Sensible wyx2

Said she whilst posing, "Take a picture of me."

Our lil' girl is growing up day by day, her knowledge, awareness and linguistic skills increasing every minute. At times, she corrects our English pronunciation ("It's not 'Sin-GA-pore', should be 'Singa-pore'); other times she teases us ("Huh, why can't you find the item? Don't you have eyes?"); most times she pesters us to play with her ("Why is it I am playing by myself?").

Cheeky lil imp

Yx is such excellent company - she laughs easily at jokes, jumps for joy when we suggest a bus/train ride, enjoys yoghurt and peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and loves singing aloud to songs she's familiar with. And she's also sensible.

One night, we were carrying out our nightly routine of reading before turning in. Yx was lying on the bed on her stomach when suddenly, she kicked one of the pillows hard. It fell off the bed and in the process tipped over a cup of water on the bedside table.

Not wanting to bestow blame onto her knowing that she didn't mean for the accident to happen, I reacted mildly, "Ahh, see what's happened?" Yx crept over to the edge of the bed and leaned out for a better view. I went to grab a cloth. Whilst I mopped up the water from the bedroom floor, I explained to Yx in a gentle, non-condescending tone, what consequence her action has caused.

Peering down at the spilled water, Yx said, "Papa?"

Me: "Yes?"

Yx: "Sorry."


.
.
.

I felt super surprised by and happy with her apology. Surprised because she actually bore the consciousness and awareness of the event; and happy because she was really sincere and apologetic about it. And I was surprised and happy because I succeeded in helping her realise the incident's cause-and-effect without having to scream or yell at her; neither did I use an authoritative, didactic tone which would have led to her feeling bad about herself. Instead, an explanation in a patient and gentle tone, without unnecessary injection of sigh ("haiyoh!") or alarm ("wah lau!"), worked excellently.

Me, returning an assuring smile: "It's alright, we'll learn from this."

And Yx acknowledged, "Okay."

-------------------------------------------

Finally! Pretzzzzzzzel!

Cruising with Fam

Did a look back and realised the last time the whole family went for a holiday was 8 years ago! All because one of us is a slave of MOE. Jun and Dec are really terrible times to travel overseas due to peak prices and/or extremely hot/cold weather, especially with a young one in tow.

Thanks to Sponsor Daddy, all of us ventured onboard Royal Carribean's Voyager of the Seas on a 4D3N cruise to Port Klang!

Happy times:

I really, really honestly highly recommend Royal Carribean for a quality, relaxing family bonding holiday. Since everything (well, almost) has been paid for and everything you need is on board, going for a cruise is itinerary-less and stress free. On top of that, RC staff are passionate and customer centric, one feels very much like a premium guest at all times! RC is also very big on cleanliness - there's no rubbish nor stains along common areas, and it is almost mandatory to sanitize your hands before you enter the restaurant. I was most impressed by their eye for details for customer touch points, when I noticed one of them POLISHING THE EXTERIOR OF A METAL RUBBISH BIN!

Okay, I can go on and on about how fabulous RC is, go on one and experience it for yourself ;)

Anyways, as I was saying, it's been so long since the whole family spend some time together. Thanks to this holiday for allowing me to do these, which are hard to come by nowadays:

- Watching my mom dancing along to rock 'n' roll music. You should have seen her face light up when the band played "Woolly Bully", a song unheard of in my life.

- Playing table tennis with my dad. Dad was the one who introduced the sport to us. Brought back memories of our vacations at Park Towers in HK.

- Playing 1 on 1 basketball with my bro, just like our younger days! The disparity in height (and size) between then and now is stark!

- Chilling in the room with my fam and snacking while watching dumb shows on TV

- Rhetorically debating whether it is better to have stinky breath or stinky armpits =P

- Queuing and taking photos with mascots

- Late night partying with wifey till 11.30pm (mom and sis helped babysit yx)!

Thank you Royal Carribean!
We'll be back! :)

Funny incidents with wyx2

1) 

At gong gong house - I was feeding yx her dinner and her mouth was full when gong gong sat down beside her and asked, "Never greet gong gong?"

Based on what she had been doing for the past x months, her anticipated response was that she will shy away and remain silent. 

But not this time. Almost instantly, Yx replied, gesturing at her mouth, "吃饭不要讲话."

All of us burst out laughing!!!

2)

Yx has really impressive memory, other than being able to match clothes to wearer, she is able to recall where she last saw her toys and books!

Scene - at nai nai house. My mom was searching high and low for the foldable strawberry recyclable bag, to no avail. 

I asked Yx, have you seen the strawberry bag? 

She nodded and pointed at the bag on top of the ikea toy kitchen. NO KIDDING IT WAS INDEED THERE!

Came to airport for lunch one day. Gaining back her fats hehe

3)

Likes reading out aloud like a teacher reading out to students in a class.

Yx recited the mandarin words in gibberish except for the following:

- "一" - correctly as "one";

- The full stops as "dot";

- Open and close inverted commas as "眼泪"  ROFLOLOLOL.

Funny things Yx says

On usual weekday mornings, when I'm done with brushing up and changing, yx will still be in slumber and wake up groggily only when I carry her over to my parents' place. This morning, as I stepped out of the bathroom, I noticed that yx had already woken up, and was resting herself comfortably on the bolster.

Upon seeing me, she pointed excitedly at a spot on the bed and exclaimed, "你看, 你看 (look at this!"

Yx sounded victorious. I glanced over and discovered a wet spot on the bed... Gua gua gua... Okay so her diaper had just leaked, and she felt it was an amazing sight....  -_____-

-----------------------------

2 days ago Yx was playing by herself in the living room when suddenly she called out to nai nai, "wo de jiao zhan bu dao ti shang liao (my feet can't stand on the ground anymore)!" And then she started tearing!

Concerned, my mom went over and checked on her, and realised that Yx, after sitting cross-legged for some time, had developed pins and needles in her legs HAHA!

----------------------------

Don't belittle the 2 hours that Yx spends at daily playgroup, she learns and absorbs many things during that short period of time. Sometimes, Yx surprises us with new nouns and songs we've never taught her before.

For example:

- Yx is able to make a rectangle using her fingers, and describe it as "2 sides long, 2 sides short"

- We've been teaching her this (in)famous Chinese rhyme, which Yx is familiar with and is able to repeat the entire thing by herself:

"大头大头, 下雨不愁, 我有雨伞, 你有大头"

So one day, my sis was repeating it with Yx and it went like this:

Sis: "大头大头, 下雨...?"

Yx: "不愁"

Sis: "我有雨伞, 你有...?"
.
.
.
.

Yx: "Raincoat." 

We've never taught her this word before, figured she picked it up from school! HAHA!

wyx2 at 31 months

Haven't been noting down Yx's milestones for quite some time. 

Boasting a wide repertoire of nouns and vocabulary (mostly learnt from what we say at home), Yx is very conversant and is able to understand most things you ask/tell her. She's also very observant and has a very good memory, she can remember what she heard us say and repeat the majority of it. So Yx is like a very chatty friend, just very tiny, haha.

Nightly activity - reading out to her

- She can remember who the clothes/ shoes/ bag / cups belong to! For example there is a stack of laundry. Pick up every piece and she is able to tell you who they belong to. When it is her laundry, she will ask who bought it, and she remembers it by heart after that. That's amazing la!

- Does not like to see her dabian. Will close her eyes and if she sees her dabian, she will retch. Seriously!

- Has a very acute sense of smell. Slightest hint of dabian smell and she will be covering her nose.

- Does not like to be interrupted when she's in the midst of an activity, but will be ready for you once she is done. For example, if we ask her to go shower or drink milk when she's doing sth (e.g. flipping through books or doing colouring), prying her away physically will incur her violent protests and cries. However, if you ask nicely, she will reply, "Later, 等一下."

When she is done, she will run to you and announce, "我来了 (I'm coming)!"

- Can feed herself but very much prefers being fed. -____- Okay, on the positive side it is less messy...

- Likes Barney still but not as much. Has been exposed to and enjoys cartoon songs from Dragon Tales, Thomas the Train, Let it Go and a few from Lion King and Moana. 

 - Poses for photos:

- Verbalises who she wants for company. She requested I walk her to school today:

And so we were outside my parents' door waiting for the lift:

Yx to nai nai: "你煮我的粥."

Nai nai replied: "今天有salmon! (which is her favourite meat nowadays)"

Yx replied: "Ok! 今天没有 ABC soup." --> (she knows what there is, and what there isn't)

Yx's terrible twos?

Ever since Yx turned 2 I've been quietly and secretly thanking that she has been pretty cooperative and reasonable and hasn't displayed signs of the so-called 'Terrible Twos'.

So much for not wanting to jinx it.

Lately, Yx has been super duper clingy to mama (has always preferred mama), so much so that she will bawl and cry, "wo yao ma ma" x100 times and any attempts to distract her with YouTube or videos on the mobile phone are futile. That, on top of Yx's newly-developed ability to shed tears in 5 seconds leaves us exasperated and helpless. Yx doesn't do this in the day when mama is at work, though; she does this especially when we're all at home and mama has just excused herself to go to the toilet, or washing dishes in the kitchen. However, this display is worst at night after Yx has fallen asleep - when she hasn't fallen into deep slumber she would wake up and not return to sleep (bawling in the process) unless mama is beside. Finally, she claims her 'prize' by placing one arm and/or leg on mama, I believe for security reasons too.

Sigh.

Hope it's just a phase.

------------------------------------

Sharing some photos we took at the Sesame Street event at Changi Airport T3:

Funny things Yx say

23 Feb 18

Had the afternoon off and brought Yx for a bus ride and to the OTH library! While at the library she peered out of the glass window and onto the road below.

Yx: "I see a bus on the ...."

(Thoughtful look)

She asked me: "'马路'英文是什么?"

Me: "Road."

Yx continues: "I see a bus on the road."

Towards bilingualism, my girl!

26 Feb 18

Yx super loves food now, especially cookies. Since it's the CNY season our house is stacked with CNY cookies, and we let her try nibbles of them. Yx absolutely loves them, always clambering up and asking for a bite when she sees us eating.

So yesterday I was snacking on pineapple tarts and she ran towards me and asked to have some. When she's in this mood she's easily bribed so I usually take the opportunity to reiterate what she has learnt e.g. chinese poem, zodiac animals, modes of transportation, etc. Armed with a pineapple tart within her sight, I asked her:

"Do you want this? Say 'A to Z' first."

Yx, totally meaning it: "A to Z."

My parents and I LMAO! 

About 2 months ago

(At my in laws' place)

Me to Yx: "We are leaving now, say bye bye to Popo."

Yx says softly and not looking in the direction of Popo: "Bye bye~"

Me to Yx: "讲大大声! (Say loudly!)"

Yx obeys, looking at Popo this time: "大大声! (Loudly!)"

Other things she learnt from school

- As tall as giraffe, as short as dwarf

- The word 'pattern'

- Songs like "Jump jump in this way", "I need to wash my hands", "Hokey Pokey" etc.

- Mimicking her teacher; "Sit down, I will catch you!", "Children, read this book."

My dear wyx, 2 years 5 months, still impressing and making us laugh everyday :)

2 weeks into school

Some progress updates on how Yx has been coping with school.

For the first week, parents and 1 caregiver were allowed to accompany the kids during class. After that, the kids were left on their own.

On the first "independent" day 8th Jan, we had expected Yx to wail a thunderstorm, so we asked nai nai to bring her to school (knowing that yx is less clingy to nai nai than to us). To our most unexpected surprise, she didn't drop a tear!!! She was in fact excited to start class and happily relating what she learnt in class at the end of the day! This was true on the second and third days, too. Yay this girl really enjoys school! My mom also feedback that only 1 or 2 other kids were sobbing, most have adapted quite well.

Alas, since Friday 12/1, Yx suddenly developed separation anxiety and would start crying while walking to the centre. She would cry, "yao4 hui2 jia1 (Want to go home)!" but Teacher said Yx would be okay once lessons started inside the play room.

I guess separation anxiety is normal... good thing is that Yx seems to enjoy the music and songs and I like that there is art & craft almost everyday (such as finger painting, fruit painting, pasting) which Yx rarely experiences at home. Kids below 3 are still doing parallel play i.e. yet to learn to socialize and play in groups, so I'm not too concerned at the moment, but it's good she is exposed to a class setup and mixing with other kids.

Yesterday, Yx was happily singing and clapping along to a song none of us have come across before:

Back: Ikea kitchen I finally laid my hands on, 2nd hand from Carousell $70

I made out the lyrics that sounded sth like "I need to wash my hands together", in the video my mom captured Yx was singing and walking in circles for at least 2 minutes! When I asked if she learnt that from school she nodded happily :) On top of this, she has also been humming a couple of songs to herself (Apple a day keeps the doctor away; Wind wind sugar baby). Okay so all in all, I think this playgroup has been beneficial for her.

I asked for some feedback from Teacher L, her replies below:

I would prefer Yx mixing with more English-literate kids, but that would mean disrupting her natural waking up time of 9am++...      >.<

Yx reports for school!

We psych-ed up yx for school as early as a few months ago, and today was the day! She woke up feeling excited that she was going to school!

It was only orientation today. We were pleasantly impressed that yx didn't feel uncomfortable nor appear uneasy at all, as compared to a few other kids who were wailing or clinging tightly to their parents. One even wailed throughout the 30 min orientation. Yx sat still throughout listening intently to Teacher L and browsed the bag and books included in the welcome pack. Even before we introduced ourselves, Teacher L recognised and called her name properly. On top of her warm outlook and a pleasant temperament, she has taught here since 2000 so we trust that she and her assistant will take good care of the kids. 

Parents are allowed to accompany their kids throughout the 2-hour class for as long as Teacher L feels the kids are ready. Over the next few days we'll see how yx copes to the new faces and change in her routine (#fingerscrossed)!

-------------------------------------------

Revelation:

National demographics (2017):

Chinese - 76%

Malay - 15%

Indians - 7.4%

HDB child-care:

Chinese - 13%

Malay - 6%

Indians - 80%

I don't mean any offence to any race and the latter stats are based purely on my interpretation of the make-up of yx's class. My parents mentioned this trend was true during my time, too. Which naturally leads to a question - where are all the Chinese kids??

Xiuwen's wedding and X'mas family gathering 2017

We were astounded when we heard that Xiuwen's wedding was gonna be held on X'mas eve, so were we elated that everyone were available to attend!

Since it coincided with the long weekend we booked 2 nights at Avantgarde Hotel (excellent location, basic, nothing to shout about but clean and comfortable) near Sutera Mall. Had such a fabulous time mingling with Grandma, relatives and cousins and nieces and nephew, it was reminiscent of our trademark boisterous CNY gatherings which are hard to come by in recent years, now that some have started their own families and/or relocated. Thankful for technology, we are able to 'face-time' them and their real time presence was felt! :)

I'll let the photos do the talking!

Tradition since we were toddlers - Do-Re-Mi according to age

And when you're with the Ngs, you'll be sure to have your stomach always filled with

GOOD FOOD!

Breakfast for champs - been such a long time since I enjoyed a local breakfast like this...

Hand-peeled mee hoon kway

Hakka yong tau foo bursting with meat - only in Malaysia. Kopi was very good too!

Local kueh and pastries, sadly flavours we can't find in Sg...

Meng Meng Roasted Delights

 Their roast duck is 80% like Dian Xiao Er's; roast pork is decent but my vote goes to their melt-in-your-mouth fattylicious honey charred char siew!!! BEST CHAR SIEW EVER! We ate it on all 3 days!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was this moment, merely a few seconds at uncle's house, amidst all the boisterous chatting and laughing, when I paused and just took in all the sights and sounds.... and I concluded that this joyful extended family gathering was more fun because my paternal grandparents had 6 children, who went on to establish big families of their own, hence the many cousins that my siblings and I have. Twenty years later, with smaller families (lesser children) and larger distances apart, and varying priorities setting in, I wonder if our offsprings will ever have the blessed opportunity to enjoy being a part of a big family. Nevertheless, I'm really grateful and contented that at the moment we (and wyx) have a complete and happy nuclear family to come home to. :)

Wyx updates

Love bonding with wyx over the weekends:

Wyx is getting more articulate with everyday. With the extensive knowledge of vocabs and nouns, she can put them together into complete sentences.

Just that day, I went over to my parents for dinner as usual. Yx was having her dinner at the dining table. As I stepped through the door my mom asked her to address me, "叫爸爸?"

Gesturing to her mouth, she muttered through her full mouth of porridge, "Ying Xi 没有嘴巴叫爸爸."

She meant that her mouth was occupied and couldn't call papa at the moment. LAUGH DIE US!!!

---------------------------------

Yx is also getting more adept at colouring! We left her alone for awhile with the colouring material and she surprised us with well-defined lines made up of distinctly spaced out colours:

Time to get her a proper table and chair! 

Ikea?

Babywyx's 2nd

Cliche as it may sound - in a twinkling of an eye, babywyx is 2 years old! She's offiicially a toddler now! Not sure what the difference is between a toddler and baby, other than the former's air ticket is much more expensive...

Similar to yx's 1st bday, we had a simple, cosy celebration at my parents' place. My siblings took care of the deco which turned out to be really brilliant!

So we decided not to splurge on a $83 Barney cake; instead we got a $43 cartoon cake from Prima Deli topped with our DIY Barney cake toppers!

My wish for you, my little one Yx, is nothing but the most important things you'll need in life - good health and an abundance of happiness and wisdom. Toddlerhood will bring you (and us) more excitement, discovery and adventure! Bring it on, Terrific Twos!