Baby Porridge

Kyle is still having on and off fever today, which means total of 3 days of fever. If fever continues tomorrow, he might need to go for doctor to get antibiotics.

I made him a baby porridge, the one that he enjoys during his baby years ^^. A very simple way to cook and can replace with any ingredients. This porridge is without any meat, only a slight seasoning using bovril.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of rice (washed)

2 tblspoon of quick cook oats

1 potato (holland, washed, or any potato)- diced

1/2 australian carrot - diced

1 tiny stalk of brocolli - cut

1/2 teaspoon of bovril (optional)

I usually use whatever vege, roots or fruits i can find in my fridge. Sometimes i replace with sweet potato, pumpkin, cauliflower, apple, pear, banana (just drop some in after it's cooked), etc.

Just drop everything into a rice cooker (if you're rice cooker got porridge cook function) and cook till it's done. Alternately can cook over the stove or in a slow cooker.

The texture is more suitable for 8 months above baby, if below 8 months old (or first few times feeding) most of the ingredient need to be pre cook and puree then drop into the porridge so it got smooth consistency, easier for them to swallow and won't choke.

If baby enjoy this, you may add in pork (bak thau) to cook with it for sweeter taste when they reach 10months old.

It is so easy and simple, and baby won't get bored by the taste. Just switch the ingredient for them once in awhile ^^.

Checklist

Today I managed to check out on 2 types of car seat - Aldo - Ego convertible and Sweet Cherry - Cleo and I eliminated both of my list. Now I left Sweet Cherry LB585 Bianca to find out. Hopefully it's up to my expectation for the price of RM269 after discount (i get info from Jusco promoter - she also said LB585 is better) but too bad it's currently out of stock so I don't get to take a look at the real product. Tomorrow will be going to Jusco Aeon Seberang Prai to have a look, see if there any chance to take a look at this model or not.

If it's not into my interest, I got no idea which other model that I need to put into my consideration list as this 3 is totally in my budget, others are so high up.

I've purchased 88 99 out of my check list. I only left around 5 items left in the list.

Let's see part of my list:-

Checked - Clothing - 3 NB rompers, 3NB jumpers, 2 size 14 rompers, full moon set, 6 pairs of mittens and booties, 3 bonnets. The rest will be using ex-Kyle clothes and also ex-Jayden clothes (borrowed from my neighbour - as they offer it - thanks a lot).

Checked - Blanket & Towel - 1 receiving blanket, 2 towels, almost 20pcs of handkerchief. I have kept Kyle receiving blankets, though it's a little old after wash it's still usable. I may top up another blanket if I can find nice and cozy blanket. Adventist will give us a free lullaby blanket, but I got no idea how is it looks like.

Checked - Diaper & Napkin - 10pcs baby napkins, 2 napkins wrapper, 100pcs nappy liner, lots of baby wipes, safety pin, 36pcs NB disposable diaper.

Checked - Bottles & Pacifier - 2 4oz bottles, 2 9oz bottles, 4 4oz milk storage bottles, 2 pacifiers, 1 pacifier chain, 1 bottle brush.

Checked - Bedding - 1 play pen, 1 mattress, 1 7pcs bedding set, 1 rubber mat.

Checked - Bathing - 1 bath tub, 1 slippery mat. Shampoo will be using Kyle's Johnson night time baby bath, and might get a lot through people's hamper gift. Jocelyn will borrow me a bathing board as well.

Checked - Out and about - 1 stroller, 1 changing mat.

Checked - Breastfeed - 1 manual breastpump, 72pcs disposable breast pad.

Checked - Others - Baby nail clipper, baby clothes washing detergent.

Things that still in my list that haven't purchase - Nursing bra, nipple shield, car seat (extra), nursery bag, baby lotion and nappy rash cream and that's about it. Should be nothing to add on for now.

It is not easy to prepare for baby's arrival, definitely need to be mentally and financially prepared. Imagine the cost of all the necessity stated above, it's more than few K even with proper budgeting and not spending on those branded. Each prenatal check up and prenatal vitamins, more or less around 1.5K for the whole pregnancy, labor charges for natural birth in a private hospital might cost up to 2k. What if c-section, it's x3 the price of natural birth. Confinement lady/confinement center cost after birth, if unlucky to have any mother / mother in law to help us, that will cost at least 3k.

This is the budget for the whole pregnancy and the birth of the baby, after all this, imagine if fail in breastfeeding the cost of milk powder, babysitter, food, toys, education.. the list go on and on.. It is not easy to raise up a child but every parents always try their best to give the best for their child no matter how hard it is so do respect and love our parents, they did the same thing we will be doing to our kids.

Disney on Ice

After shopping in Queensbay we head over to PISA for Disney on Ice. Poor Kyle is having slight fever but we've already bought the ticket 1 month ago so it will be super waste if we didn't attend the show. Imagine per ticket after 15% discount is RM117.75 and Kyle is so looking forward for it. He cried in the morning when wake up and found himself still having fever, afraid that we might not bring him there anymore.

We reach PISA around 12p.m, we thought we're quite early but there's bunch of people already arriving, i guess mostly free seating patrons.

There's A&W food stall selling double chicken/beef burger set and rootbeer. No price tag on the banner or whatsoever but I know the regular around 120z rootbeer cost us RM4.30. So i wonder how much will the burger set cost.

At the entrance there's also a few booth selling Disney product, but we never bought any due to the superb pricing.

A book regarding Disney on Ice + a felt type wizard hat @ RM25.

Snow Mug - Mickey / Minnie mug with shaved ice and rainbow colour syrup on it @ RM30.

Water Bottle - A simple Disney water bottle filled with juice (or soda) @ RM30.

Pop corn - A box with pop corn inside (i guess the pop corn size is like regular popcorn from TGV) @ RM30

Cotton Candy - Cotton candy with a Mickey crown @ RM40

Soft toys - ranging from small to medium size @ RM45 - RM75

Other merchandise @ RM30 above

1 RM50 definitely not enough to buy two things there.

It stated in the ticket T&C no camera or any recording devices allow but a lot of people still brought their camera in and snap all the way, the usher and all doesn't really care.

I prefer to just sit and enjoy the show rather than those people snapping and video recording it cause it's dark and with spotlight in there, how good the picture quality will be when you're using a handphone and normal digital camera to capture it.

Kyle enjoyed watching Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. His favourite is Goofy. He's not really into all the Princes & Princesses session and he's definitely afraid of the villain's session. When he saw the skeleton from Nightmare before Christmas (I can't remember his name) he closes his eyes haha...Hubby and I enjoyed the littl e pig from Toys Story >.<

Overall it's a good show, to bring children along.

Sweet Cherry Bedding Set

Sweet Cherry 100% Cotton 256 thread counts per metric cm ~

This is the bedding set I'm talking about. Love the colour and design and most of all 100% cotton. Today Jusco having 20% sales on most baby items but no member's day which means no extra vouchers to collect.

This set is a 7pcs set which includes - 2 bumper pads, 1 mattress sheet, 1 comforter, 2 bolster and 1 pillow for NP: RM189, discounted 20% = RM151.20 only ^^. Lovely ~

Halford S8 Pramette Java

Finally got our hands on Halford S8 Pramette Java. We went to Queensbay Mall Mom's Care last Thursday just for window shopping and have a look at some stroller. We have earlier made up our mind on either Halford S8 or Sweet Cherry SCR9.

Halford S8 Pramette

S8 Pramette Stroller Product Descriptions:
* EN1888 Certified
* 5 point harness
* 4 position recline system
* All wheel suspension
* Swivelling or locked front wheels
* Foot-operated brakes
* Adjustable footrest
* Height adjustable handles
* Peek-a-boo window
* Adjustable and removable front bar
* Rear foot board for second child
* Compact umbrella fold
* Large shopping basket

Specifications:
* From newborn to 4 years old (18kgs)
* Product Weight: 10.0kg
* Packaging Dimension: 30cm (L) x 28cm (W) x 103cm (H)
* Packaging Weight: 11.0kg

We love this model because as it can be umbrella fold and it's suitable for infant till 4 years old / 18kg. We didn't mind of the heavy weight - 10kg product weight as it is very solid looking and able to sit until Keith around 4 years old. If you're looking for a light weight stroller, this is definitely not the one.

I'll do a review and more pictures on this stroller after Keith is born and uses it. Now it is packed and kept inside the store room to prevent dust ^^.

Sweet Cherry SCR9

Features	:
Suitable from newborn to 3 years old (not more than 15kg) Multi-position adjustable backrest and adjustable footrest With removable front bar and large shopping basket Canopy with UV protection Simple and compact folding convenient for traveling

We did consider this model too because of the basket style, Keith can sleep on his tummy when we go out shopping, but after much look at it, it is not that solid cause even without any baby in the basket it is move able, so imagine when Keith learns how to move we scared the basket cannot withstand the weight. It only has blue and red which is not really my favorite colour.

The pricing without any promotion for Halford S8 Pramette is RM699 (promotion price usually: RM559.20) while SCR9 is at RM499 (promotion price @ RM459). Both stroller can equip with carrier which they call it travel system but I do not need the carrier so I just got the stroller only.

The travel system (consist of stroller + carrier/car seat) cost around RM999 (promotion price: RM799) for Halford S8 Pramette, RM499 + RM239 = RM738 (normal price) for Sweet Cherry SCR9 - using SCR7 carrier.

Java is the latest colour for Halford S8 Pramette and we bought it at only RM489 ^^ in Mom's Care. Not sure when will the promotion ends because the promoter told me that it is while stock last but when i request for a new stroller instead of the display set, she said she can order it for me and after i purchased it, she some more ask me to introduce this to my friend 0.0 so when will this promotion end? I also don't know hahahaha ~. RM489 only for Java color though, they have Scarlet (red) and Papia (orange) which I don't really like but if Halford didn't come out with Java, I've most likely chosen Scarlet.

Kyle playing with Leslie & Jasper

Found an old video in my laptop. Kyle that time should be around 15months to 18months. Copying daddy and mummy chasing dog for wee wee and mumm mumm. The video seems to have fast forwarded a bit due to the phone I guess.

Kyle got no problem with dogs and their barking sound since birth. He's not scared of it maybe due to he's been listening to dog's barking when in the womb. He enjoyed his time with all the dogs.

Keith will not have much play time with dogs as now we're staying in apartment. The most he'll get to play when we are at my mil's house. Really wanted to get ourselves a dog to keep the boys company but to handle 2 boys + a dog, mentally and financially need to be prepared. Dogs need attention just like the boys do. They need to be love and well pampered ^^.

Maybe if Keith is around 6 months old, we might take in one Pug ^^. Hubby always wanted a pug and I'm okay with it because Pug is cute and also short fur. Good for me, as I don't have to worry much of grooming it and also flying furs around the house.

The cute worry look of a pug. Awwwwwwwww ~

Baby Cot Review

This is a baby cot we bought for Kyle @ Teik Seng, Penang 5 years ago @ only RM138. Now the cheapest you can find at hypermarket like Carrefour, Giant and Tesco, it's around RM188 above. Sometimes can get @ RM159 if they're having promotion but now a days more fancy and white colour wood baby cot can be found in all this hypermarket or baby store which range from minimum RM300 above.

This cot and be adjusted 2 levels, as you see in the picture this is the lowest level, suitable to put at this level once they start to sit up as they might have start crawling and trying their way out from the baby cot. To prevent them from falling it is better to put to the lowest level. Though it is still not safe, if you leave them unattended. Kyle has climb out from the baby cot a few times, but luckily his cot is beside our bed so he just fall onto our bed. There're times when he climb the other way around and fell @_@ and he end up knowing just how to climb out safely by the age less than 2 years.

This is what happen when you have a super active baby who will climb, shake and kick the baby cot once they know how to stand haha...temporary we use a cable tie to fix it. It's not safe when baby is sleeping in there, so hubby will get it fix up and replace some old screws before Keith arrival.

The simple toy game at the end of the court is good entertainment for them when baby wakes up in the middle of the night. We can always hear Kyle play - pushing it left and right - making lots of noises and wake us up ^^. It is also a tool for me to use to teach him colours when he's in playing in the cot or trying to sleep.

To me baby cot is a need to invest in, as it is more safety for them to sleep, rather than sleeping in a swing or sharing bed with parents. Other than letting them sleep in it, it is also use to cage them haha when you need to. Cage them as in put them in just awhile unattended while you going to toilet or get some water to drink and not to leave them alone and you go enjoying a 2 hours movie ^^.

Baby cot also helps them to learn gripping and standing up. Kyle can stand at 7months with the help of the bar. He just grip and stand, dancing (shaking) his butt and leg, showing off that he can stand. But once they learn how to stand, they'll learn how to climb >.< but it's a leaping milestone ^^ every mother would enjoy watching their baby grows and learn new things.

Beside mattress, bumper set is very important to use together with a baby cot, though some research said bumper is one of the cause of SIDS but if use it wisely it helps preventing the baby from knocking onto the baby cot bar.

I can't find Kyle's bedding set, a Sweet Cherry brand - blue with bear bear around it. If not mistaken i bought it at RM144 per set which consist of mattress sheet, two baby bolster, 1 baby pillow, 1 comforter and 1 bumper pad.

I have look around Jusco and other baby store for bedding set, and I confirmed I'm going to get the Sweet Cherry 100% cotton bedding set. Normal price at RM180, so waiting for Jusco sale to get 20% discount or Jusco Member's day to get some cash vouchers ^^.

Last 2 weeks when Jusco is having a baby fair, there's 1 bedding set under Sweet Cherry brand, selling at only RM74.50 7pcs set. It is very cheap if you're okay with polyester material. I don't like the smooth surface, i prefer cotton surface and the colour is quite dull - pink / blue / green.

Sweet Cherry have another range, white base with some giraffe pictures @ RM140 or so. It's 85% cotton and 25% Polyester same goes to Pooh Classic and Doraemon product range. It was quite okay but I still love the 100% cotton design ^^. Can't wait to get my hands on it ~