A week of Mum and Baby Bonding (part 1)

Daddy is finally on biz trip (1st time since we got married in 2008). 1 week trip might not sound long during our single days, but now with baby around, I guess daddy starts to miss us the moment he step into Penang International Airport.

Mummy thus keeps a week journal recording all big and small events happened when daddy is away. This is just half of the journal, just in case mummy fail her memory test again...

Day 1 10Jul10
- daddy took a super early flight at 6+am and left when Clement was still sleeping. When Clement wakes up, only mummy is seen but I think he's ok since mummy is his main source of food. Mummy kept telling Clement that daddy is away and will be back after a week. Actually mummy already missed daddy... Since MIL left for her Spore trip yesterday and FIL is out working, left mummy, Clement and maid at home. Clement is pretty cooperative today, poo poo before lunch and willing to open mouth mam mam during lunch. Mummy introduced potato for the first time and Clement seems to like it. Look at Clement waiting patiently in his baby cot... Mummy think this photo can convience daddy that Clement is really waiting for his return this saturday.



Clement's favourite past time in the baby cot is too stand up holding on to the side rail and try to pull his mobile friend. Mummy thought that baby cot is a safe place to play since Clement can sit there for minutes playing with his penguin, books and other toys, and sometimes holding on the the rails doing some stretching and leg exercise, until this happened....



Let's see the innocent face....



Day 2
- mummy introduced breakfast time with Clement. Haha... actually is because mummy is short handed but still cannot skip breakfast. Thus by putting Clement in high chair next to the dining table mummy can enjoy her milk and bread and cheese while Clement gets some tiny bites of the whole meal bread and water. Mummy was so happy that so far the home alone experience is pretty good. Unfortunately in the afternoon while Clement was having nap and mummy rushed down to store EBM, mummy heard Clement crying while she's rushing upstairs. Oh no... Mummy saw Cement in sitting position in the floor next to the bed. Clement fell down from the bed for the second time in his life... Mummy felt so bad. We apply ice on his head hoping no blueblack or swollen...



Day 3
- today is a super careful day. everything mummy also play safe, esp when Clement is sleeping. Thanks God Clement's head bump disappeared. When I was so glad today is not an eventful day as yesterday, in the evening I was so shocked to see a visiting awaiting in my room. A BLACK AND GRAY CAT!!! argh... the cat bang through our magnetic mosquito net and entered our 3rd floor room. Worse still, he was panicked and could not get out the same way since the net dropped and covered the "path". I screamed and ran downstairs. Argh.... That was the worst night I ever have, cant really sleep since am worried there is more than one cat entered my room, and if is stil in my room!!


Day 4
- first day manage Clement alone without daddy in the morning. It was pretty efficient and was glad everything was done as per planned. first time drive to work on my own since i join this company. first time using the seasonal pass since I apply it. 1st time customer visit too today.... wow... Is it an eventful day today? I thought I escaped until the car key slipped from my palm and dropped into the drain while trying to open the gate lock when i arrived home. Yes, still an eventful day.


Day 5
- this morning i guess i can see 2 top front teeth popping out. Haha... happy 8th month, Clement :) Hope you'll stop doing this,


But more of this in coming days ya, since those are not for your teeth but your eyes and hands and brains....


Was raining heavily in the morning and went it turned to drizzling, I quickly left home to avoid being late. Still an eventful day - car key rosak cos kena air longkang the day before... and I couldnt start the car thanks to Honda's safety feature. Called international call to daddy asking for help. Most expensive helpline I ever called. However, I was cheered up by my little darling sleeping pattern tonight. Like daddy like son. He had a very quiet baby snore when he first fall asleep. haha... so cute!!



3 more days left and daddy is coming home!!! yeah!!!

Clearing the mushrooms

It's been sometime since I last visited this blog... Ehm, sorry, I mean, manage this blog.... It's time to clean up the cendawan, wild grass and fungus here, and to bring some updates through these few MONTHS!!

Daddy's first tears: Clement felt down from the bed when he was 5months+ old. It happended in the midnight around 12.30am when daddy and mummy were sleeping soundly. BANG!!! "Oh, Clement leh?" followed by daddy picking up Clement from the wooden floor and Clement crying in high pitch. While mummy took over Clement to pacify him, mummy see daddy's first tears and cracking voice asking how could that happen since we still could not figure out how he felt down the bed till today. From that day onwards, there is a noisy rattles near the edge of the bed, nearby to where Clement sleeps. We even did some minor reorganising of the bed and baby cot to reduce the chance of history happen again. Mummy remembered the "bad memory" red and white t- shirt Clement wore that night and did not let him wear that again so that won't remind her of the sad event.

Starting solid: Clement started on solid on 14 May, the day he turns 6 months nett. We had him started with Neslac (green packaging) + breast milk only as his first solid. He had that for a week and we were so glad he is so ready to mam mam. So week after week we add in pear, apple, carrot, apricot, spinach, pumpkin etc into his food vocabulary. Due to his teething milestone, there were times he refused to eat and just close his mouth tight. You can really see the determination he has there. However, I really salute the creativity my MIL has which can trick him to open his mouth so that she can feed him food. Lately we pinch some whole meal bread and let him taste. Haha he's so happy :) Oh ya, he has his first two bottom front teeth on his 6th month 4th week. And the two upper front teeth gonna say HELLO WORLD anytime soon...

Being more mobile: Old people says, 7th month can sit, 8th month can crawl, 9th month grow teeth. But nowadays the milestones are achieved at earlier age, based on some data collected from friends around. Clement is able to sit around 5-6th months. And 6-7th months he can crawl caterpillar style. Lately his crawling is more profesional and steady, even on hard floors. 7th months onwards he has been trying to pull to stand. He likes to do it with his baby cot bars. His latest hobby is to stand on our bed, holding on to his baby cot bars, trying to catch his mobile's butterfly, snail, frog or bee. Haha... During his 7th month 2nd week, he started to transit around holding on to our bed headboard and his baby cot handles. Occasionally he will let go his hand and try to reach you if you are sitting nearby. Yo, dangerous lo... He enjoy most while holding both your hands walking towards you. On 20 June Clement participated in Sunshine Farlim's Baby Crawling Competition. It was a good experince for Clement and daddy and mummy were able to witness the steady, confidence, determined youngest baby in action. Hahha... probably he didn't even know he's in a competition and might not understand the discouraging words some aunty spoke while he was on his ABC mats. Life should be like that, I learnt. Aim for the goal, complete the race, keep the faith. There's one more coming up in Sunshine Square on 17 Jul. Not sure if Clement can go since daddy won't be around on that day. Haha... Babies 6-14months out there, go while you are still eligible. Just for the fun and memory :)

Updates on mummy: Mummy made a big change recently. A leap of faith. haha.... Mummy change job. Is now officially an Avagone and renamed 3Mer. It was a great 7 years journey in my official first company, a place where I grew from a fresh grad, to YS girlfriend, to YS wife, and then Clement's mummy. VinM says that so far he has not met someone who fulfill so many milestones in the first company. A place I've met a lot nice friends and colleagues too. It's not a bad place to work, just some new challenges and ventures I'm looking for. Moving on in the new company, so far still ok. It's a new beginning with new faces, new culture, new working style. I'm glad I'm still committed in pumping sessions and brave enough to make known the needs. And I really thank God for His favour and understanding colleagues so far. Guess what, 7 Jul is a public holiday in new company. So nice....

Signing off for now. Will post some photos next round. Hopefully soon.

Kids eat for free

A friend of mine told me that we can actually benefit from Kids Eat For Free program. One paying adult and one free kids meal.

"Huh, why? Can my baby eat?"

"Err, you are your baby's 'main course' right? You eat on his behalf. He'll claim from you later.... "

I haven't really benefit from this program so far. Haha... does it sound embarassing? Have you tried it my dear Malaysians with babies?

My latest "teddy bear" and "koala bear"

I've always like to hug soft toys, esp the big ones. But since they are so pricey, prone to collect dust and space consuming, I settled with bolsters. haha.... (maybe just some sour grapes excuse for not having one)

Lately our little Clement reminds me of koala bears. Though I never hold one before, but I like the feeling of him clinging onto you, holding on your shoulders and sometimes wanna climb up your body when you are carrying him. The warmth when he hugs you, is so nice and close to your heart.

Last few nights when he cried in the midnight, I found a way to hug him close to my heart while patting him to sleep. very bahagia feeling :) so much better than hugging a bolster :p Not sure how long he'll stay in this huggable size and feel. Ah, I gonna miss it when he grows up. Better treasure each moment I have now.

Last weekend after our lunch at a super expensive Japanese restaurant (we got conned by the banner since we did not notice that you are entitled to the 15% discount ONLY IF you spend RM300 and above), I suggested to have Clement posing next to some soft toys on display at the restaurant. Well, since this restaurant is so nicely decorated and I don't think I'll step in there again... ahha. I was carrying Clement and YS supposed to take our photos. But somehow he was not attracted to daddy and refused to look at the handphone camera. So after that I decided to switch with him since I'm the one always taking Clement's photos using handphone camera. Ta-dah........ Easy job. 3 clicks and done.









YS felt funny why I insisted to take those photos since the teddy, doggie and doraemon are not really special. Well, at first I wanted to take the photo of Doraemon with Clement only since this stage he still has the Doraemon look (teethless and cutie tongue when laughing). But I also noticed that at this stage Clement is so small size compared to the big teddy, and he's almost same size as the small doggie. He won't be this size in few weeks or months time. ahha. In case this restaurant still exists when he grows up, probably he'll appreciate his growth rate especially through these first few weeks and months :p

"You know, last time i can sit on THIS teddy's lap..."

"You know, last time I was as big as THIS teddy and doraemon.... you see...."

I can imagine his cheeky face... :)

Sesame Street Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster in Sesame Street has never been my favourites. I used to like Ernie but now I find Elmo more adorable :) haha... Maybe because I like red...

Clement started mouthing since he was 3+months. He started by discovering the back of his hand, then the fists, then the fingers and recently the thumbs. I like his expression of putting his whole fist into his mouth, so cute... but I usually tell him, "Clement, your mouth not so big la... cannot fit in one..." And that really reminds me of cookie monster.

Cookie Monster is a voracious monster and one of the main characters on Sesame Street. Covered with blue fur and possessing a pair of googly eyes, Cookie Monster has an insatiable appetite. As his name implies, his primary craving is cookies, but he can (and often does) consume anything and everything, from apples and pie to letters, flatware, and hubcaps. Usually when he eats something, he makes loud munching noises, usually like "AWWWWM-num-num-num-num..." (http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Cookie_Monster)

www.coolchaser.com/graphics/3054


Am wondering if one day I find cookie monster pajamas, will I buy for him? wahahah....

Happy 5 months old, Clement

Today Clement is officially 5 months old. Clement was so blur when daddy and mummy kept telling Clement that he is now 5 months old, so fast hor he has been with us for almost half a year, last time when born he was so tiny and now he so big boy de, bla bla bla.... haha. Next month must be more excited since he can start eating soled by then :) Mummy weight him this morning and he's slightly above 8kg. Good growth though we are still maintaining his milk to 5oz every 3-4 hourly.

Daddy and mummy felt very blessed that God has granted them baby Clement. We prayed for a healthy, happy baby who bring joy to people around him, and to be man after God's own heart someday. We thank God for answering our prayers and Clement has started smiling and baby talking everyday since he was 1 month old, and brought much happiness to our family members, even strangers.

Baby Clement is able to sit more firmly now, and likes to move his legs. Haha, guess he really wants to crawl. Everytime we put him on the bed, he'll turn to tummy position and start lifting up his little butt and moving his legs forward. Daddy and mummy cheer him every morning and he's showing little progress now - at least not giving up so soon :p You can see him smiling with mouth open wide (like doraemon) when we hold him to walk on our bed, or even harder surfaces like table. He likes to feel mobile :) hehe... daddy and mummy better treasure this period when Clement is still not so mobile. Later on when Clement can crawl and climb, we'll be on FOC intensive slimming program. In fact, now that he can only turn one side (180degrees), we should be glad that one pillow at each side of the bed is sufficient. Later on might have to fill the whole room with pillows :p

So far besides 2 caps and 2 sweaters for the recent Cameron Highland trip, daddy and mummy only bought 2 more pajamas for Clement. One is with Doraemon since sis-in-law says he looks like Doraemon when he laughs with mouth open wide, teethless and can see his little tongue :p



Another one was bought in conjunction with this lunar tiger year (no la.... ). Mummy always like to describe baby boys suck milk like "harimau" since almost all her friends with baby boys (and some with girls) report the same observation. They say baby girls are more gentle, and boys are more aggressive while latched on. Daddy and mummy spotted this pajamas at Jusco over the weekend and bought one for Clement. We bought 12-18months one this time since we bought 6-12months Doraemon pajamas for him last 3 weeks, and it is just fitting for him now.

快意享受Ｂ级人生，走出 A＋成就迷思

Something that I've been thinking also lately. What you really want in life? An example, I told YS that the child is growing so quickly that you actually only have few years to spend quality time with him, growing up with him. Especially now that he spends most of his time sleeping when we are back from work. Time when he's wide awake and ready to play and learn, we are busy making money at workplace.... After school days, college days and working days, you won't be able to have him by your side all the time as now. Thus there first 6 years are actually so precious...


http://www.sjtumba.org/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=1771

快意享受Ｂ级人生，走出 A＋成就迷思

你想要过A级人生，事业有成薪水顶尖，却牺牲掉其它全部人生，还是想过 B 级人生，宁可降格赚次级收入，却能享受精采人生？
这取决于你如何衡量「人生投资报酬率」。

若是成绩单上出现B ，大部分人联想到的，绝对不是「 Better 」，而是「Bad」。

B 这个字母，长期以来被认为是「次等」的表现，每个人都奋力想达到A，甚至A+ ，彷佛若不能达到 A的成绩，就是不够努力与称职。
但人生凡事都追求A，一定能获得满足感吗？

享受生命的充实感

最近「 B级人生」的话题，在日本引起不少讨论。
起因于经济专家森永卓郎，把人生分成三级： A 级人生是「有钱没闲」； B级人生的「钱少一点，但是有闲」，可算是「有钱有闲」。
至于 C级人生则是经济困窘，可能是「有闲没钱」(如失业者 )，也可能「没钱没闲」 ( 如底层劳动者)。

森永卓郎认为，B级人生是最有满足感的生活。
若每天工作10 几小时，牺牲家庭与休闲，不惜一切代价追求 A级人生，即使赚到A级财富，没时间享受也是枉费。
B级虽然收入次一等，但还是能维持在一定生活水准之上，反而因为付出较少的代价，有时间去做自己想做的事，享受生命的充实感，
所以整体生活绝不输A级。

因此，森永卓郎特别强调「B is Beautiful」，认为「B is Better Than A 」。

精算人生投资报酬率

B级人生这种价值观的出现，有其社会渊源。
作家刘黎儿指出，日本经过长年经济不景气，原本「 1亿国民都是中产阶级」的社会，已经不再回头，
转成「 1％超级精英＋99 ％平庸上班族」的结构，除了极少数A＋超级精英之外， 99％工作者的薪水都在递减，再怎么努力也是枉然。

在这种社会结构下，「一分耕耘、一分收获」的正比例关系被打破，打拚不再保证出头天，「努力必有回报」也成为一种欺瞒的说法。
因此，许多日本上班族，开始思考「人生投资报酬率」的问题。
当付出无法获得回报，他们不想再无条件卖命给公司，宁可将更多时间用来享受家庭生活，或是经营个人兴趣休闲。

B级上班族虽不是高薪族，但还是有一定生活水准，也还买得起车子等用品。
比起将人生全部送给公司的 A ＋超级精英，谁的人生比较划算，答案不言可喻。

赢了事业，输了人生

有人用古玛雅文化的活人献祭，来形容追求 A级人生的工作者。
玛雅皇宫贵族居住的中心地带都有一个球场，凡是赢得球赛的人，就会被当作被神所选中的神圣的人，由祭司血祭给神；
而赢家被砍头祭给神明，被看成是件很光荣的事。
超级精英不惜一切赢得 A 级人生，就好象在玛雅球赛最后赢得胜利的人，所换到的不过是过劳死。

根据统计，日本每年死于心脏病的 21万人，至少有 20％是肇因于过劳，其中多半是中壮年上班族。
追求 A级人生本身没错，只是若只把人生当成是一场竞技，就算赢得了胜利，却输掉了身体、输掉家庭、也输掉人生，这样划算吗？

事业高度Vs.生命广度

但追求B级人生，是否太消极呢？

一位在媒体任职的刘小姐认为，B级人生重视「人生投资报酬率」，从追求工作表现的「高度」，转为追求人生多采多姿的「广度」，
这是一种价值选择的问题，与人生是否积极进取无关。

她以研究所成绩为例，一般研究生表现普普大约有85分，稍微认真一点有86 分，一定要表现很亮眼才能拿到 90分。
她自己每天不眠不休，念完所有原文papers才得到 89 分，但其实只要稍微多花点心力念书，已经可以得到86分。
为了多得那3分，刘小姐舍弃了社团活动与假日休闲。
「一学期 120天，每天多念3小时书， 360小时只换来 3分，想想真是划不来；若是拿360小时做其它有意义的事，人生想必更精采。」

刘小姐认为，不论是课业或工作，都适用80 ╱ 20 法则，亦即80％的成绩，来自于 20％的付出。
假设你有 100小时，只要花20小时做 A工作，就能拿到 80分，剩下的80 小时，你有两种选择：

1精益求精在 A工作下苦工，最后拿到满分 100分；

2去做BCDE四件工作，每件工作投注 20小时，各拿到 80分，最后总分是5×80 ＝400 分。

哪一种时间运用方式，投资报酬率较高，可带给你更大的满足感？这就是 B级人生所要思考的问题。

从连续2年蝉联年终奖金第一名的理财专员工作引退，宁可在银行柜台当一般行员的安小姐，就是选择 B 级人生的例子。

工作乐趣荡然无存

大学毕业后，安小姐就在老字号的三商银担任临柜行员，办理一般存款工作，5 年前银行民营化，她在组织重整后，被调到贵宾理财部门。

刚转换跑道时，她相当满意理专的生活，「可以说是虚荣吧！」安小姐说，
这几年理专俨然是当红炸子鸡，金控为训练理专「伺候」金字塔顶端客层，安排许多缤纷的课程，安小姐转跑道第一年学到很多新鲜事，
包括高尔夫、品酒品茗、艺术鉴赏、插花、命理星座等。
课程的多采多姿，让她学到许多人际应对技巧，而且第一年就考上多张证照，还幸运地拉到几位「 VIP 大户」(资产超过 300万元) ，
使她从工作中获得不少成就感。

每想到，第一年的一帆风顺后，银行开始调高安小姐的绩效指针。
「公司把我的业务目标订得『比山高比海深』，高不可攀的业绩压力，令我深感挫折，工作乐趣也荡然无存。」安小姐说，
当时每天加班到晚上 10点是常态，甚至周末假日也不得闲。

「我不怕累，但我最怕客户赔钱。如何在业绩与顾客权益取得一个平衡点，令我饱受煎熬」安小姐说。

安小姐去年决心向公司递出辞呈，但公司基于爱才，强力慰留她当银行行员。

人生，要学习「减法」

挥别年薪百万的工作，安小姐没有后悔。
她说，人生前半段的职涯规画，是一种「加法选择」，所以担任理专时，她不断寻求各种可能性，为自己的职涯资本增值，
包括薪水、职位等等。现在她则把人生当成「减法选择」。
她说，减法管理其实非常简单︰在人生诸多追求的目标中，如金钱、地位、家庭、爱情、享受生活等等，一项一项删除不是最重要的东西，最终留下一两项，就是自己的人生目标。

33岁的李勇毅过去一直是个众人称羡的电子新贵。
担任芯片设计研发工程师期间，李勇毅形容说，自己每天至少12 小时和计算机相亲相爱，忙碌一天后，再也提不起力气做任何事，
下班就直接打道回府，顶多倒在沙发前看电视，洗个澡，睡个觉，又是另一天的开始。
他表示，大部分工程师的生活乏善可陈，根本没时间参加联谊活动结识异性，所以旷男怨女一堆。
「工程师最大的座右铭就是努力工作、赶快赚钱、尽快退休。」

再见！电子新贵

刚开始李勇毅也是抱着这种看法，但3年前他找到人生挚爱的伴侣，婚后生活有了重心，他开始无法忍受一天工作 12 小时的生活。

「4 月结婚、 5月就决定考公职、7月如愿考上高考第一志愿电力工程，分发到民航局上班。」
从电子新贵到小公务员，李勇毅的薪水足足缩水一半，但他毫不后悔。
「以前我用时间换金钱，现在我用金钱买时间，把过去加班的时间，用来享受天伦之乐。

作家吴淡如说，「赚钱也赚到人生，才是最大幸福的人。」人生和金钱的关系有四种可能状况：
赚钱也赚到人生、不赚钱却赚到人生、赚钱却赔上人生、不赚钱也赔上人生。
前两者都是成功者，后两者则为失败者。
赚钱也赚到人生，其实就是 B级人生的真义，拥有一定水准的金钱，做自己想做的事情，才是人生的赢家。

( 本文由《Career 职场情报志》提供 )