Music to Baby's Ears

Some say that it would be good to listen to classical music when pregnant. Yes, the baby will be soothed by the tunes and will probably end up liking classical music when older. However, baby won't necessarily become smarter. The Mozart Effect has been debunked so I'm glad I didn't waste my time listening to music I didn't fancy. Actually, I hardly listened to music at all. But, I danced a lot and went to the club from time to time (but stayed away from alcohol and smoke of course).

Now that baby is growing older, she is becoming more and more interested in music. The only music she listened to in the beginning was the music from her Fisherprice Rainforest mobile and probably her Baby Einstein and Fisher Price DVDs (she loved the jingles of the ads as well). But as soon as she's been watching the Boogie Beebies programs, she's been dancing more and more. In case you are not familiar with the show, the hosts teach the kids some dance moves and my daughter just loves it! I find it funny that when she dances, she raises her hands like I do. I guess she got that from me. She likes singing too, sometimes she hums to music. Now, that I don't know where she got that from because my voice is just terrible (think Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend's Wedding).

I think I should enroll her in Kindermusik soon, especially since I am at work and she only has her nanny to play with now. I heard some good reviews about this program and I am becoming more and more convinced to try it. In the meantime, I plan to get her some more musical toys to play with.

Okay, this music bag by Chicco is not exactly a musical toy but isn't it cute? It even has a case for an ipod. My 4 year old niece already has her own ipod with all the Hannah Montana tunes, can you believe?


This Fisherprice piano is also cute, it even matches her current crib mobile.


When baby was in Manila, she watched some Barney DVDs with her cousin and they told me she just loved it. Nothing close to Guitar Hero but I think she can start with this one.


I just find this birdhouse xylophone by Lamaze so cute. I hope she doesn't slap the bird instead of the notes...


My daughter actually has this Leap Frog maracas already but I recommend that other moms get it. It is also bilingual (hers is English and French and there's also an English-Spanish version) like all Leap Frog products.


Perhaps our kids can form a band after? We can be the back-up dancers.

Pay it Forward

I keep on mentioning that it's Mother's Day and stressing the fact that I should be receiving something on this occasion. What I have forgotten is that I am a daughter too, meaning I need to get my mom something... not because she asked for one but because she deserves it!

After my sleepless nights feeding baby and all the countless chores, I just realized how much sacrifice my mom made for me and my siblings. I'm complaining now when I only have one daughter to look after while she had three. I remember my dad telling me after an argument with them, "When you become a parent, you will understand..." and yes, now I definitely get it! Parenting is such an selfless act, painful but very fulfilling!

Now that I have a daughter, I talk to my mom about my needs, my baby, my new life. Have I had the time to ask her how she's doing, how she feels, what her fears and concerns are? Nope! I'm guilty for taking her for granted. When times of trouble, it's so easy to call Mom for help... I need the boogie wipes can you send me some? Can you get me something at Baby Gap? Please pass by Abercrombie and Fitch. Can you send me some cash, I'm broke? I'm doomed if my daughter turned out like me.

I haven't told my mom that I loved her in ages, yet I tell my daughter that more than ten times a day. Plus given the distance of Hong Kong and San Francisco, there hasn't been a chance for me to kiss her either. I feel that for this Mother's Day, I owe my mom something really special (damn, I missed the Chopard private sale last week). I came across this book Because I Love Her which are essays on mother-daughter relationships which could be a really touching gift. I also want to send her a nice picture frame of my daughter. Perhaps throw in some flowers too? I think she would really be happy.



Yesterday, I told my daughter that whenever she would be needing help from me, I would always be there for her. She just continued playing... I don't think she will truly understand what that means til she becomes a mother one day too...

Catching up on Zzzs

Apparently, blogs by Moms are becoming more and more popular nowadays. For new moms who have no idea about what to buy for baby, need advice on parenting or simply just need to relate to other moms, they refer to blogs by fellow mothers. In my case, even if my Mom was around, I don't think she knew which is better, the Quinny or Bugaboo. So when baby was sleeping, I would surf about everything from baby clothes, baby rashes (although medical advice should not be seeked online), and baby recipes. Since my mom was in a different timezone, I couldn't just call her when something comes up.

After reading these blogs for almost a year now, I decided to write my own, and now you are reading mine! Some moms just feel too tired to go online or just don't fancy computers... well, if you are one of those, there's a book called Sleep is for the Weak which is written by fellow mombloggers. I want to get a copy of this book so I can start thinking about writing my own (as if), like I had the time... but then again, Sleep is for the Weak so maybe I should... go to work the whole day, rush to go home to see baby after, hit the gym when she is sleeping, eat little for dinner, and write a book throughout the night, and have sex with hubby? Umm, I don't think so!

Read this article on Why Mom Blogs...

Need a Little Perk?

Finally, a solution to sagging breasts for breastfeeding moms, Bring it Up, instant breast lifts! There's no need to complain about breasts that are uneven anymore. Gives moms' breasts a little perk without having to going to the plastic surgeon, cool! And very cheap too for US$19.99!


Seriously, I think moms who breastfeed should be given some sort of trophy for:

1) waking up every 2 hours to feed their baby
2) enduring the pain of breastfeeding (sore nipples, engorgement, etc.)
3) being selfless and on call whenever baby is hungry and revolving life around baby's sked
4) giving up alcohol, oysters, etc.
5) having to breastfeed in public and get the stares from impolite people

They do deserve, at the very least, to have nice boobs again! I only breastfed for 2 months. Since I was going back to work, I had to feed baby formula since I was not comfortable expressing milk in the office bathroom. Also, my daughter always hungry and she would bite my nipples, ouch! I even bought those nipple protection gels at Chicco and had to refer to a lactation consultant for advise on better latching. In the end, she was more satisfied with formula so at least that made me happy. Since my hubby and I were both fed with milk from the can when we were kids, we didn't see any reason why we couldn't feed the same to our child. Luckily, she only got sick once before she turned one so she is pretty much healthy!

Even if I fed for only 2 months, my breasts did sag a bit (and became smaller after, sigh!) so I think I could use Bring it Up. I wonder if it can make my boobs look bigger too... now, that would be nice!

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too!

Shucks, the more I know I need to go on a diet, the more I eat! I've been on junk food heaven today... instant noodles, cheetos, coca-cola, oreo! I'm probably PMSing, craving for all kinds of stuff. And, no, I am not pregnant again! One thing I have been craving about are my friend's cupcakes. She made them for my daughter's birthday and they were so yummy! The cake is moist and the icing is really sweet! I'm such a sweet tooth so cake, ice cream and chocolate are my weaknesses.

My friend who is a flight attendant for Cathay Pacific discovered that baking is her passion and I am proud to be her first customer. I can't wait to find an excuse for me to order some cakes again. My daughter's second birthday is not til next year... hmm, let me think what occasion is next! For those who would like homemade cakes for their children's, hubby's, boss' or friend's birthday, let me know and I will give you her number... as long as I have a slice too!

Shades of Summer

Okay, I know now's not the best time to write about sunglasses since it pouring rain outside (at least in Hong Kong). But, summer is here and it's been getting hot recently. What I like about this weather is the fact that I can wear tank tops, flip flops and sunglasses. Although, I always find it hard to find a pair that suits the shape of my face. I don't have a prominent nose to hold it. Bugger...

Wearing shades gives me the feeling of anonymity (although people recognize me anyway) so it's helpful when going to the grocery and I don't feel like dressing up, going to the park and I don't want to mingle with other moms or helpers for that matter, and when my eyebags are big from the party the night before.

It's time to throw away my Oakleys and find myself a pair that's both stylish and timeless. Check out some of the eyewear celebrities have been wearing recently...

Chloe does not only have handbags that are to- die-for but their eyewear is stylish too. Jessica Alba wears this oversized one while Naomi Campbell is wearing the famous myrtle. I wonder if those big ones suit my small face...

Another famous brand for sunglasses is Tom Ford. I love the aviator ones on Cheryl Cole and the oversized one on the model below. Can I have both? Again, not sure if it will suit me.

Okay, I don't really fancy the glasses Angelina Jolie is wearing in this pic but I just like the photo, haha! She is wearing Versace in this one, not exactly my fave brand.

And who says only mommy needs to wear shades? Check out the ones from Gap and Baby Banz. It's supposed to be for UV protection but I don't think I'll buy them just yet. Besides, they look better on boys, don't you think?

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Whoever said that big is beautiful is a liar... I don't mean to discriminate the fat and obese but seriously how can looking like humpty dumpty look beautiful? Big houses, big diamonds, big bank accounts, big (beep! beep!) are always attractive, sure, but not when it comes to bodies. That means one thing, I really need to get my ass to exercise soon! Now that am hiring a nanny, I have no excuse not to go to the gym. Our facilities include a decent treadmill and bicycle so might as well make use of it. Letting go is good but not when it means letting go of oneself.

My wake-up-call was when I attended a friend's birthday party last night. The girls were looking hot, especially my friend the birthday celebrant (nope, I'm not going lesbian). She was older but boy, it's hard to tell that she's got a daughter. Her body looks like that of an eighteen year old. Must be her genes? Nope! She told me she had a personal trainer to help her get back into shape after giving birth. So, I guess I need to hit hard at the gym if I want to have a body like hers. Sigh!

The party last night made me reminiscent of the good ol' single days when dancing on the couch seemed like fun and guys howling when doing it made it even better. I guess I have grown out of that lifestyle, especially now that I have a family. It's entertaining watching others do it but there's no way you can make me put on a show anymore, just doesn't feel appropriate...Sure but that doesn't mean I have to start looking like a cow and not have the moves. (Hmm... maybe I should take up pole dancing)

A lot of women have issues with their post-pregnancy weight and body shape, me included. The curves just disappear, the hips expand and most of all the breasts just sag. A friend of mine was complaining about how her nipples became distorted after breastfeeding baby. She was considering going to a plastic surgeon to have them "fixed."

Oh the sacrifices of a Mom...there's just too many of them! But, I am not complaining! I guess there are only two ways of going about it... accepting the change or doing something about it. I choose the latter! Someone told me that it would be more difficult to shed pounds after a year of giving birth. Oh no! That means my deadline's over... gotta start now! Tick tock tick tock...