Whipped into a Frenzy

Ok so this is not a baby related post :) Its been awhile I know since a non-baby post. So here is one.

I was given a couple of scones this week and I thought it would be lovely if I had fresh cream and jam to have with it. (I have been eating a lot lately) So off I went to the shops to buy a small pack/carton of fresh cream.

Now I have not bought fresh cream from the shops before and silly me (I haven't been thinking straight lately either) actually thought that I could have the cream straight out of the carton and it would be like whipped cream. I remember thinking at the shops "Hmm... I wonder how they keep the cream whipped in a carton."

So I opened the carton this morning and went "Oh no... its in liquid form. Crap! I have to whip it myself!" I have no idea why I thought it would already be whipped. Anyway, out came the whisk and I set about doing it by hand. I have never whipped cream by hand before and had no clue how long it was going to take, if a specific technique was needed or how many muscles it would hurt. I wasn't going to bust out the cake mixer just to whip the cream and I thought it would be interesting to see if I could actually whip cream by hand. Needless to say my arm was sore within 20 seconds of whipping.

However I must say it didn't take as long as I thought it would. It probably took 5 minutes? I was so excited when the liquid started getting thicker and when it finally hit the WHIPPED stage I was jumping for joy!

I'm sure there are many of you reading this thinking " It's just whipped cream. I have done it so many times. Easy."

Ah well... there is always a first time for everything. Its such a simple thing yet its made my day.

I am so doing this again tomorrow morning.

Scone with freshly whipped cream and a touch of Beerenberg marmalade

cheryl

Development: 14 weeks

Abigail is slowly but surely starting to flip her body. She was on her back as usual on the play gym when she spotted something in her peripheral vision and was trying to turn her head around to see more of it. As she tried, she kicked and twisted her torso that half her body was lifted off the mat. This I think is sure sign that she will soon be rolling

Gotta keep a closer watch on her. Can't have her rolling off the bed!

cheryl

Development: 13 weeks

Our little one is very vocal this week. She wasn't saying much or anything at all before this and just out of the blue, she is 'oohing, boohing and cooing'. She has also learnt to complain! At 3 months! The sounds she makes when unhappy is so distinguishable from her regular coos. Its more of a whiney, whinge-y sound. It is all so very cute.

I am still amazed at all the little changes that is happening with her. These developmental stages come about in such a sudden manner and is not a gradual change. Its more of a learning leap rather than a learning curve.

I guess that is what makes this stage of her young life so precious. It passes by so quickly that sometimes I think that if I blink for too long, I might just miss the best moments with my daughter.

Ahh... motherhood is making me a softie.

cheryl

Development: 12 weeks

Today started out like every other day. I woke up, gave Abigail her regular feed and placed her on her play gym. Abigail loves her play gym. It is the only place she spends 30 minutes on her own during the day (apart from her cot when she is sleeping of course). Her play gym has a light frame hanging over it and on that frame hangs two balls and two suns, a pair on each side. She enjoys lying there staring at the dangly things. So that was where she was when she surprised me with her latest development.

She has learnt to bat the dangling sun and ball with her hand! I was preparing dinner when I turned and saw her hand move uncertainly towards the sun. Initially I thought it was an uncoordinated move. But upon further observation, I realised she was doing it intentionally! I was so excited!

I spent the next 5 minutes just watching her bat the sun again and again. Its amazing how watching something so simple can bring so much joy and satisfaction. I can't wait to see her do other 'amazing' stuff.

Oh I'm a proud momma :)

cheryl

Development: 10 weeks

Abigail gave me the most wonderful smile this morning. The first time a baby intentionally smiles at you is a heart melting moment. And it gets even better when she smiles at you in the morning before you pick her up from her cot. The intense joy and love you feel at that moment is quite indescribable. In that moment all frustrations from the days before or from lack of sleep disappear and all the sacrifices you made becomes worthwhile.

cheryl

Development: 9 weeks

Our baby girl has discovered her hands. She doesn't really know they are there as yet and neither does she know she has fingers but she must know something is there because she has started stuffing the back of her fist into her mouth. Quite cute really... I was initially a little concerned that she was going to start sucking on her thumb. I don't want to encourage thumb sucking because it acts just like a pacifier. Unlike a pacifier, a thumb cannot be taken away from baby. But from observation it looks like she just wants the back of her hand and that is all fine and dandy.

cheryl

Before Giving Birth

In the short amount of time that I have been a new mom, I have learnt things about myself. Discovered parts of me that I didn't know existed. I am sure that as the weeks go by I will be discovering and learning a lot more but for now, I am putting them on the blog so I can remember these moments in the future.

Before giving birth-I never thought that moving around post delivery could be so strenuous on the body. Everything hurt. Just the simplest movement was difficult. I discovered the importance of muscles in places that I didn't know there were muscles. I wished the body would heal as quick as people get over colds and fevers but its taking much longer than that. And to this day, I still ache in several places for which I need physio appointments for. (This post is back dated and Abigail is now nearly 3 months!)

Before giving birth-I thought that with my maternity leave of 4 months I would be able to finish off novels, go have coffee (decaf) with friends, go jogging, enjoy parks and basically relaxing. I had bought stacks of novels from Lifeline in preparation for this juggling act with baby and boy.. was I naive! Not only do I not have the time for personal interests, what little time I have I crave sleep! And sadly to say in that little window of free time, before I can fall asleep Abigail is up and needs attending to. So mothers to be, don't go investing in stacks of novels ok? :) You might be able to get to it when baby is 4 years old. Or as some sceptics say when baby is 25 years old? :)

Before giving birth-I didn't know I could do with 6 hours of sleep for weeks on end and still function through the day, juggling baby and household duties.

Before giving birth-I didn't think I could take care of a baby all by myself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I didn't know I could instinctively predict my baby's needs.

Before giving birth-I did not really understand the meaning and depth of self sacrifice.

Before giving birth-I didn't think I could feel such an intense protective instinct and love a child this much. Now I understand the meaning of a mother's love.

cheryl

Development: 8 weeks

Our little red riding hood

Our baby has given us her first intentional smile! Whoopee! She doesn't smile very much ( I think she inherits that from me ) but when she does smile... she is so sweet!

cheryl

Development: 7 weeks

Abigail has started smiling this week. Not intentionally as yet but she has begun smiling to herself a few times a day. Sometimes she smiles and chuckles while being breastfed which I find so very funny. I can't wait for when she starts smiling at us!

I have also started Abigail on some sort of schedule. I put her down for an afternoon nap at 2pm after her lunch. So far she has done quite well, going into her cot without much complaint after 2 afternoons of practice. I hope she keeps to this routine and it will keep her in good stead for when she goes into day care. She takes plenty of intermittent naps throughout the day so she is either asleep or feeding on the breast. I expect this will change in a few weeks when she starts staying awake a lot more during the day.

cheryl

Grandma Left for Home Today

My mother (aka Abigail's grandmother) leaves for Penang today. The past 6 weeks have been wonderful with my mom around. I now know that its true when people say 'Daughter's learn to appreciate their mothers most when they have their own daughters.' I am so grateful that my mother came to help me out right after Abigail arrived. Having her around has been very uplifting to my spirits and I am ever so thankful for the lovely meals she cooked, making sure I eat and helping me keep the house clean. ( I actually feel very guilty about the amount of work she has done around the house. Mom if you are reading this, really from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU )

The fact that my mom has been here for 6 weeks-not less, has given me time to recuperate and somewhat get my body back to its previous strength to manage Abigail on my own. I never had the opportunity to observe other mothers (sisters, cousins or friends) looking after their babies. Maybe it wasn't so much as not having the opportunity but rather not having the interest to observe them. Having the chance to observe is essential so you know what to do when you have your own baby. These few weeks with my mom has given me the most valuable insight and knowledge on how to care for baby. So ladies, if you can, definitely get mom to help you out post delivery. You will not regret it.

I must also thank my dad for allowing my mom to be away from him for that amount of time. I believe since they were married they have not been apart for more than 3 days at any time. It must have taken a bit of adjustment getting used to being alone at home before mom got back. So thanks dad! And again mom, thanks for the BIG help :) Abigail thanks you both for it too! She is looking forward to seeing you both again and hopefully that will be soon!

cheryl