Counting Steps

Usually whenever I bring out the camera in front of Ethan I can barely get a few snaps in before something like this happens:

But the other day Ethan was so distracted by the stairs I was actually able to get a short video of him working his way up it. It's not in the clip but usually after he counts something he will exclaim at the end 'Eight steps!' or '2 Mushrooms' or whatever it is that he is counting. I am tempted to teach him to cackle a la Count Von Count on Sesame Street.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Xin Nian Kuai La and Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!

Last year my mom bought Ethan this outfit to wear on Chinese New Year, but due to our move to Hong Kong Ethan didn't get a chance to wear it. Luckily she got the jacket in a large enough size so he was able to squeeze into it this year!

And here he is wishing everyone a prosperous new year!

And since today is also V-day here is some kisses and love that Ethan would like to share:

A Typical Afternoon

A little playtime at home:






A little arts and crafts:

Um, Mom, what do you expect me to do with these?

A little playtime outdoors:

Macau

This is the third time we visited Macau since we came to Hong Kong. Ethan had a great time since he hit the vehicle riding jackpot. To get to Macau we took a bus to the ferry pier. Then a ferry to Central. Next a taxi to the Macau ferry pier, another ferry to Macau, and finally one last bus ride to the hotel.

Close up on his cute sneaks!




This time we stayed at the Wynn.




We indulged in french fries...


and well, water. But it was in a fancy cup!

Fishing for Compliments

Ahh...self praising starts early around here. Today Ethan was playing with an empty water diet coke bottle or otherwise known around here as 'Daddy's bot-tle'. After a few tries and where he muttered 'amost' when the cap screwed on wonky he finally got the cap to screw on correctly then exclaimed:

E: Goodjob! (He says it like one word)
Me: Good job? Who did a good job?
E: Et-tan good job
Me: Oh...You put the cap back on! Good job Ethan!
E: Yay!

A few moments then:

E: Et-tan good boy.

18 Months

Ethan turned 18 months today! He is growing up so fast - I definitely don't think of him as a baby anymore but as a little boy. Thankfully he still asks me to 'bao bao' him and likes to hold my hand as we walk down the street. Don't grow up too fast!

Some new things he is up to:
-He is starting to talk in short phrases. He will say things like 'catch blue football', 'give duck/monkey/etc (whatever stuffed animal he is holding) kiss kiss', and of course my favorite 'I wuv you'. More often than not though he will say 'Mommy bye bye peas' when he wants me to stop invading his personal space. I can't help it, I love to cuddle with him all the time.
-He knows most of the alphabet. For some reason he started learning the second half of the alphabet first. Go figure. One game he likes to play is when we ask him to find a specific letter on the alphabet foam mat that covers his playroom floor. He will run around and bend over to tag all the multiple instances of that letter.

-He can count to four. He actually knows the sequence of numbers up to eight but whenever he is counting objects he usually just stops at four.
-He walks up and down the stairs by himself. Well, sideways while holding onto the wall for support. I still hover over him like the helicopter mom I know I am (even when not on the stairs). What? We have hardwood floors!
-He is more imaginative in his play and will pretend eat/drink or ask his stuffed animals to do things (of course I have to act out he stuffed animal for him).

Some cute things that he currently does that melt my heart:
-He will ask us to wear the 'hat' when he sees us in a hoodie and then will go 'Woah' a la Ted from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Similarly he will exclaim 'Nice!' or 'Yea!' or 'Wow!' as a self cheer when he does something we ask him to like catch a ball or when we do something he likes such as when we give him an extra big push in the swing or his favorite food.
-When he was sick a few weeks ago he didn't want to leave his crib but instead said 'Mommy lie down' and patted the area next to him. We spent hours in the crib together as he just laid there and he pointed out my eyes/ears/nose. Ever since then he will periodically ask me to lie down next him for extra cuddle time after he wakes up from a nap.

Eating his favorite snack of blueberries.

Close up!

Testing out his new (to him anyways it is second hand) scooter.

He likes it!

A Boy On The Bus

Ethan loves any type of vehicle and especially riding one. He especially loves riding the bus and the ferry. Every day he asks to 'ride bus' and he also requests to look at these pictures...I guess it makes him seem like he is riding the bus all over again. He is one funny kid.