Jonathan

All I Want for Christmas is…

by

All I want for Christmas is my……Ooopps! Not for me but for my not-so-old man and no-more-a-baby boy.

Thinking hard on what should I get them for Christmas. Both are not an easy task. Putting on my thinking cap in figuring out on what will make them happy and what they really need.  Of course Darling has hundreds and thousands of stuff (or gadget) he wish to have. This second he would say he wants this then another second he saw something else he says is a necessity. Old man Darling quite troublesome isn’t? 🙂

It’s so much easier when it comes to Jonathan boy. He don’t mind (or don’t bother) what is in that colourful wrapper. As long as Mommy likes it! But old lady Darling can be a nuisance too. Undecisive and want everything under the sky. Hehehe… I can’t make up my mind on Jonathan boy’s Christmas gift.

A car? Obviously it’s not the real adult car we are talking about here nor it’s the miniature toy car. We spotted a battery operated car in one of the toy shop here in Klang selling at a very cheap price. It can be controlled with a remote control too. Jonathan boy can sit in it and let the car bring him around with us maneuvering the steering wheel by using a remote control.

A train set? I can imagine him catching the train while it goes round the track and wouldn’t let it go. Or maybe a big moving toy train that can make chuckling choo choo sound. He has lots of cars and busses but not train.

A LEGO set? Since he has mastered stacking skill, the new level is building and making things up. But I think ended up Daddy will be the one who will get hooked to the LEGO set.

A pair of shoe? Since he has started walking, I can get him more shoes and of course to be prepared for Chinese New Year.

A drawing board/mat? We came across Rainbow Aquadraw drawing mat. It is a waterbased drawing mat. Simply fill the special markers with water and draw. When the mat dries out the pictures drawn will disappear and the fun can begin all over again.

What else do you think he likes? Or should I say what else do you think he will have longer interest with? Remember the Malay proverb, “Hangat-hangat tahi ayam”? I just don’t want the toys laying there collecting dust.

So any suggestions from the floor?

What Jonathan Boy is Up to Now

by

I decided to stop posting on Jonathan boy’s monthly update as he is 1 year old now. Nevertheless, I won’t stop posting on his new achievements or milestones from time to time as I won’t be able to remember so many things with my deteriorating brain.

His upper left and right first molar has fully erupted. Now I can introduce more food to him. I no longer need to mash or grate the porridge ingredients. Just dice into smaller cubes or break into smaller pieces. And instead of leaving the porridge to cook for 45 mins, I reduced it to 30 mins. Soon, I will substitute porridge with rice.

His new fond play item is the toilet bowl. He tend to put his hand into the toilet bowl to reach for the water. He will grab a toy and drop it into the toilet bowl. When I instructed him to pick the toy up, he will do so. Jonathan boy, do you know the water in the toilet bowl is so dirty? One day, he may climb into the toilet bowl. Yiiiicks….

He is very good in manuevering around the house with his Thomas scooting train and Mr. Tolo scooter….moving forward, run through a bumper, go astern, turn left and right.

Like I mentioned before, he inherited my character and personality – SHY. He refuses to wave goodbye or smile. He will pull away when someone try to hold his hand. He will turn away hiding on my shoulder.

The greatest of all, he has started to throw tantrums. Just yesterday, I refused to give him the box with a broken toy in it. I grabbed it away from him worrying that the broken toy may hurt him. He then tried to pull the box from me and was yelling and screaming and crying. He is being demanding too. During meal time, if you don’t let him hold his own spoon, he will cover his mouth with his arm and hide his face down trying to get the message accross to Mommy that, “If you don’t give me that spoon, I won’t eat! It’s either you win or I win.” He just want to play with the spoon. Once you gave him a spoon, he happily let you feed.

From gliding to crawling on four and now walking on two. Just last weekend, he was still clenching to our palms while wandering around. The next day, he is letting his hands free in the air. How long will he hold on to our hands?

Jonathan’s Meal #3

by

Darling loves bitter gourd so he thinks his Junior has too favour bitter gourd like him. He has been pestering me to let Jonathan boy try out bitter gourd. I was a bit reluctant cause from the name you already know it’s bitter so do you think a baby would like it?  I, myself don’t like bitter stuff. I only take bitter gourd if it is cooked with scrambled egg, tau chu (fermented soya beans) or deep fried (for banana leaf rice).  They say bitter is good. That’s the reason all medicines are bitter especially chinese medicines.

So here, I bought the baby bitter gourd. I cut into thin strips so that at least if Jonathan boy dislike it, I can put aside the bitter gourd but give him the porridge only instead. I put in some diced carrot and wolfberry for the colour. I also added red dates to give some sweetness to the bitterness. Since this is a first try, so no fish is added otherwise some fish or meat will provide additional nutrients.

I tasted the porridge myself before giving it to Jonathan. Bleeek…it’s bitter. For that moment I thought the porridge will go to waste. First try…give him the porridge first and he swallows it. Second try…give him the bitter gourd and he chews it. Lastly…he finished everything as though he has lost his taste bud.

Since Jonathan boy can accept the bitter gourd, I chopped the bitter gourd on my next try so that it mix well with the porridge and I added some fish too.

I read from some articles that to reduce the bitterness, the bitter gourd is salted and exposed to direct sunlight for few hours. After few hours, its salty, bitter water is reduced by squeezing out the excess by hand. Then rinse with water a few times. I’m going to try this method on my next cooking. So, happy trying!

“O”…for Orange

by

Jonathan boy is up on the October 2008 issue of Parenthood magazine’s “Baby’s First Meal” photo contest sponsored by Milna. It’s not easy to have your photo selected so I was blessed enough this time and the previous time. Just doing it for fun only when I am free to get those photos printed and post them out on time.

This pic was taken in the ferry on our way to Pangkor Island for my grandma’s birthday. The oranges were so sweet and Jonathan boy just couldn’t resist it and sis managed to snap a candid of this big eater.

Jonathan is ONE!

by

Happy Birthday, Jonathan boy!

You are a precious gift,
a bright blessing from God to Daddy & Mommy.
With joy we celebrate you,
with confidence we entrust you into God’s constant loving care.
And with faith we cling to His wise and wonderful plan for you.
One year passed by, we have seen how great is our God.

Always remember…
He calls you by name-
Jonathan, Jesus loves you so.
You are His beloved child,
the apple of His eyes,
the delight of His heart.
He shall be with you as you grow.
May He bless you in every way,
as you follow Him each day.
May He keep you in His sight,
from the rising of sun to the starry night.

Dotty Chickenpox

by

It started with some red bumps like pimples on his forehead last Wednesday.  Then on Thursday, out came one under his nose. I undressed him for his morning bath and noticed one blister below his belly button. Later in the day, I saw more on his back. When I came back from work on Friday, I saw few new ones on his face, neck and back of the ear. My sis confirmed that it is chickenpox but I didn’t want to believe her cause I just recover from some kind of cold sores due to viral infection which look alike chickenpox. Moreover, there is no sign of chickenpox symptom…no fever or itchiness and still so jovial.

We brought him to see the paediatrician to confirm the diagnosis. True enough what my sis said. It’s chickenpox or also known as varicella in medical terms which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus but thank God it’s just a mild one. And thank God he don’t scratch them nor behaving vague or uncomfortable.

Now, where he got the virus from? My brother-in-law got it first from don’t know where then my niece and followed by her sister. Then later I had the cold sores which doctor says it is not chickenpox but from the same family. I even went to see Chinese medical practitioner and he too said it is not chickenpox. I still breastfeed Jonathan and now he had got it from me I suppose. So that confirms that the cold sores I had earlier was chickenpox but my mom said I had it when I was a baby. So is this a second attack?

Mom said when I was having chickenpox, I was so difficult. I didn’t allow my shirt to be changed and demanded for the same shirt. Poor mom was looking around shops to see if she can find the same shirt but none. Unlike me, Jonathan boy is being good to me. He is like his normal self. So, Darling, he doesn’t have my gene, ok?

The photo above was taken on the 3rd day. More and more bumps are coming out and his look is worse than what you are seeing here. They are all over his face, neck, body and legs. I spotted some on his scalp. He should be getting the vaccine in another month but the virus just couldn’t wait and choose to attack him now which is close to his birthday in the next few days. All his birthday photos will look “dotty” later. *Sigh* Good thing we didn’t plan to throw him a birthday party otherwise we have to call it off.

Will it leave a scar? Any remedies to clear the blister asap?