Tea time

Recently, I have some time occasionally, in the midst of baby caring, piles of housework and other things to do to have some time for tea in the afternoon.

It's a nice treat to be able to make myself a cup of strong tea and enjoy a pastry by myself at home.

Sometimes, I'd go out for tea in the late afternoon with Little N in tow when she can't nap.

Here are some of the nicer pastries I've had recently..

Rare Cheese Mango (from Patisserie Glace) - Nice and light and slightly tart

Red Velvet Cake (Cedele) - a little drier than I expected but quite rich in flavour..

Carrot Cake (Cedele) - one of my favourite cakes

Almond cookies (Four Leaves) - Really yummy crispy and thick cookies. 

I've been eating lots of these. The chocolate chip ones are really good too..

Black Forest Cake (Fruit Paradise) - very light cream and lots of fresh cherries..

Best Omiyage from Japan

Omiyage, お土産 is the Japanese word for souvenirs. Japan is a country where souvenir giving is important. Hence, there are lots of options for souvenirs when you travel to Japan.

A friend of mine is working on a project at the moment in Japan. When I first heard that she was going to be working on a project in Japan, my first reaction was - "Whoopee, I now have a stable source for my favourite omiyage, Yoku Moku".

What is Yoku Moku?

It's a company that sells butter cookies from Japan.. You can find them in the food level of most major departmental stores in Japan.

Yoku Moku is famous for their "cigare" - These are delicate rolled cookies with a light butter-vanilla taste.

Like most Japanese souvenirs, they come beautifully packaged. Each cookie is individually wrapped and come in a beautiful box. I've been eating them since I was 18 and I've kept all the boxes I've bought.. The basic cigare always come in a blue box, although the shape and size of the box have changed over the years.

The "cigare" also comes in other flavours like chocolate and coffee.. They are all great, but I like the plain vanilla version best.

They are my favourite omiyage from Japan. Whenever I travel to Japan myself and have to think of a gift for friends or colleagues, I'd end up buying these. Whenever I have good friends going to Japan, I'd ask for a box of these as well.

I got a box of these in September and they served me well during my confinement. I'd treat myself to one whenever I got stressed out. Needless to say, they ran out pretty quickly!

10 Tips for a New Mom - Part 2

Continued from Part 1, Part 2 focuses on tips for breastfeeding mums.

6. Tell yourself today is not the day to give up

I can't tell you how many times I wanted to give up and say "Enough!, no more".

Especially when you start hearing people tell you that...
.. She might be crying because she is hungry - maybe your milk is too weak
.. She is not pooing because your milk is too diluted
.. She is waking up at night because your milk is not rich enough to sustain her through
.. She is cranky because your milk is not good enough

7. Try not to take negative comments personally

When you hear comments (like the above) about how your milk is weak and not rich enough for your baby, try not to take it personally.

I did and it resulted in some conflicts with people I loved. It really annoyed me at that point in time.. (and it still does annoy me to hear such comments).. but I've come to learn that they say it because they are genuinely concerned.. even if misguided. I often wish to tell them I've fed Little N for 4 months now and if there are really some problems with the milk, it would have showed.. But I have learnt to just nod, say "maybe" and then just move on with my day..

8. Trust God's design and nature

Breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby. It contains what your baby needs and is easily digested. So as long as your baby is gaining weight and wetting her diapers and her poo seems fine, trust God's design and don't worry too much.

I've read somewhere that most of the time, breastfeeding problems are not so much with the content (as in the milk) as with the delivery (poor latching, mothers timing baby's feed and delatching when "time's up"). And I believe it's true.

As long as you persevere, you and your baby will get the hang of it and soon, breastfeeding will become easier for both of you.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to see a lactation consultant for advice in the early days to ensure that you are both doing it properly. A friend told me that the 2 most important people in the first month after delivery are your pediatrician and the lactation consultant.. and that you should always have their numbers in your phone. She is quite right, I think.

9. Start before you deliver

Using nipple cream, that is.

For most mothers who choose to breast feed, soreness is one of the reasons to give up. I was lucky to have read this tip somewhere before I delivered and prevention is definitely better than cure, I must say.

10. Tell yourself you will miss this

Breastmilk is easily digestible and some say that's why the baby wakes up at night to feed.. Well, I'm not sure if that is true because formula fed babies seem to wake to feed too..

Whatever the case, when the baby wakes for the nth time at night for milk, tell yourself this is just a very small part of her life and you will miss this experience a few years down the road. Then enjoy the quietness of the night and the time with the baby.

Oh yes, it's difficult and I wish every night that she'd not wake for milk.. but I keep telling myself this will pass and I will miss this in future.. and it makes the night feedings a little easier..

Chewing her Sophie The Giraffe