It is with relief that I type this blog post. Life with Isabelle at 8.5 months is a lot better than before, mainly because we have started to sleep train her. We couldn't bear all the rocking and cuddling her to sleep, especially both K and I have bad backs and her increasing weight is not helping at all. Out of desperation we engaged a sleep consultant for help. We were given a feed and sleep schedule which we followed, as well as steps to sleep train her. Ironically right after I paid the sleep consultant, I realised that Isabelle seemed to be more cooperative at sleep times even before I started sleep training her. Talk about Murphy's Law! K joked that Isabelle probably heard our conversation and know what was coming, and decided to be nice and cooperate. So yes, these days we can put her down in her cot, say "Isabelle it's sleepy time", kiss her good night and leave the room. This was my holy grail. I am so pleased and encouraged by this positive result. Not only that she sleeps through the night! From 730pm till 730am! Say what?? I know, right? Hallelujah praise the Lord!
Our weekly routine
I've also started a weekly routine with her, so a typical one looks like this
Mondays - half day at childminder's
Tuesdays - free and easy day
Wednesdays - Baby sing and sign in the morning
Thursdays - half day at childminder's
Friday - swimming class in the morning
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| Hanging out in the garden with the rest of the kids |
At the risk of being labelled as a 'tiger mum', I've narrowed down to two classes in a week which I think would be useful - baby sing and sign (where we sing songs together and do some simple sign language for babies to express themselves before they can articulate), as well as swimming.
Swimming
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| Wearing her swim nappy and a neoprene nappy cover to prevent accidents in the pool |
Just because she sleeps so well after that, even though it is a logistical nightmare for me. I often cringe at the thought of the prep before and after. Friday mornings I need to have our bag packed. Then I start to prepare lunch for both of us because we would be famished by the time we reach home. I then need to drive us to the venue, which by the way is a private pool in someone's house in a posh neighbourhood. I had always assumed it is in a condo where the pool was a shared facility, but little did I realise this heated pool was in a separate annex of someone's house! It was no wonder that when the teacher sent out the instructions she said to look out for the name of the house, walk through the set of black iron gates and down a private driveway. Seriously, a different world from what I know. Anyway back to my logistical challenge. During lesson, I go into the pool with Isabelle for our 30min lesson. When we emerge, we are both dripping wet and I need to dry and dress both her and myself. She is at the stage where she loves to crawl everywhere so it is an impossible thing to do. Can you imagine? Twice now I've had to get strangers (parents/family members sitting by poolside) to help me hold her whilst I get dried and changed at lightning speed. I mostly emerge looking like the most unglamorous mum with wet hair sticking to my scalp, tied into a wet and flat ponytail, possibly with wet patches on my clothes too because you know I was drying myself in haste. Seriously, you would never catch me looking like this, ever. Until now. I throw everything wet into a plastic bag which I packed, and then carry Isabelle to the buggy which I had 'parked' in the garage of this mansion. I push her down the private driveway and toward our car. Load everything up, and start the drive home. Once home, I heat up the lunch and feed her. She is usually very sleepy by now. Off to bed you think? Uh uh.. no. She is still covered with chlorine water, and so I need to run her a bath and clean her (by this time I start to wonder why did I even think of enrolling her for a swim class?). Dry and dress her - she smells divine by now - and put her down for her nap. Finally it is time for my own shower. By the time I collapse in my bed it is 3pm. All these for a 30min session in the pool. Is it worth it? Mmmm... not sure but I am committed to doing 10 weeks of this so no turning back!
Developments
Isabelle has developed a lot in the past few weeks. She's learnt to clap-clap and wave-wave (why do baby words always come in two syllabus?). She has a new favourite song. She recognises it when we put on Netflix on the TV. When she sees the red Netflix logo she screams with joy. The biggest one is still of her sleeping on her own and through the night, which is a life saver for me as I am the one doing all the night feeds. She's crawling at lightning speed and pulling herself up to stand at ease. We are very encouraged by all the positives we are witnessing and it is amazing how one small human being can develop and learn so fast.
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| Her fav pose watching TV. Her left leg will always shoot up. And it is with this power kick that she has broken two of my favourite bowls when we were feeding her. |
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| Inspecting our wine rack |
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| Checking my shelves and emptying them, thank you Isabelle |
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| In her sleeping bag before bedtime |
What's for food?
Feeding wise, I am trying to do baby led weaning every now and then. It is always easier to feed her baby rice or baby cereal. But when I found out from the childminder what she gave the kids including Isabelle for her lunch on the first day there, I had to go away and reflect. She gave them (non-spicy) curry chicken and rice for lunch, and pizza bread for dinner. She gave Isabelle smashed blueberries to feed herself. She even sent me a picture to show me how well she was eating all these food. Wow you mean Isabelle can eat pizza bread? And chicken curry? And there I was, making congee, baby rice, baby cereal, all the easy to eat and swallow stuff. When my friend Pris heard about it, she suggested I could start feeding Isabelle what we eat for our meals so it is easier for me and I don't have to purposely cook a separate small portion for her. "Bel, if she is already eating chicken curry..." I agree, that chicken curry is definitely a game changer for both Isabelle and me.
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| Her first baby led weaning experience where I gave her half a banana and she ate with gusto. In fact she filled up her entire mouth with banana I was so worried. I had to make sure she chewed and swallowed everything before the next huge bite. Her fave food till date. |
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| Boiled carrots, beans and asparagus. And raspberries to end the meal. She wasn't very impressed with this one. |
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| I created the same homemade pizza bread using tomato puree and some cheddar cheese, boiled some butternut squash, and cut up some grapes for today's lunch. Also wasn't very impressed. She doesn't like butternut squash. |
We went to Hever Castle last weekend and here are some pics to share
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| Stopping for lunch at a nearby pub |
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| Love this family shot |
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| Very intrigued by this lady in period costume |
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| A couple shot is so rare these days |
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| Ballet legs |
And to end off this blog post, I think I might have two professional Linked In profile shots for little Izzy. What do you think?
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