Wo Ai Mama

I speak my first sentence today - Wo Ai Mama (meaning I love Mama in Mandarin). Well, actually Daddy is trying to teach me Wo Ai Papa initially. He managed to coax the word "Wo" from me after a long try. But I wouldn't say "Ai". Instead, I straightaway jumped from "Wo" to "Papa". Then Mommy saw that I was very interested on the dragon fruit that she's having. So, she said, "say Wo", then Mommy will give you this". I repeated after her, followed by "Ai" and then "Mama". Then she gave me the dragon fruit.

A triumphant look was on her face when I finished that sentence. Daddy looked amazed and tried to make me say "Wo Ai Papa" instead. After several attempts and with Mommy's help, I finally did.

Bye Bye ...

Saying bye bye to mommy has not been easy for me, especially if she's going to work. Every morning, amah will try to distract me when Daddy & Mommy are going to work. Most of the times, she'll use the "Ceria" channel on Astro to distract my attention. So, Mommy and Daddy can't say bye bye to me, they will have to slip out unseen. Sometimes, with Daddy I'm still ok, but not with Mommy.

After we moved to our new house, I have my own room. I normally slept with Amah. So when I woke up in the morning, I would go and knock on Mommy's room. If they have gone to work, Amah would open the door and let me go in there. When I saw that Mommy and Daddy were not around, I would be contented and go into my own room to play. There's one time when i woke up quite early, so I went to knock on Mommy's door. Amah didn't open the door since Mommy & Daddy were still sleeping. So I sat in front of their room and cried. I tried to say sorry (Daddy taught me to say sorry by hand gesture, something like 'tabik'. But then I prefer to put my hand on my head instead). Maybe I have been naughty, that's why Mommy wouldn't want to open the door. After calling "Mama" for a few times, Mommy suddenly came out and hugged me. She was still sleeping. Then I stopped crying. But of course, later when they were going to work, I had to face another round of 'saying' bye bye and would end up crying. In the end, they would come back in and played with me for awhile, and slipped out quietly when they thought I was not looking.

Now, Amah decided to move back to her house. So Mommy and Daddy need to transport me there in the mornings and back at night. Sometimes I would stay there overnight. So, saying bye bye to mommy is getting more difficult. Normally Mommy would carry me up to Amah while Daddy waited in the car. I have no problem waving bye bye to Daddy, even flying him a friend kiss. But when Mommy carried me up to Amah's apartment, I would start crying when we reached the grill door and I would direct mommy to move away from that. The part I feared most was when Mommy passed me over to Amah. I've been crying in a row for the whole week. There were times when I would still be sleeping when Mommy wanted to carry me to the car. I would pretend to sleep and struggled to be put down back on the bed, making it harder for mommy to carry me. (In Amah's place, even though I was still sleeping when Mommy came to fetch me back, I would not put up such a struggle, so that's why Mommy thought I was pretending).

Then one day Mommy decided to play 'acting' with me. She would pretend to go to work, and asked me to say 'bye bye' to her. I found this funny, and I enjoyed this, so I played along. I would ask mommy to go out the front door and I said 'bye bye' sweetly to her. This continued for sometime, Mommy even took her laptop bag out with her and we would both say 'bye bye'. We repeated this for several times, in fact for a few days. But the next time when Mommy told me that she's going to work, and need to drop me at Amah's place, she asked me to say bye bye to her and not to cry. I somehow couldn't face it and started crying again.

Until one fine day, the day I decided to go into the car seat. After we reached amah's place last Friday, Mommy carried me out from the car seat and we went to Amah's place. When Amah came out, I called sweetly to Amah and straight away went in to play. To mommy's amazement, I did not cry at all. I kept hearing her say "Mommy is so proud of you, Szeyi. Bye bye". I replied back "Bye bye...". I can see Mommy felt so relieved and full of pride when she walked out from Amah's house. Hmm... maybe I'm growing up finally. Well, that fateful Friday means a lot to Mommy, she felt that I've got two great achievement for the day - got over the car seat trauma & able to say bye bye to Mommy .

Car seat.... finally!

Right after my previous post of "To buy or not to buy?" came out, many of mommy's breastfeeding buddies im and emailed her about this subject. They are concerned about my safety (thanks aunties, muak muak!) and adviced mommy to get me a car seat. I won't go into details on how they 'scare' mommy, but what I know next was that the day before Mother's day (May 12th), both daddy & mommy took me to Kids Gallery and bought me this car seat. I was sleeping on mommy's shoulder that time, but after I woke up, Daddy showed me the car seat and told me that he's bought me this beautiful car seat.

Later, when the shop uncle fastened the seat onto Daddy's car, I did not hesitate and went right into it willingly with some encouragement from Daddy & Mommy. But then, they found out that my strap was a bit loose, and when that uncle went into the car with me sitting on the car seat already, trying to adjust it, I just felt frightened and cried. Mommy tried to soothe me, and soon after that, I was enjoying my ride home....

Well, the story didn't end just there. The very next day, which was Mother's Day, we all headed for church together. Mommy tried to get me into the car seat, despite my struggle. I kept shaking my head and cried, but Mommy insisted. I could sense that Daddy gave up already, but Mommy still wanted to have me in there. Finally, she succeeded, and I was strapped! I cried for sometime, while Mommy tried to console me (she sits besides me). After sometime, I just stopped crying and sat there, looking very gloomy. I heard Daddy told Mommy, "she's angry with you for forcing her". Mommy felt very bad, and asked me if it's really the case. I smiled to Mommy and called "Mama", so Mommy was relieved and told Daddy that I was not angry with her. Then I dozed off (I woke up quite early today).....I was awaken when Mommy tried to carry me after we reached church. Goody, so finally I get to come out from that car seat.

After church, Mommy tried to put me in again. Hehe, but this time I was smarter. I struggled until I slipped down to the floor of the car, so mommy couldn't strap me. In the end, they both gave up and so I get to sit on Mommy's lap! Hooray!

For the next few days, I was again the winner. Everytime Mommy asked me if I wanted to sit in the car seat, I would shake my head. When she tried to put me in there, I'd cry and struggle until I could slip down from the seat. So, I always end up sitting on Mommy's lap. Once I tried to be naughty and wanted to stand in between the driver & the passenger seats, so Mommy put me on the car seat. I learnt my lesson since then, (of course she couldn't get me in there) but I wouldn't try to be naughty again.

So, do you think Mommy has succeeded?

Anecdotes from Mommy:

1 week had gone by and Sze Yi still didn't want to sit in the car seat. We tried to give her toys, or distracted her attention, but to no avail. Our main problem was trying to get her in and strapping her. We felt this would be a waste afterall, I was especially guilty because we kind of expected this would happen but I still insisted to get one. My reasons besides the safety issue was so that I could transport Szeyi around when hubby's not free, so we wouldn't need to depend too much on hubby.


So on Friday I told hubby; "Maybe if it's just me & Szeyi, she'll understand and want to sit in the car seat." So hubby agreed to let me try. I carried Szeyi down to the car, and started to put her in. She protested, and cried when she anticipated what I was going to do.


Me: Szeyi, today mommy needs to drive, so you have to sit in the car seat
Szeyi: Shake her head and cry, directing me to move away from the car
Me: Then who's going to carry you? Mommy needs to drive.
Szeyi: Pointing to the driver seat and said Dad Dad (she called her daddy "Dad Dad")


After walking around and trying for several times, I knew I can't get her in, so I had to go back home and asked hubby to fetch us all. While waiting for Daddy to get ready, Szeyi asked for nen nen so I told her:


Me: Szeyi, Mommy will make nen nen for you. After you drink, mommy take you to Amah's house and you sit in the car seat, ok?
Szeyi: Think for a while, then nodded.


So, after she had her milk and all of us were ready, we went down to the car again. This time when I tried to put her in there, she didn't stuggle or protest. To my amazement, she let me strapped the car seat belt on her! I was too shocked but quickly go to the front seat (not the back this time, since she didn't cry). Coz I remembered my breastfeeding buddies adviced me to sit in front, don't sit at the back with the child or she'll start demanding things. Hubby was surprised too, and started passing the soft toys to her. She was playing with that, but put on a gloomy look on her face.
p/s: the forlorn looks on her makes me feel so guilty...

I was anxious if she'll cry halfway, so I kept turning back to talk to her, praised her and played with her. She still has the gloomy look on her face, but after some time she rocked her head in tune to the music that I put on specially for her. Finally, we reached MIL's place and she still didn't cry! I was really relieved and happy about this progress. At least she's beginning to understand things now.

Well, I'm not sure if this first time can be considered a success or just a one-time success only, but after a few drives, I can safely declare that our battle with the car seat issue is finally over. On Friday night, when we went to fetch her after work, she willingly goes into the car seat without any struggle and I can still sit in the front passenger seat. Then today (Saturday), I decided to be adventurous and took her out for a drive all by myself. And she's really co-operating well. I'm so proud of her, and felt really relieved for the first time that I did get this car seat for her. Thanks Siew Hooi & Wooi Sin, for your advice has really helped to 'convince' my hubby ;)

Mommy's Day

Today is my 17th month birthday. It's also Mother's Day, according to Mommy. She asked me if I loved her. I nodded my head and say "u, u" (in Hokkien, meaning yes). Then Mommy asked me to give her a kiss and I willingly moved my head to hers as a sign of affection. I could see how pleased Mommy was :)

Daddy took us to church in the morning. I remembered the first time I went to church was during Mommy's first Mother's Day last year. Daddy really made a great effort for Mommy - it was Mommy's wish to go to church with us all as a family on these special days. I behaved quite well in church, according to Mommy, except towards the end when I insisted that Mommy took me out for a walk. Daddy offered to carry me, but I only let him do so the first time. When we later came back in, I insisted that it's Mommy's turn. Well, luckily it was towards the end of the Mass, and Mommy even managed to get a blessings from the priest, carrying me with her before walking out from the church.

(p/s: Daddy taught me to clap my hands in tune with the song..., and entertained me so that Mommy could concentrate in Mass)

After Mass ended, we went to Maple Gold for lunch. I finished up the porridge that Mommy cooked for me in the morning, and even ate quite some mouthfuls of the food that Daddy & Mommy ordered. Yummy yummy, I really have a big appetite today.

Later, we went home and both Mommy and I have a nap. When I woke up, I went out from my room on my own and found Daddy in the hall. I played with him for awhile, before going into Mommy's room. She's still sleeping. I woke her up, asking for nen nen.

Later in the afternoon, Daddy went out for a game of badminton, so Mommy took me out to the playground in our garden area. I certainly had a great time! Yesterday Mommy took me for a swim, so today we went to the playground instead.



















And it's the first time Mommy didn't really hold me when I slide down the slides. Wow, it was so fun! She let me slide down on my own, but of course her hand is always ready behind me in case I fell off.

Overall, I have a great time with both Mommy and Daddy today. In fact I enjoyed my weekends very much, coz that's the time when I get to spend full day with them.

Water Bottle

Mommy bought me a new water bottle today, after my last 2 were broken. Previously, I've got two water bottles, one as a gift from Mommy & Daddy's friend when I was just born, and the 2nd one from Amah. Unfortunately, I broke them both, coz I loved to throw them unto the floor. So, today Mommy redeemed this for me (she got some extra points from the car seat that she bought me). I love sipping water from it. Well, hopefully this will last...

Shapes & Colors do matter

Daddy & Mommy have got this shapes & colors sorter toy for me long before I was born. I used to throw them around when I was smaller, since I didn't know what they really were. Now, finally I know how to play with this toy. But unfortunately, I've lost 3 of them.

Anyway, there are 9 more for me to play with. I've mastered them all and could insert all of them into the sorter. After repeated this for a few times, I finally get bored and would try other alternatives to insert them into the sorter. But towards the end, shapes & colors do matter.... there's no other way to put them in except at the right hole!

Daddy knew it when I purposely placed one of them at the wrong hole and looked up at Daddy to see his reactions. Then he would say, "Yes, that's the right one", to test me. I would then shake my head and put at the right hole instead.

Here's a clip of how I managed to put two of them into the correct hole.

Helping Out

I enjoyed sweeping the floor. I first learnt how to use the broom when I saw Amah doing it a few months back. Since then, I was really intrigued by this thing and would go find them. However, I don't understand why Mommy always tried to distract me when she saw me coming for it. Well, maybe she's afraid the more I help, the more mess I'll create :P





after a tiring job...

My first Lego set

Daddy bought me my first Lego set yesterday from Jusco. Today, I was experimenting with it and trying to build some blocks. This is the robot that Daddy made for me, don't you think that it's cool? :)

Swim on my own?

Would you believe it if I told you that I could swim on my own? Well, the pictures tell everything....

Hehe... except the last one! I'm actually standing in the pool :) I love walking in the pool, and the feeling of my feet touching the base gave me a sense of security. Too bad I still can't accept the adult pool yet, I get panicky whenever Daddy or Mommy took me there for swimming. Hopefully when our swimming playgroup starts (Mommy told me her friends are organizing one soon), I would somehow master my fear when seeing the rest of my little friends enjoying the water.

My new costume

Poh Poh just bought me a very nice costume from Guilin. Don't you think so?

And since it's bare-back, Mommy let me wear a shirt over it when we go out so that I won't catch cold. We took Poh Poh & Gong Gong to try the famous durian ice cream in town before heading for Gurney drive.

A trip to the Butterfly Farm

Today Daddy & Mommy took me, Gong Gong & Poh Poh to the butterfly farm in Batu Feringhi. I was asleep when we reached there. So they waited for me to wake up before going in. Since I'm still groggy from sleep, I'm not in a very good mood. I saw butterflies flying everywhere, and sometimes they just poped out from nowhere and got too close to me. Usually, I would be very excited when I see butterflies in the botanical garden or just around the garden/pool area in our apartment, but not today. I kept on clinging to Mommy and pointed my finger to get out of there. But still we do spend quite sometime in there, and at times, the butterflies do get my attention.

There's also a video room where we got to watch videos on the insects & butterflies, but what I enjoyed most was the air-condition since it was really hot out there. I was also attracted by the framed butterflies as these won't fly around me, so I could really enjoy looking at them.

Here's a more close up view of the butterflies...

and the other insects/animals that we saw....

We then went to the display room where there are some ancient stuffs being displayed:

I was very hungry by then, so Mommy took me out and fed me porridge outside the butterfly park (she packed my porridge here). After that I was energetic again and could pose for more photos (we missed this earlier as I was sleeping).

Overall, it's been a very tiring trip but I do enjoyed it very much, although I got cranky in the beginning. Daddy bought 2 butterfly magnets home.