Baby Checklist & Others

last update: 14 Feb 2011

To help some friends of mine who are going to be new mothers, this blog entry is for you.
It will also be updated as I go along.

You'll need to think about the following things:
1.) Bedding - crib or co-inhabit?
2.) Bath - getting a tub or an inflatable tub, etc
3.) Bottles
- electric steamer/ microwave sterilizer
- what bottles to get, etc
4.) Laundry Detergents/bottle cleansers
5.) Nursing cloths
6.) Nursery items
7.) Cloths - pants, shorts, onsies, receiving blankets/towels, etc
8.) Diapers
9.) Lotions, creams - face, diaper creams, petroleum jelly, etc
10.) Hygiene - nail clippers, nose suction, etc
11.) Breast pumps?

To help you more, below are some Baby Checklists that I used. The numbers are suggested but it would really depend and vary when your baby comes along. It's going to be a lot of random shopping on a need basis.
BabyCity
Baby & Co

Breast pump:
If you'll be working within a month or two and going back to work, I suggest you get a pump but if you'll be on ML for a few months (like in Canada ~ 2 years, I think) you can delay getting a pump and go through direct feeding.
I have a Medela Swing (single breast) but in HK, I borrowed a friend's Spectra 2 Dual Expression electric breast pump. Both are good and useful for me.
Depending on what you want, Medela pumps are a bit noisier (it might be a deal breaker for you but for Colin, it was fine) versus other pumps. Medela and Spectra are about the same. There are other pumps around like Avent, etc. You would have to check and weigh in what you need/want. Most quiet electric pumps do not accommodate batteries at the moment.
I currently use an electric one that accommodates batteries since I sometimes pump in the car going home.
Also, it's nice to have double pump but jfor me, I need to focus and massage each breast whenever I pump to effectively get all the milk out, so single pumps work well with me. About the having the other breast leak, it really depends. For me, leaked amount is not a lot to make a big difference in my output.

MKC & Elise's Pieces' Mad 4 You @TDC

It's that time of the year again...the big V is around the corner, next week to be exact.
This year's different for us (husband & wife) especially since we have a new addition in our lives.
Thus, to commemorate this special time, I scrapped the below to remember those cuddle moments with our little C - computer style using MKC & Elise's Pieces' Mad 4 You available now @TDC. You're going to love every bit like the papers and elements that come with it!
Before we know it...C's going to be breaking girls' hearts left and right.
I'm feeling like this right now...
Here's my take on this lovely kit
Credit: Mad 4 You - Collaboration with MKC and Elise's Piecesa @DigiChick.com; Font: Verdana
Photo Credit: Michelle Garthe Photography

Chinese Confinement Regiment in HK 2010

Is Postpartum Confinement required?

I don't know about it being a requirement but it would help a lot in getting back one's body after going through birth. All I can say is that I fairly enjoyed my confinement since I was fortunate to have a midwife who knew the below to take care of me and my baby.

Please find below some of the items that I ate when I was in HK.

Food to avoid during the first week only

• Ginger - Delays healing of wounds and increase the risk of jaundice in baby. Substitute with peppercorn or garlic.
• Fish - Causes foul-smelling lochia or discharge.
• Alcohols that are recommended for consumption during the confinement month are Brandy, Yomeishu, rice wine and Guinness Malta because they are 'yang'. If you are a non-drinker, this sudden consumption may cause alcohol rash, redness in the face and heart palpitations, so do take it easy.
  
  Alcohol does go to the baby through breast milk, so if you want a good night's sleep, drink the alcohol after your dinner. The alcohol content is reduced during cooking therefore you might consider adding it to your food during cooking instead of drinking it neat. Guinness Malta is non-alcoholic and has high iron content therefore is suitable if you are anemic. Pulut rice is rich in iron, therefore, is used to make rice wine for postnatal nursing mothers. The rice is low in fat and free of cholesterol with high dietary fiber to reduce the risk of heart attack and diabetes.
  It is better known as Shaoxing wine.
• Drinks: is believed that iced or cold drinks may cause severe shock to the system and further weaken the 'cold' body therefore it is strongly recommended that boiled warm teas are consumed throughout the day as they are supposed to help heat up the womb. For those who do not believe in these teas you may try drinking Chamomile tea which is beneficial for the baby as well, because it helps to reduce wind
• Soups: is a nutritious replacement for water. You can use any meat for stock. The meat supplies fat that is essential for the extraction of fat-soluble nutrients. Drinking soup about 1 hour before breastfeeding may help to increase milk flow. Chinese soups are usually clear and easier to drink compared to creamy western soups and it is less fattening.
• 
  

Succeeding Days...

1. Soups:

1. Papaya Fish Soup
2. Corn & Chicken Soup
3. Steamed Fish Maw
4. White Radish Soup (w/ octopus)

2. Food:

5. Pig’s Feet with Ginger
6. Fried Rice--> add bbq pork
7. Steamed Minced Pork --> Canto Style

3. Drink:

8. Longan and Red Date Tea
   Ingredients : 10 pieces of dried longan flesh, 20-40 dried red dates (with the seeds removed), an optional ingredient of 4-5 g of tan kwei(angelica sihensis)

1. Boil and simmer ingredients in 6-8 cups of water for 45 minutes to one hour until the liquid is fragrant and tasty.
2. Drink throughout the day.

9. Another alternative recipe of the above would be : http://www.momsinmind.com.sg/milkrecipes.html / OR http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/confinement-black-bean-rice-and-ginger-water/

4. Do’s & Don’ts

• DO NOT EAT

• Seafood aside from fish and octopus (in soup)
• Congee, only rice rolls, noodles, and fried rice
• Plain water, only barley tea or tea in general
• Softdrinks, though I cheated at times
• Bananas, eggs
• Foods like alcohol and certain vegetables can cause our blood thinner and are diuretic

• DO eat

• Nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, etc) and “wild/hot” foods/veggies
• Drink warm water; ideally consume red dates tea brewed with dried longan or Chinese wolfberry (Gou Qi)
• Eat a nutritious diet comprising confinement foods tailored to dispel "wind", revitalize internal strength and boost blood circulation

• If you must shower, use hot ginger water and take extra care to dry yourself thoroughly before stepping out of the bathroom. Try not to wash your hair for at least one week. Alternatively, use herbal dry shampoos to clean your hair.
• Sleep in a cool and dry room; if you must use air-conditioning, keep it at fan mode, not lower than 26C.

5. Others: The links below might help you more...
   
   The Chinese Soup Lady Healthy Easy Food Recipes - Traditional Chinese Confinement Food Recipes

It's Halloween Again

Halloween season is back and I have to say...it's one of my favorite times of the year. I think it's more of the treats that come with the holidays and playing pretend than anything else in the world. :P

Here's to promote again Monsters in the Closet by Mari Koegelenberg available at TDC. Gotta love those little monsters and papers galore! Preview is below and I recommend you add this to your check-out cart and start prepping for the little monsters that will be coming by your door!
I had to scrap this...totally true for my little Colin! This is one of his many nicknames. :)
Credits: Monsters in the Closet by Mari Koegelenberg available at TDC; font : Arial

This week's going to be interestingly great! Colin's going to be getting his passport, meeting ASM peps & Dr Lee; and also, we can start preparing to go back to Manila real soon!

I'm looking into what needs to be packed and what we can send off at a later time. It seems that Colin's going to getting more of our luggage allowance! I'm still anticipating on what will happen on the day of our departure. Colin would either be good or be bad. :P Keeping our fingers crossed on the former.

Colin's 2011 Calendar ~ done!

Here's something that would brighten anyone's day for the year 2011 ~ a CD calendar! Mari Koegelenberg's 2011 CD Calendar Template is now available now at TDC!

It's a quick and easy-to-use kit. Just pick your favorite photo, place it on the template and embellish accordingly with your favorite pattern paper, with or without any other embellishments to match. Easy as pie! This is a great hybrid gift for anyone since it's used/looked at everyday/month.

Check out what I did with this kit...a potential Christmas gift to Colin's grandparents this year.
Photo Credits: Thanks so much Michelle for the lovely photos that inspired me to create this calendar! :) Credits: Mari Koegelenberg's 2011 CD Calendar Template and various Mari Koegelenberg's kits available at TDC
Photo Credits: Michelle Garthe

Here's the complete calendar covers for Colin's 2011 Calendar...

(click a thumbnail for a larger view of a particular month)

I've been hanging with some wonderful people here in HK atleast once a week and it's so far been a great ride with these awesome ladies! I was introducted to them by Michelle Garthe and it's becoming a great weekly habit for all of us. So far, we have done the following: buffet @ Marriot Lounge, Vero Chocolate lounge, dimsum buffet @Dragon-i, coffee @Holly Brown, lunch @TheOne's RoppongiSabo, coffee @Mira Hotel's Whisk are a few thus far. Can't wait to hang out with these ladies again and explore HK!

L-R: Connie, Michelle, Oxana, Svetlana, Ifat and me

L-R: Dindin, Gladys, me, Michelle, Oxana & Svetlana

New Addition : Colin Edward

At long last...some creative time in my hands. :)
I'm sorry for the long hiatus but something big came into our lives recently and has purely taken over our whole being.
I'd like you to meet our !
Most likely no birthing story since I got a C-section as per doctor's advice due to the rapid calcification of my placenta 2 weeks earlier than my due date. Although I didn't go through the motions of having a natural labor, I will definitely always remember the whole experience. Some of the highlights are:-

• being calm and excited when the morning came around
• hearing baby's heartbeat via dopler/ultrasound for one last time, one of the admission check-ups
• anticipation to be wheeled into operating room
• the spinal anestheics being administered
• feeling nothing, unable to move anything from my waist down when the anesthetics kicked in
• being pulled/pushed all over the place during the operation --> doctor positioning the baby
• this is the best one : my reaction to seeing Colin coming out over the tarp, "oh, good, there's lots of hair on him"
• realizing that Colin wouldn't stop crying when he was taken to be cleaned, I thought they were already doing the cercumsition...oh, how wrong I was. Colin was crying for more than 15 minutes now...for just being cleaned/wiped over! Oh my heart!
• E looking on with what Dr Lee's been doing to me...cleaning and stitching me up:- with how the cut looked like a flap, how the inside was stitched up and how my outter skin was "glued up" with hardly any markings of a cut. Good thing he didn't videotaped the whole thing. All this was going on while Dr Lee and him were exchanging information about the surgery, about beaches/getaway sites in Manila, etc. It was so crazy! I remember I was trying to tell E to not disturb the doctor so he can stitch me up faster and I can get out of the operating room already. Half awake and half immobile is not fun when you don't know what's going on especially with so many tuggings left and right. :P
• after Colin's all clean, the nurses wrapped him up in a bundle and gave us (E&I) time to have our first family photo taken. Will you look at those red lips and very "powdered" face! People think that Colin's a girl based on this photo!

Now begins, the sleepless nights and toothless smiles. E&I was exhausted! Getting the hang of Colin's eradic schedule is really taking a toll with both of us, though we still strive on each day to see how we can best handle the little guy. :)
With all that has gone through

With this new addition, I remembered what my mom told me to do when the baby came out...to book a newborn photo session during the first week or two for the baby.
Let me tell you, the hassles involved totally outweigh what we got. Totally no regrets and I highly recommend this for all expecting and newly parents.
I had to find a photographer in HK and at the same time, find that E&I would like the end-product.
We chose Michelle Garthe's Photography as our baby's photographer.
Meeting Michelle was a pure joy and a blast. The photo session was filled with lots of stories, photos, laughs and definitely bloopers. I'm surprised on how fast the photo session was since Michelle informed me previously that it would take around 2-3 hours for the newborns session. We were all wrapped up and done at around 2 hours. Amazing! To think, I was pretty concern with Colin's disposition when the afternoon started. :P
Some of her test shots were posted on her site, please see below. For more information about Michelle Garthe's Photography, please clickhere.

I was able to finally squeeze in some scrapping time yesterday.
Reminder that it's $2 Tuesdays at TheDigiChick and one of the kits included in this deal is Mari Koegelenberg's Field of Dreams. Hope you would head over there and grab some wonderful digikits at such a steal!
I love the pattern papers that came with this kit...amazing stuff!

Now here's what I did with my new photos that totally inspire me!

Credits: Field of Dreams by Mari Koegelenberg available at TDC, Font - Century Gothic

Diaper Bag Giveaway @ManilaMommy.com

Hi everyone! Just got to hear about this recently from a fellow blogger that might interest some of my mommy readers like me. :)
**************************

August is shaping up to be a giveaway month not just for manilamommy.com but for all the manila family blogs- ManilaReviews, ManilaFitness, ManilaShopaholic and ManilaBlogs! Please try and visit all of the sites when you have time, you never know when you'd be a lucky winner!

Anyway, as Neva of Manilamommy.com is giving away Diaper Bags for some lucky follower of her's. Instructions are indicated below.

Let me kick off the giveaway month by giving away a Froot Loops diaper and travel bag and a LifeSavers bag from our very own ManilaBaby Shop! The promo period will start on Aug. 9, 2010 up to Aug. 27, 2010.


The LifeSavers is a super light weight, canvas bag which we use to bring DW’s stuff for overnight trips. This bag has also been used as a laptop bag and can also be used as a school bag for school-aged kids!

The Froot Loops is diaper bag that converts into a stroller bag so that you can have easy access to your baby’s stuff anytime, anywhere!

Both bags have waterproof interiors with lots of pockets. You also get a free extra large changing pad which provides maximum coverage for those public changing stations and a plastic pouch!

To see more of the bags please go to

ManilaBaby Shop
Winning is easy! You only need to do three things to gain three raffle entries in the draw:
1) Leave a comment at this blog = 1 raffle entry
2) Leave a comment at the manilababyshop site (add us as a contact too!) = 1 raffle entry
3) Join the ManilaBaby Shop fanpage HERE = 1 raffle entry.

When you leave a comment at this post, please let me know that you’ve done all three. If you’re already an existing member of the ManilaBaby Shop fanpage or if you’ve already added the ManilaBaby shop as a multiply contact, let me know too so that I can give you your corresponding raffle entries.

Weekly tallies will be posted in this blog so that you could keep track of your raffle entries!

TO GET MORE RAFFLE ENTRIES AND GET MORE CHANCES OF WINNING:
4) Tweet about the giveaway in this format: I want to win a diaper bag from @manilababyshop! (http://manilamommy.com/2010/08/win-manilababy-bag/) = 1 entry

5) Re-post about thus contest in your blog = 5 raffle entries (feel free to use the images in this post)

6) Update your FB status in this format: I want to win a Diaper Bag from @manilababyshop! (http://manilamommy.com/2010/08/win-manilababy-bag/) Please don’t forget to tag us in your status update so that we can keep track too = 1 entry

TO GET EVEN MORE RAFFLE ENTRIES:
Come back to this space weekly as I’ll be giving you new ways to get more raffle entries for the draw that are worth 2 raffle entries each!!
If you do all the items here, you can get up to 16 raffle entries for the giveaway!

IMPORTANT REMINDER: You only need to do 1, 2, and 3 to qualify for the contest. Items 4 onwards are optional but they would get you more entries for the raffle!

And that’s all folks!! On behalf of the ManilaBaby Shop team, I’d like to wish all of you the best of luck and that I hope you have fun with the contest!