1st Visit to the Accident & Emergency @ Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Accidents do happen & it really does.

Right after the stitching

 

Day 5

A dramatic encounter. First visit to the A & E yet being a patient concluding the visit with 3 stitches on his head. I hoped this encounter will be engraved & constantly reminding him to be careful at all times. 

Primary One Registration

Milestone – Choosing our ideal Primary School.

Throw Back Moments

2012
Started brainstorming for the right school for Ethan when the formal education commence next year. We shortlisted a few schools taking into consideration the proximity, the reputation, the results & many more. We concluded Anderson Primary School.

2013
January February
Submitted the PV form to Anderson Primary School as the closing date 31st May 2013 for 2015 Primary intake.

June July
No news of the application status for PV.

August
Received a letter indicating 8th August 2014 for balloting of PVs. They are accepting only 20 PVs from a pool of 63 applications. OMG!! On the day of the balloting , we are one of the lucky ones who had our number picked.

October 2013 - May 2014
We started Parent Volunteer Duties such as helping librarian to pack the library, doing administrative filing in the office & weekly Traffic Warden Duties.

2014
July 21 – 22
Registration for Phase 2B opens. We managed to register & got in Anderson Primary smoothly when no balloting was required for Phase 2B.

A heavy load of my mind ….

2015
The beginning of another new CHAPTER in life…..

A Close Shave

Last Sunday I brought Ethan to TPY Popular. After our shopping for books we decided to have lunch there. Just as I was unloading my “books barang” on the floor before I queued up for cash withdrawal @ an enclosed UOB area on the second floor, a big tanned man rushed into the area started to bang & kicked the door of UOB.

Ethan was shocked standing there. The man suddenly turned around & asked me “Is the bank open today?” I replied I am not sure. He was standing less than a metre from me. I started to panic , grabbed my things & pushed the glass door. I was so worried that he will do something nasty towards Ethan. I shouted “Ethan, run “. The poor boy was standing there dumbfounded traumatized by the man. I quickly pulled his hands & started running towards the escalator. The guy was still shouting & yelling at us.

With all these happening even though the mall is packed, no one actually stopped , asked or even helped - so vulnerable. This is how the society is—to each meant its own ….

Despite that the little one can still be naughty, active & getting rebellious...

Time REALLY Really really FLIES

In just a blink, this is the 3rd year my little one is attending the same childcare.

2011

2012

2013

I am missing his baby smell, toddler talk & kiddish act.

Growing Up

Time & Tide waits for no man. This is really very true. Just a blink of eyes, we are already in mid May approaching June 2012.

Year 2012 Ethan had been promoted to Nursery 2. Remember those dilemma days when I struggled to put him in the childcare centre. Gone are those separation anxiety days and I welcomed those “good bye” days when he will run to the cc saying good bye to me. He can even tell those crying children that their mommy will fetch them in the evening & console them. Oh my, he is a growing big boy & I am missing those toddler days.

He had become more vocal & expressive those the happenings. For instance when the lift came, we will say “be care of the hole on the floor mommy”. Simple words & gestures from him really touches my shallow heart.

He loves to play with toys & especially ball. But he is lazy to do writing & colouring. I wonder if all kids this age behaves like tat.

Some words that I just want you to know & please remember what I am going to say. Thank you for being such a wonderful kid. We enjoyed every single minute with you. I am sorry for not giving you a sibling but one thing for sure is, we are loving you 101% more than all you can ask for.

School Life - Day 43

Day 37 of his school life, it finally stopped "raining" at YWCA - AMK branch. I am glad & blessed to have patient teachers who helped the little one to adapt to school. Finally I can say Ethan has stopped crying. His separation anxiety had stopped. Well done kiddo..


A typical morning

Little one's rountine sets in

8.00am - Wake up

8.15am - Mini "business" on his potty

8.30am - Change into school uniform & grumble "bye bye school"

8.45am - Leave for school

8.50am - Reaches school gate - hug mommy, kiss & say "bye bye mommy see you tonight" Runs off to remove his shoes left it on the designated shoe rack, holds teacher's hand & off to the toilet to wash his hands.

Whenever I asked him :-

Me : how is school today

Ethan : Good

Me : What did you learn in school today? Can you sing me a song

Ethan: Happy Birthday to you......

Me : Whose Birthday

Ethan : Lao Shi's birthday

So basically everyday is "Laoshi's" birthday... ^_^

Ball-a-holic

Ethan likes balls - doesn't matter the size the types. Be it basketball, football, pingpong ball, plastic balls.....

Even at times when he sleep he needs to bring a ball to bed. We have a basketball & football goal post, pingpong racks, kids badminton rackets....




Beware the next potential Singapore Ronaldo..

Cruel Fact

31st December 2010
Will mark the last day both mommy & Ethan weekdays stay at mom’s house. This will also symbolizes the end papa’s “maximum freedom” weekdays life back at our own home.

To my parents & grandma, thank you for having to accommodate 2 extras headcount for the past 21 months. Thank you for putting up all the nonsense Ethan had created.

The seniors had done their utmost best to care for Ethan. Whenever he falls sick, they fret & try to soothe the boy to make him a happy kid. Whenever he rejects his food, they try all means & ways to coax him by coming out with the little one’s favorite food so that he will not go hungry. They feel ecstatic over small reactions like a kiss or even a hug from the boy. They take care of every trivial issues concerning the little one.

Not once have they ever complained that they are tired nor have they rejected me when I asked for time off in the evenings to spend some time with friends. Not a word of complaint & not a penny more richer for taking care of Ethan.

There is nothing in this world one would yearned for, having the best of help rendered in taking care of the little one allowing a full time mommy to work in PEACE. I hoped the seniors will be less stress & happier with a kid lesser to fuss & will lead a healthier lifestyle.




3rd January 2011
Will mark the beginning of Ethan’s school life. Yes little one will be attending full day school at the child care just across our house. Someone once told me I was being cruel to put the little one in school when he is not even 3 years old. Thank you for reminding me that but on a serious note, I am left with no other alternative.

I felt bad! I felt lousy. I wanted the best of both worlds. I wanted my parents to take care of Ethan yet at the same time I wanted him to be disciplined in school. But knowing this arrangement is simply impossible, the feeling is atrocious. I was in dilemma struggling mode for a while…

To simply continue our weekdays stay at bp or to balance out family time. I choose the latter !!!

@ 23 months old

Ethan will be turning 2 in less than a month's time. Time really flies.

Some basic things he picked up over the past 1 month:-
- Operates a CD or DVD player
- Whines & stick like a superglue
- Keeps his shoes in the shoe cabinet at a designated place
(if that particular slot is taken up, he will throw that pair of shoes that takes up his slot on the floor & put his shoes in)

What
- Likes to reply "mai" (no in hokkien - see the potential of being a typical hokkien soldier)
- Tell us he is scared whenever he sees a real airplane or just a picture
- Pronounce banana as 'nana'

I am amazed by how kids learnt from each other.

22months

At 22months, he seems to have grown & apparently understand the instructions given to him.



His favourite cartoon turns out to be Barney (he rejects it initially) & favourite song is the Channel 8 - Monday - Sunday serial show 爱 . From Monday through Friday, he will hume the song @ 7pm.



Just the other day, I was sharing Ethan's progress with my bestie Jus. She enlightened me -- Terrible 2, Notty 3 & Fantastic 4. I was stunned. Ethan, I had always hoped you can be -- Goodie 2, Superb 3 & Amazing 4.

Boys are afterall boys. Friends always tell me no matter how, boys tend to be a level more active than girls. I wonder how true....

@ 21 months

Less than 3 months before he turns 2 years of age & the so call NOTTY TWO symptoms had surfaced. As much as I hated to say, he is even more cranky when he is sleeping. He will toss & turn & cry for nothing. ( To make myself feel better, I link this to his notty two)



Another factor might be due to the absence of his pacifier & I deemed myself as doing the right thing for refusing to "return" him the pacifier since he rejected when had HFMD more than a month ago.



His devil behaviour really live up to Ethan's name. Despite being a baby devil, he is still my beloved Ethan..

HFMD

7th June 2010 (Monday)

- As usual, left for mom's house in the morning at 0730hrs. On the way to mom's house, Ethan had his daily dosage of milk in the taxi.5 minutes drive away from mom's place, Ethan started to feel uncomfortable and vomited everything out on the taxi. I was soaked with his milk vomit. My bag, my outfit, Ethan's bag. Everything.

- Fever started to escalate after this vomiting session but given paracetamol to contain the high fever.

- Cousin Enric was diagnosed with HFMD at 11.30am.

- Mommy panicked. Requested to take a week off as I need to isolate Ethan away from the HFMD Enric.

- Fever continue to escalate @ 3pm. Sponged & fed Ethan with medicine.

- Brought him back to own house. Highest temperature attained 40.1.

- At 2130hr decided to bring him to the 24th hours clinic at Mount Alvernia.

- Despite the little kid having such high fever, we were being put at the isolation corner. Waited for 83mins to be precise just to see the doctor. The sick boy of course feeling hungry & sleepy cried & cried.

- When it was Ethan's turn, the doctor merely took a look at Ethan & diagnosed it as mild throat infection. He said panadol is enough to kill the infection. Unless otherwise we are worried he will get a cough & runny nose. Being paranoid, I requested for the medicine.

- Went home with the irrelevant medicine, all I can do is to feed him with Bhufen (above 38.5 medicine) & panadol drops concurrently.

- Damaged incurred - $45.15

Over the night, Ethan did not sleep well as he is hungry yet unable to drink milk. I had to keep sponging him becos his temperature was way too high.

8th June 2010 (Tuesday)
- Woke up crying, cannot drink & fever still remains so high. So we decided to bring Ethan to see the paediatrician at Kinderclinic.

- Despite having to wait, the waiting time is still shorter than the 24 hours clinic.

- PD diagnosed Hand Foot Mouth Disease & given spray just to numb the ulcer so that Ethan can drink better. PD advised to stay at home for the rest of the week.

- Damage incurred - $83.55

- Ethan continued to feel so uncomfortable. Unable to drink despite hungry. Per swallow of saliva results in pain causing him to yell & scream.

- At one point, his hands tremble when he held his milk bottle yet unable to drink the milk as it is causing him too much pain.

9th - 13th June 2010
We are all at home recuperating for the lost energy.

Finallly ....

Water Splashing

At 19th months, he weighs 11.7kg with a height 83.3cm & a head circumference 50.5cm (big head).



Finally finally & finally, Ethan is walking & pacing around the house by himself. He is like a spidery little rat on the loose now.


Tired from walking


This little cheeky fellow
- shouts out for "boy boy" at everyone now
- always call out for "ma" in a very sweet tone (visualise my blissful look)
- refuse to call for "pa" when requested unless otherwise he wants the father to carry him. If not he will be making a "gee" sound.
- enjoys dancing when he hears - twinkle twinkle little star , if you are happy & monkey song


This is the way to brush his teeth

I definitely have to admit Ethan has a fiery temper.....

18 months development

Being 18months old he is still barely walking. I am unsure if it is pure laziness or the slow development in the brain. But he is definitely not a whinny good boy sitting still. He crawls like an itsy bitsy spider, climbs like a gorilla, shouts & screams like a whining boy. People around me had been telling me boys are slower in developments. I wonder how true these statements are. But nevertheless thank you for these assurances.

Am I cool?

Developments of Ethan @ 18months

1. Able to recognise pictures of apple, orange, potty, dog, cat & any food - he will say "mummum"

2. Daddy's boy he is - shouts , yells & screams for his father - papapapapaa & all my neighbours will know that the weekend boy is back.

3. Able to identify at alphabets like A, B & C with some mumblings


4. Call "yaya" despite meeting his grandpa once a week - supposed to be "yeye"


5. Favourite hobby - watches singalong CD & raises up his hands like dancing
I have to admit I like & hate TV. On one hand children will grow to addictive of TV if the parents allow the child to be exposed excessive TV. On the other hand, it does help them to learn children songs.

Sulking look

6. Diaperless in the day - knows how to say "hmm hmm" either to poo or pee. Sometimes he is just playful "hmm hmm" all the time. Most of time he wants to pee. At times we ignore his "hmmmhmm", we end up having to clean the poo on his pants.

These days we enjoy kite flying at Marina Barraage. Even Ethan is soo obessed with the kites in the sky. He will go "wow wow wow". He likes it when we allow him to play with the water at the water fountain ..

18 Months old

Update of my dear Ethan @ 18 months

Trying & trying..

Junior Super Boy

Million dollar look

Play time....

17 months old

Ethan had turned 17 months old begining of March. Being a 17th month old toddler, I should be saying he is quite slow in his progress:-

1. Still crawling like a spidery mouse instead of walking

2. Deposit every single item picked from the floor just like a vaccuum cleaner

3. Owns 12 teeth in total

4. Climbs on anything & everything - escalator, steps, double decker bed, coffee table & many more

5. Shakes his head with every question asked like

- do you want to drink milk, shakes his head yet lie down at the mattress waiting for his milk

- do you wan to eat biscuits , shakes his head yet clapping happily for the biscuit

- do you love mommy , shakes his head yet using his hand to "saynag" my face

It is a growing process when mommies tend to worry about every single stage of their kids growing process.

When they are in our stomach, we tend to eat any food that we deem is beneficial to the baby.

When they came, we tend to worry if they have had enough to drink.

When they start to flip, we tend to worry if they will crawl.

When they are crawling, we tend to worry if they will walk..Now I am at this stage, when is Ethan going to be walking...Generically he is supposed to be walking that is what the books says.

I guessed many more worries ahead. No wonder everyone says, mommies are the greatest in this world.