The 7 months old achievement

Looking at Maximus, being 7 months old, I must say that I have underestimated his ability. For 7 months old, his language ability and his physical strength are beyond what I expected. I always receive a milestone report from www.babycenter.com.my and do the check list on Maximus's milestone. Of course each baby develops at a different pace. Maximus does not show all the ability listed – some are slow and some are way beyond. However, what surprised me most are two of his most fast achievement – showing the bye-bye gestures and pulling himself up with support to stand...

Due to his ability to show the bye-bye gesture, I started to leave home to work later than usual (if he awakes earlier in the morning). It's getting harder to be separated from him. I will keep on waving good-bye to him just to see him doing it too. Haha... It's really cute to watch him being so excited when waving good bye as if he is indicating that he wants to follow along too.

The 2^nd ability was pulling himself up with support to stand...As I am longing to see him crawling on both knees and hands, Maximus amazed me by this ability. He started with holding onto the bar in his cot and pulls himself up to stand and play with all the toys on the side table top. He knows his routine and will want to play at his "favourite" spot and position. Then, he will continue to cling onto the couch or the low shelve and wanting to pull himself up again. His next "favourite" place is the dressing shelf. Since it's a full body mirror and attached to the lower drawer of the whole dressing shelf, Maximus will purge onto the top of the lower drawer and pull himself up. Then he will start playing and mimicking in front of the mirror.

Photos – coming soon.... Here goes! One of the best shot as he will try to grab the camera each time I try to snap his pix.

I am proud of his achievement and he is full of surprises... I am still looking forward for him to be able to crawl on his both knees. In another week, he will be turning 8 months old... what else will I expect from him? I enjoy seeing his achievement month by month... Good job Maximus!

Like Father, Like Son...

This morning Maximus slept longer than usual and gave us more time to catch out sleep too. But I was surprised that Maximus is still asleep at 9:30 am... that means he slept for 12 hours! ... So i woke up to wash up and bathe before he wakes up. And wanting to spend some personal time... Low and behold, I saw a cute site... Father and Son in bed... so I quickly I grabbed the camera and took some shots - the Father and son's sleeping position. hmmm... both men sleep the same position!
Although Maximus looks a lot like me (facial expression) when he is sleeping but his position is his dad's.
Check it out...!

2nd Year of our marriage

24 June marked the 2^nd year of my wedding with Jin. It has been a full wonderful year of blessing especially with having our precious little Maximus. As I reflected, my 1^st year anniversary, I was about 3 months expecting little Maximus and now we have 7 months little Maximus with us. God has given me the best... a wonderful husband and a son. I am really thankful that we are able to have our 2^nd year and surely many more years to celebrate.

This year we have a simple yet memorable celebration. We celebrated with "Transformers"... hahaha... it's the opening of the Transformers 2 movie. So Jin and I watched that movie and have our "little dinner" (1901 hotdog) in the cinema. We celebrated our anniversary in the cinema!!! It's cool... but as usual I was missing and thinking about Maximus, especially when it was close to his sleeping time. But he was fine since all his cousins were around till 8 plus that night accompanying him and playing with him. When I reached home at 10:30 pm, he was solemn because he wanted to be breastfed.

This 2^nd year of marriage made me analysed myself being a wife and a mother. I realised that I was not a good wife especially since I have Maximus. I do love and care for Jin very much but with Maximus I sort of abandon him... I forgot how to be a wife since I became a mother. Sadly but gladly I did realise it... So while waiting to go into the cinema, I have the opportunity to talk to Jin about it...and his respond was just a giggle! Well, I guess that's the way how my hubby shows agreement...

It's always best to keep the balance - a wife and a mother. I am still learning... from mistakes, experiences and elderly people. So as long as I have the opportunity to reflect and analysed myself, I am sure I can strike a balance to the both roles. It's only my 2nd... I have a long way to go till I am statisfied and contented with the both roles. I am sure I will do better...

The traits of development

Maximus has portrayed some traits in his development in certain areas now as he is close to 8 months old. He observes his environment and people around him very often. He is an observant and alert baby. And due to this he can be a very light sleeper - a tiny sound or voice will wake him. He has understood the concept of "object permanence" i.e. when he doesn't see mummy or daddy around he knows that we are somewhere. So instead of crying after waking up, he will turn to his tummy and start to "talk" or make sounds. This will get our attention and he will smile when we call out his name.

It's really amazing to know that a 7 months plus baby has formed his own traits and personality in his development. He likes to roam around in his walker, exploring and playing. He knows when someone is at the door, or understands the word "kai-kai" (going out for a walk). There are so much Maximus has understood in his language development. He will look up in the sky when mummy asked "Where are the birds... birds?" or looks at the switch when we say "Let's open the gate", and he will also stop in front of the TV (when he is in his walker) when we said "Watch cartoon". This is the progress that Maximus has shown in understanding language. We hope to hear him saying his first word although he does make the sounds i.e. Mmmm... or mum-mum when he likes the food.

Maximus's progress in his physical development also shows tremendous changes. Now I am not worry to leave him sitting alone on the floor or bed playing. He can sit very steady now and also go down on his tummy from his sitting position to move around. He can pull himself up when he is holding on something. He does it very often when he is in his cot – knowing where he can get his toy from the "table top" at the side of his cot when he is in his cot. He kneels down while playing his cot mobile that is handing on the bar. Wow! Such a progress and I am yet to look forward for more. Soon, he will be crawling, then walking and running!

He also enjoys eating and tasting food. He likes food with taste and refuses tasteless food. He doesn't enjoy eating congee with potato or carrot. He prefers his congee in fish or pork and chicken. I thought that he won't know the difference since the congee is grinded till mashed. But he does know the taste. He tried many type of fruits too including durian. Well, as I reflect to my pregnancy period, I remembered that I always craved for durian... and now Maximus portrayed a likeness to durian. That can be a coincidence or ... maybe he does love durian.

Least that I realised that I have seen and been there to watch my baby Maximus progress. I am so proud of my little one and experience the sentiment of a mother. The chapters in the journey of Maximus's life has added. Day by day there is something to put in... but I can catch up to even blog about it every day. I guess it'll still be stored closely in me in my memory. Great to know that I have something better than blog... that's priceless memory.

A perfect family photo

Last weekend (Sunday), we had another parent's support group gathering prior to the pre-father's day celebration. We had Chinese cruise this round... but sadly we have to skip the swimming session due to haze.

As usual, every parent (both Ongs and 1 Leong) are busy with the camera. The Leong likes to take pictures of the food too. Then I requested to take a picture of us as a family since I realised that I don't have many 3 of us photo. The last was when Maximus was in few days old. We did have a family photo during Maximus full moon but back then he was asleep in his photo. Therefore, this will be the perfect picture that we have... and I must always bear in mind that I need to take picture of the 3 of us being together as frequent rather than just only on Maximus.

I like this picture very much... especially with Maximus mischievous look. I have to give him the mobile phone just to distract him for the photo. And it turns out fine... comparing to the above photo. (Above photo taken when Maximus was 5 days old...)

 

 

Crafty as Serpents, Innocent as Doves

Jesus asked his disciples to go out into the world and be crafty as serpents but innocent as doves.

Well, this phrase reminded me of how little Maximus can be even as a little baby he is. In his 7 months, Maximus has got a handful of "tricks" and actions. Starting from being able to crawl on his tummy although going backward till making lots of sounds and having 2 teeth, his actions are full with amazement and "craftiness". Yet, he is still an innocent baby like doves. I reflected on this phrase while reading a biblical graphic novel about Jesus the Messiah. So decided to write about how Maximus can behave as "crafty as serpents and innocent as doves.

From Maximus's action being able to crawl on his tummy. We will encourage him to move by placing a toy in front of him. Although he only goes backward he will eventually turn and toss himself to get the toy. He has his objective and indeed he sticks to it till he achieved it. Along the way, he does try to get a little help by making his "manja" sound and whine to get our attention but when we ignored he will continue on his own accord to achieve his target. It's rather crafty when he tries to get attention but it was such an innocent act too.

Most of his actions reflected to the phrase. When he is teething, he will grab hold of our fingers to bite but never his. He will only bite his fingers when he has his napkin to cover with... he will burst and blow bubbles whenever he is full or refusing to eat anymore. His movements are fast – he is quick to grab, snatch or "hit-away" anything. A 7 months baby, acting in the description of the phrase "crafty as serpents, innocent as doves." It does really amaze me seeing their actions and always wondering what is in babies' mind. "What can he be thinking?" – this is what goes into our mind as parents.

Each time when he gets a book, he will flip, turn, hit on it and into his mouth. He even look at pictures in the book, or stop to look at some advertisements (with song) in TV and when he does that he does it with all his full concentration. Wow! A 7-months baby!!! So, we shouldn't underestimate these little ones created by God. Such innocent one like doves but their actions can be as crafty as serpents.

Most importantly is how the upbringing is! I am sure with the right upbringing and education, this innocent one will turn up wise. I do hope that Maximus will continue to be as innocent as doves even in this world of bad influence now and in the close future.

Lord Jesus, thank you for such blessing. I pray for wisdom to be upon Jin and me as we bring up our Maximus. We pray that Maximus will grow up to be as innocent as doves but crafty as serpents in the world. Allow him to experience Your goodness in this world yet look upon You as the heavenly Father. In Jesus' name I pray.

My son is 7 months old...

The 7 months is the busiest for little one... Exploring the environment and easily get bored! Learning to be mobile - crawling and trying to move about.
My little Maximus is in the beginning of the 7th month milestones and he is already showing the skill of crawling. Now he can glide on his tummy, pushing himself and going backwards...
And shopping with mummy and daddy is always fun! He is sitting very stable now and enjoying his ride in the shopping cart! So if we are doing some grocery shopping, it is easy because we can just push him in the shopping cart. He will also choose his grocery too... he reaches out his both hands wanting to grab almost everything. He gets very excited when we put somethings into the cart - he turns and looks at those items.
He is also growing his next tooth! Now he has 2 little teeth... Wow! How fast is he reaching the 7th month milestones although there are lots more to achieve. I am always waiting in surprised for the new development that Maximus has acheived... of course soon he will be a "hand-full"!
I am sure we will be enjoying yet being very busy with him!
Blessed 7 months old my dearest little Maximus...
God bless you and continue to give you good health and bless you in every way. Thank you Jesus for this blessing...

Learning to feed himself

Maximus enjoys sitting in his boosters seat during meals time although only lasted for 30 minutes at the most. But I will still want to discipline him to sit while having his meals.
Today, I put him near me at the dinning table when I was having dinner. Gave him a small saucer of pieces of bread. He tried to pick up the bread and feed himself... Due to the poor eyes-hand co-ordination he sometimes didn't manage to put it into his mouth. But with more practices, he will be good in it.
After 2 attempts, he got distracted and wanted the saucer. He prefers to play with the saucer, "tasting" it rather than the pieces of bread.
I am so proud of his little acheivement. My MiL told me that he has been trying to pick up some crumbs of biscuts too to put it into his mouth. I guess he is learning and discovering on how to feed himself. Well done...

Enjoying Tastes...

Since Maximus has been taking solid and experiencing different type of tastes, he seems to be able to distinguish the taste that he likes and doesn't. He uses his tongue very well to taste the food, and even shows approval to those different tastes. When we feed him porridge with fish or pumpkin, he enjoys the sweetness of it and gives the sign of approval by making the sound "Mmmm..." and sometimes in singing style. He even "sings" the Mmmmm... When he is being breastfed especially when he has been longing for it (during working hours). It shows that he knows and enjoys good taste of food.

My MiL said that each time towards the end of the porridge when there isn't much ingredients left he will just quickly take the bite or sometime refuses. Hah... tht's such a character and I am sure this gift for "golden tongue" comes from the daddy's side of the family. During my childhood, we have to eat whatever served during meals time whether if it's tasty, our favourite or the opposite. We were taught never to waste or criticised on food. It's not a good table-manners too if we didn't finish or waste food.

Now, I still practise this habit of eating but don't know how I can instil/ impart this to Maximus. Or maybe since this is not the daddy's side of the family practise. Whatever is it, I am amaze at how Maximus is enjoying his tastes of food. His taste buds must be in-tune with good taste then... We have tired giving him different type of tastes such as sweet, spicy and sour. We will continue with the experiment of tastes in later months and will not miss out the pictures... so look out for it!

At the moment, Maximus is still discovering the different tastes. In term of his food he prefers: - fresh breast-milk, fish porridge, pumpkin porridge, broccoli porridge boiled with dried scallop, mashed potatoes with carrots and some fish, Rusk biscuit but not too watery and of course his favourite finger food is the "stick" biscuit. We hope to expose him with other tastes at later months.

I enjoy seeing him eating and enjoying his food. My favourite part of the task is to feed him although sometimes it takes a lot of time for him to finish his last spoon.

 

Centre of Attraction...

Maximus got into the centre of attraction in Pavilion yesterday. Every shop we went into, the staffs will play or even wanting to carry him. But at this age he has stranger anxiety and shyness so he will avoid them or cry. However, he will entertain some of them with a smile although will shy away after that. It was such a cute side seeing him shying away yet wanting to be playful with them at the same time.