Showing preference

Baby A is starting to have stranger anxiety and showing preference for who he wants. At first, mommy didn't believe it. But after numerous tries, she is convinced. It is so cute to see him leaning his head and upper body toward mommy when he sees her. Baby A is also very vocal and makes lots of babbling sound. Oh, how he love to blow raspberries. One thing he refuse to do is to turn over when he is on his tummy. It seems like he is really resistant. Guess all in good time.

Baby A loves is to hear the ABC and Chinese phonetic song. He always smiles when he hears it. He also loves it if you fly him like an airplane over head.

For some reason, for last couple nights, he is acting like a newborn and waking up multiple times a night. So it is making mommy very tired. Good thing he is so cute. Big brother/sister just love to hold him. In fact, they fight over it.

Today, mommy made some apple puree and baby A got a little taste and like it. Looks like he's definitely ready but we'll still wait a little longer before we give him solids on an everyday basis.

Baby A's first baby food

Baby A is definitely showing sign he's ready for solids. So yesterday, we gave him some homemade butternut squash puree and he LOVE it. Today, I gave him some more, and he ate it all up that I had to give him seconds, all straight out of the fridge. He's also got a super strong grip. We have got to be careful about holding him while at dinner table.

We knew for a long time he recognizes people but today, we really got to see it in action. Grandma held him and he soon started crying. Back in the arms of sister, and he was fine. With grandpa, daddy was holding him while grandpa looked and talked to him. Baby A studied grandpa intently for about 5 seconds, before wailing like he was really scared.

He's sleeping mostly through the night, but day time nap is still very difficult and random. Sometimes, he'll start crying just as we are taking him into his room because he knows we are putting him down for his nap. And of course, he's getting cuter and cuter day by day. We especially love to see him laugh and squeal in delight. He is very aware and gets excited when we take his clothes off to give him a bath. He hasn't been splashing as he use to do and but he does seem to really enjoy his massage.

We are just so grateful for baby A. Love ya, baby boy!

He loves this teether and pacifiers.

Given the choice, baby A prefers to sit up than lie on his back.

Baby A - 3months old

Here is baby A at just 3 months old. He is a big baby, weighing at 15lbs and wearing 6 months old clothes. He is a pretty happy baby and very curious and alert. He usually only takes one nap during the day which make mommy's life pretty hectic trying to balance homeschooling and taking care of him. But despite all the craziness, we all love baby A to pieces. Everyone smooches him way too much. Just looks at those cheeks!

Love this song- All Your anxiety

This is a Celtic arrangement of the old hymn "All Your Anxiety", from Anne MacCallum's album "Shine". The message of the song is pretty much the same as we hear in the familiar hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" : we don't need to carry our burdens, Jesus will carry them for us if we will only let Him.

Here is the link- click here.

Little update

Life .......has been hectic with the newest addition to our family.

Thank goodness.......... for J for being such an awesome helper (What would I do w/o her) and for W being patient and loving to his brother.

Milestone.......baby A had his first chiropractic adj. 7/5/2011

Glad........ I got to shop while wearing a newborn and pushing a stroller with a cart pushed by my boy (finished in 45 minutes including changing a diaper in the restroom)

Funny saying......Upon passing a cemetery, W asked if it is a "graveyard" while J said, "Mommy, when you die, I will decorate your grave really pretty."

Making progress.... with breastfeeding A, breastfeeding A while sleeping, and co-sleeping with A

Today is special......... because it is J's birthday and she is having one of her best friend stay overnight.

Special gift.....amethyst geode given to J by her massage therapist Jody.

I'll always remember......... baby A gave me the biggest smile this morning for at least 10 seconds (maybe it's the co-sleeping?)

Feeling.... thankful for all the blessing God has given me and my family.

Meditating Mamas

By Rebecca Cunningham and Susan Whelehan
Issue 105 March/April 2001(Mothering.com)

I found this article while searching "postpartum" on mothering.com and really liked it. Hope it will help others as much it helps me.

(This is only a partial list and includes meditation for anger, breathe, crying, hands, laughter, mess, mirror, night, perfect mother, time, tiredness, worry)

anger

There are times when anger accompanies me through the day. It slowly simmers as the third shirt of the morning is covered with spit up. It steams while I juggle you, the groceries, the stroller, and the front door keys. It is close to boiling over when a dirty diaper lands face down on the carpet and there are no clean ones close by.

And then you work your magic. With a glance, a gurgle, or a giggle, you invite me to let anger go: to join you and enjoy you on today's journey.

I let anger go. I come with you.

breathe

I listen for your breath without knowing I am listening. It is the changing rhythm that accompanies my day. I hear the echo of your first breath as you climbed to the surface of this world. It echoes when you catch your breath in the depth of a dream. It is there as you struggle to breathe and gulp in nourishment. It is there in the moment before the wave of your crying.

Short, quick breaths. They show you fiercely grasping onto life. Breathe... Keep breathing...

I hear your breath. I give thanks.

crying

Before it comes there is the breath that holds the silent pause. A moment of warning. Now the torrent of cries comes thundering forward. Crying. It swirls into the nooks and crannies of my bones and the sinews of each muscle. I'll try to stay calm. This is the only way you have to tell me what you need.

What is it? What are you asking? I am listening. I am ready to learn your language.

I am calm. I am listening.

hands

Your tiny hands guide me on today's path. They beckon me to journey with you. With wild, flashing fingers you translate your impatience. Hunger shows itself in clenched seed fists. They open into exotic flowers, frozen in a gesture of satisfaction when your belly is full. And when you sleep, your hands, like stars, guide me along your dream-traveling.

Only if I pay attention can I decipher your signing. I must watch closely.

Your hands invite me on today's journey.

laughter

Oh, to see and hear and feel you laugh. Such delight! Such presence! You pass it around the room. You make strangers smile. You lift my spirits and help me remember what is really important. Such is the power of laughter. Your laughter lifts my spirits.

mess

How is it possible that such a tiny person can create such a mess? Mountains of laundry, dangerous piles of dishes, and spit up everywhere. How did it get on the curtains? It must be a testament--this mess--to your life force.

It has been sent--this mess--to challenge my obsession with conquering chaos, with cleanliness. It is here to remind me that a growing life cannot be managed, organized, buffed, polished, folded, or otherwise straightened up. This mess is a sign of your life.

Bless this mess.

mirror

The mirrors in my home capture many truths of my everyday life. Indeed, Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn say that parenting itself is a mirror in which we get to see the best and worst of ourselves.

May my mirror today reflect courage, humor, kindness, patience, gratitude, wonder, respect, and, at the end of the day, forgiveness.

Parenting is a mirror. What is mine reflecting?

night

I can count on night coming, but I cannot count on how much sleep I'll get. I can count on night coming, but I cannot expect hours of uninterrupted rest. I can go to bed worried that I will be up soon, or I can go to bed and know that I will get some sleep. Yes, night has changed for me. And it will someday change again. I will make the most of it now.

I am in the moment. I relax.

perfect mother

Too often I begin my day with the holy grail of "Perfect Mother" hovering before me. I vow to be confident with every gesture. I pledge my allegiance to eternal cheerfulness, cleanliness, and competence. I devour how-to parenting books living in the fantasy world of super-momdom.

Enough! I will be gentle with myself as I grow into this new role. I will recognize today's quest as an opportunity to learn how to be your mother in this moment, now.

I will be gentle with myself.

time

Nothing I ever did could have prepared me for this reality, for this moment. Sometimes I waste time worrying about your future, your schooling, your career, instead of enjoying you now.

Perhaps the greatest gift I can give you is my presence. It is so hard to be in the present. But you ground me. Perhaps that is your present to me. Let us be together now.

I am in this moment. I give thanks.

tiredness

This moment's tiredness spreads itself across my shoulders and into this day. Like a yoke balanced on my spine, it holds both a witness and a warning. As a witness it sees the magnitude and monotony of daily routines. It also warns me, this tiredness, to recognize my limits when frustration easily flies from my lips.

I know that I will not always be this tired. But, for now, let this tiredness remind me to seek rest and acknowledge the loving work of mothering.

I am strong. I rest.

worry

Worry taps on the window and lets itself in before I've opened my eyes. It skitters underfoot and settles in for the day. You haven't eaten enough...you've eaten too much. You didn't nap long enough... you're sleeping awfully long. You seem fussy...you're too quiet.

I will sit face-to-face with worry. I welcome conscientious caution. I reject paranoia. I will open the door and let worry out.

Open the door. Let worry out.

Both elementary school teachers, Susan Whelehan and Rebecca Cunningham live in Toronto , Canada . They each have two children. As new mothers, they felt a need for a book of brief meditations to help them along the way; when they couldn't find one, they decided to write it themselves, and so Meditating Mamas was born. Artwork by Novalis, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada.

A new baby boy

Baby A was finally born on 6/6/2011 at home in the water. First baby in our family to be born at home and in water. He came out eyes wide open and alert.

Attended by mom, dad, sister and brother who loves him very much. Many people prayed for him and waited many days for his arrival.

We praise and thank the Lord for baby A!

Day 1 photos