Let Baby Shake a Bracelet

Age: From 0 month old

Help your baby understand that she has her own hands and assist her in getting used to how they move by putting a colorful rattle-bracelet on her wrist. (Only use wrist rattles approved for infants.)

Idea from the book "Play & Learn:  activities for baby and child" by Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr. Wendy Masi available from Amazon:

http://amzn.to/1sZxPEs

You don't have to buy expensive baby wrist rattles. This is a bracelet made by Our Little FECS. I have added a bell to it, so that it will make sound, when Baby FECS moves her hand:

Dust Baby

Age: From 0 month old

According to the book "Play & Learn:  activities for baby and child", "tickling your baby with a make-up brush, a feather or clean feather duster helps her feel where her body begins and ends. Keep "dusting" your baby, and by about 3 months of age, she might giggle every time you pull out that "toy.""

This book "Play & Learn:  activities for baby and child" by Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr. Wendy Masi available from Amazon:

http://amzn.to/1sZxPEs

Dangle Ribbons at Baby

Age: From 0 month old

Indulge your baby's growing interest in color and movement. Tie several short ribbons (approx. 15 cm long) onto a bracelet or clothes hanger. Flutter the ribbons in front of him, letting them tickle her arms and legs. As she grows older, she might reach out to touch the colorful ribbons.

I got this idea from the book "Play & Learn:  activities for baby and child" by Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr. Wendy Masi available from Amazon:

http://amzn.to/1sZxPEs

Read to Baby

Age: From 0 month old

Although your baby won't understand what you read to her, she will enjoy listening to the rythm of your voice, while you read. Research showed that babies who are read to during infancy hear more words, and develop a larger vocabulary when they are older.

References: 

Play & Learn: 1001 fun activities for your baby and child by Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr. Wendy Masi available from Amazon:

http://amzn.to/1sZxPEs

13 August 2016 (12W6D): Daddy FECS reading to Baby FECS

Stroke Baby with Different Textured Textile

Age: From 0 month old

Besides baby massage, stroke your baby with different textured textile such as velvet, fake fur, satin, etc. heightens his sense of touch.

References: 

Play & Learn: 1001 fun activities for your baby and child by Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr. Wendy Masi available from Amazon:

http://amzn.to/1sZxPEs

Have Frequent Skin-to-Skin Contact with Your Baby - Kangaroo Care

Age: From 0 month old

Have frequent skin-to-skin contact with your baby, and not just the immediate hours after birth. Not just for mothers, but fathers too :-) It helps you to bond with your baby, and it helps your baby to bond with you.

According to Ludington, the first two hours after birth are the most important, in terms of easing baby into the world, but the more the better.

The baby is happier, the baby’s temperature is more stable and more normal, the baby’s heart and breathing rates are more stable and more normal, and the baby’s blood sugar is more elevated. 

"Babies find skin-to-skin contact with dad calming, and it helps them bond." says kangaroo care researcher Gene Cranston Anderson, Ph.D., R.N., professor emeritus of nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. 

References:

http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&id=82:the-importance-of-skin-to-skin-contact-&Itemid=17

http://www.todaysparent.com/baby/baby-development/skin-to-skin-with-baby/

2 June 2016 (2W4D)

Baby Massage

Age: From 0 month old

Materials:

Baby oil

Additional Information:

As I slowly regain my strength, I started the journal of recording Baby's natural routine, and trying to tweet it to fit ours. With J's, we started from Day 1, but the recovery from birth this time round is taking longer time due to birth complications.

A friend came by yesterday and shared about the baby massage she did for her daughter, when she was a baby - Thanks Jenny :-). I have totally forgotten when would be the right time to start baby massage. With my mum here to help that freed me from other tasks - thanks so much mum :-), I started the routine of baby massage today after the 10.30 am feed. Baby C liked it a lot, so that was a success :-)

I learned to say this rhyme from Baby Center in English and Mandarin (I did the translation below) as we go along:

Round and round x2,
Heart to hands,
Head to toes,
Not too fast,
Not to slow.

Turn the baby to lie on her tummy and say...

Round and round x2,
Back to hands,
Head to toes,
Not too fast,
Not too slow.

Chinese translation:

圆圈圈 x2
心到手，
头到脚，
不太快，
不太慢。

圆圈圈 x2
背到手，
头到脚，
不太快，
不太慢。

Video Demonstrations:

Below are some videos from Baby center on baby massage:

http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-massage-calming_10409788.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-massage-helping-digestion_10409789.bc
http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-massage-getting-started_10409790.bc
http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-massage-strengthening_10409791.bc
http://www.babycenter.com/slideshow-baby-massage

Let Baby Look At Crib Panel

Age: From 0 month old

Let Baby Look At Crib Panel

Milestone Charts 0-36 months

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6476/milestone-chart-one-to-six-months

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6477/milestone-chart-seven-to-12-months

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6474/milestone-chart-13-to-18-months

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6472/milestone-chart-19-to-24-months

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6471/milestone-chart-25-to-30-months

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6470/milestone-chart-31-to-36-months

A Letter to Pa

Dear Pa

Today, I played the Chinese children's songs CD that you bought for Baby. You bought this CD for J. You will be very pleased to know that I played it for J. And I know you will be very pleased to know that I played it for Baby too. I haven't forgotten it. She will get to know that this CD is from you, although she will not get to meet you. I wish you are here to see it. I wish you are here to hear it. I wish you are here to meet Baby. I wish you are here to hold her.

A birth, so full of promise. The beginning, so full of joy. She is healthy and thriving. We are delighted. My heart ached that we couldn't share it with you. But I should not be sad. You are in a better place. It is alright. The separation is only temporary. God is sovereign. We may never truly understand this aspect of life, but we are grateful for the blessings we are given everyday. We trust in His goodness.

How to Fry A Fish On A Pan Chinese-Style?

1. Cut diagonal on fish so that it will cook faster, rub a little salt onto the fish.

2. Add oil to pan and add fish.

3. Cover and fry on high heat (no. 9 on my stove) for a short minute or until golden brown and fragrant.

4. Turn the fish around, then simmer under low heat (no. 2 or 3 for my stove) for 30 minutes or until cooked.

5. Now it is done :-)

Additional Information:

I have never fried a fish before. My mum is here with us for 3 months, and she taught me how to fry a fish, Chinese style. I am recording it so that I can remember.

Canola Flower Fields in Denmark

Come mid May, the canola fields are a bright and cheery sea of yellow all across the country side of Denmark. It is such a beauty to behold. On our way to the Hillerød hospital for a routine check for Baby FECS, we passed by this canola field along the highway in Hørsholm. We just had to take a picture, and we ended up taking several pictures of it :-)

22 May 2016: Daddy FECS with our Little FECS just 6 days old

Introducing Our New Addition: Baby FECS

Introducing with all our love, our baby girl, Our Baby FECS or 'C', who arrived on 16 May 2016 14:17 hrs. She weighed 4.04 kg and was 54 cm long at birth. A miracle and grace from God. Our hearts are filled with thanks.

Jigsaw Puzzle Stock List

For 1-2 years old:

For 2-3 years old:

For 3-4 years old:

For 4-5 years old:

For 5-6 years old:

For 6-7 years old: