A rare photo indeed.
Ah-Kong & Ah-Ma are not the photo taking-type. Not that they don't like taking photos. Just that they are not so crazy like me who is always clicking away with my phone.
But about 2 weeks ago, I took this beautiful photo below. It is not a perfect photo. Lighting was a bit out because the room was a little dark and I just snapped it with my phone. Nobody dressed up for a shoot (Ah-Kong was not even wearing any top! haha) because it was a sudden decision to just snap a photo of them. But then the people inside are beautiful, and that's what makes a photo beautiful!
10 April 2013 @ Ah-Ma's House
This is another beautiful photo, taken earlier in February with Kong-kong & Pho-pho. House was messy and Khye was looking at Shern laughing over some matter. Even the photo was a bit blur due to the low lighting. But is is ok. It is the people inside the photo that matters.
14 February 2013 @ Pho-pho's House
I simply love taking photos of my kiddos with their grandparents. :)
With our family from South Africa here for a visit, I hadn't the time to feed Khye his first solid until about 1 week after he reached 6 months old.
But unlike his big bro's time, Khye is NOT ready for solids, or should I say semi-solids at 6 months!
I cooked the homemade wholesome rice cereal recipe for Khye, just like I did for Shern. But it is not the taste that Khye did not like. He is just not ready!
Look at him, sitting happily on his Bumbo seat while I was getting his food ready.
21 March 2013
Put the large bib on him, and he sucked his fingers as usual.
But as I fed him the cereal, he GAGGED, and SPAT it out. He made a crying sound which tells me "NO"!
As I continued to try again, he made his crying face indicating that he didn't like it. Look at my poor baby.
He then gagged on the food a few times, which led to PROJECTILE VOMIT, and out came his milk from the tummy! I stopped feeding him then, and he was his happy self once again! Sigh.
I tried again a few days later, and the same thing happened.
He gagged, spat it out, and then projectile vomit. Arghhhh....he is SO NOT READY!
I then learned that he is those one of those babies who is still not ready for semi-solids at 6 months old. He still has the sensitive gag reflux, which all babies have to prevent them from choking when they stuff things into their mouth. But most babies gag reflux reduces as they grow bigger, but clearly not Khye's.
I tried with other food, other diluted purees but no to avail. From the way I see it, it is not the taste that he does not like, it is the food that he does not like. He does not like to push the food to the back of his mouth to swallow. His sensitive gag reflux pushes the food out.
Doc said it is ok. Some babies need more time before they are ready for semi-solids. Some babies are only ready at 9 months or even a year old! Oh gosh, I hope Khye is not one of those babies.
But it is ok. I continued to try feeding Khye every 3-5 days once. But for the past so many times, it was still unsuccessful. My usually happy chappy baby makes such a sad pitiful face whenever at every feeding sessions ;(
Look at my poor little cutie pie. This video is taken when Khye was about 6 1/2 mths old.
Luckily Khye is still gaining weight. He gains only 300g though, and is 9.6kg @ 7 mths. Doc said babies usually don't gain so much after 6 mths, so is normal.
Doc said it is alright as he is still gaining weight. Just try feeding him every now and then, and there will be a day when he is ready for semi-solids. Just need to wait a 'lil longer...
Khye turned 7 months old yesterday, and he had his first swim. His
brother, Shern had his first swim way earlier when he was 5 mths+. The pool water in our place is always chilling cold from October to March, so I didn't want to bring my baby down.
Yesterday's weather was clear, and the water was warm, so it was good. Khye's swimsuit says it all 'Keeping Cool'. I loved it. Look at him, all ready for a dip.
Min helped us to take a photo of me with my 2 kiddos.
So what was Khye's reaction when we put him on the Floaties? Well, he was a little unsure initially. He was looking at the waters, and didn't know where he was. He was not smiling much then. Not unhappy, but a little unsure. Look at him.
Then he started getting a little sure about himself, and started smiling.
Look at his cheeky smiling face, and him testing out the waters.
Then Khye starts to look like his happy chappy self, smiling away...
He even started splashing the water using his hands, and got himself all wet. But he seems to love it!
Then he was also busy licking the edges of his float, and licking the water, and I guess that was why he always got his tongue out! Haha.
I love these 2 photos of him here, such a happy chappy in the water.
One of the first few baby brands I knew way before I was pregnant with Shern is Pigeon. Maybe because I always see the Pigeon brand counter in major department stores in Penang. And when I was pregnant with Shern, I get to know more about this brand and grew to trust its quality.
I love using their baby wipes, their Liquid Cleaners, and I love their 100% cotton clothings for babies. Shern is still wearing their PJs, their biggest L size now. And I still continue to use their baby products now that I have Khye.
So I was happy to be given the opportunity to review this major brand. By the way, Pigeon is No. 1 Babycare brand in Japan.
I am reviewing their latest Sakura range baby care toiletries.
"The Sakura Flower (cherry blossom) is famed for its beauty and visual
appeal in Japanese culture. Apart from this, it also brings about a
whole host of benefits.
The natural Sakura extract used in our
new range is made in Japan and is extracted from natural Sakura plants
known as the Prunus Yedoensis species. This popular species is grown
in admiration all over Japan and originates from the Hyogo Prefecture,
Okayama Prefecture and Shikoku Prefecture.
Benefits of Sakura
Improves overall skin condition
Combats skin roughness, a sympton of dry skin
Refreshes, keeping baby comfortable all day
Moisturizes
Has anti-inflammatory properties
Proven safe on sensitive skin
"PIGEON Sakura Baby Toiletries is the perfect solution to help protect your baby's skin against skin irritation and its associated problems. Free
from harsh chemicals, it does not contain paraben, sulphates and
coloring agents. It uses natural ingredients such as our signature
Sakura extract, renowned for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory
properties. So mild and gentle, it is proven safe on baby's sensitive
skin."
Enriched with natural SAKURA extract to nourish and soothe baby's sensitive skin
Proven safe for baby's sensitive skin
Hypoallergenic
Paraben-Free
Sulphates-Free
Free from coloring agents
pH Balanced
Tear-Free (for Baby Wash 2-in-1 and Baby Shampoo)
Mild & Gentle
I am rather impressed that even Pigeon is going the natural path and is providing babycare toiletries that are free from harsh chemicals, and does not contain paraben, sulphates and colouring agents. So I was happy to use them on both Shern and Khye.
I received the whole range of the smallest size Sakura range products for my review. They came in a beautiful vintage flower patterned packaging, which I find it very presentable.
These are the Sakura range toiletries in the beautiful packaging.
1. Baby Wash 2in1
As usual, anything 2-in-1 when it comes to baby wash wins me right over. I am the kind of mother who can't bother to fumble for different types of bottles during bath time. You can't blame me when I only have one hand available, because the other hand is occupied by gripping tight my wriggling, slippery baby Khye.
However, I find the it a little soapy, although I use it so sparingly. After washing my baby's hair and body with it, (I squeezed some into my hand then I lathered it then rubbed them over Khye's body and hair), the whole bath tub water seems soapy.
But the bright side is that you get to save a lot because you only need to use it sparingly, most probably less than what I use I suppose. And it leaves my baby's skin very smooth. Really, really smooth and silky after bath. It is supposed to help to nourish and moisturize baby's skin.
And the scent, oh I haven't mentioned about the scent yet. This signature sakura scent is mild and musky, and yet flowery and baby-ish. I really like it.
2. Baby Shampoo
Just like the baby wash, the smell is divine. I like it. I also like that it is tear-free. And I also need to use it really sparingly too. This small 200ml bottle could last me forever. Really value for money.
However, when this bottle finish, I would go for the 2-in-1. Yes, because I am a lazy mother. :)
3. Baby Milky Lotion
Khye's feet seem to be rather dry, especially the parts near his toenails. So I'd started applying this lotion on his feet and toes every time after his bath. In just 3 days, I could see improvement. No more dry skin there. It is supposed to help moisturize and nourishes the skin.
The application is smooth, because the lotion is not thick and sticky. It has quite a runny consistency which makes it easy to apply, but not too runny. It is also not sticky after it dries up, which is very important to me, because I hate sticky babies. Haha.
4. Baby Powder
I think this is my favourite product in this range. I seldom come across powder which is under the natural range, so I am quite happy to see a baby powder in this Sakura range.
Powder is definitely not necessary for infants, and actually not recommended because it is not easy to keep the powder off the air when using it. And if infants inhaled it, it can cause breathing problems and lungs damaged, as advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics. (info: Babycenter)
However, in our hot and humid country, I find it difficult to avoid using baby powder. I actually don't use it when Khye was a few months old. But now that he is bigger, I like using it because Khye is getting all round and Michelin-like, and thus he sweats a lot. And I mean A LOT. I think by applying powder underneath his skin folds, it helps to keep the areas dry and less rash.
I don't use that powder puff thingy and puff it all over his face. All I do is to pour some powder on my palm and then apply it underneath his skin folds and some all over his body.
This Pigeon Sakura Baby Powder smells just like the rest of the products in this range, nice so I like it. Powder is loose and easy to dispense. But what can be improved is that I wish for the dispensing holes to be
adjustable. Coz now there is only the lid to pour, and i find that I
pour out too much sometimes. Maybe I am used to the Johnson n Johnson's Powder packaging where I can turn and adjust the holes size to make the
holes bigger or smaller. But overall love this Baby Powder.
Pigeon's dispensing holes with lid cover versus J&J's adjustable holes
Side by side
5. Baby Oil
As you all know, I don't do baby massage for Khye. So I use it on myself. I tried it on my dehydrated skin on my legs and they are not too oily. It moisturizes my skin. I also applied it on some rough patches on my body, such as my elbows and knees and I find that it helps to moisturize them too. Scent it lovely.
This is Khye taking a bath using the Baby Wash 2in1. Khye is being his usual happy self!
11 April 2013
You can purchase the Pigeon Sakura Baby Toiletries at most major departmental stores nationwide.
For more information, please visit Pigeon Malaysia's website.
* Disclosure: I received all the above items for review purpose, but no monetary incentive was received. All text and opinions are of my own and represents my honest opinion of the product(s).
