Happy birthday Darling

Happy birthday darling! :) You are officially a toddler and not a baby anymore. But always a baby in Mummy's eyes ya? Mummy and Daddy loves you so much! Sorry, we couldn't really celebrate your official big day with you. Mummy didn't buy another cake for you since you can't cut cake twice and had already cut cake on Sunday, Chinese pantang lor.

Daddy got a late meeting and came back only at 630pm. Daddy suggested going to ikea with you yesterday but by the time Daddy came back, we finish dinner and you have showered, it was already close to 8pm, near your bedtime.

But at least Mummy took leave these 3 days to spend time with you. Took care of you yesterday morning so that ye ye and nai nai can go CNY marketing. Nai nai has been hinting that she got no time to buy the meat and fish, spring clean the house etc so in hindsight, it's good that I took leave before CNY. Hee. Tiring work to look after you though. You didn't finish your cereal and weren't very cooperative when showering so Mummy accidentally caused you to take in some water when washing your hair. You cried but cheered up quickly when Mummy passed you your favourite 'ru yi' oil bottle to play.

You seem happy to see more of Mummy though. When you woke up from your morning nap, you were all ready to cry but when Mummy (who was waiting on the bed for you to wake up) greeted you good morning, you smiled at me instead. You even gave Mummy two wet kisses on the mouth yesterday and even cried when I left you at Ye ye and nai nai place at 12+pm to go grab my lunch. First time you did this too. :)

Today, mummy met a photographer friend for lunch and got him to help you take some photos today. Mummy dressed you up in the red CNY bubble dress I bought and you look so cute once you warmed up a little to the camera. Too bad I don't have a compact flash card reader or else can upload the photos immediately. :P

P.S. Mummy bought a Winnie the Pooh DVD for you as birthday present but I don't think you know how to watch it yet. Mummy keep for you first okie? :)

Milestones at 1 year old (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/ActEarly/milestones_1year.html)

Social and Emotional

Shy or anxious with strangers - Yes
Cries when mother or father leaves - Increasingly yes
Enjoys imitating people in his play - No
Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys - Yes
Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings - Er, not sure. Does grabbing bowl and spoon count?
Tests parental responses to his behavior - Not yet
May be fearful in some situations - yes
Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others - yes
Repeats sounds or gestures for attention - yes
Finger-feeds himself - yes for biscuits
Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed - sometimes


Cognitive
Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) - yes especially flipping to explore the back
Finds hidden objects easily - yes
Looks at correct picture when the image is named - yes
Imitates gestures - yes, bye bye, exercise, french kiss, gong xi gong xi
Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, dialing phone, listening to receiver) - yes

Language
Pays increasing attention to speech - yes
Responds to simple verbal requests - yes eg. tries to give but will not release fingers on object
Responds to “no” - yes, by whining or crying
Uses simple gestures, such as shaking head for “no” - not yet, you shake head for fun.
Babbles with inflection (changes in tone) - yes, how I wish I know what you are talking about. ;)
Says “dada” and “mama” - ba ba, ah ba, ah meh, M and recently ma ma.
Uses exclamations, such as “Oh-oh!” - Not yet
Tries to imitate words - sometimes

Movement
Reaches sitting position without assistance - yes
Crawls forward on belly - yes
Assumes hands-and-knees position - yes, often and head too as if you are going to do a somersault. ;)
Creeps on hands and knees - what's that?
Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position - yes
Pulls self up to stand - not yet, can only do it with support
Walks holding on to furniture - yes
Stands momentarily without support - yes, especially on bed or bumper mat.
May walk two or three steps without support - Not yet

Hand and Finger Skills
Uses pincer grasp - yes
Bangs two objects together - yes
Puts objects into container - yes, especially sweets into crevices
Takes objects out of container - yes
Lets objects go voluntarily - not yet, still very possessive of the things in your hand
Pokes with index finger - yes
Tries to imitate scribbling - not quite yet