Baby - Chicken Stew

This is also a dish which both hb and myself enjoys. Something I can throw everything in the slow cooker and 'forget' about it till you smell the aromatic whiffs! Wanted to recreate this so that it is suitable for Kimi. It is a nutritious, yummy yet easy to make dish.

Hope you and baby will enjoy it too!

Recipe
Ingredients

• 200 to 300g of Chicken fillet (remove visible fats &/or 'veins')
• 1 potatoe
• 1 carrot
• 1 - 2 sticks celery
• 1 clove of garlic, minced or chopped
• 1 tbsp of chopped onion (large orange type)
• 1 tsp of corn flour
• 2 dried apricots (chopped - adds a delightful sweetness to the dish*)
• Dash of pepper
• Dash of mixed herbs (optional)
• 1 tsp butter
• Dash of ikan bilis powder (optional)
• 1 - 2 bowls of chicken or vegetable stock

Method

• Put slower cooker on high
• Add butter, garlic and onions and let it 'fry' till slightly soft, about 5 mins
• In the meanwhile, cut chicken, carrots, celery & potatoe into small cubes
• Marinate chicken with pepper, cornflour and ikan bilis
• When garlic & onions are soft, add chicken, veg, apricots and mixed herbs
• Then add in the stock till it covers the ingredients well
• Reduce heat to Auto and let it simmer for 2 to 3 hours or until chicken is soft
• Remove, cool and serve
• Depending on age of baby, you may wish to either mash/chop or puree in blender for appropriate texture
• ENJOY!
• This recipe is suitable for freezing

Makes about 10 - 12 baby cubes

* When using Dried Apricots, try to get those from organic stores as some drying methods mah contain sulphur. So, it's better to err on the safe side and get organic, sulphur free ones.

Baby - French Toasts

Something I thought up so that Kimi can eat & learn to feed himself with these tiny morsels!

It's a super easy, delicious and fast to do brekkie! I used a sugar decorating mould to cut out the tiny morsels in hearts and flowers. Sorry, picture badly taken as was in hurry!

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 egg yolk (discard white or keep n make a healthy omelette for yourself)
• 30 ml breast or formula milk
• 1 thumb size slice of Cheddar cheese, broken into smaller pieces
• 1 slice of bread

Method

• Heat non-stick pan and add a little butter or oil
• Beat yolk and milk lightly
• Add in the broken up pieces of cheese
• Soak bread (with crumbs) in mixture till the bread has soak up everything
• Fry lightly till golden brown
• Remove and use serviette to absorb oil
• Use small cutter to make little shapes/morsels
• Serve immediately

** Do leave the crumbs on as it is easier when using the cutter to make little shapes

** Do not use too much cheese for cooking as the hardened parts can be a choking hazard. Alternatively, omit cheese and serve in on top of the cooked toast.

Peek-A-Boo?? Not!

It was late evening and I was getting ready to bathe Kimi and put him to bed. I was in the toilet when I heard 'bom bom'. I rushed out and saw my dear son, standing in his cot, playing with my wardrobe doors! Opening and shutting them with delight!

What I would have LIKED Kimi to be thinking when he did that :-
"Mummy must be behind these wardrobe doors, let's see if I can find her! Peek-a-Boo!!!

The TRUTH :
Kimi just have itchy hands - period. Must touch everything, anything and whatever thing! Wakakka!!

Baby Strong Legs

Kimi is getting more mobile and boisterous now. Sometime back, we removed 1 layer of the mattress in his playpen as he had started to pull himself to a sit position and he was getting more 'mobile'.

Then, we discovered he kept getting under the rainforest mobile. Being a doting papa, hb suggested putting back the mattress so there is no gap between the mattress and the mobile.

And guess wat? The little bugger immediately pulled himself to a stand position and was ready to lift his legs over the edge of the play pen!!! Thank God I was not in the toilet yet and stopped him immediately. He did it again and I managed to capture on film. I had to stop halfway as I was afraid he would succeed in lifting his legs over - there's no telling with this little chap!

Living Up To My Name, Kimi

Kimi Chat :

Grandma says that when I grow up, I will drive very well. That's cos when I was still in my mummy's tum tum, mummy is always driving here and there.

By the looks of it, I think she may be right with the 'tai-jiao' (pre-natal learning) as I simply love getting behind these wheels or any for that matter.

Look how easy and comfy I look? I certainly live up to my name, Kimi. Will I be Singapore's future F1 driver?

Future F1 Driver

Steady right?

Easy Peasy even with 1 hand!

A Thorn Among the Roses

As the men of both my sister's & my household were away, we girls decided to take a sneak to the zoo today. Yes, yet again for me & Kimi. I think the zoo will be my next hangout for the next couple of years.

The Hb has also asked that I bring Kimi for a 'walk walk' often when he's away - he says it's good for Kimi to be exposed to the outdoors more than just only shopping centres - yes, I do agree (to an extent - it's hard work leh hon, on my own with bb in tow for a trip to the zoo! But I'll try, as always.)

Anyway, it's the start of week long school hols so it's good excuse to bring the girls out. We dragged mom along - great babysitter for Kimi since both enjoy each other's company so much! Keke!!

We started early reaching the zoo before 9am. We had a quickie brekkie and headed in. The girls had an itinerary on their own and told me what animals they wanted to see. That made it easier for me though.

After 6 hours, we covered most of the attractions. And guess what? All of us forgot our cameras so I only managed to snap a pix of Claire posing with a snake. Well, next time.

(Above - Look how much Claire has grown! Such a big girl now!)

But all of us, esp the girls and even Kimi had loads of fun. We left the zoo at 3+, all exhausted, sweaty & hungry!

The girls were game for another trip before school opened. I'm game but not sure about Jen & mom!

AsparaGOOD??

Asparagus - This is one of my favourite veg, in fact I love most veg especially those that are dark green.

Decide to introduce this fab veg to Kimi so bought a bunch and set out to puree these lovely spears for him.

Hmm, the steamed & pureed taste is good for me but I am quite apprehensive... got a feeling Kimi may not like it as it has a slight bitter aftertaste. I hope he will learn to appreciate this veg as it is packful with nutrients, good for a growing baby. In fact, it's good for everyone!

Of course, asparagus will taste different if I stir-fried with scallops! But, darling, not yet ok? When you are ready, mummy will make it more tasty for you, I promise! But for now, you just have to make do with asparagus prepared this way. Will throw in some pear to make it better!!














(left to right) - 1) All washed & ready for steaming, 2) Steamed & yummy asparagus


(left) - Looks like pea ya?













Find out more by asparagus here :-
http://www.asparagus.org/maab/nutrition.html

August Reflecctions - Let it Go

The past couple of months have some what been a trying and difficult time for me and I guess Hb and Kimi too. I'm sad and ashamed to say I've not been the best mother & wife. Kimi's erratic feeding and refusal to nap in the day has almost driven me nuts! I was totally exhausted and unmotivated.

However, I saw some light at the end of the tunnel after a brief conversation with Aunty Pat. She made me realise how I really must learn to let go. To me, I felt I've already 'LET GO' alot, but it seems that wasn't enough.

What really woke me up was when she said that a baby's growth is not measured by the grams he puts on or the centimetres he grows but how well he is overall developing in his motorskills and adjusting socially. But most importantly, he must be a happy baby.

She also shared how she had a hard time too with Leonard but came to realise it's really not worth forcing everything and making the baby and yourself unhappy.

So, I've taken her dear advice, log, cart & barrel. Yes, to a certain extent, feeding times are more relaxed and better now. But, Kimi being a fussy eater like myself will never change... I can only say, I will try my best to Let Go.

I pray and hope that this is only a passing phase and it will get better!

Left - Kimi enjoying his peach dessert - Hey, look, even Kimi is asking mummy to hang loose! Check out his hangloose/peace hand sign!! Cool ya? Keke!

I've got 2 Teeth!!

It's official - Kimi's right central incisor (bottom right tooth) is coming out! He's confirmed no more a 'Bo-gay' (toothless in Hokkien) baby not that both are coming out. Saw the slit yesterday and today I can feel the sharp ends.

Yippee!! Can't describe the happiness both hb & I felt!

Baby - Scrambled Eggs

Kimi is getting bored of eating cereal and more cereal or puree again.

Since he's oso passed 7 months, I've decided to make something different for brekkie today - Baby Scrambled Eggs (yolks only, no whites to bb under 1 yr).

Not too bad, he ate all of it! (left pix looks a tad dry, but it's actually not..guess am not such a good photographer! But better be safe than sorry as yolk must be cooked well).

Baby Scrambled Eggs
Recipe
- 1 egg yolk
- 30 to 60 ml of formula milk/breast milk
- 1/4 slice of Cheddar cheese
- a little butter or Canola/Olive oil

Method

- Separate yolk fom white and beat yolk lightly till even.

- Heat non-stick pan lightly with a littlt butter or oil.

- Break cheese slice into smaller pieces and put into yolk.

- Add milk into yolk mixture.

- Once pan is a little hot, reduce fire to small and add in egg mixture.

- Use a fork or spatula to continuously turn or stir mixture so that it doesn't become an omelette.

- Stir till yolk is well-cooked.

- Remove and serve immediately. ENJOY!

Kimi's First Tooth

After months & months of pain & anticipation, we finally could feel Kimi's first cutting of his left lower central incisor.

I discovered it at Jen's place today when she exclaimed excitedly that Kimi has jus cut a tooth. Don't know why but I was so happy & excited. Bet he'll look v cute with 2 lower teeth!

Too bad, I can't take a pix as it's almost impossible to snap one while trying to pry open his mouth and tongue. Next time dudes!

Kimi's first tooth shaded in red below as per the milk teeth layout :-

First Trip to The Zoo

Water Baby!

The girls came over for a swim today so I brought Kimi to join them. What a ball of a time he had!!! He's such a water baby - simply loves water and was kicking furiously and almost like a pro! Catch the video clip for a sneak! (Sorry, excuse my excitement and enthusiasm in the background -yes, I do find it irritating too.. but I don't know how to mute it! So you have to live with it! Muhahah!!)

Things I love to Chew

Besides Kimi's trusted teethers, these are some of the other stuff, besides my shoulders & fingers, which he loves to sink his teeth, er, I mean gums into...

July's Reflections - Patience

Patience is a dirty word. Why? Cos, it's something that people swears by all the time and hardly practice it. Just look at how the drivers drive in the morning on the expressways. Or how a seemingly nice lady may turn into a nasty shopper if someone cuts into her payment line.

For me, I'm still trying my best to come to terms with this word. It seems the harder I try, the further it runs from me.

This has been a difficult month as Kimi is not only refusing solids, he's also refusing milk BIG TIME! It's easy for others to say, don't worry, babies are like that when they are teething, etc. Some days are better, so let it be, tomorrow will be better.

How could it be better? It seems like I have more bad days than good. Who would have such patience when his fussiness has been since he was 3 months +? I mean, we are not talking about 1 or 2 feed a day or even a week. It's every feed (which is like 6 per day) for the last 3 months or so. It's really tiring and trying.. imagine taking 2 hours to feed a miserly 150ml of milk. When that bottle finally finishes, it's time soon again for next feed!

Patience, patience, patience ... a virtue I am lack of and a trait I'm trying very hard to cultivate. So, you see, when you have this virtue, Patience, suddenly becomes a beautiful word and perhaps the world will be look rosier.

For me, I've planted my patient seeds.., so let's see when I can harvest them!

In the mean time, here's a little something for us - let's loose ourselves in a Lavender Field where we can find solace in the calming aromas of these lovely flowers. Hopefully, we can cultivate some patience?

Always a Champion in our Eyes!

We've always been keen to let Kimi get as much exposure as possible as well as meeting more babies and people. So I signed him up for the Yew Tee Baby Show held by Yew Tee Community Club.

We were told to arrive early at 9.30am. But little did we know that we could have register anytime from 9.30am to 11+. If that was the case, I would've come later so Kimi can have his nap. When we arrived, Kimi was still sleeping when the lady asked him to go into the room for assessment. So, I asked her how to when bb sleeping? She said it's ok, Dr knows what to do. Ya, right!

Obviously, he wasn't too happy, he didn't even flash his famous gummy smile! Despite being awoken from nap, the "stunts" he had to do were, in my opinion, well done. Except, he did not respond to his name when I called him. Think, this made him lose quite a few marks!

In the end, Kimi won the consolation prize which, to me was very good oradi as he was doing those stuff while half asleep. If it was me, I wouldn't be as nice!

It's alright, darling, we can't win all the time, next time ok? All in all, it was good fun seeing so many babies!!! Here's Kimi with his trophy and prize.