Crawling, Walker and Walking

It's been awhile, but there has been so much going on that am a bit behind on blogging :)  Recently I've started crawling so mommy finally got me a walker for me to practice my walking.


You might be thinking why mommy only got me a walker after I started walking right?  Well, that is because she learnt that it is very important that I learn to crawl first.  As when I learn crawling, it helps my brain learn to co-ordinate between the left and right sides of the brain.  As well as, know by reflex that if I fall forward, my hands will know to lighten the fall to prevent my face hitting the ground.  


So now, I'm officially mobile!! Watch out world here I come ^_^ Firstly conquering the jumping castle today, so much fun!!

The art of managing teething

Teething is always an exciting, painful and sleepless period of time.  The best way that my mommy has found to help me through this is by giving me a whole fruit to bite.  This helps relieve the pain and also stimulate my gums for other teeth about to come.  


Start with soft fruit, like pears.  They are very soft to bite, easy to digest and high in fiber.  You'll find that your little one will be sucking on the fruit just like I did.  This is better then giving juice.  All the nutrition of the fruit is actually in the fruit itself and not the juice.  The juice merely has natural sugars and are empty calories.  It is not a good idea to give juice while teething as it may decay the teeth even before they have fully emerged.  It is very important to those pearly whites in tip top shape as it is a crucial part when starting to talk.  


Once there are at least two teeth, apple can introduced.  Apples are a bit hard, hence the reason of only introducing it when there is teeth.  


Remember mommies, to stop pureeing the food too fine from now to encourage chewing ^_^ 


Mommy found that Vidol works wonders and plus it tastes good, like grapes.  It helped with the pain.

Thammi's (Grandma) new toppi for me (奶奶溫暖牌毛線帽襪)

A few days ago, mommy got a surprise DHL package from India.  When she opened it there was the set of hand knitted hat, socks and jersey from my Thammi whom I love so much.  It was the best things ever.  So I thought I needed to share this with everyone on how I look in it.  


In the picture with me is my lovely nanny, Memory.  She takes such good care of me when mommy is not around.

Chinese Dinner.....loving the tofu

Mommy finally made me Chinese...totally loved it, especially the tofu. Th e tofu was maps tofu less the heat and cauliflower with carrots served with rice and lentils. Hence there shall be three parts to the dinner. My mommy has finally figured out that my favorite foods are Indian, Chinese and African. I personally do not like western food such as pasta.

Rice

The rice is cooked with lentils so it gives extra protein and fiber.  This keeps me regular, very important in a baby's life.

Cauliflower and carrots

Very basic stir-fry with little bit of vinegar and sugar to taste.  No salt for the baby :)

Mapo Tofu

Ingredients

Tofu

Minced Chicken - marinate with little of soya sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil.

Chinese Mushroom

Garlic

NOTE:  Everything is diced.

First fry the garlic in little oil till aromatic.  Then add the mushroom and fry till aromatic.  Add the mince Chicken.  Add a bit vinegar, soya sauce and sugar to just taste.  Add the tofue and simmer till the tofu changes color then its done.

There is really no measurements in chinese cooking but your taste buds.  So taste as you cook, it's the best way to do it.

First Try at Indian...a bit hot, next time no more chilli

Today my mommy made her first chicken curry with dahl, it was tasty but a little too hot for me.  Although it was just one little chilli that you won't taste, for me, I taste it alright~ I've suggested my mommy to give you all the recipe with no chilli added...hahaha. Mommy has also started cooking for the whole family at once.  So the only difference is my portion gets taken out before she adds the salt.  The reason being that to give babies too much salt at an early age would be heavy on the kidneys.  In doing so she doesn't need to cook two different things everyday.  

Chicken and Dahl curry served with Roti (made with atta). I've cooked this in a pressure cooker.

Ingredients:

Chicken pieces (suggest not to use breast as they tend to get dry)

2 tomatoes

1 onion

1 teaspoon Garam Masala

2 teaspoon Garlic

2 tablespoon Ginger

1/2 cumin seeds

2 bay leaves

2 to 3 cups of hot water (roughly about 300ml)

3/4 cup red split lentils

First marinate the chicken with the following:

1/2 teaspoon tumeric

1/2 chilli powder (don't worry the little one won't taste this)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 lemon juice

Curry paste:

Blend the tomatoes, onion, garam masala, garlic and ginger into a fine paste in the blender.

Cooking (one pot cooking in a pressure cooker):

Put a small amount of oil to fry the cumin seeds and bay leaves till aromatic.  Once you get the aromatic smell, pour in the curry paste.  Simmer at a low heat.  Once thick put the chicken in and brown.  Then pour in the water and lentils to mix well.  Then put on the pressure cooker lid and let it whistle for 5 whistles.  Once you've heard the 5 whistles take it off the hot stove and set aside till all pressure is gone.  Then you are done.

Always quick and simple...hope you'll all love it :)

Routine, routine and more routine, remember it is also just a guide...

Many books and people say that routine is extremely important, which I absolutely agree.  As a baby, I would also like to know what will happen next.  This gives me comfort and security.  Since I don't have a long term memory as yet, repetition is good.

Before I was 3 months, my mom thought a routine may be a bit cruel to me.  Then it was hard on my parents having to share a night in 2 shifts.  Now, that is quite cruel on them, not being able to get a good nights sleep.  Most of all they did not even sleep in the same room for 3 months.  So when I turned 3 months, my mommy decided it's time that I have a routine.  I mean it's like she lets me "cry-it-out" when I'm hungry, it's just a simple set schedule which makes me follow.  Then she'll also monitor me to chop and change where necessary to adjust to my changes as I grow.  Mommies, this is very important!  Don't be stubborn about the fact that a bottle is not to be given even 1 minute before the scheduled time.


So below is the schedule that my mommy has set for me, and I'm quite happy with it.  Also remember with this schedule, when we cry you would know what is wrong and not having to guess.


06:30am - Wake
07:00am - Breakfast
09:30am - Morning Nap (bottle and sleep)
11:00am - Wake
12:00pm - Lunch
14:00pm - Bath
14:30pm - Afternoon Nap (bottle and sleep)
16:00pm - Wake and snack 
17:30pm - Supper
19:00pm - Night Long Sleep (bottle and sleep)


A word from my mommy :)
By having this routine for my little one has improved my life very much.  I'm no longer tired all the time and actually get sleep in the night.  The above outlined routine is merely a guideline, I chop and change from time to time as well depending on the day's plans.  What I find the best is that slowly my little one started to drop the night feeds by himself.  To this day, 3 days out of a week he would not wake for a bottle.  This is divine~

Fresh fruit jelly and yogurt

Kid's like me love jelly, but the box jellies aren't always healthy.  My mommy went the extra mile and made me jelly from fresh fruits.  This way it is healthy and sweet.  It got me coming back for more!

Come on mommies, take 30mins from your weekend to make this delicious healthy snack.  Instead of buying a packet of jelly, make your own with real fruit juice and fruit.  We will love you for it.  This particular one is made of blue berries.

NOTE:  You can get some extra fruits to place at the bottom of the jelly mold to enhance the texture and flavor.  Again, remember to make sure that the fresh fruit is soft and won't become a choking hazard.

Ingredients:

75g Fresh Blueberries

Quarter Lemon

2 tbsp Maple syrup (Remember kids under 12 months cannot have honey, so do not substitute with honey)

200ml cooled boiled water

Clear Gelatin (1 sheet)

Place 75g blueberries in a saucepan with the lemon juice and 200ml water.  Slowly bring to a simmer, then simmer for 5 minutes until the blueberries collapse.  Then taste the juice and add the maple syrup to your desired sweetness.  Strain through a fine sieve to remove all the seeds.

Put the gelatin into the hot blueberry juice.  Then place into molds and refrigerate for 4 hours.

It's that simple - ENJOY!