Named His Family

"Ana" This is how Joseph calls me every time.
One day I heard a little, cute and innocent voice call my name. "Ana..." Fidel called me! Children learn things very fast, especially at this early age.
When Fidel is with his daddy, Fidel likes to tease and keep calling my name, "Ana..., Ana..., Ana...."
OK... this is how he knows my name.

I teach him his daddy's name. He said "Yofes..." He still can not call his daddy's name clearly. Many times he forgets the name. Daddy's name quite hard to pronounce and remember.

Just one month before I deliver my second son, we finally decide his name. We told Fidel his brother name. I pointed my tummy and said, "弟弟的名字是(Brother's name is) Habel".

Surprisingly when I asked again what his brother's name, he can mention it clearly. At that moment he couldn't even mention his own name clearly yet.

After trained him few times about our name. Joseph had this conversation with him:
Joseph : "弟弟叫什么名(what is your brother's name)?"
Fidel : "Habel Lim"
Joseph : "你叫什么名(what is your name)?"
Fidel : "Fidel Lim"
Joseph : "妈妈呢(how about mother)?"
Fidel : "Ana..."
Joseph : "Daddy 叫什么名(what is daddy's name)?"
Fidel : "Papa Lim!"

Langsat and Jelly

I still remember Fidel's first word when he learned to communicate with us, which giggled us was "Up". He used the wrong word instead of "Down". I think he was about 20month-old that time.
Joseph and Fidel were playing together in the room. He wanted to ask his dad to come down from the bed. He pointed his finger and moved toward down and say, "Daddy up, daddy up".

Few months ago was Langsat/Duku (fruit) season. Joseph and Fidel like it so much. They ate together and Joseph always reminds him, "Be careful, got seed inside". After eat the flesh, he will spit the seed out.

Last Sunday at church, teacher gave him a small pack of jelly with nata de coco inside. First bite, he loves it. Then I helped press the whole jelly into his mouth. Soon he spit the whole jelly out.
I asked him, "Why?"
He frowned and said, "Got seed".

I Must Wean Him (Day 2)

This morning I was very excited to give Fidel try new formula milk.

“Fidel…. Mommy croot croot croot nen-nen to this cup for you to drink, OK?” I made the squeezing sound and acted as if I squeeze the breast milk out to his cup. After repeat 2-3times to ensure him, he nodded his head and smile…

Yes! He understand what I’m saying. I made 3oz and passed it to him.

“Nen-nen…. Yeah! It’s very nice!”

He took it and had a sip. He continues sip and sip, within 2 minutes he finished the milk.

“Mo mo...” Fidel tried to say ‘no more’. He whined to have more milk.
“More? More nen-nen? Really?” I asked him few times and he nodded his head again and again.

Wow! Is it so delicious? He wants more! I was so excited and made another 3oz. He drank it but not finish.

Oh, it’s OK. At least my son had drink 4-5oz this morning. Success! Success!

Come to afternoon nap, I can see that he’s tired. I just prayed that we would have a smooth sleeping process.
“Come here Fidel, sleep next to mommy, but no nen-nen” I covered my whole body with blanket. And he started to whine, try to take the blanket away, and he cried. I tried to persuade him, but he didn’t want to bother me. After 20minutes crying, I pulled him and place him on my tummy facing me. He stopped crying and slept on me. After fall asleep, I put him down on the bed, he cried again. OK… OK… then I let him sleep on me for the whole afternoon nap, about one hour. Thank you Lord, he sleeps without breastmilk.

At night, before we go to sleep, I asked Fidel to pray together and he did do his hands like praying, “… Lord, we pray that Fidel can sleep well without nen-nen. … …”

After switch off the light, Fidel did trying to find his nen-nen and whined. I said to him, “I’ve told you that I have no nen-nen anymore. Dry…(don’t know whether he understands the word ‘dry’), no more… finish. Just now you drank nen-nen in the bottle. You must sleep now.”

Amazing! Thank you Lord Jesus. You really listen to our prayers. He just came up to my tummy and slept there hugging me. I place him down on the bed after few minutes.

Prayer is so powerful! Just need two days to wean him. God, you are so good to us!

Fidel and the Broom

Crazy of Housekeeping

If everybody busy of tidying and cleaning their house because of Chinese New Year is coming, my 16months Fidel does too.

Recently he is very interested in broom and mop. I always say “No no”, but he doesn’t bother me. He takes the broom or dry mop and goes round the house – from living room, our room till kitchen. The funny thing is he does it seriously, he squads down to sweep the area under sofa or chairs. I giggle when I see him doing it, “He is copying his clean and hardworking mother in doing housekeeping”. Hahaha….

You can click here to see his housekeeping video.
Finally, he tired and sat over there with his head full of sweats (last photo).

Fidels' Studio Photos

Dec 2009, I bought Mamy Poko Diapers and get one free photo shoot to join the Mamy Poko photo contest.

Without thinking of winning the contest because I’m sure out there must be a lot of children who can do better expression in front of the camera, I took Fidel one morning to the selected photo studio.

The photographer, we called him “uncle” tried to be nice to Fidel. Ask me to take Fidel around the photo studio, to get him familiar so he won’t afraid or cry later. OK… it seems like Fidel is not afraid at all. Then the photo session started.

“Hello, hello… Boy… look at here… Baby, baby…. Xiao xiao(means smile), hello….”, said uncle.

Fidel stared at the uncle. He wondered what was happening there. Gave him many toys to hold, and he said, “Mama… mama…” (try to give the things to me).

“Look at uncle, Fidel… Xiao xiao…” I said this sentence many times. Did many funny actions, gave him biscuits, but still cannot make him smile. Sigh…. The whole session made me tired. No even one photo with smiling face. No chance to win…

Uncle offered me a photo package. As Fidel was in the studio photo and captured by a pro, so why don’t we choose some of his photos. We ordered few simple calendars with his photo to give to Ah Ma-Ah Kong and Po Po-Gung Gung(both grandparents) in Jakarta too. Usually they must be happy to see their grandchild photo. It’s a good idea gift for New Year.

Here are his photos. Though without smile, he is still a cute one, isn’t he?

Last Prize in 2009

It’s a little bit late to post this. Actually I have many stories to tell, but I have no time to write. When I have time… I’m lazy to write. Hahaha…

These are the 3rd prize that Fidel won last August 2009-Laundry Cleanser Concentrate and Liquid Cleanser. Yippee… I can save more money again.Last Dec 2009, I received email from Mother and Baby Magazine, which said “Congratulation… … …”. You know the meaning, right?

Sept 2009, I was thinking to buy a different magazine—“Mami&baby” instead of “Parenthood”. Just to try my luck. Usually if we are selected as a winner, it will show up at two months later edition. Wait till Nov 2009… didn’t receive any email. So I just forget about it.

Middle of Dec 2009, I was excited to see a letter in my inbox.

That was the story how Fidel won the prize for the 4th time. Thanks to Brother Vincent for always helps us in redeeming all the gifts. Btw, Fidel was one of the Candid photo winners. The photo was taken when he was 11.5months, tasted ice cream for the first time. It’s very cold till he wrinkled his face.

Mami & Baby Dec 2009

11.5monthsand the gift...

Fidel won 4prizes in 2009; hope to get more in 2010. Hahaha….

Jakarta Boy

Joseph always calls Fidel, “Jakarta Boy” every time Fidel goes to Jakarta. Actually we’ve been here for almost 3weeks. J accompanied us here for 4-5days and he went back for work. Our last trip to Jakarta was ten months ago, F was only 4.5month-old. Now he is 14months.

At first we quite worry as the journey takes 2hours20minutes and as we know F can’t sit still too long, he likes to be free, crawl and play. We manage to make F sleeps on the plane. What I need to do is wake him up earlier and keep him active for 2-2.5hours. Finally, just before boarding, F fell asleep. Yeah! We made it.

He slept for 1hour. When he woke up, he wondered where he was. He hurried walked to the window and looked out, and he said,”Oh…oh….” I guessed he was amazed to see the cloud and the blue sky. We still have about 1hour in the plane. We just let him sit, stand, play and had his lunch too. The seats were not full, Fidel paid RM30 for Penang-Jakarta flight and he had his own seat.

We reached Jakarta about 12noon. Yeah! “Here we are again!” My sister-Belley and my grandma were waiting for us. Because we tired and the weather was about to rain, so I prefer to home and had lunch at lunch as my mom had prepared food for us.
We reached home and Fidel starts his inspection. He crawled to every corner in the house. Our house in Jakarta is not childproof. I was very busy in following Fidel and say ”No-no” all the time.

Jakarta Boy is in action!
Hope you enjoy your holiday here, Fidel.

Fidel's 2nd trip to Jakarta (14months)

With Pho-pho in the zoo??

"He is humming"

Started few months ago, I let Fidel listens songs at home or in the car. I noticed that he starts singing, more to humming when he watches the children video program (“I Can Speak Mandarin") – they play, learn, read rhymes, and sing songs together. He enjoy the story so much and sometimes he laughs and claps hands when he hears the rhymes.

One day I was in the kitchen while he was watching the video, and I heard him humming to the songs though his tune was not right yet. He surprised me.

“Fidel, you are singing…. “ He looked at me and gave a smile and continue watching.

While three of us went out to church, hymn songs were played in the car, he enjoy the music and humming again.

“Listen, he is humming” I told my hubby. He looked at Fidel and smiled.

If he likes the music, he’ll move his body. You will see him shake his tummy up and down. And claps his hands when the music stop.

Re-train Fidel

Three weeks ago when Fidel was sick and didn’t want to eat for 4-5days, we decided to let him latch on me while he sleeps at night. Every time he woke up, I’ll offer him. Until he recovered, it became a habit. He wakes up quite many times in the middle of the night and will get back to sleep only when he gets the milk. When he wakes up, I would pretend sleeping and won’t bother him. Guess what he did… He did “self service” by pull-up my shirt and act like the milk is belong to him, and he would suck till sleep.

I told Joseph that we can’t let him go back to his bad habit—wakes up many times and need to latch-on only get back to sleep. So, we decided to let him sleep with Joseph.

Then the training starts….

Fidel woke up at night and knew that the person slept next to him was not me, he cried. He cried for about 40minutes and fell asleep.

In the morning 05.30, I heard from the other room (when its training period, I sleep at other room) that he cried. I did send SMS to Joseph ask whether need me to go to the room. He said wait till 6 O’clock only give him milk. After cried, he gets back to sleep again.

When breakfast time, Joseph told me what happened at 5.30 - Fidel cried. Fidel woke up and pull-up Joseph’s shirt. He couldn’t find the breast, so he tried to touch and it was FLAT! (Hahahaha….) Suddenly Fidel cried so loud, because he knows there was no milk for him.

After few days sleeps with daddy, few times wakes up at night, he cries for few minutes. Slowly he knows that no more milk at night.

We are very happy that he doesn’t wake up anymore at night. If he wakes up, we don’t bother him, he will make noise (complaining) but he will go back to sleep again.

Finally, after one week, all of us can sleep through the night.

Fidel is Fully Recovered

Finally after 10days struggling with cough and cold, Fidel is fully recovered now. First 5 days when he was sick, I need to struggle with him many times in a day just to feed him the medicine. Hold him tight and use syringe pump the medicine into his mouth and he will cry very loud. One more thing that he didn't like to do was breath-in the gas/ventolin exohaler using a tool, called aero chamber. This one, I need to tight his whole body with a cloth/blanket. While breath-in, he struggled, screamed and cried. Sounds sadistic huh? No choice... For his own good. He cried loudly, I cried in my heart too.

We try to keep him familiar with the thing and the medicine by letting him play with those things and keep reminding him that it won't hurt him, and the medicine is sweet. Slowly he let us put the aero chamber and he behave very well. We almost couldn't believe how good Fidel is while taking the medicine. No struggle, no cry. Thank God, thank God! He answers our prayers.
One day when he woke up from his nap, I peeped from outside the room. He took the aero chamber and put on his face, pretended using it. I grab my camera and go in to the room, have few shots of him, and he ask me to do it for him. Oh dear... He is such a good boy.

"I think everything is ready here"

"Is it correct to insert this way?"

"Put the mask on your face like this, OK?"

"How come still can not go in?"

Thank you Lord for answering our prayers and healing my baby.

Thank you brothers and sisters for all your prayers and concerns to my little one.
May God bless everyone of us.

Fidel is Having Cough Again

Fidel(13months) has a serious cough and flu again last Wednesday(5days ago) and fever for three days. It has been 6months since he got the last serious cough. He didn’t want to eat any solid food. We tried to pursuit him, did some “trick”, and end up only 1-2scoops went into his mouth. He doesn’t like formula milk and hardly drink water. It makes us worry.

4days before sick

Sick Face (Day 5)

Thank God that He still provides breastmilk for him until now. So, I just let him latch on me the whole night. The next day he still had no appetite. Whole day eats only 4-5scoops for five days and he lost 0.5kg. Within 5days he lost 5months weight that he had gained.

Normally he will come to us when we eat something. Just call his name and show him the food, he will come. But this time, he will just walk away and close his mouth tightly. Offer him his favorite biscuit, usually eat one piece within a minute, this time takes 20minutes and not even finish one piece. Sigh…

We pray and pray that God will heal him and the most important is he wants to eat. We try not to worry so much as we keep praying.

God slowly answer our prayer, although he didn’t want to eat, he still want to drink water. And this evening in front of him I pretended eating my food which was actually his porridge, he looked at me and moves his lips, and he said,”Mam… mam-mam…” Oh dear… Thank you Lord! God answer the prayers. He opens his mouth and eats. If I scoop the food too slow, he couldn’t wait and shouts, “Maaaaam….”

“OK, OK baby….”Look like his appetite is back. One bowl of rice he finished this evening.

Till now, he still has cough and runny nose. Beside few medicines that he takes, we do nebulizer to him too. Hope he will recover soon.

Watching His Favorite Program

Every time I play this program (Fun Song Factory) for him, he feels happy and excited. He claps his hands and makes a little dance by moving his belly up and down. That time he was 11month-old.

Chickenpox At Our Church

Two weeks ago, seven person from the church I attend were attacked by Varicella Zoster – chickenpox virus. It attacked all kind of age, from toddlers till the old one.

Chickenpox is contagious, meaning that someone who has it can easily spread it to someone else. Someone who has chickenpox is most contagious after 2-3weeks since he or she got it, when the scabs are about to fall off.

A person who has chickenpox can pass it to someone else by coughing or sneezing. When he or she coughs, sneezes, laughs, and even talks, tiny drops come out of the mouth and nose. These drops are full of the chickenpox virus.Before you know it, the chickenpox virus has infected someone new.
The good news is that chickenpox is a common illness for kids and most people get better by just resting like you do with a cold or the flu. And the really good news is that, thanks to the chickenpox vaccine, lots of kids don't get chickenpox at all.

Usually the vaccine is given at age 1. But you can get it when you're older too. Kids, who do get it, if they got the shot, often get less severe cases, which means they get better quicker.

Fidel just had the CP vaccine last Wednesday as he is one year-old now and going to face CP virus at anytime and anyplace.

Fidel's First Birthday

First of all, we want to give thanks our precious Lord Jesus for his guidance, protection and wisdom that we could have strength to raise Fidel. Time flies… From his first day arrived in this world, only know how to cry, drink milk and sleep until his first year, he learns a lot of things. Those are blessings to us. He brings laughter and joy to our family.

Last Saturday, we had a cell group gathering to celebrate Fidel and Marion birthday, as their date are the same, but they different nine years.
On Sunday, Joseph’s elder sister made a simple party for Fidel and invited families and relatives. I would like to say many many thanks to all of them for all their love, time, and presents. Thanks to other friends for their wishes and presents too.

Here are the photos which were taken by my camera. I’ll upload more photos at the next post. So, stay tune…

Fidel stunned when we sang birthday song to him

Marion with her barbie cake

Marion with sister Nicole and Mom

"Daddy, let me touch the cake""The cake cream is so yummy"The happiest moment: Unwrap the presents!

He Won Again!

Two months ago (June 2009) I sent Fidel’s 7.5months photo to Parenthood Magazine to join the best smile photo competition from Mei Mei Babycare. I chose a photo which was taken after his bath (Mei 2009) when he laughed.

Last week I went to a magazine shop in Jusco, just to check what Parenthood Magazine contains about for August edition. Accidentally I saw Fidel’s photo. I was surprised, he won 3rd prize! Usually they will notify us through email; the notification came late this time. I didn’t expect that he will win, in fact I had forgotten about it.

Parenthood Magazine, August 2009

Fidel was 7.5months

Still don’t know what the gift is. I will post them in my blog when I receive the gift. So excited!

Fidel's First Shoes

Last month we had a special guest visit from Jakarta. Her name is Fenny, one of my church friends in Jakarta. Before that she was in Singapore, and planned to come to Penang just to visit our beloved son. We were much honored.

She brought a lot of gifts for Fidel. Shoes were one of the gifts. This is Fidel’s first shoes! I put on the shoes to him quickly. At first Fidel cried and refused to wear. He felt threatened with the new thing on his feet. Suddenly he couldn’t stand with the shoes on him. Hahaha…

The next day, we tried again, and this time the shoes became his “friend”. He didn’t refuse and could stand with it.

I had a great time while Fenny was here; we spent most of the night to chit-chat, share about mother experience. I learned a lot from her; a good, wise and proud mother of pretty twin daughters and a talented son. Few dishes I learned from her while she cooked at our house. “Thanks for the great breakfast!”

Fidel was happy too, got aunty who likes to play, sing songs, and carry him while he bored.

“Thanks again for the visit, we look forward to visit you and family too”

Fidel with his new shoes

New Words

Two weeks ago we were visited by four friends from Jakarta. They are Devi, Christina, Renna and Cecilia; very talented young musicians. They did a classical concert here in Penang. Many people loved their performance.

They stayed in our tiny apartment and we (Joseph, Fidel and I) had a great time with the joy and happiness that they brought. Fidel was very happy, because got many “Jie Jie”(sister) played with him.
I told Fidel many times that they are “jie jie” when they played together. One day in the car, he looked to the back where they sat and he said “ceh... ceh…” Everybody was shocked to hear Fidel call “ceh-ceh” instead of “jie jie”. His ability to vocalize is improving.

Second word that he learned recently was when he plays with my handphone and the light of the handphone was automatically off, I said “No more light…, no more…” and Fidel imitated me by saying, “mo-mo…mo-mo”. I was shocked again, he learn something very fast. He is 10.5months now.
Few moments that Fidel will say “mo-mo” and turn his wrist, when:
1. Each part of Fun Song Factory-children song program that he watches finish.
2. I switch off the laptop.

Fidel Misses Daddy

Joseph has not been around for 5days. Time flies… Tomorrow night he is coming back. Wow!

At first when I know that he would go to Japan for business trip, I asked him to stay at other place for 2days after he come back from Japan. Afraid he would bring the H1N1 virus home. But after few days he’s been away from home, Fidel and I miss him very much.

These few days, when I asked Fidel where daddy is, he would turn his head to the door. One more things that really tickled me and at the same time show how much Fidel miss daddy was when I show him Joseph’s photo, I asked him, “Do you miss daddy? Let me show you his photo. Sayang(love) daddy…. How to sayang?” and he did kiss the photo. When I said again, “Sayang, sayang…” he slowly stick his one side of his cheek to the photo.

I left the photo album with him, and I went off to the toilet. And again I saw the sweet sight, he draw his cheek close to the photo. Oh dear… this little baby really miss his daddy.

How could I don’t let them meet each other soon?
Come back soon dear, don’t bother about the virus.
Pray that God will protect and keep our family healthy.

See you tomorrow!

"Bye bye Fidel"

Joseph is going for business trip to Tokyo again. Last year I was 7months pregnant when he left me for the Tokyo trip. Now Fidel is 9 months 3weeks.

Just now sent Joseph to airport, we didn’t go down, just dropped him there because it was heavy rain.

Before he went off he kissed Fidel, and he said “bye bye” to him, and suddenly Fidel felt sad, and started crying when the car door was closed and he walked away. I horn Joseph and he opened the door again to sooth and assure him that daddy won’t go too long, and then he closed the door. Again Fidel cried louder and whimpered. But I managed to calm him down by offer him a new toy. Luckily I bought this “magic” thing.

Just few weeks back, Fidel feels happy or has no feeling while mommy or daddy go out from the house. But now, this little baby finally could understand and feel the feeling of separation. He cried when daddy say “bye bye”. It means they have a very good father-baby bonding. I could see that Joseph is a favorite daddy and a hero to Fidel.

Tonight, Fidel sleeps with me. Hope he won’t wake up and ask for milk.
“Good night dear, good night daddy”