Christmas is coming up!

I get so excited when the Holidays get here.  Thanksgiving was very special for us this year, we have so much to be grateful for.  Good health, new baby, passing my board exams, new job and a happy family! It was a great time to celebrate all of it at once.

The day after Thanksgiving was my DH's birthday, being the simple man that he is, all he asked for was for me to make him his favorite food.  Fresh mozzarella eggplant parmesan! It took me almost two hours to make it, what with all the breading that I had to do to each slice.  But it was well worth it!  Here's my happy man.

Happy 38th birthday!

Of course, we have to put our Christmas decorations up right after Thanksgiving.  We all helped putting it out while the Christmas songs played in the background.  It was a wonderful way to spend quality time with the family.

Madison gets to put up the star on top of the tree

Our ornaments always has something special for the year

A grumpy reindeer we have here

Now Jackson gets his own stocking!

She was so happy to find the candy canes she can eat

Now I have to watch out for this kid...she will eat all the candy canes in no time!

When we were done, I had to get down on the computer to try to get some good deals from the Black Friday sale.  I told hubby that I will start looking for his Christmas present for me! It wasn't too long before I get an email for the private sale at Gucci that I finally found a perfect present.  I guess it's going to be another purse for me. hahaha

Now you know why I love the holidays so much...I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday!

French Children Don't Throw Food

 

 

 

My husband and I have different approach when it comes to parenting. I feel like my love (husband) is more strict than I do, he treats and talk to Yves like an adult. I felt that Yves is too young to understand these things (Reminder: he will just be 2 months old this 19 November, dah!)

But as the days go by, I noticed that Yves is well-behave when his father is around, they will play and I can see that my bebe is enjoying his time with his dad. So, I let my husband take charge when he is at home which means when he is feeding Yves and he started to cry, I try not to run and asked, what happened? please do this and do that...I totally try to leave them alone and have my ME time or do some household chores...and what's the outcome? sometimes I feel like Yves can understand us like an adult and slowly he can sleep on his own, he plays alone while we eat our dinner and I can sleep longer.  It's not all the time like this but I have faith that it will be better as he grows older.

Nowadays, French parenting is on blogs, in discussions and in books that are on bestseller lists.
They said that the French are raising happy, well-behaved children without all the anxiety. So to learn more about it as well understand my husband, I got this book.

I got this e-book from SKOOB

Some basic points from this book that I agree

• Children should say hello, goodbye, thank you and please. It helps them to learn that they aren't the only ones with feelings and needs.
• When they misbehave, give them the "big eyes"—a stern look of admonishment.
• Allow only one snack a day. In France, it's at 4 or 4:30.
• Remind them (and yourself) who's the boss. French parents say, "It's me who decides."
• Don't be afraid to say "no." Kids have to learn how to cope with some frustration.
• Learn how to wait
• Play on their own

so I still have a lot of reading to do...  In my opinion all these things are just a sound basis for understanding the interesting relationship between parents and children.  The perfect mother doesn't exist.  So the most important thing is just enjoy and have fun being a mom.

Just a short video of Mommy and Yves playtime..
http://youtu.be/0JGNNHOeNRA



 

Here's My Promise

Jackson Reid at 2 weeks old getting his first photo shoot.  I figured we will never be able to keep him this tiny for long so might as well document it with pictures.  Enjoy!

I'm dreaming of milk 

Don't wake me up!

I sleep like an angel

Are we done yet?

 I love you my darling boy!

Can't help to say Hi

I should not be online right now...but I need a break and I want to say Hi.  I missed out on posting for Halloween, so here's some pictures until I get back.

Summer was fun! But here comes Fall...

To the Pumpkin Patch!

Getting ready for Face painting

Very serious Tinkerbell

The Not so Happy Pumpkin

Already eating her way through her loot while Trick or Treating

Happy Fall everyone!:)

All about Yves

 

While bags and shoes are nice, I am beginning to see why a baby is worth so much more!

I'm one of those parents who can't stop posting pictures of their kid.

 

 

 

Playtime with my Yves

take 1

take 2

Meet my adorable Yves!

Sorry for not updating my blog, I have been busy with my sweet little angel.
After 39 weeks and 6 days of waiting and a long labor I finally meet him..

Meet my little angel, Yves Sarte Leonard
born last 19 September 2012 at Raffles Hospital Singapore
3640 gm, 49cm



 

 

I really can't stop looking at him and look how adorable this little dude is.
He is just the cutest little thing ever. Plus he looks like me.

Yesterday, Yves just turned one month old, according to Chinese customs, a baby's first month birthday calls for a celebration. So, we have a simple dinner with few friends to celebrate his one month birthday. 

Yves making a wish!

All I can say is that having him in our life is the most amazing, beyond words that’s ever happened to us..

My Baby Story: Jackson Reid

It's been a little over a week since my family welcomed our new bundle of joy into this world.  Amidst the sleepless nights, anxiety over waiting for my breast milk to come, struggling over diaper changing and worrying over how my 5 year old DD's sensitivities, I can still say that the excitement hasn't been weaned out of our system.

On September 26th we were scheduled for an induction at 5 am in the morning due to the previous ultrasound studies showing that my little guy ain't so little.  At 37 weeks he was showing to be almost 8 lbs in utero! As he was larger than gestational age and because of my history of bladder trauma with my first born child, the doctor thought it best to have a scheduled induction at 38 weeks. 

The day came and my little one was not having it, he decided to come out on his own three hours before my scheduled procedure.  We rushed to the emergency room at 2 am in the morning and found out I was already 6 cm dilated. 

Here's some pictures to document another one of the happiest moments of our life.
Here I am after the epidural was given to me, I don't think I would have been able to manage without it, let alone smile for the camera.

About an hour after I pushed this big guy out

At exactly 8:48 am,  Jackson Reid was born at 8.13 lbs and 21.5" tall.   Thank goodness he decided to come out early as even my OB was surprised with his size considering his early arrival.  There was an urgency to push him out after my bag of water showed a thick green tinge showing that meconium might have been swallowed by the baby.  I counted about 10 pushes and this precious child came out of me screaming vibrantly, much to everybody's relief.

I'm a wild child

Daddy and Big sister was so happy to meet him

My darling daughter wanted to wear this to school the next day to show off to everybody

My close friend DZ was in town from New York and came by to meet her new godson. 

Hello Ninang!

 She came with some treats which made me such a happy camper.

Mango cake from Red Ribbon 

I was probably really hungry or I'm just one of a few people who does not mind hospital food

Yay, we are going home!

 At home, our great friend Nelly came by the house to meet Jacks.

Auntie Nelly with Jacks

Within only a week, a roller coaster of events has happened.   Even with nine months of expecting this baby, I was not prepared for the difficulties of introducing a new child into our family.  Five years is indeed a long time as I struggled to find my way around a newborn.  I could not even buckle the baby right on his car seat.  I still wonder, how could I have forgotten the hardship of burping a baby after each feeding? the fear of leaving a swaddled infant in his crib all by himself? How am I suppose to bath him on my own? How does one change a diaper without being peed at?lol. 

I have so many questions and I count myself so lucky to be in this place where I know my worries will pass with each moment that I get to spend with this angel in our life.

And what mother's heart would not melt when you see this stunning vision of your children? 

Bonding with big sissy

 I am so blessed indeed.