Rrrrrr... Ha ha ha!

Ethan's learning to make sounds with his mouth. When he learns something new he often finds it very funny and will laugh and laugh when we repeat it back to him. The baby development books says it helps him know that he's doing well and affirms him continuing to try out more sounds. Here he is chuckling away over the Rrrrrr... sounds!

Peekaboo!

Yes, it's the age-old favourite game and a couple of weeks ago Ethan started to find this extremely amusing, often roaring with laughter most approvingly. I caught this one on video last week when I was changing him just before dinner. It's shakey cos I was ducking below the table while holding the camera above with one hand!

Time to Unwind

It has been a busy busy week but now we have a chance to unwind... Renata was preaching at BRMC, and Ivan had his second missions weekend at WEFC which was an absolutely amazing time seeing God at work among the people! Yeah! Here's the Tan family enjoying having Ethan with them since he's usually in Woodlands on Sunday. Grandma especially enjoyed parading him amongst approving aunties!

We hadn't managed to celebrate Renata's birthday so here was the opportunity with Ruth visiting from Sydney. We went to Waraku, a Japanese restaurant we liked, and of course played with the baby whom we love. A new game he likes now is "Standing" where we lift it up then bring him down until his feet touch a solid surface. He instinctively tries to "stand", then giggles and collapses.

Pouring Water on Mr. Penguin

One of the water games we play with Ethan is The Pouring Water Station. We're trying to get him comfortable with water on his face and head! Just beginning now he's learning that it's fun to pour water on his friend Mr. Penguin. Soon, it will be fun to pour water on his own head and face...but we'll need some more time! We also discovered he likes to "swim" in the front position but he doesn't do the frog-like kick that we thought babies did. Hmmm....maybe that will come later?

Fun on the Change Table

We've discovered a new game at the Change Table that thrills Ethan each time. It's a variation on the Classic "Peekaboo" game but instead of hiding behind a blanket, we duck down under the change table and 'magically' reappear to peals of laughter from our tickled Bub! Mummy discovered this game by accident one day while fiddling with the night light that is neatly located under Ethan's bed -- and it's been a favourite since. It even works when Ethan gets cranky -- he stops crying and forgets to fuss when we pop out from below him!

Sunday Swimming

Today and next weekend are Missions Emphasis Weekends at church so I'm busy preparing things and the various things going on. Renata and Ethan came for early service then came back home. By the time I got home from church, look who was having a nice nap in the big bed without me!

After a nice loooong nap we all got up out of bed and went for a quick swim. Our Learn to Swim book, for 6 month to 4 year old children has arrived! We highly recommend it to parents who want to be involved teaching their l'il ones to swim. Today we did the "Water Pouring Station" game and a bit of the "Cheek Dip". We discovered that Ethan really looooves the feel of flowing water. After the pool, I brought him into the shower with me to feel water running down his face. A little at a time, but frequently says our book-tutor.

My New Teething Ring

Oooh... someone's got a colourful new teething ring! On our day off this week the family trooped down to Takashimaya to spend some vouchers that a few wonderful people gave us! We bought a case for our l'il camera and, of course, a few baby supplies. The main objective of this mission was teething rings. This nice one has gel inside that can be refridgerated or frozen so that it will soothe poor Ethan's sore gums. Ethan sure looks like he's enjoying it!

Folding the Laundry

Our home is quite small so laundry gets folded on the sofa. Ethan is helping Mum with a pile of it while sitting on his own "mini-sofa" that gives him more support. Like Dad, he quickly tired of folding laundry and started playing with his own toys.

Vaccinations at 6 months

Today we went to the clinic for Ethan's 6 month checkup and 6-in-1 vaccination. Medical care is so good and well organized! We have a nice booklet that tells us what he's had and when, and a checklist of developmental milestones. Tracks moving object - check! Raise head and looks up at 90 degrees when placed on stomach - check!

Injections for these vaccinations are quick but not painless. That needle goes straight into the muscle on his thigh. Ethan is normally very good about going thru pain, but he's been extra bothered cos of his teething recently. He and Dad are looking a little worried waiting for their turn in the venepuncture room.

After that Ethan fell fast asleep even before we left the hospital. He was biting on his teether and feel asleep with it in his mouth. By the time we took this photo it had slid out...he looked even cuter when it was half inside!

The afternoon/evening brought on a mild fever due to the vaccine (it's quite normal). One teaspoon of kiddy paracetemol and he cooled down soon after.

Get Well Soon Ah Mah

Ah Mah had a toothache and had to go to the dentist this week, and because of that Ethan missed his usual Monday's with her and Yeh Yeh. So today we all had a nice dim sum lunch and Ethan presented his Ah Mah with a "get well" card. It's his first art-work!

Mr. Drooly

More and more drool! I used to think that baby's drool was so disgusting and wondered how parents ever put up with damp spots on their shoulders and now I am one of them! "Ahh...it's only drool/pee/poo!" goes the saying now. Better get used to it cos with teething, the drool is only increasing!

Inquisitive Independance

Ethan is growing not only in size but also in his ability to sit up and play by himself. After having his milk dinner, he sat in his high chair while we ate ours... mostly smiling and playing with one of his toys. He's getting more and more engaged with his toys, often biting them then taking it out to examine, then biting it again and repeating the process!

Right now he's having a bit of a cry cos he can't fall asleep by himself. Probably teething is making the poor fella feel uncomfortable.

How to Relax and Enjoy Oneself

Ethan is already a master at relaxing and enjoying himself. Here he is looking stylish, cute, and laid back all at the same time while listening to his musical keyboard. Like Daddy, he focuses really hard when he's concentrating at a task but when it comes to relaxing he really knows how to enjoy himself.

If you zoom in on his gums you'll see white things poking through. Ethan's started to teethe as there are times when he sounds like he is in pain and bites on things more. No tooth has actually seen daylight yet though!

Swim-Fest

We bought Ethan a new swimming wetsuit and he looks soooo cute in it. This photo doesn't do his new sporty outfit justice! We got this from Kiddy Palace - it's their smallest one sized for 1 year old. Our tubby 6-month old baby fits into it with some room to grow!


Now that we spent $26.90 (after discount) on this wetsuit, we are trying to maximize use of it before Ethan outgrows it. So this morning we took him for a quick dip before his morning bath. It's a bit colder in the morning so he wasn't laughing as much as the previous day!

The wetsuit is really good! Not only does Ethan look very stylish, but he's kept warmer as compared with wearing only shorts. His favourite water activity is zooming around on his l'il speedboat!

Bethany Methodist Nursing Home

After our Good Friday service at Woodlands EFC, we popped by Causeway Point for a quick lunch and to buy a swimsuit (more on that super-cute item later). Then we went to Bethany Methodist Nursing Home as some of Renata's church group from BRMC were there to host a service for the residents. After the service we mingled with some of them and of course (a) Ivan couldn't understand any of the dialects and (b) Ethan brought much joy and big smiles to their faces! Here's one lady who really enjoyed carrying Ethan. He took quite a liking to her as well, happily sitting on her lap for quite a while.

Afterwards there was a short reception where Ethan also got to eat his tea-time milk snack. He finished that, but then was very interested in what Mummy was drinking. He wanted the water so much that we gave him a bit to try...from a different type of bottle! Most of it went down his shirt but he had lots of fun!

Bumper Sandwich

This evening while washing up in the kitchen, I heard the familiar tired cry for attention about half an hour after putting Bubs to bed. I thought he was just fussing but went in to check when it got persistent-- and found Ethan's head sandwiched between the cot rails and the bumper cushioning that was supposed to protect him from bumps arising from his newfound mobility of being able to squirm his way around the bed! Somehow in his half asleep state he had managed all this before raising the rescue alarm. Fortunately no harm was done and a loving cuddle soon sent him (as we say round here) to fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars a few minutes later!

Swimming!

Such fun! We took Ethan swimming for the first time and he luuuurrrrved it! A few months ago we tried when we were on a short holiday but it was cold and Ethan cried lots. This time we waited for a warm day, got him used to the water, then let him sit in his baby float toy that A. Pek Ya & Wan Ling bought for him!


Ethan liked swimming with Daddy almost as much as Daddy enjoyed it! Mummy was on the sidelines taking pictures and saying, "Be careful!" Now that Ethan likes the water so much, we can't wait for our baby swimming book to arrive which will teach us how to teach him to REALLY swim!

Less Cereal

Ethan's been eating less Cereal since last week when we were in Thailand. He has been having just a third of his usual portions and seems to need a bit more comfort sucking. Its ok as he is making up for it in the milk he drinks, but it does mean that this Milk Bar has to work a little harder! Could it be a reaction to the changes he had to cope with during the trip? Or maybe its part and parcel of the teething process? (He has been needing to bite on things-including Mummy! -drooling, and been a little irritable at times) We are still trying to decode this mystery, but as with everything we are sure it will pass- our 8kg baby is going to need more than just milk to fuel his energy and growing needs!

Playing with Daddy

We're at home playing by ourselves just after dinner! Mummy's going out to play Kendo so Dad is doing some funny sing-song stuff to entertain Ethan. At this very moment, Ethan is sitting on my lap biting his blanket while watching me type. He's adjusted back to the routine at home after being in Thailand. Things changed for him a little bit but now after 2 days it seems all systems normal!

Reflections After Travelling with a Baby

The challenges of travelling overseas has made us learn more about Ethan's behaviour and parenting in general. Here are my musings...

• Sleeping with us make for a sticky Ethan. We really saw it with Ethan! You see, he's been sleeping in his own room since 1 month and sleeping thru the night since 8 weeks - heavenly! We only sleep with him in our bed for short naps during the daytime. But after this trip and 4 nights of sleeping with mummy and daddy, he learned to wake-up during the night to get our attention! It became more pronounced on night 3 and 4 and continued when we got home. He cried more when we put him down for the night and even woke up for mummy's milk a few times. He has only woken up during the night ONCE in the last 4 months when he was having a growth spurt. So these wakings are certainly due to having too much sleeping with mum and dad! Now after 2-3 days things have returned to normal, thank goodness!
• Routine, routine, routine. Because this was a mission trip and we had to meet certain timings, we had to change Ethan's schedule here and there. The one hour time difference also affected him. Things were a bit more difficult because of this but still manageable. He got extra grumpy on the last day when he had hardly afternoon nap cos we had to check out. Next time, we would try to ensure he gets sleep even if it means paying for 1/2 day at the hotel as he much more grumpy on the return flight as a result.
• The Quinny Zapp is a great travel stroller. We packed it in it's own bag and took it as hand carry so it was ensured of not getting damaged. With a toddler that's all we would need, but as Ethan can't sit up by himself yet, we had to bring the Maxi-Cosi car seat and check it in on Tiger Airways. Their regulations say they can take it for $25/sector. Not wanting to pay $50 round-trip, I packed it in a big cardbox box and checked it in. Everything was withinn our 15kg/pax limit so no extra costs! When he becomes a toddler we'll travel with just the Zapp and will pack it into it's bag just before getting on/off the plane.

Teaching Ethan Swimming

We just bought a book on how to teach babies to swim. It was a toss up between Water Babies and this book which we ended up getting, buying from local online bookseller Zakoola.com for the first time! It hasn't arrived yet though... so Ethan has been dunked yet either!

Making Adjustments

On any trip when you travel with a group, adjustments must be made... and certainly on a mission trip! One of Ethan's adjustments was bathing in the sink! On this trip we stayed in a cheap hotel so things were relatively easy for us.

Though things were quite cramped in the sink, Ethan enjoyed playing with the water coming out of the faucet and looking at his handsome self. You can see though that his cuteness was slightly marred by what we think were insect bites he got a few days before we left Singapore.

His skin condition got worse during the time we were away due to his sensitive cheeks. As a result, he was more bothered and cried more during the flight back. But now we're back home with our full array of creams and medicines and things are okay. Over all, our brave little trooper experienced many new things and enjoyed the new sights and sounds. He less enjoyed the change in schedule though, especially his sleep times. We're keeping in mind for the next time we take a trip with him...