling is funny when you have a little creature crawling inside your body!!

Sound Sleep

Thanks god, we all had good sleep last night!!!

Don't underestimate baby's adaptability.

Exhaustive work - full time mom

20 minutes to 2008, I am now on bed, typing this entry with my handy notebook.

We cannot join any count down party, how can you sneak to Time Square and leaving your 1 1/2 old baby alone in his crib? However, I enjoy this cozy moment with my little family much more than with a bunch of gorgeous people in any party.

Jeff and I are being full time parents more than one week, we cannot describe how psychically exhausted we are. I really appreciate all those moms and dads who devote their time totally to babies. This is really a 24x7 work, you cannot take a 3 minutes nap or coffee break simply because you are tired. It is because, kids are most demanding bosses in the world.

However, a little smile on Lucas's face can melt our heart immediately and we will never refuse his need of our attention.

I am at 29th week of pregnancy. I do not know where is the fear of premature delivery come from, I always worry little baby will come out anytime. Last night I felt some pain and my womb seems to contract quite heavily. I was scared but I was really too tired to`feel scared. I decided not to wake up and everything would be fine. Thanks god nothing strange happens today.

Almost 7 minutes to 2008, I wish you all happy new year!!!!