A Challenging Time

The first 6 months flew by and it seemed like only yesterday we brought Micah back from the hospital. He is 8.5kgs now and will turn 7 months end of this week. We have been traveling a little too much in the past 2 months and I haven't been settled enough to update my posts. We've been to so many places, so many events happened in Micah's development and with it brought so many challenges.

I had been praising Micah for being an easy baby. I think I spoke too soon! It was pretty simple to care for Micah because as they say, babies only eat, sleep and poo. He did all that without much fuss and is generally very even tempered.

Everything changed the moment he tasted food! Pureed it may be, it was still something different for him and he is really enjoying his mushy meals. So he learned to demand for it! And for many other things as well. He is developing pretty fast.

On his mental facilities, I would think that he is extremely alert now and observant. He has started to cry for attention and knows how to push us around. We are trying very hard not to fall into his little wailing traps. The attention seeking is far and few in between but if unchecked we'd end up being at his beck and call. He still falls asleep by himself (it could be that we have been out so much that he is tired out by 6pm and thus goes to bed by 7pm) but we notice that the crying happens when he is in his stroller - he knows that when he cries hysterically, we'd pick him up.

It is quite a change to see his reaction, when before it was almost non existent. Now, when he knows he is going to be fed, he makes smaking sounds and kicks his feet in anticipation.Try dragging your feet a little and you get an impatient cry!

As for feeding, I think I am doing almost everything I am not supposed to do with Micah! He is eating bottled baby food because it was virtually impossible to prepare and puree his food for him on the go. I know some mothers will cringe when they read this! And as for introducing foods slowly so that we know if he has allergies....that has gone down the drain - I've let Micah eat 2 different things all on the same day and even fed him some muffin!

At this moment, I am posting while carrots are steaming in the wok on the stove. I am renewing my efforts to provide some home cooked and pureed food for Micah. I have to work extra hard to feed him well because he doesn't seem to want his milk all that much. Easy on our pockets but not as convenient!

I am now in Brisbane. We flew from Kuala Lumpur last Monday and arrived on a Tuesday. Then we flew to Melbourne to attend David's sister's wedding and came back to Brisbane early Sunday morning. It was a tiring week. And I am seriously sick of flying and packing suitcases.

We will make one last trip for the year - driving down to Sydney soon and then Micah and I can stay put in Brisbane for a while. I can't wait...

Recovering

It has taken me 2 weeks to recover from our 2 weeks of traveling around in China! I think the recovery is longer because I've had to take care of Micah alone as David is still in China. It is, however, a blessing to be able to stay with my sister and enjoy all the comforts of home and being with family.

I haven't really felt like blogging these past 2 weeks. Call it writer's block or it could be that I have so much to tell and I really don't know where to start. But as I start writing this post, I am reminded that blogging helps me organize my thoughts and focus again. I really find blogging, theraupeutic!

We are almost always enroute to some other place and this year, especially so. But we are slowly making progress with our plans to settle down in Australia. The recent drop in the Australian dollar has somewhat helped and hopefully with what's happening economically in Australia, properties will be more affordable. Coupled with the increase in the First Home Owner's grant and slashed interest rates, we are most likely to buy our home in Queensland soon. Our fingers are crossed.

We have another week to enjoy Kuala Lumpur and then we fly to Australia. Firstly to attend a wedding and then to clock in time to satisfy our PR requirements. We are spending most of our time with Ling, Mike and Harry in Brisbane (they traveled with us in China recently). Harry is my godson. We made it formal during our trip. Harry wasn't too pleased to call me Godma because he is so used to calling me Aunty Tracy! He relented after he found out that I will be babysitting him throughout end of year holidays which means he doesn't have to attend vacation school! He was giving me theory lessons for a shooting game we are to play on the Nintendo Wii and quizzing me throughout our trip - I think I've forgotten most of it already.

I am so looking forward to spending a few months in Australia especially since it is at a time when Micah is starting to be weaned. I should be able to get fresh produce in Australia plus a range of trusted baby foodstuff - I don't have to worry about melamine! I wonder how we'd feed Micah when we go back to China next year or even ourselves, for that matter. We'd probably end up spending double or even triple on imported foodstuff. Sigh...

Another week or more to go! Anyways, here is Micah at 6 months.