Mommy diary: Aedan against Roseola

It has been sometime since my last post on our day trip to Tel Aviv. Many things had happened over the past weeks. Both "Good" and "Bad". 

From the title of this post, the bad news - Aedan was down with fever and rashes. It had been a tough week. He was soooo uncomfortable that he couldn't sleep well at night and he woke up frequently for nursing and comfort. He was uncomfortable through the day too and we had to carry him almost all the time. Just when his fever subsided, he developed rashes all over his body. Luckily, it did not itch. 

We went to see the doctor twice and he was diagnosed with Roseola which is a viral illness that commonly infect children between 6 months to 3 years old. The symptoms include sudden high fever which typically lasts for 3 -7 days and rashes right after the fever. The only good thing about getting this virus is that he'll most probably develop a lifelong immunity to it. #tryingtobepositive

Roseola is a self-recovered illness and there is nothing much we could do except to wait for Aedan's immune system to fight the virus. “加油加油”

The only thing we could do was to reduce his discomfort by nursing him and carrying him.. 

Our hearts ached so much when we watched him suffer as he fought the illness. This was the FIRST time he had fever. He did not develop fever from all his previous vaccinations. I never knew that handling a baby with fever could be so hard both mentally and physically. 

Kudos to all parents who had dealed with it!

We brought Aedan to a hair cut during his rash episode... cause we were worried that his hair (which had touched his eyes) will irritate his rashes. So Aedan has a new look!

He still has a little rash on him when I took this photo. 

Okay.. now it's the good news .. Twentysixoctober is planning for a month visit back to Singapore in Sept during Daddy's school break! 

What's better?! 

Before flying to Singapore, we will be visiting Greece and Italy and will document the whole travel journey. I'm so looking forward to this trip! Will share more about our travel planning and other stuff in another post. 

That is it for today. 

Bye! 

Mommy eve

#Mommydiary

Travel with baby. Alma Beach. Old Jaffa City. Manta Ray

Hello!

Here's another blogpost on one of our day tours in Israel!! 

One of the MUST do things when you visit Israel is to go to their beaches to enjoy the sun, sea breeze, salty air and of course look out for the hot babes and hunks on the beaches! 

Remember some time ago, I posted a blog post on our celebration of Purim (a festival in Israel) at Holon city?

On the very same day, after the Purim Parade, 

we went to Alma beach at Tel Aviv! 

We didn't bring our swim wears as we were not planning to bring Aedan for a swim when the temperature was still pretty cold at that time. So we just strolled along the beach and enjoyed the breeze.

We had a very late lunch cum dinner at this restaurant named Manta Ray located along the beach. 

The guy in the red shirt is the owner of the restaurant. He was really helpful and friendly. He helped us to get a seat with good view and we learnt from him how he was an engineer before becoming this restaurant's owner. 

We didn't know the owner before we arrived but had decided to dine at Manta Ray as it is situated at a strategic location along the beach. And we heard good review of it.

"If you come to a beach but do not wish to get sandy and wet, the best thing to do is to hang out at a nearby bar or restaurant... enjoy some cold beer, seafood, breeze, sunlight and check out people on the beach."

And that's exactly what we did! Except mommy couldn't have beer while breastfeeding so I had cold water instead... Still it felt awesome. :)

The view from our seat! :)

Wefie time! But Aedan was not very cooperative and refused to look into the camera. 

Another failed attempt where his face was blocked by the crab! Lol

A mandatory Aedan selfie so that we can show this to him next time when he grows up as proof that he has been to this place since he will most probably not remember. 

We ordered their Sharing Seafood which comes with mussels, shrimps and crabs, sweet potatoes, pineapples. This sharing platter costs 175 shekels (S$61.25).

We also ordered their Balkan bread that costs 19 shekels (S$6.65).

The food turned out better than expected as we didn't set high expectations since we were there not for the food but for the view. The seafood was fresh and the serving was so big that we couldn't finish it.  Later we checked on Trip Advisor and realized that it's ranked #18 of 1147 restaurant in Tel Aviv. If you are not sure what to eat when u visit Tel Aviv, this place is worth a try for both the food and view.  

After our meal, we visited the Old Jaffa which is just walking distance from Alma beach.

Me with my ever increasing load. The best thing about baby wearing during our trip was that we could travel freely (uphill/downhill) while he slept in it. 

 

#Baby travelling tip: To reached Old Jaffa, you need to climb uphill so if you are bringing your baby along, I'll advise you to bring your carrier and leave the stroller in your car. 

We took a few pictures of Aedan at old Jaffa. Enjoy his cute photos :)

To the Old Jaffa sea port 

Aedan with the red St Peter church 

A good view of the beach and Tel Aviv 

and ended the day with ice cream at Anita! 

I love recording these travel memories. It felt like I have revisited the place. 

If you are interested to visit Manta Ray at Alma beach. 

Here's the address:

7 Koifman St, Tel Aviv 63305, Israel 

You can find your way in Israel via Waze App (if you drive) or Moovit App (if you are taking public transport). 

It takes only about half a day to cover these places. :)

"Smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly" 

#LifeinIsrael 

Enjoy traveling! 

Twentysixoctober 

All photos are credited to Twentysixoctober
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Baby Food Recipe: Chicken Mushroom with Sweet Potatoes and Carrot Purée Porridge (8 months ++)

Aedan is 9 months old and he is really picky when it comes to food. I realized that he will eat ALOT more when his food contains more ingredients and has a richer taste. 

When I gave him just plain fruits or boiled vegetables purée, he will only take a few bites but when I made him more tasty food, he will gobble up a whole bowl! 

So recently I have been researching on Aedan's baby food and tried a few recipes I found online. Those recipes I found online don't really suit Aedan's liking. I realized that Aedan shows lots of interest in the "adult-food" as he will always try to reach out for our food or he will look at our food and shout when we were eating. However we couldn't gave him our food as it's usually cooked with seasoning like salt and pepper which are not good for baby. 

To allow Aedan to have a taste of the "adult-food", I tried to cook his food using the same ingredients that I used to cook for my own food without adding seasoning. Also, I'll cook it with porridge to make it softer and more digestible for baby. 

Aedan can eat a whole bowl of Mommy's homemade porridge for lunch! He really loves it a lot. I have tasted it myself and it's really flavorful. Daddy said even he could eat this for lunch. 

So to benefit those who face the same problem as me, I am going to share my recipe: Chicken Mushroom with Sweet Potatoes and Carrot Puree Porridge. 
This recipe is suitable for babies aged 8 months and above. 

Ingredients:

• One table spoon of white rice 
• One table spoon of brown rice 
• One mushroom
• A small piece of chicken meat 
• Two table spoon of pre made sweet potatoes + carrot purée 
• A few leafy greens (spinach or whatever vegetables available. This is optional)

Directions: 

1. Wash the white rice and brown rice in a small cooking pot to remove the dirt. You can stop when the water turns clear. You can use all white rice if you do not have brown rice. Brown rice is healthier than white with additional nutrients and it also aids digestion. White rice is softer when cooked in porridge so I prefer to mix both. 

2. Add water into the pot to cover the rice. You can add more water as it will slowly be evaporated.

3. Cook the rice and water at medium high temperature and wait for it to boil.

4. Meanwhile, chop the mushroom into fine pieces. As fine as possible so that it's easier for baby to eat. I have done some research on whether baby can eat mushroom and it's mentioned that it's nutritious for both baby and adult. There's no known case of baby being allergic to mushroom. However, we have to make sure that the mushroom is fully cooked before served. Mushroom will make the porridge have a savory taste. 

5. Cut the chicken meat into small pieces. You can cut it very small if you like but normally I will leave it at this size (as shown in the picture below). After it's cooked with the porridge, I will use fork and spoon to shred it into smaller pieces. It's easier to shred after the meat is fully cooked.

6. When the water starts to boil, pour the mushroom and chicken into the pot. Turn the heat to medium low and let it continues to cook. 

7. Monitor the porridge. Stir and add water if you see that the water is level is too low. 

8. When the porridge is cooked to the level of softness you deemed suitable for your baby, add the purée and finely chopped fresh vegetables into it. I will add vegetables at the last stage of cooking to avoid overcooking the green leafy. You will know that you have overcooked it when it turned dirty green in colour. 

9. Stir continuously for another about 3-5 mins. 

I like to use sweet potatoes and carrot purée as it will give the porridge additional sweet flavor. 

Moreover, I prefer to add spinach to provide iron into the meal. It's important for baby to have iron in their solid food. Do note that I will use fork and spoon to cut the vegetables leaves into very small pieces before feeding so that it will be easier for baby to swallow. I will leave out the stems part and eat it myself. :) 

Normally I will cook Daddy and Mommy's meal in tandem while waiting for the porridge to cook. 

Daddy and Mommy had Korean Spicy Chicken made from my homemade Kimchi that day! 

& this is Aedan's meal. This bowl of porridge is packed with lots of nutrients that is essential for baby's growth. 

Total cooking time: about 30 - 40 mins 

You can try it if your baby is a picky food eater like mine! Hope it will work for you too! 

With love,

Mommy eve

#Mommy Diary

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All photos are credited to Twentysixoctober. 

Learning what's best for baby.

Living in Israel for more than 2 months, I have been observing the way Israelis manage their kids and I have to say..

I'm utterly impressed.

In Israel, it is a common to see a mother walking on the street with 2-4 kids and no helper. They have one of the highest average birth rate in developed world - with about 3 kids per family. 

Many mothers are stay-at-home moms who are main caregivers for their kids and most of them work freelance at home. 

2 months ago, I went to a gathering and saw a boy at 7 months old (a few days older than Aedan) able to crawl and stand up by himself. At that time, Aedan was still not able to stand and crawl. "I'm not trying to compare the development pace of my baby with others. But it's just natural that I observe kids behaviours more ever since I have mine"

There was another time when I saw a 17 months old baby sitting at a baby chair next to his mother and elder brother. He was feeding himself to pita bread and he dipped into his choice of sauce all by himself. He did not fuss or throw the plate/food on the floor. 

I was so amazed and I asked these mothers how they taught their kids... 

I was expecting that they will share with me their "secret tricks" but instead they told me that they did NOTHING.

They just let them crawl and eat by themselves and gradually they mastered the skills.

I went home and thought about their words.

Did nothing.

This was exactly what was lacking.. I have done too much. 

When I was in Singapore, our family was so protective of Aedan that we will not let him crawl on the hard ground and will carry him whenever he fussed. I never realized that I was actually hindering his learning. 

After observing how Israelis take care of their babies, I tried to not overly protect and to let him explore learning on his own. 

There were times he fell and knocked on his head when he tried to sit on his own. He cried for awhile and then continued.. That's when he learnt that the floor is hard. (When we were in Singapore, we only let him crawled on cushion area or bed. He was not afraid of falling and he never learnt). 

After giving him the freedom to explore, he did not immediately master the skills, he failed a few times but that's part of learning. 

He tried again, fell, learnt and did it again, finally he managed to master crawling and sitting.

Now he's learning to stand on his own without support. We never force him. We simply let him be and we observed that he will try to pull our legs, hands, any supports that he can find to pull himself to stand. 

Now when i see him fall, I no longer rush to carry him. Instead, I'll encourage him to try again. 

Like us adult, often it's through multiple failures that we learn to master success. 

If we never let them fail, how will they learn to overcome failure and stand again. 

- Mommy Eve

#Mommy diary

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My thoughts of being a SAHM

Being a SAHM. There were days when I felt depressed.

I can't just do whatever I want. 

I cannot just walk out of the house and leave Aedan at home. 

I am almost 24 hours with my baby except for a short shower break. 

There's no "me-time" only "we-time".

Since young, I have been a goal driven person. I like the thrill of chasing something and achieving it. 

I like to score well in exams 

I like to join activities 

I like to perform

I like to work in reputable company

I like to hit high KPI

Basically, I like being a high flyer

However, after becoming a mom. 

I can't just do whatever I like without thinking about him. 

It's even hard to find time to blog. 

I usually blog when he's sleeping. I cant write all at once as I have to stop when he's up. And often I forget what I want to write after that.. 

Things cannot be done the best way. There were a few times (only happened once or twice) when I felt that my baby was a hindrance in life. "I felt guilty for having such thoughts"

I felt depressed, aimless and could not be myself. 

This did not last for long..as I felt that I couldn't let myself be in this negative mode for too long. 

So I had a talk with myself. I reflected through my life and questioned myself. 

Why am I here? What led me to this?

Is this what I really want? 

After a few sessions of reflections which is hard to explain.. I kind of find the answer for myself.

Being a mom is a new journey.

It's no longer the same life and the same me. 

It's a transition. 

And instead of thinking to rebound to the "old self". I should embrace this new way of life. 

Take things slowly.

Stop chasing. 

There's nothing wrong with taking things slow.

It's the best time of my life to take things slow.

When there's nothing good to chase for. Then stop chasing.

Take a break and appreciate life!

Appreciate motherhood, enjoy the little things around me and adapt a slower pace of life. 

If I cannot finish what I set for the day. I'll do it tomorrow!

Even If it's not perfect. It's okay.

It's okay to achieve nothing in a day. 

As long as Baby, Mommy and Daddy are happy, life's good. 

When i tried to squeeze in many things "trying hard" to be productive, I usually ended up being stress with a fussy baby and not producing anything good... Then I asked myself .. Doesn't it defeat my purpose of being a SAHM?

To be the queen for my prince and be the one to show him his whole new world. 

My greatest privilege now is to be able to watch him grow and be there with him. So I should enjoy those moments in life! 

Instead of thinking about what I cannot do. I started to think of what I can do. 

I can make good foods

Still blog

Travel

Read 

Watch and educate my baby

Then I realized that I can still do good things but in a slower pace. It doesn't matter. As long as I know what I want. 

In life, often we got so caught up with chasing things that we forgot what we really want. 

I have learnt that being productive does not mean being busy and doing many things.. It means doing things that truly matter.

Have you ask yourself what you want? 

I asked this many times. 

Being forgetful, I need to remind myself again and again.

Being a mother is one of the best experiences in life! 

Happy Mother's Day! ❤️

- Mommy eve

#Mommy Diary

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Singaporean mom living in Israel: Tour Baha'i garden and German Colony. Food review: Douzan

If you have one day in Haifa, I'll recommend you to take a tour at Baha'i Gardens to learn more about the religion before heading down to German Colony to enjoy some good food. 

      Bahai Gardens is made to look symmetrical for beauty. 

Living in Israel, the Holy Land, I learnt about different religions especially the Jews. This day, Twentysixoctober went to Baha'i Gardens, a gorgeous man-made landscape which has rich religious significance, and learnt about a religion call Baha'i.

Baha'i faith is one of the youngest religions in the world founded by Baha'u'llah in Iran in the 19th century.

Baha'i faith believes that there is only one God. All religions have the same spiritual foundation and it accepts that they are all valid and true. They believe that different religions are the result of Man's differing perspective of God. God is too great to be fully comprehended by human minds. And since humans see things differently, they see God differently too.

Hmmmm...this seems to make sense. 

"The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying types of minds" - Abdu'I-Baha

At the entrance of Baha'i Garden

Daddy & Mommy waiting for the tour to start

Our tour guide told us that this plant is called Mother-in-law. Lol

I am sure it doesn't represent all mother-in-law. Definitely not mine :） 

A mandatory portrait of Aedan at Baha'i Garden to document #babyAadventure with us

Followed by spam of mandatory family photos at Bahai Garden. 

During the tour, the tour guide shared about the creation of the Baha'i Gardens. 

The Baha'i Gardens is established by the members of Baha'i faith as the resting place of their founder and a few respectable followers of Baha'i religion. It consists of 19 terraces which stretch all the way up the northern slope of Mount Carmel. In 2008, it is listed under one of UNESCO's World's Heritage Sites. There are much more to that......

If you are interested in the tour, there is an English tour at 12 noon daily except Wednesday. You can find more about their tour from the official website at: http://www.ganbahai.org.il/en/tours/#currenttimetable

Address: Sderot Hatsiyonut 80, Haifa, 31001

You can use the Waze app to navigate. We use it all the time when travelling in Israel. It's really accurate and useful.

Photo credit to Waze.com

______________________________________________

After the tour, we walked down to German Colony for lunch which is located at the bottom of the slope. It's an estimated 15-20 mins walk. Along the way, it's top down view of Haifa residential. It's interesting to walk down and have a view of the surroundings.

Address: HaGefen St 21, Haifa

We walked down this long stretch of steps to German Colony with Aedan inside the carrier on me. Super good workout!

Finally after a good long walk down, we were all ready for a heavy lunch to replenish our energy!!

German Colony is a street with a whole stretch of dinning restaurants, cafe and pubs. 

We had a hard time thinking of what to eat and finally decided on this restaurant called Douzan which is rated #8 of 275 restaurant in Haifa by Trip Advisor. 

This family run restaurant served a fusion of French and Arabic cuisine.

This is the exterior of the restaurant

They have a very homely decoration. It felt like we had entered someone's house

As usual we ordered our favorite Lehmon Nana

We ordered their mixed seafood that costs 110 shekels (S$38.5). You can choose it to be served with rice or pasta and a choice of sauce of either Mexican sauce or lemon garlic sauce. I highly recommend this. They served a mixed of calamari, prawn, mussels, sweet potatoes, rice/pasta and homemade sauce. We chose their lemon garlic sauce and it tasted super good! Interestingly it doesn't taste like just garlic with lemon, there is a sophisticated taste which I don't know how to describe. Pardon my limited vocabulary. Just try it yourselves if you have the chance. 

We ordered another of their popular dish called Kabab Halabi which is serve on cinnamon stick with roasted vegetables and tahina. This dish costs 75 shekels (S$26.25). It tasted decently good. Not to brag about my own cooking skill but it tasted like my homemade 肉饼. Haha

We ended our day with a cup of coffee and went home to cook dinner. Life of a housewife. 

Have fun travelling,

Twentysixoctober

All photos are credited to Twentysixoctober

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