Back in Hong Kong

School broke up for Christmas holidays, Gugu took me to see the Nutcracker Suite. I also went last year, but this year was the first time for Duncan and Maya. The next day, we boarded the train for Nanjing, where my other Grandma and Grandpa live. Like our last trip to mainland China, we went on an overnight train. We spent two weeks there. We were hoping to see some snow, but we were disappointed. I was hoping to have my front teeth in time for Christmas, just like in the song, but Santa did not grant me that wish. My grandparents often took me and Duncan to the zoo. They also took us to the Nanjing marine park.

We arrived back in Hong Kong yesterday. I showed Mummy and Papa my new teeth, which started to poke out during the train journey home. I was so thrilled to get home, because I had been so looking forward to finding what Santa put in my Christmas stocking. I got some small toys, some candy, and a robot. This year, I got two lemons, and so did Duncan.

I didn't want to get up this morning, but it was a school day. Papa let me take some of my candy to school to share with my friends.

Bye-bye tooth

I said goodbye to a second milk tooth this evening. It was so wobbly when I started brushing my teeth this evening that I asked Papa to pull it out for me. Papa said I was brave - I did not wince at all when he pulled it right out.

New tooth

My new tooth started to come out yesterday, and another milk tooth is getting wobbly.

Papa's back again

Papa surprised us all last Sunday when he arrived unannounced. It's been a whole month since I saw him. I was very pleased to see him, I ran up to the door and he gave me a big hug.

We all went out to lunch that day, and I was allowed to roam freely in the shopping arcade afterwards. I saw some other children like me, and also lots of people window shopping, and it was fun to do the same. Last week, Gugu saw a cute little red sofa with a checkered pattern in the same arcade, and she couldn't resist buying it on the spot. Now I have my very own sofa from which I can watch 'Wheels on the Bus' and 'Pingu'.

Papa plays with me around the house, reads to me, and takes me to the swimming pool every other day. He's upset that I've forgotten to swim: I just look around at other people swimming, and I drink the water. I'm a bit scared to let go of Papa's arm when in the water. I clutched him so hard that I left traces of my fingers on his forearm.

I'm now walking around with increased speed and stability, and I don't crawl very often now that I get around faster than on all fours. I showed off to Grandma that I could even walk across a room backwards. Now, I also enjoy head-butting: I butt my head against the big green ball, the doors, but my favourite is head-butting Papa and Gugu. I continue climbing chairs in order to get onto the tables. So far, I haven't got onto a table yet.... The grown-ups always manage to pick me up just when I put my knee on the table.

This week, my dog-teeth are breaking through, but it hasn't discouraged me from giving the grown-ups love bites, and I have a good giggle each time they howl.

I now weigh 26 pounds, big and strong enough to haul myself up my high-chair. I know when it's time for meals, so I climb up and wait to be served in my high-chair.

It's Grandma's birthday today. I gave Grandma a card in the morning which I signed with my palm. Papa, Gugu and I celebrated with her in the evening. I dressed up like a grown up, wearing long trousers and a new designer shirt which Papa bought me.

Wobble Bear

This week, the flat seems very full with Little Gugu (Aunty Helen) here and with Big Gugu taking a well-earned rest from work last week. I took my first steps on my own during this week. I performed for Mama and Papa when they logged on for a video-chat.

Little Gugu has become my shadow, she gets up every morning when she hears me sing along to Wheels on the Bus so she too could sing along too ...she doesn't know how funny she looks when she's bobbing along with the music ;-). When we are finished playing we sit and read together. Sometimes, I bring a particular book for Gugu to read to me - my current favourite is "Lets make a noise". She read me this a couple of times this week. I enjoyed this so much that after both sessions I would push the book towards Gugu with the pages open for an encore.

Gugu likes to read Wobble Bear to me as she thinks I look like Wobble Bear. I like Wobble Bear cos I'm wibbling wobbling all over the place at the moment. Gugu's promised to send me more Wobble Bear books when she gets back to London.

Everyone is horrified that I put everything in my mouth to chewing: chairs, my playpen, my books - poor Thomas & Maisy :-( , shoes if they are left out. Gugu had to put her foot down when I tried to eat the skirting board. It's been so much worse at the moment as I'm growing more teeth near the back, and my gums are sooooo itchy. Apparently, I now have my pre-molars, whatever they are (?)

I have been a lot more active since Gugu arrived from London. I enjoy rushing around here at home, repeatedly climbing the sofa, playing throw and catch with my balls, playing bricks and playing combat underneath the dining table or baby-gym. With all the activity, I now need to eat more. When we were at dim sum yesterday after I'd eaten a big lunch of my own, I still managed to eat two char siu baos - without the char siu :-). Then I had a whole jar of tropical fruit for pudding at dinner. Grandma is thinking to adding fruit to my dinner menu going forward, yummy ;-O

Happy Halloween!

As of Tuesday, I have 4 upper teeth; and as of yesterday, I have 4 lower teeth. My poor gums are itching quite a lot, and I just have to sink my teeth into anything I can get my hands on. So far, Rubber Duckie is standing up to the punishment, but I have destroyed 2 books and numerous scraps of paper. Auntie said she thought about getting me a Count Dracula costume.

It's all very topical, as today is Hallow'een. Aggie bought me a pumpkin suit. Papa says that I look like the pumpkin with my eight teeth; I love it because I can dress up and go 'trick or treating'. I'm looking forward to the sweets, and I'm also just dying to put spiders and stink-bombs through people's letter boxes for a trick.

I took a liking to Grandma's watch, so she gave it to me to wear :-) I can now tell the time: breakfast time, lunch time, tea time and dinner time ;-)

Auntie sent me some booties from England so I don't hurt my feet when I start walking. I still crawl around now much quicker than before, and am now quite stable on my two feet when I am holding onto something. I have started to cruise around the place that way hanging onto the furniture.

Goodbye, I have to go trick-or-treating now.

Teething

Wow, did I get some big big surprises this week! Hardly recovered from my cough, my gums started hurting on Thursday. Papa was wondering why I was still restless after my cough, and fortunately discovered that my upper front teeth had just come out! It caused me some discomfort for about 3 days, and I woke him up in the middle of the night. So Papa gave me some medicine so that it would hurt less. It was the same horrible red medicine which auntie gave me, but it tastes OK if it is put in my milk.

I've also become good friends with big duckie, and we play together not just in the bathtub. I now enjoy snacking on duck in between meals;-) You can see my duckie video here.

On Saturday night, Grandpa arrived from Hawaii! I am so thrilled. His suitcase contained several weeks' supplies for Teddy :-)

Grandpa was also pleased to see my new tricks: You see, I've been a busy boy since I last saw him. Not only did I learn to roll over and do push-ups, I can now also crawl a bit, and sit upright on my own. I got so excited when I succeeded in doing this on Sunday that I hardly slept. Since then, I have full rested, and can sit up with ease even in my bed. Click here to see my second workout video.

Touchdown in Hong Kong

I now wish I hadn't opened my big mouth the other day: two days after my doing so, Grandpa lopped off big bits of the Mango tree. It now looks like there are no branches left :-0 Will there be any mango next time Teddy is there ??? :-( However, the pool is now warmer and sunnier, so I am making good progress swimming. I scared Papa one day when, after a particularly vigorous swimming session, I vomited some of my milk, along with all the water I swallowed in the pool, but I can't wait to go swimming again. Having to get out of the pool sucks.

Granddad took us to Pearl Harbour, but why I didn't see any pearls........... To add to the list Papa started, Grandma had to change me in the back seat of the car, and on the floor of the aeroplane too.

I now have two front teeth :-= It was a little sore for two days, but doesn't hurt much any more.

We said Aloha to Grandpa after 2 weeks, and left for Hong Kong via Japan! Papa, Grandma and I took a flight from Honolulu to Tokyo. Papa did not win the draw this time, because every one was declared a winner of the security check prize. As a result, there was so much confusion the staff did not know what to do, and we were nearly late for the flight. I had my very own seat on the flight (hehehe), and got to use the car seat Grandpa bought me. Yet, I didn't sleep very much. I was so tired after a 3 hour delay in Tokyo that I slept all the way on the connecting flight. In Hong Kong, a man put another chop in my passport :-)

Aunty Vivian has everything prepared for my arrival. She was on holiday last week, and has been busy this week buying all my essential supplies, and getting the flat ready for me. I have a proper cot here to cramp my style, as I can no longer spin around freely! Oh boo, I now have to go back to the water thang again.