Little Mochi Update at 10 months

Posted on May 15, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Little Mochi

He’s cruisin’!  Yup, my Little Mochi started cruising last week.  He is able to pull himself up and walk along furniture now.  I didn’t realize how strong they can be, being able to pull themselves up and all.  I feel that it won’t be long until he can take his first step!  Now he just won’t sit!

Also, he’s very good at pointing to where he wants you to take him.  Every time I carry him, he’ll point in one direction.  If you take him there, he’ll clap. 

Babbles way too much now.  But it’s so adorable.  However, this Little Mochi of mine sure has a temper!  Perhaps every baby does this.  But he kicks, screams, and cries if we set him down when he doesn’t want to be set down.  Or try to give him milk when he doesn’t want his milk.  Arg.

Speaking of milk, Little Mochi doesn’t seem to want it anymore.  Loves his juice and water out of his sippy cup though!  But during the day, he pushes the milk bottle away.  But if I give him the sippy cup, he’ll glady take it.  Why do babies do that?  Why do they stop wanting their milk?  Little Mochi still wakes up once during the night for a feeding - that’s the only time he’ll take the bottle.  Hm…

 

I Love You, Daddy

Posted on May 12, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Health & Safety, Little Mochi

I read on someone’s Facebook page today a story of a young girl’s tear jerking experience.  She saw her father die as she was calling 911.  Basically, she came home late one night, went in to check up on her father, and went to bed knowing that he’s sound asleep.  A few hours later, she woke up to his wheezing.  She called the paramedics, told them that her dad was having a heart attack.  A few minutes later, they arrived, gave him CPR, did almost everything they could to get a heart beat.  But it was too late.  It was too late.  A few minutes too late.

She titled her story, “I’m Sorry Daddy, I Love You.”   She was sorry for coming home late that night, for not spending that one last night with him.  She was sorry for not being a better daughter.  She was sorry for the last argument they had.  She was sorry that she didn’t wake up a few minutes earlier - the few minutes that could have saved his life.  She was sorry she never told him that she loved him.

It was now too late.

It made me cry because it was rare that I tell my parents that I loved them.  I really appreciate everything that they have done for me but have not told them that I loved them.

My dad was napping on the couch when I got their home after work today.  I stared at his face as he snored and almost cried.  Thoughts of the story suddenly ran through my head.  If my dad suddenly had a heart attack at that moment, I wouldn’t know what to do.

The words “I Love You” is among one of the hardest things to say.  Although I can’t seem to say it to my parents, I hope they know that I do love them and appreciate them for all that they have done.

Mother’s Day Conflict

Posted on May 11, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Little Mochi

Last year, it was the health spa for 3 hours. This year, it was a facial at Charlie’s Skin Care in La Mirada, CA. My mom and mother in law enjoyed it. The shoulder/arm/neck/head massage was so relaxing that they fell asleep. And they absolutely loved the hot mask.

I wish I had joined them. Afterall, it is my first mother’s day! But I didn’t. With only a few hundred bucks left in our bank account, I thought I could wait on mine.

That was yesterday.  I chose to celebrate Mother’s Day on Saturday.  Not because every place on Earth would be busy, but because there was going to be a conflict.  We decided to celebrate my mom’s birthday on Sunday.

Everything was fine and dandy until I get an email from my brother in law.  He wants to have a BBQ in his parent’s backyard with his mom, my mom, AND his girlfriend’s mom on Sunday.  Strange set up, but what the heck.  Conflict.

If you had to pick one, which is more important: Celebrating mother’s day, or celebrating your mom’s birthday?

This is just one of the few occasions where we have conflicting events.  Another big one is our anniversary and my mother in law’s birthday.  Or my father’s birthday and father’s day.

What would you do with all these conflicting events?

The best answer I can come up with is to sit down with hubby and decide which holidays to spend where.  For example, we can agree to spend mother’s day with his mom on the even years and mother’s day with my mom on the odd years.  I think that as long as you both agree, and stick to the schedule, things will work out ok.
The only problem is, where do we find time to be with just hubby and child?

Confessions of a Bad Mom

Posted on April 22, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in fun

Look! Aren’t I cute? You can win me!!!
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If only Little Mochi was a girl…

When our child grows up and becomes a rug rat, a really bad rug rat, or joins a gang, or does drugs, or gets into other kinds of trouble, many of us moms tend to think it’s our parenting. Are we really bad parents? Or are they the byproduct of a bad surrounding? But then again, we can argue that it’s the parent’s responsibility to remove the child from the bad surrounding and the bad situation. We are supposed to be aware of everything that goes on with our kids, right?

Who in the hell has the time to keep watch on their kids 24/7? I sure don’t - and I’ve only got one kid. It’s not like I’m fortunate enough to be a SAHM! Some of us just can’t afford it. So don’t give me a hard time for not raising my kid “correctly” when you have the luxury to stay at home with your kid all while we have to work overtime!

Hey, if that sounds familiar, come vent with me.

Gagazine.com is running yet another giveaway. This week’s theme: Bad Parenting Confessions. Go on, pour your guts out and let them know what you did wrong as a parent for a chance to win that cute dress pictured at the beginning of this post.

As I read through a few of the confessions, I laugh. I laugh not because they are funny. I laugh because most of them seem so trivial. But it’s amazing how much we focus on trying to be a perfect parent. But then we slip because we are too tired, too lazy or whatever excuse we can come up with. And when the kid grows up to do drugs, join gangs, talks back, etc, we blame it on that one incident: “When Jr. was 6 months old and on, I didn’t spend enough time with him so now he’s in a gang. And it’s all my fault.”

We should as parents not be so hard on ourselves - I may be hypocritical because I’m pretty hard on myself as well. But perhaps we should learn to relax a little bit and let your little ones find their identity instead of us trying to mold them into who they really aren’t.

PS. I might just change my mind later on this thought! It’s just how I am feeling at this moment in time. :-)

Enfamil, Come Back!

Posted on April 18, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Little Mochi

It wasn’t too long ago when those large 32 ounce Costco sized Enfamil cans fed Little Mochi for a month.  Now, it’s lasting only 2 weeks.  I thought he was supposed to drink less?  Then why does it seem like those cans are emptying out quicker?  Despite the fact that Little Mochi drinks 8 ounces at once, he certainly drinks less frequently per day.

Can anyone tell me why it seems like we are going through more formula powder now?

Where is Little Mochi?

Posted on April 12, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Little Mochi

In the last month or two, I’ve noticed that Little Mochi turns 90 degrees in his crib in the middle of the night.  When I wake up in the middle of the night to check up on him, I’d see him lying there vertically, with his hands and legs spread out.  How comfortable he looks.

Except lately, he’s grown a few inches taller and has adapted to every corner of the crib.  I’d find him crunched in the upper left corner one night, then in the bottom right corner the next.  Strange isn’t it?  How do they even get in those positions in the first place?  It’s like as if someone literally picked them up from where I laid him to sleep and then stuffed him in a corner of the crib.

Of course, he has learned to kick off his blanket now as well.
I  pick him up carefully so that I do not wake him up, and put him in his place.  I then put two blankets on him - crazy me but I’m paranoid about him catching a cold.  Finally, I peck him on his cheeks and bid him goodnight (as if he can hear me in his sleep!).

A Few Facts About Autism

Posted on April 9, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Health & Safety

It’s national autism awareness week!  Here are a few facts about autism:

  1. 1 in every 150 child will be diagnosed with autism.
  2. it is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
  3. It is 4x’s more likely to affect boys than girls.
  4. New research enables your child to be diagnosed as early as 6 months.
  5. Pediatricians can easily diagnose your child with something else, thinking your child is just “behind” on reaching his milestones.  So it’s imperative that the parent pushes back and does further screenings for autism since they “know their child best.”

Since autism is so prevalent in today’s society, every little “abnormal” behavior is believed to be a sign of autism.  But the only way you can really tell if your child is autistic is to have him professionally diagnosed.  Contact Autism Speaks for more information or assistance.

They Sure Grow Fast!

Posted on April 6, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Photo Baby Annoucement, Little Mochi

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Growing older and getting into mischief. (Well, not really. Daddy had put him there)

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Loves to rip paper into little pieces. Strange but a great way to quiet him down when he’s crying. Thank goodness he doesn’t put those little pieces of paper into his mouth. He’s not into putting things into his mouth…at least not yet!

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He sure loves his keyboard! Perhaps we can work on his vocal chords as soon as he learns to talk so he can be our next American Idol!

Little Mochi Breaks Daddy’s Heart

Posted on April 6, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Little Mochi

Little Mochi is 9 months old now and still can’t turn over. What he can do, however, is scoot his big fat butt across the floor while sitting up. I guess babies have their own ways of adapting to the environment.

He just got his 9 month immunization shot on Friday. It wasn’t too bad. Just a loud shriek and a few tears this time. He also got a prick on his finger tip to test for his hemoglobin. I guess it’s to measure his iron level. According the Doc, normal is 11 - Little Mochi measured 10.9. Not too bad, right? Then why the heck did the doc tell us to buy Enfamil’s Supplement drops with Iron?

Despite the lack of iron, he is developing quite well, I’d say. When he’s sitting (he has been able to sit on his own for nearly two months now) and wants you to pick him up, he puts both of his hands straight up now. Cries when you walk away, too.

He can’t roll over, and hates being on his belly. But he absolutely loves it when we stand him up, hold him, and walk him around. Actually, he walks us around. He loves the freedom of being able to walk around. As a matter of fact, he thinks he’s Mr. Tough Guy when he’s up and about. Of course, he’s not that tough as soon as I release my hold because he’s right on his tushie again!

But what really breaks his father’s heart is when he reaches his arms out for me when his father holds him. If I don’t hold him, he’ll cry. And when his father grabs Little Mochi back, he’ll cry for me. Do you think he’s getting attached to me?

Uh oh. I’m scheduled to be in SF next week and will be leaving the father with Little Mochi all alone. How is Little Mochi going to handle me being gone for so long since he seems to be attached to me lately. How short of a memory span do 9 month olds have anyway? I don’t want to come home after being away for a week to find that my Little Mochi has forgotten who I am!

Actually, what’s more of a concern is how will my husband be? Will he be able to handle playing both Mom and Dad while I’m gone? I sure hope he doesn’t leave the poor kid in a soiled diaper for more than an hour! Or feed him formula out of his bottle because he doesn’t know how to feed him his oatmeal! Let’s take a poll to see how many times hubbie will call me while I’m in SF!

Any takers?

Free $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com

Posted on April 1, 2008 | Posted by little mochi in Other

Gagazine is giving away One (1) $50 Gift Card to Amazon.com

For more details of the giveaway, visit http://gagazine.com/50-amazon-gift-card-giveaway/

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