Non-Destructive Testing

Lots of NDT takes place in the nuclear industry that T and I work in so we are quite used to this sort of thing...when it applies to plant.

When Munchkin was but a bump we decided to refer to him as "Boo" after the little one in Monster Inc. Hence, when I came across a board book titled Baby Boo! I decided that I had to acquire it for Munchkin. This week we have been looking at the pictures in this book together. Munchkin seems to like looking at the pictures of other babies and smiling and cooing back to them in a friendly fashion. This was exactly the case yesterday....until I managed to drop the book on Munchkin's head. A shocked look followed by a very red face and huge opening of lungs followed. Munchkin had passed the book drop test...and responded ala the late Pavarotti in volume. Not quite Nesun Dorma though, equal in volume. Just not very melodious.

Rubbish parenting at its best......I wonder if the dropped book fulfilled the criteria of standard drop test equipment....after all there exists a calibrated finger to check the width of apertures for cooling...hmmm.....

Sleep, glorious sleep!

Munchkin was 9 weeks old last Saturday. We have been for the last few weeks experimenting with the dark art of loving neglect. Yes, we are cruel and have left him to settle himself for naps and sleep in general. This has meant that there is sometimes the very melodramatic opening of lungs at full volume....just to let us know that he is cross with us and to remind us that he is still there. This goes on for all of 10 minutes....then he falls asleep.

The one essential skill that munchkin's everywhere don't have when they come into the world is the ability to fall asleep on their own. They have to be gently guided into acquiring the skill. Funny seeing that they are able to cry, poo ( oh yes!!), wee (yes again!), belch (yes!yes!yes!), fart (definitely yes!) but not settle themselves to sleep.

In the early hours of Sunday morning I woke with a start. For a start I knew I needed to feed munchkin in my capacity as Daisy moo (the dam had burst and needed containing) but also the birds were starting to break into song outside. I quickly nudged T and asked what the time was. It was 0500 - Munchkin had slept through the night....long may it continue!

Calpol at the ready!

Munchkin had to have his first jabs on Wednesday. I think the experience was worse for me than it was for munchkin. Safety in numbers.....T and I wheeled him down to the surgery to see the "nice nurse". T even had illusions that she would be a lovely young thing with a nice fitting white uniform (it is a boy thing!). He was disappointed. I was a wreck.

The appointment started off with Munchkin's 8 week check. All is well the nice Dr lady told us. We were then herded into nursie's lair. Out came the needle followed by about 30 seconds of wailing then out came the next needle and another 30 seconds wailing (of course 30 seconds felt like 10 hours to me). Then, it all went quiet and munchkin drifted off to sleep (whilst managing to stick his big, fat bottom lip out in a pout that can only be rivalled by his dad's - No dear you are still not getting an X-box 360 for Christmas no matter how much Munchkin might need one!)

We then went to the Health Visitor for a weigh in. Munchkin is 9 and a half weeks old. He now weighs 12 lb 3 oz. As we were leaving he managed to beam the most enormous smile for the health visitor....that's my boy!

Daisy Moo

"Any dignity you have left goes out the window" How very true! First you have to go through being proded and poked by strangers....ok..you get to know your midwife after the first couple of prods but no one prepares you for what comes next.

Having had to have an emergency c-section, that phrase rang out loud and clear..I even remember giggling on the operating table in agreement. Toby was born to an audience of about a dozen. Fine for him but when you have no control over your bodily functions due to medication......

Anyway, a very helpful friend of mine provided me with the ultimate mummy device (stop smiling to yourself, you know who you are!) We decided to give it a test run yesterday. We logged on to the manufacturer's website and read the instructions and ensured that the device was put together as specified. We stepped through the directions...and lo and behold, the river burst its banks and a torrent rushed forth. Not that we noticed. We were both collapsed on the floor, in tears laughing whilst trying not to spill anything. It was one of those cherished moments that a couple share...never to be forgotten! We have decided to park the device for now, at least till I don't collapse in a fit of giggles when I see it.

If you haven't yet guessed, the device was a breast pump.

God couldn't be everywhere so.....

he created Grandmothers!
A wise woman once told me that babies are God's way of introducing more love into the world. She also told me that when I had my own baby I would know, truly how much she loves me. She was and is absolutely right. (As my mother almost always is....sometimes I just don't realise till much later and when I do I can just hear her voice telling me "Mama told you!")

Mama was here, in England for all of 26 days. In that time, I was grumpy from lack of sleep, snappish and not a very nice person to be with (I am generally not very good if I haven't slept enough....4 hours a night was not doing me any favours.) But, she was there, cheerful, helpful (most of the time!) very, very patient and very forgiving. It is so true that you don't know what you have got till you haven't got it any more....boy! Did I miss her when she had gone home to Malaysia! And I still miss her now. But, she calls practically every day "just to hear our voices", and she reminds us that things will only get better and better. Again, she is absolutely right.

I am, who I am because of her love. Now, I understand. So, here is to mothers (and grandmothers everywhere)

Lees and Wicketts

Having little baby boys are very important to the chinese, so Toby's birth was a moment of great rejoicing. I am sure my aunts swear that it is due to the wishes recited during the chinese tea ceremony held in Kuantan to mark our nuptials. I won't repeat the rhyme...for one it is in hokkien and mainly because it is so very rude!

My dad is particularly thrilled. Having had two daughters, he has been long awaiting a little grandson to play cricket with....and now he has his Wickett. He must be very excited....amongst the bags of chinese herbs and Malaysian goodies stashed away in his suitcase, my dad produced a little cricket bat. This bat is 33 years old...it was bought for me and now belongs to Toby. We are all looking forward to summers with grandad and Ah kong in the garden....but for now...a cuddle will have to suffice!

Of Full moons and golden pigs

According to Chinese tradition, when a baby is a month old some ancient rituals have to be observed. This filled me with dread as I did not have a clue where to start or what to do. Fortunately for us, my parents were here for the occasion.

Coincidently, for the first 30 days (day 1 being the day of munchkin's birth) I was required to follow a confinement plan...hmm...this involved not eating red meat (very challenging), not doing outdoors before dawn and after dusk (I was too tired anyway!) and having a ginger and sesame oil fueled diet enhanced with strange chinese herbs which looked quite dodgy (like they had been picked off the forest floor!) - this was all fine as mum was in attendance.

Anyway, Munchkin's full moon was marked by the preparation of hard boiled eggs dyed red and a monster feast for the adults. What is in it for the boy, you ask? Well, he got a lovely necklace from his Great Uncles and Aunts in Kuantan (with a golden pig on it of course). It happens that this year is one of the golden pig. Very auspicious according to the chinese and only comes round once every 60 years! He also got his hair cut by daddy and a boiled egg rolled over his head precided over by his very proud Ah Mah and Ah Kong. The most touching moment was when my dad presented munchkin with the necklace that my grandma gave him 36 years ago on his wedding day...tears all round!