Saturday, October 24, 2009

How Now Brown Cow?


Is blending fresh apple not apple puree?
I googled and found this video http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-apple-puree
The apples are being boiled before meshing, and it doesn't look oxidized! Gosh.
The puree I've made is so oxidized that I don't think it serves much nutrients eating it.
I think I really need to research on making baby food.
***
Gosh gosh. Supposed to cook any fruits before feeding.
Sharks. Got to seriously go read up! help!
***
Saving Grace! Avocado need not be cooked. Even for an infant. *phew!
Creamy Banana-Cado Baby Food
Peel and de-pit a ripe avocado. Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork. Peel and mash 1 banana. Place in a blender or food processor and puree until desired texture is achieved. Avocados and Bananas do not need to be cooked.

Of Potty & Winter

Winter in East Coast.
Kiki looks as if she was going somewhere cold.
Indeed, the shopping centres in Singapore are cold.
So much energy to keep the buildings cool, yet the generators emit even more heat to the atmosphere. Try standing behind an air-con generator and you will know what I mean.
I never did care until I watched I "an inconvenient truth". Although I still feel that even if I think green or go green, my efforts alone will not be able to effect major change, which is what we need. Rain (new colleague) reminded me that if everyone who thinks like me put in an effort, there will surely be results. So, ya, I will be mindful of the resources that we have and with my personal effort, be green. (having said that, I am not ready to be a fanatic, so please don't talk to me about carbon footprints and all). http://www.climatecrisis.net/


First time using the potty today. It is funny how she natrually grunts when she poops.
Probably, making that noise made it easier.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Poem

Found this poem on the net:-

If I had my child to raise again

If I had my child to raise over again I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more and point fingers less. I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.

By: Diane Looman "Full esteem ahead" (via Little Red Bus)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Smile!

Recently, she has been breaking into wide smiles all so often. It is very delighting, her megawatt smiles could light up a room.

Recipe


I made porridge again on Saturday morning, this time, the porridge was great! I used the mini slow clock cooker (is it slow clock? I'm not sure. Maybe it is as it takes a long time to cook anything at all). Anyway, as I was saying, the slow clock cooker gave such soft rice grains that I could easily mash them up. The only catch was that it took 1 & 1/2 hours for it to cook. But the carrots that I made failed to be soft. I didn't want to wait another one hour for it to slow cook; I cooked it over the stove fire. No matter how I boiled it, it wouldn't turn soft. Maybe the carrots are too old and dry. I did go to the market to buy baby-carrots but all the packets there had dried-up carrots. So anyway, Kiki took only a few mouthful of porridge and that was it for Saturday. Oh, thankfully I've got pumpkin squash as a backup and she enjoyed it. Emm... it was jar baby food, in case you're wondering....
Sunday was a lot better, I made avocado into cream. Good recommendation from Pam, she told me to get the Braun hand-blender and it works wonderfully. Of course I didn't let Kiki finish the whole bowl of avocado (even though she could), as it is too much (I think) for a baby to consume. Hence, I ate half of the portion. It tastes wonderfully rich. Thanks to my mom who had introduced me avocado when I was young, many people I know do not like that fruit, they say they feel like they're eating a cake of soap. Well, maybe if they eat the creamy version, they might like it. Or would they then feel that they're eating face cream.

The Morning


The morning she visited my office.

One of the pantry old auntie wanted to meet Kiki and so I brought her to the office one morning.

There were only five people whom Kiki got to meet as I always reach the office an hour earlier than required. It's not that I am so hard working, but it was to avoid the traffice jam. So anyway, the pantry auntie & our company's cook were both so excited when they see her. Despite the unusual morning outing, Kiki did fairly well and was taking in the envorinment.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Recipe is Love

There is much feedback to me about cooking for babies.

The key, they said, is to practise.

It is true that Kiki only took a few mouthfuls the first time she took porridge last week, and it's true I was discouraged.

Few people have informed me that it is common in the beginning and I should just practise making porridge and coninue to feed Kiki. They said eventually, the baby will grow to love eating it. Jasmine said that one experienced mom (demonstrated) and cooked for her boy and he finished the food but when Jasmine had her hands on it, her boy didn't liked it. Still, she persisted and now, she's a good cook!

Okay, that's encouraging. Thanks.

I shall experiment again this weekend and I should make porridge every weekend!.
Until such time, I will then teach my maid.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Hari Raya- Sarina

Picture Courtesy of Sarina

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Today


My mom bought these jumpers. I wouldn't buy one that says "I love Mummy" cos right now, next to her milk, she loves her caretaker more than us.

At the Cafe




One Birthday Session


Bren's nephew celebrated his 3rd birthday on Saturday.

It was a long day for me because I woke up at 6.58am and was kept busy till late.
First, I cooked spinach porridge for Kiki to let her try. I think I will stick to the rice cereal and bottled food instead. Cooking takes up so much time! Forgive me! I will probably do the cooking thingy when Kiki could sit up firmly.
Second, we went to Sarina's house for Hari Raya visiting. Kiki was not doing well at all. She cried when we stepped into the house, hence we ended up eating at the corridors and spent the whole time trying to bring her into the house in peace without much success.
Third, I went to buy a birthday present for Christopher, get ready the ang bow, get ready the maid and also get Kiki ready for the dinner. Luckily it was held at East Coast where we could just walk across.

"Eating" at the restaurant


For now, everything's heading for the mouth.

The Rabbit that became mine


Kiki likes this black rabbit a lot as she could suckle on its ears and paws, but it was too bad it really wasn't suitable as a toy. I bought it at the pasar malam stall and it is actually a pencil case. One of its eyes came off when Kiki was sucking its ear. Luckily it rolled onto the floor, so, no, this one is out!

Two New Things

Two new things this week:- Buff Junior! Hello Kitty Bandana that can be used as a headscarf, mask, cap, headband, hairband, pirate-styled bandana, etc.

Subscribed to Babytv on SCV cable and I'm glad I did!
Kiki "talks" to the characters on TV and I've noticed she particularly likes puppets!
wow.
She even giggles while watching the programmes.
Additional $4.50 (i think) for this channel.
I like this channel because the programmes are designed for babies, they are slower paced and each segment lasts only about 5 minutes. It plays out many different types of programmes. There're simple graphics, puppetry, 2-D, 3-D, cartoons, and many other slow-paced visuals.

In the evenings




In the evenings


I miss out on these evening walks at the playground as by the time I reach home, it is dark.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

3-Oct-2009, Saturday - Her First Solids




We followed the doctor's instructions to the T, this is Kiki's first solid food!
Most mothers I know gave their babies some form of solids when the baby turns 4 months.
For me, I thought there must be a really good reason why the doctors strongly recommended not to give the baby solids till 6 months.
She took to it very well and has a certain kind of pace to eating, it came naturally.
I try to at least know what it tastes like, turns out, it tastes just like our Nestum cereal.
Nice fragrance to it.



Look-alike


My sis ordered a figuring for herself but it turned out looking more like me, so she gave it to me instead.

Let me try to find a picture of myself, looking like this...
Okay, here you go.



Although I am like 2 to 4 sizes bigger than my sis (depending on whether you're referring to US, UK or Asian chart), people always tells us we look alike.
We think we look a little alike, but we don't think we look as much alike as what they make it out to be.

When we were younger, we had friends calling out to us on the street, mistakening her for me and vice versa. We are always puzzled how these people could genuinely mistook us. Nevertheless, this is a fun and funny thing for me.

Hari Raya House Visiting

Starring at..........










The cat!

My customer invited us to his house for Hari Raya celebration. He naturally thought that I would bring Kiki along, which I'm glad I did. To my relief, Kiki was relaxed and even broke into a wide smile when the hosts greeted her. Again, she won them over with her dimples. The wife exclaimed - Han, look! Dimples!
Could it be that Kiki likes Malays? Hum............ I don't think she knows how to differentiate races yet, but now that I reflect, she does seem more cosy with the Malay ladies. Oh, I wonder if she associates them with Kakak... maybe.
So, anyway, Kiki was charming and the people there took turns to hold her.