Thursday Thots on Mommyhood - Books for Baby

Yup, you read correctly, the title IS "Books for BABY" And no, my baby is not a genius. He is just the same as all babies, curious and active, touching this and tasting that.

 

I did however noticed something different from my two older kiddos. He seems particularly taken with books! From the time he could sit upright by himself, give him a book and it will keep him quiet for at least 15mins! Now that is a LONG time in baby's world and I was truly amazed at how he would patiently flip through the pages of his board book and "ohhh" & "ahhh" especially if its a new book or a new old book which we had kept from him for awhile.

 

These precious minutes allowed me some breather, a chance to
 #1  go toilet
(without him screaming his head off cos he can't have me in sight - separation anxiety at its max!)
#2 stretching time 
(from carrying him around and preferably going in whichever direction he wants to go)
#3  a chance to sit back and rest my poor lower back that bears the brunt of all the weight.
It was a treat and sometimes I actually had time to do all 3! For that, I am more than willing to get him more books!

 

Some of his favourite books to date....

 

 

This was one of the very first books I bought for him. Its front and back covers were foam-ed thus minimizing dangers. It was a simple nursery rhyme of Itsy Bitsy Spider which I had started to play with him ending with a tickle. He loves the song and the playtime. When I showed him the book, flipping the pages and singing the song, he grinned from ear to ear, recognizing the song :)

 

 

 

This is a book that I bought mainly for the squeaky toy in front. As you flip the pages the toy remains in sight and being able to press it makes him laugh :) He got a scare the first time he pressed and it squeaked! Promptly looked at me as if to say "What did you just gave me?"

 

 

 

He loves Elmo the character. When he sees him on TV, he could sit still there and watch him throughout! This book was a steal as Elmo is textured. He is made with a velvety material and my boy loves touching just Elmo as he flips through the pages.

 

 

 

Another of the foam-end books that was introduced to him during one particular night when he simply refuses to sleep. At 2am, I was seriously groggy and would give anything for him to nod off. At the end of this book, the bear says goodnight and the picture shows him sleeping. After reading the book countless times, I finally got my "sleeping bear" phew!

 

 

 

Last but not least, this is a "flip-flap" book, a term coined by my firstborn as each page has a part that either flips up or down, revealing the answer to the question. It was amazing watching his face lights up when he realized that there was another part to be flipped!

 

All my books were bought at $1, yes ONE DOLLAR. I generally buy them at roadshows or secondhand book stores, clean them thoroughly before giving it to him. Not that I don't believe in buying new books but for now books are more of a plaything to him. It keeps him entertained enough for me to get back my sanity (part of it oh! and don't forget my bladder too thank them!) I also only gave 2 books at most at any one time, so that the books can be "recycled" and he wouldn't be sick of them so fast! If I keep a book from him for say, like 1 week, it will be forgotten and when we give it again, it will be re-discovered with glee :) Talk about recycling at its highest efficiency! However I do notice that he gets tired of these re-discovered books alot faster than actual new books. Its as if his brain telling me "Mommy, you kid me not!"

 

Do you give your baby any books? Are there some favourite ones that you want to share? Any good haunts for such secondhand bookstores? I am all for more books (and more 15mins break!) 

Thursday Thots of a Mommy - "Mommy, Grow Up!"

Right, first of all I must qualify that my gal did not ACTUALLY say those words to me otherwise I will be nursing a Mount Everest heartbreak now. But I can bet you, if she knew what was going through my head as I send her off to camp, THIS will be what she'll be saying!

 

 

The story starts when my firstborn had a school camp a few weeks ago. Now, there is a very important word in that previous sentence - FIRSTBORN. I bet by now you know where I am heading towards... my firstborn, my baby and she is going away on camp, staying away from home for the first time! Geez! The amount of uncertainties and worries I have in my brain, un-uttered, could easily rivaled the vehicles on Bangkok roads at peak hours. One worry built on an uncertainty, one uncertainty feeding on yet another worry and the lists goes on. She was excited, I was quietly worried.

 

 

As the days got nearer to her camp, I got more worried. As I helped her prep her camp bag, I get more anxious. My worries? Many!...

I worry if she would be cold at night sleeping on the floor with no comfort of mattress.

(never mind the fact that hubby gave her the thickest possible sleeping bag which will probably make her steam instead of cold!

I worry about mosquitoes, insects and creepy crawlies.

(never mind the fact that I undulated her with repellant spray, repellant cream, mosquito repellant patches, long sleeves, long pants)

I worry if she would feel hungry in the middle of the night.

(never mind that I gave her enough secret biscuits stash to feed an army!)

I worry if she dares to wake up and go toilet in the middle of the night.

(never mind the fact that she is such a deep sleeper she sleeps through the night 200% of the time!)

I worry if she can get used to sleeping in the open.

(never mind that the so called "open" is actually sleeping in a dormitory with a sleeping bag)

You see what I mean?

We attended her campfire night performance and I was glad to have this chance to see her. I NEED to see her for myself that she is ok. Hubby patience was definitely tested and he ultimately said "she needs to learn how to take care of herself. There are teachers around too." Yeah, easy for you to say that! Its her first time away from home, first time she sleeps out in the open, first time she is alone at bedtime, first time she.... I am sure you get the drift.

She rushed to hug me when she saw me that night and I could see her fighting to control her tears. Friends were all around her and I know how important it is for her not to cry. A quick hug and a quick visual check to ensure no physical injuries that set my heart 50% at ease. Asked her if everything is ok and she answered in the affirmative saying that she was scared stiff by the zipline activity though but that she will tell me more when she is home tomorrow :) She quickly hugged me bye, going back to her queue line for supper and waved at me happily. I went home and yes, I could sleep.

When she was back the next day, she gave me an unexpected confession. She confessed that she was fighting to hold back her tears when she saw me. That she was so glad to see me and that she cannot cry in front of her friends even when she wanted to. Welcome to the world of peer pressure my dear. But I must say she did a good job, of controlling her tears cos as I walk out from the compound, I was reaching for my tissues!

 

So, on hindsight, she probably would not ask me to grow up :P but we both grew up that night. She with the confidence of being on her own while me, grew up as a mommy, learning that my baby had grown up (to a certain extent) and could be depended upon to take care of herself. Much as I dread, I know that my baby has indeed grown up. She could cook a decent meal, make coffee, bathe her younger sister, carry her baby brother, change his diaper and more! My baby has grown into a young lady...a VERY FINE YOUNG LADY!

 

I am so very proud of her!