7 Weeks Old

I thought i'd have more time to blog since my last post, thinking Ayisha had got into a routine and me getting more efficient doing stuff bla bla. How would i know these lil ones get more and more unpredictable and can cry on and on and on for no reason at all especially from 4 weeks on?

BTW, this post has changed title a few times - depending on what week we're on. It's been kept in draft for ages! She's 7 weeks old now and if i didn't get to finish this today, it'll change to 8!

Our lil Squeaky (Michael calls her squeeky cos she doesn't really cry much but squeaks squeaks squeaks!) started getting more and more unsettled between 4pm -8pm, the arsenic or witchin' hours they call it, from 4 weeks on. She would cry and cry eventho i've fed her, burped her, changed her, patted her & sang to her in all different languages. But we're doing better now, with shorter unsettled periods, her getting into some sort of a routine and some days like today, she hasn't been crying at all but jz squeaking, hence a lil bit more of ME & internet time! :p

This is of course, after i managed to slot in my shower, cooking, laundry bla bla...Yes lah, there's been more than one occasion where i didn't get to shower til really late (oklah, one time i didn't mandi at all!) This is before i learnt that you don't have to pick them up & feed them every time they squeak or cry! Apparently you can just pat & rock them back to sleep. I used to shove her straight to my boobies every time she squeaks or even move her lips thinking she's hungry! :p

So, to sum up, this is what's been happening in our lives:

Mothers' Group

At 4 weeks, I started taking her to the weekly mother's group in our area where new mothers & their newborns get to share our worries & concerns with each other with the help of our mother & baby health care nurse, Sharon. I find the meetings pretty helpful cos most of the babies are about Ayisha's age and most mothers are going thru pretty much the same thing. In other words, it's a relief to know eventho i have NO idea what im doing, we're still ok & what we went thru week by week were considered pretty normal :p The stories are pretty similar, new mothers joining the group with their 2-3 weeks old would rave about how good their babies are, feeding & sleeping well. Then you see them again at 4 weeks on, and they'd tell you that's when the crying starts and things get a bit hard & overwhelming. Then you hear mothers of 8 week olds beaming with joy & proudly announce that their babies started to 'sleep thru' the night, so that gave you something to look forward to.

It also helps to know what to expect when we're about to go thru the weeks ahead that other mothers had gone thru, like expecting the smiles and the cooing at 6 weeks and knowing what happens when they go for their immunisation at 8 weeks. Then you also hear all those horror breastfeeding stories and how worried the mothers are that their babies might not have enough. Honestly, i didnt even think about whether she's getting enough until the other girls brought it up. But Sharon said as long as the baby's putting on weight then it's all ok. So every week we get to weigh em up and Ayisha's been putting on weight steadily so we're all happy!

Abbey's 1st Birthday

Ayisha's cousin, Abbey turned 1 few weeks ago & we were there to celebrate her birthday + christening. The ceremony was really simple & lovely and it was a fun, relaxing celebration with family and too much cakes & sweets!

Ayisha with Abbey Rose

Abbey with her godparents

Im guessing we're not in this picture cos i was feeding her :p

With Grandma & Poppy - i think she looks more like a Laidler in this pic!

Abbey & mummy

Aunty Narelle's 50th

Last weekend, we went to Michael's aunty's 50th lunch celebration. Besides aunty Narelle, Ayisha's also the centre of attention -getting lots of cuddles, pictures taken and prezzies as well! Lucky for us Ayisha's always been pretty good when we go out. Also, other people's always happy to have her (read: grandma & aunty Vicki :p), leaving me with plenty of time to enjoy my food and getting 2 servings of cake! ;)

With the birthday girl, Aunty Narelle & her family

Also last weekend, we had friends visiting to see the baby. It was supposed to be a lunch thingy but as usual, it dragged on till night with the never ending eating sessions - everyone brought so much food it's just wonderful! Plus a ridiculously 3-hour long game of UNO. It was such a fun day, i miss it!

Our Big News

At 6 weeks old, Ayisha had her passport done and it's all ready now. So she's good to go for her first trip back to Malaysia! We're leaving in 3 weeks time and the big news is, we're staying for 6 months!!! ;) I am still on maternity leave and Michael has work stuff in KL, so we thought it'd be great to stay longer than the originally planned 1 month raya hols. That's PLENTY of time to catch up with friends and family! (hint hint: any open houses don't forget to invite us okay! :p) And in case i don't get to blog again till raya - to my dear friends, jemput lah datang beraya nanti..we'll be in JB!

Happy fasting & blessed Ramadan to all!! Maaf zahir & batin...

Enjoy some of the latest pics of Squeeky, plus her coo'ing & smiling action that's been truly rewarding for me every single day! (excuse my high pitched baby talk people, that's the only voice that grabs her attention :p)