Little talking machine

Sophie's 18 months going 19 months and of late she's been more vocal. This was also noticed by those around like my mom, and also the teachers in the child care. The teacher told me this morning that initially when she went to the new child care, she was rather quiet, if not she'll be rather whiny or sometimes crying. Now that she's adapted to school in the past 3 weeks, she's shed her inhibitions and starting verbalizing what she wants and how she feels.

Family members: Daddy, mama, yeye, nai nai, por por, yiyi, jui jui, gu gu

Activities: mumm mumm, walk, carry, brush, bath, poo poo, draw, throw, beat, wash

Food: bread, apple, banana (nana), cherry, carrot, rice (ice), cheese, biscuit, bao

Toys: bear bear, elmo, rabbit (air bit) , pig pig, pooh bear (poo poo), car, train, ball, ballooon, bubbles, book, star,

Body: eyes, head, hair, teeth, nose, ears, hand, toes,

Animals: cat, dog, duck, cow (moo moo), owl, panda, lion, crocodile (dial), bird, bee, butterfly (fly), fish,

Other: NO! (almost automatic for all kids), hello, bye bye, kiss, please (peas), thank you (Q), milk, more, no more, open, close, up, shoes, socks, diaper, baby, mei mei, boy, pram, flower, tissue, pain, push, oh no (when she drops something) aiyoh, towel, on, off,

These are about the words that she can say now. And there is also so much more that she understand but cant verbalize yet. Like when I ask here where is her tummy, hand, finger, leg, she can point to them but cant say the words yet.

But one thing about my girl, is that it depends on her mood if she wants to entertain you with her new found vocabulary. Oh yes and now she know numbers too, like 2, 5, 9, 10 which I think she learnt in school as they count while they wash their hands.

And of course there was been some funny moments when I teach her new words too. Like on Monday when I taught her how to pray and end with Amen.

Me: Sophie when you finishing praying, you say Amen. Say A....

Sophie: Apple!

I cracked up so hard that I probably shocked her with my behavior when here my little one is thinking to herself, isnt A is for apple?

And till now it beats me why she calls Alexis Daddy and me Mama.

As I'm typing this entry, Alexis is reminding me to speak to her more in Mandarin. Which I try to remember too from time to time. Sophie now respond to her Mandarin name, 佳宣 so I do think we're on to a good start :) Oh and she can tell you that her name is "Fi". We call her Fifi at home :)

Spot Fifi in her classmate's celebration!

Sophie only wants Mama

At 18 months, it's not unusual for toddlers to go through a phase of separation anxiety. And for Sophie it was no different. But the intensity of it heightened last week when she was ill, was growing two new teeth and had to adjust to her new child care centre. That can be a lot for a little kiddo to handle!

Sophie used to be such a Daddy's girl and would call out to Daddy in her sweetest voice that Mummy here often got jealous. But lately she just wants no one but Mummy! Of course it can be endearing but what this also means is that she's so worried when she knows I'm not around. Like last Sunday when we left her at Grandma's place. She was pointing at the door and looking for Mama. My cheeky niece even tricked her that I had returned for her when it was really Sophie's aunt who came back. And to express her dashed hopes, she bawled her eyes out! It was only I came back that she was more relaxed and would play with everyone and resumed her chirpy self.

Now Sophie only wants Mummy to put her to bed and she'll happily bid Daddy bye bye. This morning she wouldn't even want to drink her milk until she see me.

Daddy lending a hand to bathe Sophie

I hope she grows out of this phase soon. But nevertheless I've been reassuring her every time I'm out of her sight that I'll return. So what helps is telling her where I'm going, eg.going to the bathroom, to the kitchen, going to work and promise her that I'll come back and when I see her again, I'll tell her, "see mummy promise to be back and I'm back now."

So far this week she's much better except when it's time to go to school in the mornings. I spoke to soon about no tearful goodbyes last week and now every morning she'll be crying, whining and kicking a fuss when I leave her at the child care. But I'll remind myself to remain calm and explain to her that after work I'll come back for her. Tears or no tears, it's out the door I go, otherwise she'll learn that she can hold her hostage with her tears. Anyway the teachers tell me that after a while she'll stop and will be okay in the company of her friends. But it's quite a different story in the evenings when I'm there to pick her. She'll be so engrossed in her coloring (a typical after school activity) that the teachers have to hurry her along to go home.

Hair all wet after her evening nap in the car

But for every stage that Sophie has progressed from I thank God that she remains a healthy and cheerful baby!

Sophie goes to her new school

Today marks the 5th day that Sophie is attending her new school and I think she's adapting well.

Sophie has to wear uniform to school now

I was a little apprehensive about how she'll take to the new school, new environment, new teachers and new friends after being in Cherie Hearts for 14 months since she was 4 months. So I started her on just half day for the first day. She was her usual curious self and decided that she'll explore the school instead of paying attention. But it's not a big deal, after all it was her first day and she's not used to a classroom setting. There are a total of 5 toddlers in her playgroup. It did take her a while to get used to the routines in school from lining up to go to the bathroom to wash their hands to having lesson time for reading, etc. She did slowly warm up to her new teacher and even lie down for her diaper change which I was surprised.

Feeding herself porridge

Meal times was of course a breeze knowing how my little one loves her food. There was a morning tea break which we brought from home and lunch was porridge. Sophie just fed herself with little help and finished her lunch in no time. I decided to leave her there with the teachers for a bath while I grab lunch since she was doing so well. But when I came back, I found her crying in tears :( Poor little one must have thought that mummy has abandoned her.

But things did get better on the second day when she was participated more in the class. Guess it will take her a while to get used to the idea of a structured class. I left her there for lunch on her own after the second day and the teacher told me that she went to sleep after having her milk and after some patting.

At the end of the day when I went to pick her from school, she was so excited to see me that she shouted "Mama!" loudly and ran towards me. I feel so loved by my little daughter.

Carrying her bag which is too big for her. Not stopping her nevertheless

I know that in no time, Sophie will be able to adjust fully into the new school. The teachers there told me that she's learning to be more independent and will want to do things on her own like eating and even having her way. Lets just hope that she'll be happier in her new school too.

So far my verdict for Sunflower Kiddy House

1. Like that the centre manager is very hands on with the children. She's often involved with the kids and will have some interaction with them in the morn. On the first day she was teaching them how to 拜年. On the second day, she was reading to them. She also mentioned to me that she helped to pat Sophie to sleep too.

2. There is a set of routine for the day which helps the kids learn to be structured and know what to expect.

3. The teachers follow through with what they say and mean it when it comes to discipline even for the toddlers. Of course no serious punishment, but they make the kids who jump around when they're supposed to sit quietly stand in a corner. So it helps to instill discipline in the kids too.

4. The size of the whole centre is kept small so the teachers managed the class more efficiently.

5. Kids learn to wait in simple acts like waiting for their turns to wash their hands and waiting for their friend's turn to finish before they all head back to their class.

6. This is more for my benefit, the school serves dinner- which saves me a headache on what to cook!

The hubby said that I've been singing praises about the new school but I do believe not every school is as good as this one. So I'm glad I made the right choice for Sophie.

Happy Bunny New Year

At my great grandmama's house for CNY.

New school for the new year

After spending 14 months in Cherie Hearts, it's time to bid farewell to join a new school, with new friends and new teachers after the Chinese New Year.

If you remembered I wrote an entry just when she started to go to infant care.Sophie has been attending infant care since she was four months right after my maternity leave ended. I can still remember the roller coaster of emotions in the first two days when I entrusted my little babe into the hands of strangers who will spend more hours in a week taking care of her. The feelings was so mixed that on the second day after I left her I was weeping and asking myself if it was the best decision.

Her favorite activity in school, gym time!

But now fast forward 14 months later, I can truly say that infant care option does have it's good side. With her being constantly surrounded by teachers and older toddlers, I believe she's more vocal that some kids her age. Also she's more independent and learning how to eat on her own is one of them. I would like to think her infant care environment has taught her social skills which explains her friendly disposition. And she's also learnt that she's not the queen in the school as there are other babies that the teachers have to tend to as well.

Playing with the toys in school

So it is not as cruel as some people think it is. In fact this arrangement has worked out pretty well for us since the child care is near to both our offices... minus the fact that this option has been financially taxing.

She's had many memorable moments in school I'm sure as she went through so many of her first there, first time eating solid food, first time walking, talking, waving her hands, etc...Gosh in fact because I'm a full time working mom I have not always been the one to witness all these milestones for her but to rely on this blog to remind me of these significant moments. Of course I also recall the times when she's gotten complained, like when she was teething and bit two of her friends (gasp!), when she throws tantrums and refuse to let certain teachers take care of her, when she can only take her naps if she's on the bouncer and when she behaved all princessy and cried when doing hand and finger painting.

Sophie's name right on the top, meaning she's the oldest toddler in her infant care group!

The teachers joked that with her now gone, they'll have to wait for the next class monitor to rise up as Sophie is their little helper in school. Because she's the oldest and can remember all the kids names, she'll help the teachers bring the bottle of milk to the babies or the teachers when it's feeding time. When I went to her school on the last day I was impressed that she could tell me the names of her friends name by looking at the photo of them. Of course she cant pronounce all of them clearly but you can make out who she's referring to!

With one of her teachers, Teacher Farhana who dotes on her

Saying good byes are always so bitter sweet. And even though I'm not her, I know she enjoyed the time she's spent in Cherie Hearts and will surely miss her teachers and friends whom she's grown up with. I hope that she'll be just as adaptable to the new school and will come to enjoy her next phase of growing up years.

First holiday for the year

We went for our first family holiday of the year 2 weeks ago. Quite ironic since I did say that I'll think twice about bringing Sophie on the next holiday soon since the trip to Penang was well...not as enjoyable. But here we are after Penang, going to Malacca and then just very recently going to Club Med Bintan for 3D, 2N.

It wasn't planned as it was an incentive trip for the sales guys for my company but a colleague resigned not too long so I get to "take his place". And besides no work involved, so I went for it and brought my two dear babies along.

Sophie was the least affected by the ferry ride and was quite okay despite a very choppy ride when we came back. Guess there is nothing better than to just munch your way on the ferry :)

We hit the monsoon season so couldn't do any of the sea sports like kayaking or snorkeling that I was looking forward to. But the most fun activity we tried was the flying trapeze from the circus school! Though Sophie didn't have a chance at that, I did make her tumble around on the mats which she enjoyed a lot.

Club med is really kiddy friendly with a kiddy club from kids as young as two. A pity that Sophie was too young for us to leave her there. They have programms for the kids that keep them pretty busy too, going to the beach to build sand castle, swimming, room with toys and books, etc, provide theirs meals and also get their nap time. And at the restaurant, they have a section for baby food, like bottled jar food and baby yogurt. Our room also came with the basic playpen and even a steam sterliser, bottle warmer, baby bath tub, baby powder and baby oil. Very well equipped.

But I guess after this trip, me and Alexis should just make plans to go on a holiday without Sophie. A holiday that will be more carefree and less stressful. Yes meal times are so stressful for me now.. Another post on this perhaps.

New skills for the new year

Sophie like all kids go through phases with their toys. It's hardly surprising that she gets fascinated with new toys especially those that she receives on special occasions like her birthday or Christmas. Other days just a simple balloon or coloring pencils will have the same mesmerising effect on her too.

She has a little toy corner in the living room. Her basket of soft toys. Her huge Pooh bear that she calls "Poo Poo". Whoops.

Her box of mega blocks together with other masak masak her slam dunk basket ball hoop amongst the many others. We recently kept some toys away as she has out grown them like her rattle, walker, and some other baby toys.

Recently she has taken an interest in the shape sorter that we got her when she was around 6-8 months. Back then one of my friend commented on her Facebook that her daughter could identify the shapes and fit in into their respective shapes so I thought it may be fun for Fifi.

But she was not in the least interested in it. Now at 16 and a half months she has managed to fit the circle piece into the correct shape all by herself! Of course there are times when she doesn't get it and will get frustrated and throw the toy or pass the toy to us for help. So we're teaching her to try and try again rather than rush in to do it for her.

Here's the video of her fitting the circle piece. Haha hear her go "Aiyoh" after the piece drops out after she pulls it apart. I think I may have used that one too many times.

First the circle, next the square, then star, triangle...

Way to go Fifi!!