Kor Kor & Di Di

For awhile, Kayden has been confused as to who is the big brother (Kor Kor) and who is the baby brother (Di Di). Finally he got it right in this video!

Part time Angel

My littlest one has past his 6th week and I look like someone who hasn't slept for 6 weeks :( This little bugger is a very light sleeper and demands to be carried to sleep. When you try to put him down once you think he's peacefully asleep, watch out! He'll scream and fuss till you pick him up again *groan*. Lately, he has learnt to shed tears *more emotional blackmail* and this makes it really heartbreaking when I leave him to cry while I work. I hope by the end of the second month things will improve *wish wish wish*.

Here's the angel

wanted him to sleep in this photo but as with most babies, they never do what you want them to do :p also since he is a boy, his errrm scrotum was showing in this shot but I removed it (for a better picture) in Photoshop kekeke



see how he cleverly hides his privates from view by lifting his leg up :D


and this is him with that pitiful face when I don't carry him :s

Footprints

While surfing for inspiration, I chanced upon the work of a wonderful child photographer Erin Drallos. I was intrigued by this particular shot of hers where she placed a newborn naked and sleeping facedown on a chair. Here's my rendition hehe :



Shot at home against my cement wall with my ugly dining chair, hmmm maybe I should get some nice chairs as props like hers. Dylan was so sleepy after a good feed that I had more than 30mins trying out this shot. I couldn't bare to put him on the hard wooden chair thus the red cushion :p

Working with a baby in tow

It's been a week since I went back to work officially and I think this has got to be one of our busiest week ever! 12 Blooms, 5 Little Big Shots, 1 kid's birthday event shoot, 1 magazine cover shoot and 1 video shoot...PHEW! Next week seems even busier and I shudder at how I'm going to handle another week with Dylan in the studio. What's more he'll be into his 6th week and that's another dreaded growth spurt week!

I am thankful for the help I got from the girls, who overnight had to become photographers cum babysitters ;p Ashley is more experienced at handling babies and she's great with Dylan. We laughed when we see Charlene trying to handle the loud and bawling baby, she's like a new mummy kekeke. But after one week, she's getting as good as Ashley ;p Thanks girls, you've been awesome assistants in more ways than one :)

My in laws also came to help look after Dy and buy us lunch on days when we were extra busy. Thanks Ma and Pa!

Dylan's feeding times have never stretched more than 2 to 3 hours in the day and because of this, I often have to stop in the middle of a shoot and ask the client if they mind me running off to the other room to nurse the bawling baby for 10mins. Most of them are understanding and shoo me off to do what I have to do. So nice of them :) But today Charlene told me the grandmother of one of the Little Big Shot client commented loudly (as I nursed Dylan in the other room before their shoot) on how I shouldn't bring a baby to work and should start shooting for them the minute they stepped in the door :S sucks! Bet she never breastfeed her children that's why she's so unreasonable :(

So now I am thinking of ideas on how I can still work with baby in tow. One of the blogs I frequent recommends The Snuggle Wrap which allows young babies to be "tied" to you with their heads fully supported and have both your hands free to work. It's unlike a sling which uses one shoulder. Have a look at this product and let me know what you think. If not, any other suggestions? Sigh, it's not easy!

Dear God

Most of you may not know this, I have been a rocker girl since poly days (some 18 years ago) ;) Back in Oz, I used to wake my housemates up with my electric guitar solo jamming sessions in the morning before we go for class. I also braved going to rock gigs alone (sometimes in faraway suburban pubs) when none of them will go with me. I miss those aussie bands I love back then - Jebediah, Regurgitator, You Am I, Superjesus, The Mavis' etc.

It has always been my secret dream to be in a rock band playing the drums or guitar. I guess this dream sort of faded away with each year as I got older and when I became a mother, whatever little hope I still harboured of being a rock star dissipated :( I guess I did the next best thing, I married a guitarist from a local rock band :p

Currently, I am in love with this song - Dear God by Avenged Sevenfold

Happy 1st month Dylan!

My second little one is 1 month old! :) We spent the day driving all over Singapore delivering the full month cakes and ang ku kueh to relatives and friends thinking that it will be less troublesome than having a party...WRONG! By the time we delivered the 20th something box we were pooped already and we were less than halfway done. Also, we had no chance to catch up with friends, just hi and go. Well, now we know better don't we? :p Kayden had a high tea party at the York Hotel, i think if ever #3 comes along, it will be a party too!





I designed 2 announcement/thank you cards to go with the cupcakes which were ordered from Cupcake Divinity upon the recommendation of a client. They look so pretty don't you think so? Each box had 4 cupcakes (2 chocolate fudge, 1 strawberry and 1 vanilla) and 2 ang ku kuehs. Hope you guys enjoyed them.









Dearest Dylan,
In the blink of an eye, it's been 1 month since you came into our lives.
My happy moments with you are when you burp real loudly (like Homer Simpson) after a feed! That never fails to put a smile on my face as I find it so amazing that you grow so much each day just on mummy's milk alone :)
You are beginning to look chubby now and I can't help myself pinching your cheeks at times. I get a frown from you for that. hehe, sorry! :p
Your daddy, brother and I wishes you yong yuan jian kang (forever healthy) as you grow each day!
Lots of love and kisses,
Mummy

The Good Brother

If the way he treats Momo (our cat) is anything to go by, we were expecting Kayden to be a very jealous brother. We were most pleasantly surprised when he turned out to be just the total opposite!

He would come back from school and greet his little brother on the bouncer (he don't call him Didi, but Baby) by announcing loudly to all at home,"Oh! Baby sleeping!" He also likes to play "Name the Body Parts" on Dylan, starting from the head (ok sometimes he pats Dylan's head too forcefully, the little oaf that he is hehe), down to the toes (his favourite part). He would also kiss baby or play nose to nose with him.



Kayden is also more mature now and listens when we reason with him. We took his beansprout pillow for Dylan and although he was unhappy, he didn't act out, what he did was to give me a pout whenever he sees the baby using the pillow. I noticed this and said sorry to him and asked if we could borrow his pillow for baby? He stopped pouting, nodded his head and said,"Kayden give blue pillow to baby." Awww!

Another concern i had was breastfeeding. As i breastfed Kayden till he was 21 months, some of my friends warned that when he sees Dylan nursing, feelings of jealousy might surface. Turned out they were wrong. When he sees baby nursing, all he says is,"Baby drinking neh neh milk!" hehe :D Then the other day i was in the kitchen when he rushes in and worriedly says to me,"Mummy! Put back white on baby." i was wondering what he meant when he stretched out his hand to show me a white mitten dropped by the baby. Only after i wore the mitten on baby's hand did he revert back to his happy self, ha! what a loving brother :)



Granny would tease him by saying,"I bring baby back with me ok?" to which Kay will shout loudly,"NO!". He was sitting on my lap the other day when Dylan started crying, he swiftly jumped off and said to me,"Baby cry, need Mummy bao bao." Meaning that baby needs mummy to carry. I would then beam proudly at this firstborn of mine who has grown so much as a person.

Here are some shots of Dylan with his eyes open at last! Sometimes too wide!

Kiddo Ver 2.0

The Kiddo Ver 2.0 - Dylan model
All new and improved burping and farting sounds!
This model has an additional dimple to the right cheek.
Comes with a cute smile too :)
Milk and diapers sold separately.
Instruction manual not included.
Projectile pooping action only with the Kiddo Ver 1.0 - Kayden model.
Both models available for viewing at Punggol.
Not for sale till we change our minds :p
However, we are open to rental.

The Mothersucker

It's been 2 weeks! And a very taxing fortnight it was. With no confinement nanny, no parents or in laws helping, we are pretty much on our own. Also, I am breastfeeding the baby totally so that makes it really tough the first week but things are starting to look up.

#2 now has a name, it's Dylan Seow and he is such a cutie (in his parents' eyes at least) :) He is a little mothersucker literally but not a very good one I am afraid. His mouth is so cute and small, that he doesn't suckle the areola when nursing thus giving me terribly sore nipples :*( I clench my teeth in anticipation of the pain each time he feeds and this is at least once every 2 to 3 hours. ouch ouch! Breasts are also like rocks as the supply far exceeds the demand. Sigh, how did I do it for 21 months with Kayden?!? Am contemplating a visit to a lactation consultant if things don't get better this week.

Everyone has been asking me for photos and I am sorry it is taking so long as I hardly have time for anything else. The b&w roll of film in the Lomo has not been processed yet so that one will be sometime later. I brought home the D200 when I was discharged (yes, i went back to the studio 2 days after i had a baby!) and have been shooting baby with the 50mm only. It's so hard to catch him with his eyes open as he is only active in the evenings and i have no light to work with by then.

Anyway, here are some shots of him while sunbathing (for the slight jaundice that he has):




(the daddy screamed at me for putting him on the grass but don't you think it's a nice photo? hehe)

and then there were 2

You know, I think I overestimate myself sometimes. When my due date for #2 was estimated as 12 June, I was still confident that I can make it through the Motherhood Exhibition from 5-8 June. Which I did!

Thinking that since Kayden had to be induced on the EDD, I expected this pregnancy to be similar. I was hoping for something dramatic though, like waterbag bursting or waking up in the middle of the night with painful contractions. Right up till the end of the exhibition, I was still taking bookings for shoots and on Monday (the day after the exhibition ended), it was still work as usual. On Tuesday, I brought the girls to Cathay Photo to get some new lights and I was contemplating getting the Lensbaby to shoot my delivery (ya funny right, how to shoot when in labour. Well, there's epidural!) but it was sold out! After we lug the equipment back to the studio, I got ready to go home as usual and expected to come in tomorrow as there was a shoot and also I needed to tie up some loose ends and bring home my camera etc. Little did I know that I would never make it to the studio the next day!

Here's the story:

11 June 2008
7am - bloody discharge, started to time contractions and when they were about 9mins apart i took a shower while Erwin prepared Kayden for child care.

820am - left the house, waited for the lift and it broke down!!! my 5yrs living here there has been no problem with the lift and it HAD to happen when i am in labour! jeeze :s i clumsily walked down 8 storeys of stairs and we zoomed off. Erwin dropped K in school hurriedly and then it started to rain and there was massive traffic on the CTE. i panicked when the contractions became 6mins apart.

930am - finally reached the hospital and i went straight to labour ward. 2.5cm dilated (DAMN FREAKING PAINFUL when this midwife checked the dilation, wanted to slap her).

11am - epidural has been administered and waited for dilation to reach 10cm. didn't happen for some time until...

4something pm - felt sharp pain on right side lower pelvic area, told Erwin to get the nurse as i've never experienced this pain before. she came in and checked dilation and said i was fully dilated! Eunice came in and said can start pushing. So exciting, up till then I still wasn't mentally prepared. Only when i was pushing and she said the head is visible did it really dawn on me that i am really going to see my second born today! :D i pushed like crazy, this one seems harder to squeeze out than the first one.

435pm - baby out, big phew! he is 4kg exactly, 55cm tall and 36cm head.

some of you may think he's big but his brother was bigger at 4.475kg, however Gor Gor is 54cm, 1cm shorter kekeke, head size the same.

here's a picture of didi (taken on my iPhone as the D200 was still in the studio):

isn't he just so precious? :) the moment i saw him, all my woes of not having a girl disappeared as he is just so cute la! haha!

I would like to thank all who came to visit me and also those who sent us gifts, hampers and flowers! THANK YOU so so much! :)

Motherhood Exhibition 2008

It's The Studio Loft's 3rd year participating at the Motherhood Magazine Exhibition, the largest parenting extravaganza of the year. This year seems kind of slow at the moment. We're halfway into our second day here and i am typing this entry, slow huh? ;) Am hoping things will pick up this evening and over the weekend.

This year, we are sharing our booth with Itsy Bitsy Me and Wink to Learn. So far so good for them as well :) We decided not to bring down too many things this year since we are only getting 1/3 of the booth size. However i brought down the 24inch iMac to play a slideshow of our favourite photos over the years and you know what? It's a great traffic grabber! Oh but sometimes we find some lecherous men leering at the nude Bloom shots :S

One of my favourite clients *shameless plug coming up* Kristal and Martin has a booth here this year. They have a new prenatal education product called the BabyPlus but they said unfortunately it's too late for me to use it as i am too far along already kekeke :D Maybe for #3 if ever i decide to have another one!

The number of clients who came by our booth to say hi this year compared to previous years is an indication of how much we've grown and it's so nice to see our Little Big Shots all grown up or our Bloom mummies with their little bundle of joy :) Oh and some of our friendly competitors dropped by as well, Alvin from Dphotofolio (who has a booth here too) and Hart and Polo from Tomato.

This is our 2008 brochure printed for the exhibition. This year i decided to go with happy faces/bodies :





edited to add:
being the brainless klutz that i am, i forgot to bring home the envelope with all the takings for the fair on the first night :( but i think my unborn baby must have been watching over mummy as when i went back on the second day, the envelope was still under the desk, PHEW! :D

A friendly pow wow with the competitors

Last saturday, i received an email from David of Foto-U (one of our competitors). Four other competitors were included in the email, namely Tomato, Dphotofolio, Kopimei and Funshotz. We are all fellow advertisers on the Singapore Motherhood Forum.

Anyway the email was a call to all of us to come together and stop giving softcopies (negatives) to clients without charging for them. It was a valid call as in the long run, we will all be losing out this way. However it was funny that it was coming from David as his studio was the one that started the practise of giving out all softcopies from their sessions :p Anyway we all decided to meet up for a friendly networking session on thursday and the venue was my studio.

Shirley, our Kopimei arrived first with Hart from Tomato. David came some time later and last was Alvin from Dphotofolio. It was the first time i am meeting everyone with the exception of David whom i met once before when he contacted The Studio Loft for a joint promotion with Foto-U. Everyone was nice and friendly and we touched on issues like our business models, dealing with difficult clients, how to better improve workflow etc.

I am glad we can all be friendly with each other and help pass each other clients if we cannot do the shoots ourselves. Hart mentioned that he does not enjoy maternity shoots and have been referring some clients to me and likewise in my heavily pregnant state i am not fit for outdoor shoots and will refer to him any clients requiring this service.

We all agreed that the meeting was a fruitful one and decided to make this a bi-annual affair :)