We had your "200 day" photos as part of the photography package at LookyLooky a couple months ago. This stage included 2 concepts. I had Lucas with me so I let him choose the concepts and outfits. You were great during the first concept, very smiley and happy but in the 2nd concept you were very tired and grumpy so we couldn't get any good shots. We had a final concept where you took some photos with Lucas and got some sweet shots.
Do you remember how fussy you were with your food? I’m really hoping it is something you will grow out of! Currently you refuse to eat any veges and the only fruit you will eat is watermelon. You do automatically feed yourself 2 vitamins a day because you see them as treats/rewards, so at least you’re getting some nutrients!
Your favourite foods are:
Sausages, eggs, fried rice, rice in general, roti, satay chicken skewers, boost juice, chicken rice, pho, com tam. Yes, you’s asian through and through with your food choices!
You have 1 piece of toast for breakfast, and even then it’s always an endeavour to get you to finish the toast. I’ve tried cutting the toast up into superhero shapes but that didn’t really work. Now I just cut the toast into quarters so it seems less of an effort to eat...it works.
Something funny happened yesterday regarding your lunch at school. Daddy usually makes you rice and pork floss for lunch in a thermos to take to school. Then when I am ready after feeding Josh, I’ll pack your lunch, morning tea and drink bottle into your bag. Yesterday I packed everything away and when I came home was told we didn’t make you any lunch. Daddy had left the hot water in the thermos and had apparently told me he was in a rush and couldn’t get your lunch ready. I didn’t hear him as I was still asleep. At lunch time, you opened your thermos and exclaimed, “Mummy and Daddy only gave me water for lunch!”. The teachers and everyone thought it was very funny.
So what else do you eat? Morning tea these days consist of seaweed and apricot or fruit bites. Sometimes we put in crackers. Grapes once or twice but were never eaten. We really need to broaden your taste buds before school next year!
I booked a photo package to capture you at 100 days, 200 days and 1 year from the photography studio Looky Looky. The studio is made up of different sets made especially to capture babies. They had the cutest props to choose from!
I chose 3 concepts and the photographer and assistant cycle through a number of pre-set poses quite quickly. They made you do a lot of tummy time to get the head up poses, you were not happy! By the middle of the 2nd concept, you were grumpy and tired and we had to take a break so I could feed you and give you a 30min nap. After this, you were refreshed for the last concept which was to dress you up like a teddy bear :) Here are some of my favourite pics:
It always astounds me when I read with you at night for bedtime. You're now reading quite advanced books and have been able to phonetically sound out words since you were 3 years old. You taught yourself to read and we're amazed at how effortlessly you do it.
Here are some videos of you reading at 3yo
3 years 2 months
3 years 6 months
At first we thought you memorised the words in the books but Daddy tested you by asking you to read backwards, which you did very well. You also make sure we read every single page, if we miss a page, you let us know right away!
You're also very good with your numbers. You were able to count to 100 at 3, you're now adding and substracting in your head. You learnt all the months and days of the week at 3 as well, so we couldn't trick you on your routine.
A funny video of you at 4y 5m counting when you were pumped full of sugar and needed to sleep. This was at Aunty Mandy's birthday I think.
It's been a while since I've done a dedicated Lucas update. I've taken loads of videos and photos of you but just haven't uploaded here.
You are now 5years old, nearly 6 years in Feb. I interviewed you yesterday thinking I'll update it to your Preschool Year book that I made, I think I'll post it here too! Will be so cute to look back on this and remember what your interests were during this special year where you started a new preschool and made many new friends.
Date: 28 Nov. 18
Interview with LucasAge: 5 years, 9 months
What is your favourite toy?-Lego batman-Batman action figure with the blue eyes
Where do you go to school?-KU North Ryde
Who are your teachers?-Ani and Cosimina
Who are your best friends?-Millie, Harry, Samaira, Jayden
What is your favourite colour?-Dark blue
What is your favourite food?-Sausages-Fried eggs
What’s your favourite number?-4
Why?-Because I like Gordon and he was number 4
What is your favourite sport?-Basketball
What is your favourite TV show?-Batman tv series
What is your favourite song?-Spiderman 1967
What is your favourite book?-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Amazing Adventures
What do you want for Christmas?-Batman Arkham Asylum Lego
Who is your favourite person?-Millie (you did also add Mummy, but seemingly reluctantly, as though you didn't want me to feel bad lol)
What do you look forward to doing next year?-My birthday because I get to open presents.
What do you want to be when you grow up?-Spiderman
What were your favourite memories this year?-Making cupcakes-Playing teenage mutant ninja turtles arcade game-Becoming a big brother (yes, in that order!)
What are you looking forward to?-Our holiday to Taiwan
What is your favourite playstation game?-Lego marvel superheroes
You also did this interview that I taped when you were 4 years 6 months. I remember we taped this quite randomly while having dinner at the Carlingford food court.
(had to remove the video because you recited our phone numbers and home address...haha)
These past 5 months have gone so fast with you. I know I've missed quite a few updates since you were born but the more I procrastinate to do a good job with photos and videos of you, the more likely that there won't be any updates. So I'm going to put my thoughts in here when I can so that these memories slowly build up.
My smiling chubby baby, you are such a joy to the whole family. You smile all the time, whether it's eating, playing, being held. Oh how you love to be held. We have to hold you ALL the time so I don't have any time to do anything. I spend your naps carrying you around, so right now you are sleeping while I carry you. I have to stand up and type on the laptop bc you don't like people to sit down while being carried. Such a little fuss pot! Though we all do this willingly because your giggles and smiles when you wake up are so precious. You are very sneaky though bc when you wake up, you stay so quiet in the carrier so that we carry you for longer. No tears at all when you wake up.
You are now 5 and a half months. Yesterday you rolled for the first time! I captured it on video and will post here.
You also started solids at 4.5 months old and you LOVE your purees, it's a dream to feed you. I took this video this morning because you kept smiling and laughing as I was feeding you. These are the foods you've tried:
- sweet potato, peas, carrots, apples, cauliflower, pumpkin
You seem to love the pumpkin and sweet potato best, so I try to mix it with the other veges.
You slept through the night 2 nights ago...and haven't done it since. You slept from 7.30pm to 5.30am and oh my boobs were so full. You might have slept longer but we had a huge storm in the morning and the thunder woke us both up. Thankfully at nights you are happy to sleep in your basinette after the feeds.
You must be around 8kg now, you were 7.4kg at 4ish months. You have the sweetest and gummiest smile. You look like you might be sitting up on your own soon, probably from all the practice sitting in your baby chair to eat your solids.
The first 6 weeks were the absolute hardest. Your cried A LOT. Probably because you couldn't feed very well on my boobs. It was a struggle for both of us and so painful for me. I persevered but was tempted to give up on each feed because your latch wasn't right and every time I fed you, it felt like needles being stuck into me. At 6 weeks, you suddenly didn't need to be held to sleep and I managed to sleep a bit more than 1.5-2hours at a time. I was so sleep-deprived the first 6 weeks! I don't know how I survived. But since then, it got easier and easier. You know feed well, sleep well and growing fatter every day.
We try to follow a bedtime routine for you but it's hard to juggle on some days. Lucas has been lovely and reads Good Night Moon to you sometimes. He doesn't even need to read the words, he's memorised it from us reading the same book to him when he was a baby.
I know this post is out of order, so I'll go back and write another post with your first few months with more videos. It's much easier to link to the youtube videos that I have been uploading rather than the photos. Oh, photos! You did the cutest professional photos at 4 months! I will definitely upload those on here!
As I write this, you are already 3 months old and sleeping in the baby carrier while I carry you. I am writing while standing up because you are quite fussy and don't like it when we sit down while carrying you in the carrier. You love to be carried or held...but before I go into how you are in the first 3 months, let me catch up with a blog post on my pregnancy while I was pregnant with you. It feels like a blur now so I better write down my thoughts while I still remember.
I didn't take photos for every week that I was pregnant with you but you can see my growing belly. Your big brother Lucas was good at reminding me to take belly photos on Sunday and he even took on the responsibility of writing the week numbers on the chalkboard.
Here is week 16 - I think this was the first week that I stopped feeling nauseous!
Weight: 58.9kg
Week 16
Week 18 - my birthday week! So here's a photo of my dinner date with Daddy in the city. Mummy got all dressed up :)
Weight: 60.5kg
Dinner date with Daddy for my 40th birthday
Week 19 - photo of Lucas writing the week on the chalkboard
Pregnancy symptoms:
I had pretty bad nausea and fatigue from week 6 to 16. All throughout the pregnancy I had to do blood tests every month, sometimes more than once to monitor my overactive thyroid (Graves disease). And then by week 23, I got diagnosed with borderline gestational diabetes - which meant I had to check my blood sugars 4 times a day and adhere to a special diet.
Most of the pregnancy was the same though the thyroid issue went away in the third trimester so I didn't have to take any meds. Around week 36 at the OB's office, I was told my blood pressure was too high and had to be monitored and start meds. So I then had to go to the hospital twice a week to get something called an ECG which checked your heart beat and my blood pressure.
During my hospital visit on Daddy's bday, my blood pressure went too high and I ended up staying in the hospital. We were supposed to have a bday lunch with Daddy but in the end, I was in the hospital getting some tests done. I told Daddy to get a massage since it was his bday and the nurses told me the blood tests would take 2 hours to do. As soon as Daddy left for his massage, the nurses came back and said I had to get a caesarian operation on the OB's orders! Poor Daddy was on the massage table and had to rush back to the hospital, just in time for you to be born that afternoon. So a very exciting day on Daddy's bday and from now on, you and Daddy will celebrate all your birthdays together.
BOY! We had our gender reveal on the weekend. Though Daddy cheated and saw the colour of the balloons before the actual reveal. Lucas was super happy to have a little brother. Most people (except Grandma) also guessed boy.
Weight: 58.9kg (no change, even a slight drop on some days when I weighed)
Symptoms: less nausea (puking) but still dry heaving. Surprised the morning sickness is still not over yet. Hopefully it will be over soon bc I'm starting work next Wed...
Cravings: fizzy soft drinks - you're definitely daddy's boy
Researching: Xmas presents
Lucas graduated from his child care on Friday. Here is what he wants to be when he grows up :)
I had my NIPT scan on Friday and based on the size measured during the scan, I was actually at 11 weeks 2 days. We got busy over the weekend and didn't end up taking a week 11 photo (yes, we've skipped week 10). I'm quite happy being further along bc hopefully it means my morning sickness will be over in a few more weeks.
I'm still suffering from morning sickness, still nauseous and tired. I'm taking meds that are reducing my immunity as well, so I've had a cough and flu-like symptoms for 2 weeks already.
It's been wonderful being able to rest the last couple weeks though. I'm not sure how I would have made it through working for a full day.
This week Lucas went to Luna Park with Daddy and was so brave to ride the big rollercoaster. It was also Grandpa's birthday so we celebrated over lunch and dinner.
Weight: 58.5kg - I think the nausea has stopped me from gaining weight. I checked online for acceptable weight gain during the first trimester and it's only 0.5kg-1kg, so shouldn't be gaining much anyway. I am starting to show a bit though can still wear most of my regular clothes.
Symptoms: nausea, tiredness, random things make me puke and dry heave
Researching: xmas present ideas
I resigned from my job this week so was able to rest at home from Wed to Friday. Of course, Murphy's Law also means I got struck by a cold on Wed and have been coughing and feeling sick since then. On Wed when I was at home, Lucas was so sweet and told Dave's parents that he wanted to stay home to look after me and the baby.
I am glad I have the next 3 weeks to rest before starting my new job. These few weeks will see me through the first trimester. Hopefully I'll get my energy back for the 2nd trimester and I'll be able to feel more normal again.
Weight: 58.9kg
Cravings: fruit, cheese - this baby has the same tastes as Dave!
Symptoms: still extremely tired, have difficulty sleeping with all my coughing in the night
Researching: bought some maternity clothes today bc my clothes are starting to feel tight, my tummy is starting to show a bit now
Went to the OB earlier in the week and was told my estimated due date is a week later than we thought on 28 June. This means we had to do week 8 photos again. Had an appointment with the endocrinologist and found I also have an autoimmune disorder. So now am on meds to control it.
This week was another very tiring week. I don't know how I am getting through the working days as I am vomiting at work and constantly need to nap.
I weighed myself on the weekend and found I've actually lost weight, just a kilo. It's been a tough week of more tiredness. The OB said the morning sickness will get worse before it gets better by the end of the first trimester. So another 4-5 weeks left to go!
Weight - 57.9kg
Symptoms - extreme exhaustion, headaches from the meds, not able to sleep at night, my body temperature seems to be quite hot
Craving - fruit! Cold drinks
Researching - nothing much. Trying to just make it through the day without feeling too bad.
I was too tired to get dressed and take a photo last week. Lucas was asking about our Week 7 photo but it just didn't happen. Today he was super excited when I took the chalkboard out and wrote Week 8. He's loving the thought of being a big brother. He gives me kisses on my belly and asks when he'll be able to see his baby brother or sister. It was very easy to tell him because he had already figured it out when we took our first weekly photo. He actually told Grandpa the news and said: "Mummy has a 6 week old baby brother in her tummy".
In a way, it's good that we have 4+ years as an age difference. He's able to look after himself more now and he's very understanding when I tell him I'm too tired. On Thursday we had a long day with walking around Macquarie Centre in the evening waiting for Dave to travel down from work. By the time we got home around 8.30, I was crawling into bed. I told Lucas I didn't have the energy to read him bed time stories, so while I was in bed, he came into the room and asked to give me a good night cuddle before he went to sleep. I'm really glad to see how mature he is.
How far along? 8 weeks
Measurements: not sure. Last week was 58.9kg
Cravings: cold drinks, mints, congee
Things that make me nauseous: room temperature water, smell of onion, smell of the fridge, floral smells
Symptoms: so so tired, needing to nap constantly, nausea and dry heaving, diarrhoea (I know, ugh. Last week was constipation. I think it's my pregnancy vitamins)
Latest news from me - I have verbally accepted a new job offer. Thankfully once I resign from my job, I'll be able to rest through the first trimester at home. That will be such bliss. One more week of work to go.
Morning sickness hit me full force this week. I have been so tired, I don't know how I made it through some days. Now that it's the weekend, I just want to spend all day not moving. In a way, I'm glad I have morning sickness because it means my body is working hard to create the placenta for our little bubba.
How far along? 6 weeks
Measurements: too lazy to check
Cravings: ginger, salty crackers, today I had a craving for char kweh teo - but more specifically for the lap cheung, fermented bean curd
Things that make me nauseous: room temperature water made me puke
Symptoms: extreme exhaustion, nausea, constipation, metallic taste in my mouth... makes me remember again how hard the first trimester is. I am dreading going to work tomorrow.
Lucas got so excited when I asked if he wanted to do a week 6 photo. He doesn't know yet about baby number 2 though he does relate it to the photos in my pregnancy album. He's been asking if he can have a baby brother or sister this week. Dave replied that he can have one in 9 months and Lucas replied, "It's not 9 months. It's 39 weeks. Like me"
I really had to force myself to do this photo, as you can tell - hair unbrushed, no makeup.
Week 6
Lucas had a great time dressed as Spider-Man at his school's Halloween party on Friday. He wanted to stay til the party was over, we didn't leave until nearly 7pm. You can imagine how exhausted I was waiting for the party to be over!
I am so excited to be starting this journey again. After a couple years of trying and a few months of Lucas asking us if he can have a baby brother or sister....we are finally on our way to meet baby number 2!
It is still very early days, only 5 weeks into the pregnancy. I am scared, excited and a bit hesitant on whether to start blogging again but after seeing how interested Lucas is in seeing the weeks when he was in my tummy, I thought I would do this again so baby number 2 can have the same experience.
We found out we were pregnant last Sunday after I did no less than 4 tests! This week has been spent getting a few more blood tests to make sure everything is ok. I've already booked an Obstetrician and also the maternity hospital. I'm much more efficient the 2nd time around!!
How far along? 5 weeks
Measurements: 58.6kg
Cravings: None
Symptoms: None yet. I'm hoping to keep morning sickness at bay!
Lucas joining in for the first weekly photo :) We've decided to give Lucas the news when things have settled down a bit. Last week (before we found out we were pregnant), Lucas wanted a baby sister and wanted to call her Emily Curtis. This week he wants 2 baby brothers, one called Richard and the other called Rosie :)
You've been looking forward to opening all the presents under the tree and everyday you would ask me if it was time to open the presents yet. It was no surprise once we gave you the go-ahead to open the presents, you did so with great gusto! I'll upload some videos showing you in action later. For now, I'll upload some lovely family photos we took around the tree.
Isaac was so excited to play with you! Hopefully next year you guys will be able to make the most of all the Thomas train sets we have at home.
