Renzo's development - Month 09

Renzo has just turned 9 months a few days ago, and this time, again Win brought him to Polyclinic for the checkup, there's no injection this month, but a series of assessment tests done to test his physical development. And our boy has passed all his tests with flying colors!
09 Month vs. 08 Month
Weight: + 0.4kg
Height: + 1cm
Head Circumference: +2cm (vs. 06 Month)

I start to get used to the fact that I am not able to bring Renzo to clinic as usual. And now Win becomes the one who spend more time with our boy instead. He has really sacrificed a lot for our boy, he's been working half days for quite a while, reason being that I am too busy with my new job and not able to come home on time every night. Now it is my turn to receive Renzo's photos at work from his proud father.
And on last Thursday night when I returned home after work, I was amazed to see that Renzo was able to recognize quite a few objects. He knows where is the fan, the light, his potty, his alphabet chart, cousin Cherry's photo, Mickey mouse wall sticker and the Kangaroo on his Numbers poster. We've introduced Renzo to a number of objects since a few months ago, and now our efforts finally got paid off. Of course we must thank Ayeaye for her great contribution as well, I am sure Renzo learned Mickey Mouse sticker from her at least.

Major development
1. He has a total of 6 teeth (top 4 and bottom 2).
2. He is able to pull himself up to standing position while holding onto something.
3. He is able to recognize a few objects (as per listed above).
4. He tried egg yolk on 8th May for the first time, no allergy.
5. He tried cheese on 9th May for the first time.
6. He cruises when we hold his arms.
7. For the very first time, he slept from 9:50pm to 5:30am without waking up in the middle on May 14 (too bad that was the one and only one time).
8. He tasted chocolate ice-cream and durian (super tiny amount).
9. He is able to pass objects from hand to hand.
10. He is able to throw objects using his hand (he seems to have more dexterous left hand, well, like daddy like son, LOL)
11. He enjoys "crab walk" in his walker

Renzo's diet is pretty healthy so far (well yes you might think I've been feeding him too much, in fact I am not, and I also make sure whatever I give to him is good to his body). He has tried outside food for only twice (when I was lazy to cook and having a crave for dim sum). It is tiring to prepare his food during weekends, so usually I spend a Saturday morning, and cook the stock and dumplings that can last him for about 2 weeks.

The stock I make for his daily meal usually contains 7-8 items, such as:
- Spinach
- Celery
- Asparagus
- Carrot
- Pear
- Papaya
- Mushroom
- Winter melon
- Pork

As for the dumplings, I use things like:
- French beans
- Mushroom
- Chicken meat
- Threadfin fish

And he always has fruits (1 banana or 5 grapes or a few pieces of papaya) after breakfast and lunch, and 1 cup of yogurt after dinner. I just can't wait to introduce a larger variety of food to our boy in another 3 months time!

Renzo's development - Month 08

For the very first time, Win brought Renzo for his Pneumococcus jab (2nd dose) at polyclinic on Apr 19 himself, and I was not there with them because taking leave is not something I usually do when I start a new job. I felt really bad about it because in the past I was always the one carrying Renzo when he had the injection, but this time Win had to do it, and according to him, instead of whining a little bit during every injection, Renzo really cried this time.

Overall his growth is really good, well his weight is a bit on the high side but he is all healthy, that's more important to us.

08 Month vs. 07 Month
Weight: + 0.3kg
Height: + 0cm
Head Circumference: not measured

Major development
1. His top 3 incisors erupted.
2. He is able to crawl well.
3. He looks at the fan when you ask "where is the fan?" and looks at the poster on the wall when you ask "where is C is for CAR?".
4. He uses his potty to pass motion most of the time. He pooped on diaper for no more than 3 times in the past 2 months.
5. He had his first outside meal at crystal jade restaurant on Apr 24.

Renzo has tasted a wider range of food during the past 1 month, that even includes some oily and salty stuff at the restaurant. It was really fun to watch him nibbling on "roasted duck kway teow noodles" and "cha siu bao (chinese steamed bun)", of course we only let him try the dough but not the filling. Of course he enjoyed his meal very much, and I was really worried that he will refuse to eat any home cooked food since they are usually less tasty. Anyway guess we might not let him try outside food again till he is 1 year old maybe, the reason is simple, outside food are too unhealthy and his digestive system might not be able to take it for the time being. Since I am working and AyeAye has not much time preparing Renzo's daily food, I've made stocks in an ice cube tray and a lot of dumplings for Renzo's lunch and dinner, so AyeAye could simply add them into Renzo's ABC pasta. During weekends, I cook porridge for Renzo as it requires longer time to prepare.

And finally, after so many months of crazy online shopping, I bought this nice little hat for Renzo at a small shop that sells kids apparels. The hat is made and imported from Korea. I was quite reluctant to pay 25 bucks for it initially. But when Renzo saw his own reflection in the mirror with this hat on, he was chuckling like nobody's business, his sweet smile simply melted my heart and I couldn't think much but made the payment immediately, LOL..

My dear baby, I LOVE YOU!

Apr 12th, it is a very special day to Mummy Chan and baby Renzo. I found myself a new job, and started working on the 12th, which is the day my dearest Renzo boy turned 8 months old.

I am proud enough to announce to the world that I've been staying at home and looking after my precious boy (of course with the help of Aye Aye) for exactly 8 months. Isn't that awesome? At least I think so! Because most of the mummies only have about 2-4 months with their newborn, before they have to return back to work. But we are just lucky that I can stay right in front of my computer at home for another 4 more months (after my official 4 months maternity leave), cook every dinner for the family and prepare every meal for Renzo, at the same time get my pay cheque of same amount every month.

But such a wonderful situation can't last forever. I need to work not just because we need a better income (which is also for the benefits of Renzo - see how many pieces of clothes I got here for him at one go, LOL), but also because I do not like the feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the world. In the past I did considered about being a SAHM (stay at home mother), and in fact my "work from home" routine pretty much gave me a clear idea about the life of SAHM. I enjoyed it, really! Being able to see Renzo's smile first thing in the morning, get most fresh fruits, fish and chicken meat for him at wet market, and laugh together with him at all times are something a FTWM (full time working mother) could never ever afford. But, I have to put a full stop to all these from Apr 12th onwards, and get myself adjusted to a standard 9-6 job routine quickly.

I do not really have much time to think about him at work, but on my way home, my mind is full of questions about whether he eats well, sleeps well and plays well at home. Recently I can feel a huge change in him. He is not excited anymore when he sees me at night, instead his eyes follow Aye Aye wherever she goes. Although I still bathe him, and feed him at night and in the early morning, when I talk to him, he seems to be in his own world and simply ignores the existence of his mother. Somehow I have this strong feeling that he is angry with me, because I am not embracing him with my warm arms after his every morning wakeup nowadays. That really really breaks my heart, even though I jolly well knew that this will be the consequence of me returning back to working world from the moment I accepted the job offer. I hope the situation could change but I do not think there's really much I could do about it. So no matter how tired I am, I will ensure to spend every minute of my time with Renzo during weekends.

I love you my dear son, I really really do!