For Eskimo Boy, Have Hives Will Travel

Dear Aidan,

It's month #23, a month short of your 2nd birthday, and the hives are not letting up. In the first week of January, we followed Papa and his company to Koh Samui, Thailand, for their annual trip. This time, we took Kakak with us as a Christmas gift to her from us.

This is how I eject you off the plane, Mama?

Feeding you on this trip was horrible. Not only did the itchiness make you too uncomfortable to focus on eating. Mama also didn't know what was causing your attacks and my theories kept changing now that I had begun to consider that you were perhaps responding to something familiar. Was it fish? Milk? Chicken? Beef? For a while, it seemed like fish was the culprit. But then you'd have chicken or beef and you'd still break out anyway. It's. Been. Frustrating.

Look, the plane just spat some wheels out

The trip itself was quite fun. We stayed in a suite overlooking the sea and right beside Uncle Jimmy and Aunty Jynet. Most nights there, Uncle Jimmy's room became the go-to room for the company activities. We had a Master-Chef challenge among ourselves there and whatever we served up became the night's potluck dinner. Mama and Papa copped out by making a salad, ha ha. We actually got the cab to take us to Tesco to buy the ingredients! We also had the gift exchange in that room and there was much laughter due to the silly gifts that were popping out of wrapping paper.

Should I eat this and watch Mama go nuts?

Ok, so I've got bee-stung lips. Doesn't Scar-Jo?

You really loved the spacious suite and had a crazy old time running around in circles and rolling your dough balls. On the second night, you tripped over the rough, jut carpet and bruised your lips pretty badly. We took you swimming and you delivered an impromptu performance of our birth country's national's song, the Negarakku. Aunty E.E did say that Cheh-Cheh Vanessa has been pleased with your progress in singing this song. It appears she has been your singing teacher.

Naw, I don't want sunblock on my nose, Papa!

Yeah I've got patriotism down pat!

Back home, you've been demonstrating an open-mind to sharing your belongings, even hot favourites like raisins. Must be the gazillions of times Mama repeated the phrase, "Please share okay, baby honey? It's nice to be generous!" Either that or you're in some kind of Love-All-Serve-All phase :)

Eat! Papa, you must eat raisins. Good for you!

Lately, you're not so particular about sitting on Mama's lap in a car journey anymore, and Papa is just as good a car-seat as I am. Mama noticed this coming home from a lunch with Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Brian and Aunty Angeline.

Didn't like the vegies but everything else was just dandy!

Meanwhile, you're becoming intrigued with water beyond the swimming-pool. Doing the 'teh-tarik' with water and some bowls and cans in the bathrooms has become a firm favourite. And watering the plants at Kung-Kung and Poh-Poh's house is now an emerging past-time. I'm sure one day, you'll graduate to washing their car, too.

I think Mr Baobab needs a drink!

Last week, we took you to Pantai Hospital and had your blood tested for allergies after Dr. lam suggested the test to allay our doubts and anxieties. He has warned us before that such tests are often inconclusive, expensive as they are. But he also understood our need to eliminate some factors. So he hooked us up with a specialist who conducted the test.

During the chat with the specialist, Mama had a sudden, cold realisation: somehow, many child specialists just don't have the patience to really listen to a parent's detailed observations or theories. Nope, there's always a pre-meditated, confident answer. It almost seems that all cases related to allergies can be treated with one standard solution. And if not, too bad. Not that the specialist was arrogant or bad in anyway. But they all seem to be cut out from the same cookie-cutter.

Mama managed to set up an appointment with Dr. Sanjay this Friday. Hopefully, he'll be able to alleviate your hives. I'm taking Uncle John's appearance out of the blue on facebook to recommend this pediatrician as a divine pointer from Jesus so who am I to reject a sign from God?

Bedtime book of the month:
"The rabbit needs to slow down, Mama!"

Hives Strike Back in Month #22

Dear Aidan,

This has been a worrying month for Mama and Papa. A few days into December, you broke out in hives again. It was January 2010 all over again, except this round began a month earlier. The upside to this bout has been: no sudden swelling up of your face and lips.

We took you to see Dr. Lam your pediatrician a few weeks ago. And he's convinced you're developing an allergy to something. As to what, he has stated again that it's hard to pin-point unless I've had a food diary all along. Mama has been so careful with your food that it's difficult for me to imagine that you're reacting to something I've not given you before. In fact, you've had licks of peanut butter and gobbled up strawberry yoghurt before with no incident. So, unless it's a reaction to something you've been eating fine all along, you've got Mama seriously stumped.

I do hate seeing how your entire torso, face, limbs and private areas erupt into waves of these itchy bumps a few times in a day. I know how uncomfortable they make you feel once the anti-histamines wear off. And speaking of medication, I'm not even sure in the first place that you should be on so much of these things, safe or not safe. They don't seem to work all that effectively. Not even Zyrtec this time round.

Some good news though. An old acquaintance of Mama's, a copywriter by the name of John Dorai who saw my distress-filled posts on facebook, recently recommended a Dr. Sanjay Woodhull to me. Mama has found out that he works at the Sime Darby Subang Medical Centre. We'll be setting up an appointment with him soon, okay? Mama promises to help you be hive-free as soon as possible!

Did this fall from the sky?

Feels like I'm wearing an animal on my head

Crooked...like the man standing behind it!

Yay! I got the star to sit still!

Oh and we've put up the Christmas tree. You're almost 2 now but nope. No sign of excitement over baubles and bells, streamers and sparkly stars. It ended up with Papa and Mama horsing around, delirious with the prospect of the season of peace, joy and salvation upon us. Of course, some of the euphoria died a little as time went by and you not only showed a general disinterest with the whole affair but a good measure of grumpiness due to your hives. Even the Santa's hat did not cheer you up. :(

Thanks for providing the world with raisins, Jesus

You're in a better mood when the anti-histamines have just been administered. You even decided to share your raisins with Jesus, giving Him a kiss first at the top of the cross by the altar.

Gotta maneuver around the cracking desert floor

Please carry me, Mama coz I've got birds to feed

Last weekend, we did two things. Firstly, we took a morning walk (or should we say 'hike'?) around the Taman Tun Dr. Ismail park a short drive away from home. It was a longer trek than we thought. But heading off in the wrong direction didn't help. And we were fortunate to bump into our nieghbours, Uncle Fairuz and family along the way who pointed us to the right direction. We ended up in the lovely park where you had fun climbing up steps and running down grassy slopes. You also enjoyed running your toy cars over the bumpy sidewalks.

I'm really eyeing that bottle of grape juice in Mama's hand

Secondly, went out for lunch with Grandpa and Grandma. They're feeling sorry for your hive attack but you must be growing up because you don't appreciate being carried anymore. You'd rather much prefer to walk. Another sign that you're growing up? Your feet are growing bigger and we've had to upgrade your shoes to the next size. Meanwhile, the big J (for Juice) is becoming a big favourite, too. You love the orange juice at Dome cafe and most restaurants. At home though, you don't like the pulp in the ones Mama squeezes fresh for you.

Ok, fellas, I'm gonna serve you in these pretty little Christmas plates

You're beginning to show an interest in using your fingers and hands to manipulate things, demonstrating a development in fine motor skills. Apart from your alphabet puzzle, Mama recently bought some cheap, child-friendly dough to see how you'd take to it. And now you're obsessed with getting Mama to show you how to roll out little balls which we agreed to refer to as 'dough balls'. You like some big, some small and some tiny.

Oh it's a little pebble begging me to keep it

At the same time, you're learning to hold colouring pens and pencils the correct way and would scribble quite a bit eve as you change the way you grasp them. Picking up pebbles and sticks are also becoming a new pastime whenever we're outdoors. And Mama's handbag is becoming sandy and dusty from all the knick-knacks you've been collecting.

Eh, Mr. Ink, you gotta come out when I tell you to

I don't know how long this bout of hives will last. I'm praying to Jesus for a miracle again. May he have mercy upon me and grant you a quick recovery, honey!

Bedtime book of the month: "I like Cranky the Crane best, Mama"

Fun, Chatty Month #21 for Eskimo Boy

Dear Aidan,

Papa can't have any because he's too small

These days, it seems you can't stop chatting. A restricted vocabulary does not seem to stop you. Meal times now take 45 minutes because you chat so much. In fact, we're onto you. We know you chat to try and get out of eating. Speaking of food, new and fast favourites this month are banana cake, char siew pau, siew pau and satay. I say 'favourite' because before as soon as these foods first touched your lips, you nodded and said, 'Aidan like'. Kung-Kung and Poh-Poh love bringing banana cakes and siew paus for you on their weekly visits.

Yes, I'm sure I can handle this, Grandma

Any girls watching this? Any?

Besides balls, you love visiting playgrounds these days. On visiting days, Kung-Kung, Poh-Poh and Mama would bring you on your Pooh Bear tricycle to the playground between Aunty E.E's house and our condo. And when we visit Grandma and Grandpa, the football field and playground nearby is always an evening stopover.

I'm ready for some serious tackling, dribbling and scoring

You're really not on form, Papa!

You're deep into the Scientist stage now. Every boundary is worth testing. And it feels like Mama has plenty of reasons to say 'No' although I try to phrase it in a different way sometimes. Like "When you're bigger!" or "Not that!" or the most popular one of all - "Maybe later!" The Time-Out Corner? You've begun to chat while you're there, claiming "I'm ready!" even before the time is up. Some days, when you're sent there for longer, you even sing. It's gibberish mainly but I've heard shades of the A, B, C song that Cheh-Cheh Vanessa (the 5-ear-old whom Aunty E.E also looks after) has taught you.

Look, I'm about to stroke Papa's head the only way I know how...with a big thwack!

You're beginning to appreciate Papa a lot more these days. You're less jealous of him and less particular about who does, well, everything for you. Some days, Papa gets voluntary sayang's, too.

Ah, having your own wheels is just divine stuff

Dusty-ah...

Meanwhile, playtime favourites in terms of toys are still your ride-on car with the knobs and buttons, ball, mega-blocks, A,B, C puzzles and of course, reliable old Dusty.

Ready for a good workout, Papa?

Nice and clean, now

As you can see, the gear is suer important

And here we go...

Mr. Forggy, take me to Australia

The rainy season has started but on some sunny weekends, we do take you to the pool in Block A. You're not super comfortable with the water just yet as you don't like water in your eyes that much (you should ask us what you're like when it's hair-wash day!) But you are getting used to it as we've made dashing under the showers by the pool a fun game. 

It's a ball spa, Mama!

Cake please!

Happy birthday, Seth!

Should I aim this at Papa's coffee cup?

This month, we also took you to Seth's birthday party. Seth is Papa's friend's 2 year old. You're clueless about the art of socialising at the moment. But Mama did catch you staring at the different kids at the party. You're also clueless about sharing but so far, you seem to understand the concept of 'no snatching'. You spent most of the time messing around with the 'pool' of colourful plastic balls on the floor as well as the football Seth's daddy left lying about. There was a bouncy castle that looked like loads of fun but no, it was balls, balls, and more balls for you. 

We didn't stay very long as you had a nap to rush home to. But the goody bag you got from the party contained a little rhyme and song book entitled "Farmer in the Dell." A book that became your favourite bedtime entertainment for a good few months after that. Thanks Seth and Uncle Sacha!

Just taking Jesus and Mary for a walk, Mama

Mr. Giraffe, don't be silly. Dusty won't eat you

Mama recently started saying longer bedtime prayers on behalf of you. You've learnt to fill in the blanks when Mama asks Jesus to protect my friend's kids - it's quite surprising how you can remember all those 20 names! I guess now's a good time as any to help you strengthen your memory. As it is, you're pretty good reciting A-Z and 1-20 at the moment. Just remember though, Honey. It's gotta be because it's fun for you. After all, you're just a baby!


Book of the month has been The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers. It's about a bear who cuts down trees to make paper so he can practise flying paper airplanes for a very important contest. The forest animals conduct some C.S.I to trace down the tree-cutter and eventually the bear is tried in court but forgiven his trespass as he had only so badly wanted to win the paper airplane contest just like his grandpa and papa before him.

He's a naughty bear, Mama

Mama's Going Potty but Eskimo Boy Sure Ain't

Dear Aidan,

I don't understand what the fuss about potty is, really. If I were a kid, I'd use it as a stool or a hat. After all, why switch from a diaper that's like a toilet stuck to your bum 24/7? Convenience is key when you've got the whole world to discover and not enough time in a day. Yes, that just about sums up the potty experience for you. While you're great keeping Mama up-to-date with your bowel movements and bladder stirrings, you're just not into having your pants pulled down and a potty slid between your legs. No, the potty is a thinker's chair. For existentialist toddlers who like to ponder about world affairs as life passes along on a rainy day. Like you, for instance.

Wait for it...wait for it....

...Ta-daaaa...

These days, it's taking you ages to finish a small bottle of milk again. Some babies can't do without their milk. But you? You'd rather Mama not make you a bottle, large or small. That's why Mama has resorted to strapping you to your high-chair until you finish what you're supposed to finish.

Diced fresh apples and pears are a different matter altogether, however. You can't stop popping them into your mouth!

Banzai....apples are the best!

Your vocabulary's growing and your sentences are getting longer. "Oh no! Marge fall down." is your longest sentence to date. The rest are usually couched in an order, i.e "Mama...sit here." or "Mama...hold Chew-Chew." Note to self: Must start teaching you manners when you get the hang of speaking. Meanwhile, Papa and Mama will be on Discipline watch. At least for the next 20 or so years.

You continue to love the great outdoors. And our mid-morning and evening walks are always something you look forward too. Even on rainy days, we'll spend time in the vast, inter-connected basement car-parks of blocks C, D and E where Mama will push you in your Poo Bear tricycle (the kind with a steering stick at the rear for parents) over the humps, grooves and cracks as well as up and down the ramps. Sometimes we'd stop to inspect a parked motorbike, too.

Ok, Kung-Kung, we need a route that has the most humps!

On sunny days, you spend quite a bit of time near the humps outside the guard-house too. So much so that the guards now know you by sight and name. The gardeners know you too, because of the times we spent picking pebbles and palm fruits off the grass in the lawns. Once, you were so intrigued by the lawn-mowing machines they were wielding that you made Mama stay until they were done. And THEN, you had to help them collect the mown grass into rubbish bags, too.

You also love airplanes and whenever you saw one up in the sky, you'd always look up, point and say, 'plane!' Sometimes Mama had to carry you out onto our balcony just so you could see a passing one. Other times, the neighbour's yellow Ferrari would roar to a start and you'd shout, 'plane!' and make Mama take you out to look at the sky. Then you'd say "Why no plane?" even as Mama tried explaining that the 'plane' was actually a sports car.

Thanks Poh-Poh, I'll take it from here, now, thanks!

In terms of play, we notice that you're beginning to love those round little things called...balls! So Mama got you a light, bouncy Pooh Bear ball which you quite like kicking and throwing around. You're also learning to appreciate toy cars - specifically taking them along the floor and over bumpy grooves between tiles or over soft, furry carpets. You're also beginning to climb. One minute, you're on the ground, and the next? Voila! You're up on the armchair. Time for extended Suicide Watch? You bet.

Oh no! An accident!

You're still drooling a lot though. Which explains why you have an extensive collection of bibs that I thought would've been outgrown once you hit a year old. They're no match for your collection of Chew-Chews though...those cloth napkins that have become your oral fixation, your aid to sleep. Now THAT's a collection.

It's just some liquid DNA, Mama!

And because you seem to enjoy counting, the book of the month has been Christopher Counting. You always love the first few page when Christopher the rabbit is in class counting oranges with Miss Goat, the class teacher. You're not one to sit down for longer than 15 minutes but Mama really loves the act that you like to pick up a book even in between your reading times. Books are lovely aren't they? And not just for tearing, too!

I'd like to live in...The Arctic!

Counting down to lights off never happens, though!