Yay! Our Boy is Back!!!!

Ethan was soooooooo much happier on Monday and Tuesday. Monday evening after work, Ethan had some discharge from his eyes so we went to the pediatrician by our house. It was a viral infection so he got some eye drops. All better now. After getting a big mozzie bite on his temple and chin Sunday nite, I bought a mozzie net for our bed. Both of us slept mozzie free the last two nights and it has been so nice! Ethan can now stand for more than a few minutes on his own and is still walking about 7-8 steps. He likes to eat these little biscuit balls that they make here for kids to snack on. They melt in your mouth. He pretty much sticks anything in his mouth anyways so it might as well be food. LOL . He has been smiling and playing and happier and a whole lot less miserable and emotional. YAY!

Sunday: Feng Le Park and Visit to Asung's

Saturday night's evening sleep was a bit better than Friday's night with fewer scared cries awakening Ethan and we awoke at a more usual time of 6:30am. After formula, we decided to go for a walk in the park. On the road, we gave a call to Ama and Gong Gong. Ama followed us in her car. It was a hot and gorgeous day at 7:30am . As we arrived, the Buddhist organization were setting up stands selling a variety of things. Ethan enjoyed being pushed in his stroller and got to see ducks, and turtles in Feng Le man made lake. After a leisurely circle around the park, we went across to the small shopping/eating area. Ethan loved looking at the goldfish pond that was between the stores and was enchanted as the little boy and girl next to him were throwing bits of bread for the fish to eat. He also got to meet a 1 yr old Schnauzer who was extremely well behaved and again was fascinated and engrossed in its antics. Ama went home early and Gong Gong and I decided to drop in on Asung since maybe a visit to her would cheer him up and lessen the emotional outbursts. He was a bit sleepy on the way over and when we got there, he instantly brightened and started holding out his arm to show us where he wanted us to go. As we hollered a greeting through the screen door, Asung who was watching the telly was instantly all smiles at seeing Ethan. We explained how sensitive he has been during the weekend and she agreed that he was like that on Friday as well as maybe relating the outbursts to teething and the vaccination shot and his cough. We were just planning to visit but Asung was obviously happy to see Ethan as was Ethan so she said for us to leave him with her for his morning nap. Soon Asung's grandson's came by to see Ethan too. We left Ethan playing with them. He stayed there from about 10ish to 4:30pm. He had fallen asleep and I had called around 2:30pm to check on him but he was still sleeping. Asung fed him and gave him a bath (bless her) before I went to pick him up. After coming home, it was obvious that the visit to Asung had been a good choice. Ethan was back to his happier self and only one mini crying bout. Yay! The evening sleep was not so fun. Although Ethan slept more soundly but he got mozzie bites on the side of his forehead and on his earlobe. (The mozzies in our house are so smart they don't land on the walls so its virtually impossible to kill them) I've stopped using the mozzie repellent mats and plug ins since the chemicals are not good for us but it has resulted in Ethan being bitten. (Last Thurs, he had bites on the bottoms of both feet, his calf, arm, and chin. ) GRRRRR. So today, i'm going to buy a mozzie net for our bed even though we are leaving for the UK in 3 weeks. He shouldn't have to deal with mozzie bites on top of teething, vaccine and emotional outbursts. He also sweated a lot and need clothing changes a couple of times. I'm wondering whether if this is from the vaccine or the fact that I stopped the air conditioner (Which makes booming noises as it tries to make the room cooler which kinda makes Ethan stir while sleeping.) and changed to the fan. Either way, he slept alot better than I did last night. Let's hope tonight is a good night. I'm off to get him now.

Last Friday, Tearful Outbursts, MMR Vaccine, Teething and Giggles and Laughter

Ethan I think has just entered a new phase. It's the phase where if we say that he can't do something, or hold our hand over something he wants to play with , he bursts into huge wails, ( the kind where he is so upset, he holds his breath in and then lets it all out in one huge wail followed by wracking sobs and a river of tears follow. It's quite heartbreaking and of course he gets picked up, cuddled and comforted but what usually works is a quick distraction. He seems to like animal noises. In Chinese, while holding him, I will ask him "What sound does a cat make?" "Meee-Ow, Mee- Oww" Ethan's response: Pause in crying, Half hearted -aha(laugh) "What sound does a dog make?" "Wah Wah " (In Chinese, it is not woof woof but Wah Wah- similiar to ruff ruff") Ethan's response: Haha with a smile and tears in corners of his eyes. "What sound does a monkey make?" "Oooh oooh oooh oooh oooh" Ethan's response: hahah and smiles and is waiting for mom to repeat all of this again. Other distractions include toys and pointing at real dogs, looking at goldfish and sometimes just mommy being incredibly goofy. He has also developed a preference for Asung and I to hold him more than Gong Gong or Ama and especially anyone else which I've read is quite normal for a 1yr old. So, Friday, A-ma was visiting Ethan , in the morning, at Asung's and was witness to Ethan's emotional meltdown and very concerned for him since he's usually Mr. Happy Go Lucky. He also has been nappping less at Asung's. Then before dinner, Gong Gong and Ethan and I went to the hospital for his MMR vaccine. Obviously, he wasn't much in the mood for a doctor's visit being a bit sleepy. The doctor said his weight(8.9kg) and height (75.9cm- so apparently he has shrunk since last week's measurements...not very reliable) are on target. He is bound to be sleeping less since he is getting older so everything is normal and good development wise. He's still got allergies which account for the pinkyness under his eyes and the doctor prescribed some cough syrup for a little bit of his cough from last week's cold. Then as I lay him on the bed for his shot, he's burst into tears again followed by louder cries as the vaccine was administered. Like with his other shots, he was fine shortly afterwards and when we got home, he had a bottle and off to bed right away. The Doctor said that he may have a slight fever from the vaccine afer 5 days as a side effect but so far nothing. Ethan also has his 5th and 6th upper teeth coming in, which are the incisors? (The sharp pointy one ) At first, I though his molars were coming in because he would stick his fingers into the back sides of each cheek but at last check, nope. He does, every now and then , when he chomps down on something, break into huge rivers of tears, loud sobs sometimes with that frightful no sound, i'm holding my breath cuz it hurts? or is so awful I can't stand it and then a massive huge wail as he expels the trapped air kind of cry. Poor guy but again the animal noises seem to do the trick. On the opposite side of the crying spectrum, there is the laughter and giggles spectrum which also happened Friday. Just before nap time, we were playing on the bed since he wasn't in the mood of listening to a bed time story but more in the mind of eating the bedtime story book. So I was rubbing my face into his sides, tummy, thighs, butt - wherever really, and he would burst into giggles, grins and laughter. Absolutely excellent feeling to see and hear him do that as you didn't get that reaction before. He also giggles and laughs as you lift his legs up and help him do a somersault of course supporting his head , any direction for a somersault is good. He will even prop his legs up so he is in a upside down V in wait for you to flip him over. So there it is. The not so good with the good.

Look I can take up to 6-7 steps at a time!!!

For this past week, Ethan has been taking 2-3 steps on his own but he never does it when I pull out the camera.

Today, I was determined to get it on video so bear with me. He now can take up to 7-8 steps before falling on his bottom or putting his hand out for support.

It is exciting and also frightening at the same time since he is even more eager to reach for things and throw them about.

You will notice that he has a fascination with garbage cans in the video.

Adam and I both hope that this doesn't become his future career choice.

A Very Busy Ethan!!!

What a week.

Well, This past week has been full of physiotherapy for me and visits to the chinese doctor since I have pulled a tendon in my back from carrying Ethan in the carrier. (and it's been hurting me for about a month now) Add to that , that we are still both recovering from mucusy coughs. So, needless to say, I haven't been much in the mood for photo taking. Sorry Ethan! Turns out that the Chinese Doctor and acupunture are working out better than the physio. Ethan's been staying a couple nights at Asung's so I am forced to rest my back. This past Thursday also entailed going up to Taipei to apply for my 2 year visa so that we can stay with daddy in the UK and packing since we are leaving June 9th. Ethan was with Asung during the trip and evening. Originally, Joe, Megan and their kids were coming over to visit but couldn't make it. So we are sorry we didn't get the chance to hang out with them. Friday, I awoke and instantly missed Ethan and Adam. The two most important men in my life. Since I had originally asked for the day off work to spend with Joe, Megan and the kids, I was all alone at home so I decided to do some packing and managed to pack Ethan's clothing, toys and bedding and then send the 3 parcels to the UK (which obviously didn't help my back at all but since i've been going to the Chinese Doctor daily, I feel much improved.) Friday afternoon, also entailed getting the two front tires of my car and battery changed and of course visiting Ethan at Asung's. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I decided to let Ethan stay at the nanny's to rest my back one more night and Saturday morning, went to the Chinese Doctor to get acupuncture for my back. Afterwards, I picked up A-ma and we went to pick up Ethan. He was playing about and in the video, he isn't that chipper since he needed a nap. We do get to see Asung (which I know all of you are dying to see). She is clever though since I don't think she managed to show her face... When we got home, Ethan slept from about 1:30pm to 5:30pm and then went down for the night at 8:30pm. He's taking medicine for his mucusy cough. And today is Mother's Day. We didn't do much celebrating. I guess we should have taken A-ma out to celebrate except we were in a pretty blah mood todayand Gong Gong has got a pretty bad cough and sore throat- most likely from us. Yikes. It was nice of Sandy though to text a Happy Moo's Day though. She's such a sweetie. This morning, Ethan woke at 6:30am- lately he's been sleeping in to 8:30am. So we actually went out for a walk in his stroller and met a "grand pa" who self taught himself to speak English, French, Spanish, German and a bit of Russian. Came back for a nap and played a bit and then went out for another stroller ride. Got a carrier for Ethan where he sits on my back so hopefully it will straighten my posture out and I will avoid back aches and pains in the future. Came home, and now he's napping. Gotta go hang up laundry... See ya

Over the weekend..

This post is supposed to be before Ethan's First Step post but i'm not sure how to rearrange it so we are going backwards in time. The weekend was full of taking medicine and sleeping. Not much fun for either Ethan or I. Ethan also went to pediatrician on Saturday initially for his 1 yr vaccinations but he was still sick so no vaccination until this coming weekend. The doctor asked us one question, "Has he been rubbing his nose and eyes?" and we said "Yup". So he confirmed that Ethan has inherited my allergies- not good and his cold has caused him mild asthma. (Which explained his wheezing) We asked him if it would develop into asthma later and he said these things are a like a ticking bomb. Sometimes they go off and sometimes they don't. In any case, he got new medicine for his allergies. Ethan was having fun while the doctor was checking him out and pulling fiercely on the doctors stethoscope while the doctor was trying to listen to his chest. The doctor started gigglling and said , "Wa, Ni hen mung huh?" ( wow, you sure are busy!) Gong Gong and got a kick out of it. Pretty funny. He's lost some weight since this cold makes him not want to drink formula, he'd rather chug water by the gallons and is up for baby jar food. The scales measured him at 8.9kg and 77.4cm. So he's grown 2 cm since last month. Sunday was pretty uneventful , just full of medicine taking and sleeping and then bathing. Other news: His legs are all bruised and i'm sure if I were to let him wear shorts, people would think i'm beating him since the bruises are parallel to each other. The reason for the bruises is that he is so gung ho about crawling over the tiled step between the bathroom and hallway that his legs get bruised. You would think this would hurt or be painful but he is unfazed. He is bent on getting into every room and creating as much havoc by pulling everything off the table tops or throwing anything he gets a hold of as far as he can. He is incredibly good at chucking things a fair distance and then sits , looks up at you as if waiting for you bring back said thrown toys so he can do it again. Maybe We should sign him up for baseball lessons. Ethan can also give you a high five. So COOOL. Blowing kisses is still a work in progress. He gets his hand to his mouth, then discovers his thumb and fingers tastes good and starts sucking instead of letting go of his hand to blow a kiss. He's very vocal when not in the company of alot of people and makes a whole range of noises.... The most challenging is trying to find out what he wants since " Mum" seems to mean anything from me to food to bottle. And he will say bye bye when he wants you to go or expects you are going without prompting so sometimes you feel like," Hey! i'm not going yet. Are you trying to get rid of me!?"HAHA There is one action we all know, he crouches on his knees then flaps his arms up and down very excitedly. This means he wants us to pick him up. Now time to rest so we can get better for Uncle Joe, Auntie Megan and the kids who are coming to visit this thurs! Yay!