Happy First Birthday Ethan!!!!!

Ethan was up bright and early this morning at 4:45am. He must have known it was his birthday.
Unfortunately, he also woke up with a stuffy runny nose, tears, drool and a mild fever. He wanted to be held and cuddled and didn't want to play with his toys.

This was the first time ever that he showed that he wasn't feeling well since all past colds, he was his bright and shiny self. Poor guy.

While at home, waiting for the pediatrician's office to open, MamaZee (Nigh Nigh) and Papa Zee ( Yeh- Yeh) and daddy came online for a video call. They all sang Ethan a gorgeous happy birthday song. Ethan though wasn't to happy being sick but he waved, clapped his hands and did bye bye.

At 8am, we took a trip to the pediatrician. He told us that his throat was also quite red and that it would be good to bring him back later this afternoon or evening to see if his throat gets any worse. He said it may develop into enterovirus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterovirus
which may cause herpangina http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpangina

Maybe this was why Ethan was making those low throat monster noises- because he was uncomfortable. The links say that he will have a decreased appetite and fever and that is holding true. He wouldn't have his formula and only a few sips of water.

Alot of the enterovirus (echvoiruses) have been going around Taiwan so it's most likey he's either picked it up from the air or from me since I've been under the weather too. Two other kids (both over 1yr old) that we know of just got over their sickies. One with ear infections, and the other with hand, mouth and foot. ( Coxsackie)

We picked up his medicine and headed over Asung's. She made him a bottle but he wasn't up for it despite the last bottle, he had was at 9pm last night and by now it was 8:30am. He was hungry cuz he kept say "um um" but when offered it - didn't want any so we decided to give him a dose of the medicine first. Literally 10 minutes later, he was babbling and more mobile, so hopefully he will have a better day today.

Then I went to work. Ethan had a pretty tired day and had a lot of naps at Asung's. After work, I came home and Gong Gong and A-ma came by to wish Ethan a happy birthday but he pretty much wanted to sleep.

Later, we had a visit from Samantha and kris who bought Ethan a Sponge Bob Birthday cake.

We tried to take a picture of it in his crib without him waking but the flash woke him up.

Poor Guy.

We decided to make the best of it so we sang Happy Birthday and helped him blow out his candle.

Here is the video. Sorry but you all have to tilt your head to enjoy it..

Joanne

New Developments

Hi there,

Well, I can do lots of stuff now.

I can push up and put my hands on furniture and stand up and if you give me something to grasp and play with or shake, I can stand and hold my balance for a minute or two before I have to reach down and brace myself a bit. Then I'll grab another toy on the couch, shake it and stand all by myself. I can walk along one side of the couch to the other with my hands on the couch of course.

I discovered mommy's belly button and like to poke it but it grosses her out. I like to bump my head into hers. Plus, kissing her face with my tongue. I also like feeling the bedroom wall and then plopping my butt down on mommy's soft bed.

I can smack and clang plastic tubs and lids and toys together. I'm extremely fantastic at clapping hands.

If you hold my arms up, I can jiggle and dance with you. I'm really good at saying hi and bye and I will flap my arms up and down excitedly for you to pick me up. I can crouch down to peek underneath things and open anything with a handle like this shape ( [ ) and metal or tin pots make the BEST clang in the world. You should see how mom quivers and cringes!


I constantly babble from bababa, guh guh guh, mum mum, mum eeee, da da da and short bursts of ooh , ahhh, and lately demon monster deep. low. grunting sounds that kinda freak mommy out.This is me talking and playing with the phone.

Still putting lots of stuff into my mouth and managed to get cuts on my thumb, index and middle fingers. Not sure if it was me biting myself or paper, books, magazines, or labels from food jars being rudely ripped from my grasp. What's the big deal if I ingest some and it is so RUDE when mommy or Asung sticks there fingers in my mouth to scoop it out! Amah found out I was chewing an envelope and I got a bit of paper in my mouth but she was too slow and I swallowed it! Haha! Gong Gong said that it's ok. Just a wee bit of fiber.

Then there was yesterday, I bumped my chin pretty hard on one of the dining room chairs and have a bluish blacking bruise about half a centimeter in diameter on the left side under my chin. Then there are the mozzie bites and the bruises on my legs from crawling around and over anything in my path but i'm pretty invincible. It just makes mommy feel sorry for me and give me more attention which I love.
That's my bruise on my chin.

I also got my hair cut since my fringe was getting a bit too long and the sides were tickling my ears. Asung, says, my haircut looks asian on the sides but western looking at the back. HAHA! Mom wants to let the back grow out cuz its wavy. That's pretty cool I think.

Mom has been really busy keeping up with me so she hasn't had much time to take photos or videos but my first birthday is coming up so i'm pretty sure she'll get the camera out for that. Plus she's had a bit of back pain from carrying my in front of her. The doctor recommended to get a hiking back carrier for me and we found one that I really liked so A-ma is haggling the price so we can get a good deal.

Still drool alot but no new teeth. I like to crouch on my front with my legs curled up under me. That's something mom always did when she was a kid so she gets all soft and mushy when she sees me do it. Speaking of drool, I like mommy's cell phone so much that my slobber got into her phone and it'a hard for her to charge it so that means she needs to get a new one and then I get her old phone- which I probably won't want by then...

I giggle alot when mom and I are playing in her bed. I try to scramble away and she pulls me back by my legs or tickles my sides with her mouth. I'm getting good at mimicking a very few of the sounds that Gong Gong, A-ma or whomever i'm around make.

Oh and of course , I like to do the babababbababa with my hand covering my mouth like an indian.

I think that's all I can remember right now. I'll nag mommy ' bout the videos and pictures.

Oh and my 1 year old birthday is this Thursday. Gong Gong said he will buy me a cake but the really big party will be in June when we go to England to be with Daddy for awhile. So he better start planning now.

Love you all ,
Ethan xxx