Merry Christmas and she is 16 months old :)

We stayed home for dinner. Whipped up simple western meal for G and we had wagyu beef steak. She enjoyed her vegetables (potato, broccoli, carrot) in cream sauce and beefballs.

Words that she can say clearly now:

Jesus

Milk

Up

Down

Bye

Banana (Nana)

Butterfly (Budderby)

No no
Amen
Mama / Mommy
Papa
Grandma
Grandpa
Apple
Jump
Bus
Dog
Knock
Wow
Ball
More
Where?
Help
Beautiful (beatyfull)
Remember

And recently when I sing nursery rhymes, I stop and let her fill in the missing gaps.
Like...

The wheels on the bus go ___________ (with actions).
The horns on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The wipers on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The babies on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The mummies on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The doors on the bus go __________ (with actions)
The people on the bus go __________ (with actions)


She could sing all of the missing words plus actions.


And another thing we realised...

She has started to ask 'WHY?' now.

:))

14 months old

Wow it's been close to a month since my last update. G has been amazing. She surprises me everyday with what she can do. I think sometimes I underestimate her learning capabilities. In Shichida class this week, she could make the 'N' sound correctly.

Yes, we started Shichida. I just did flashcards (among other games) recently with her. Intially she couldn't sit still and would run about. After the 5 minute suggestion every night and with the energy ball exercise, she can now take 100 cards in one sitting.

My! it was tedious doing the flashcards. I, together w hubby's help made, 200 pieces. I had to google search the pictures, then put them into template. Print picture on one side and words on the other. Cut them out and laminate them. Then decide which stack to put them together and alternate them every other day so that it isn't boring.

Believe in your child. They can do so much more than you imagined.

We just shifted to our new place.

My typical day as a SAHM to a 13 months old girl

6.30 am - G wake up, drink milk, change her, clean up. Then she goes and do her own thing while I tidy the kitchen .and paper the floor.
8 am - preparation for G's breakfast, then breakfast (if she self-feed, we'll take 40 mins otherwise 30 mins), wash up, keep laundry and gobble up my breakfast.
9 am - do writing/drawing/colouring activity with G or read a book.
9.30 am - G's nap time (1 hour), I cook her lunch (mop if I have time), do the laundry, throw the trash, check my emails/hp.
10.30 am - she plays with her doll, bear (imaginary play), follows me around the house / mess things up here and there.
11.30 am - G' lunch. If we have time, will buy groceries/toiletries or go to the library.
1 pm - G's shower time. My shower time, read books
1.30 pm - G's milk
1.55 pm - G's nap time (1 hour), cook her dinner, if I have time, bake bread or cookies, wash up, get ready for outing, if I have time, 15 mins for me to lie on the bed to rest.
3 pm - change her, dash out for classes/playdates/gathering
4 pm - fruit snack
5.30 pm - dinner
6.15 pm - G's shower time
6.30 pm - G's milk
6.45 pm - prayer, book, massage, meditation
7 pm - put her down for bed.

Evenings and night time, I do the following:

spend time with hubby
more housework
check out recipes
surf facebook
research on child related topics
self grooming
pray
and sleep 11 pm, and later if I blogged.

Infant first aid course

I attended a 6 hour course on infant and toddler first aid.

Learnt alot from the trainer, Sam, who was previously a paramedic for 20 years. He was engaging and cracking jokes in class. I enjoyed the session.

I paid $80 for this. Find out more from http://www.inspiremumbaby.com/

                                                    

Nod nod nod

G knew how to shake her head at 9 months old. And she does it on and off all these while when she doesn't like something, and very profusely when she is very irritated.

I just noticed that she knew how to nod her head (finally!) yesterday (2 weeks to 13 months old). When I asked Bunny whether we should read a book, I always make Bunny nod its head. Yesterday, when I asked this question, G nodded in agreement.

The other day, I brought out 2 of her old storybooks and placed them in the midst of her new storybooks that we borrowed from the library. She was very excited to see her old books and she wanted to read them first.

I love it whenever she wants me to read to her. She will hop onto my lap automatically and do the BOOK sign. (otherwise, she will hop onto my lap and do the MILK sign when it's time for milk).

And I love to see her nodding.
Nodding seems more pleasant right? :)

First visit to the Library

Currently G reads about 6 books per day (seated on my lap). She's been asking for more and we've finished all the books I've bought for her (I think we have 20 books for her level), re-read them a few rounds even.

I decided that we should just bring her to the library and borrow some books home. We went to the Library at Nex. Before we enter, I told her that we have to keep our volume low, no running around and she has to stay close to Mama.

She was sooo excited and happy to see sooo many books for the first time in her life!

She pulled out a book randomly

I had a SUPER quick browse, just to ensure that the content is suitable. And we started reading.

And she stood there listening until we finished the whole book (probably 10-11 pages) without moving an inch.

After that she crawled around, disturbed other children who were reading by interrupting them, crawling towards the counter and behind the customer service. Yup, she forgot all about the sticking close to Mama and behaving herself. I guess she was just too curious about this place that has so many books.

We borrowed 6 books home :)

Into Role-playing

I caught her talking to her bunny one day and patting bunny to sleep. So I decided to play doctor the next day. Yes I directed the show and she was cooperative and very keen to act it out for me.

I told her that Bunny is sick. She has a fever. "Can doctor G help Bunny?".
There I asked if she wants to listen to Bunny's heartbeat. And whether Bunny should take medicine.

Bunny's fine. Just a mild fever.

She feeds Bunny some medicine

She lets Bunny lie down.

She read Bunny a book to cheer her up

Later on, when it was nap time, she refuses to let Bunny go. She brought it to her cot to sleep cos she wants to care for Bunny. Today's bedtime, she has Bunny by her side as well.

ps: She'll normally just have pinky bear with her for bedtime.

She is 12 months close to 2 weeks old today.

Sensory play

Yes, she ate paint, chew on crayons, tasted flour and sand.

But we had a lot of great fun!

Happy 1st Birthday

Baby,  you just turned one.

Seng il chu ka ham ni da.

Thank you for being in my life. I've learnt:

1. To be more assertive. You taught me to persevere against all odds (sleep training, television) when it comes to what's best for you.

2. That I can achieve more than I think I can.

3. That it's not about comparing. We are not in a competition with anyone. Mommy wants to help you climb your own mountain, as high as you can.

4. To become (and to constantly be) a better person than I am.

5. To be creative and to think out of the box.

6. To be closer to God; praying with you every night before bed and trusting God for financial blessings.

7. To be simple

8. To be happy

9. To appreciate papa more because of you.

10. To make use of google for information and research. I search for the weirdest stuff like 'blood in poo'.


Mommy loves you.

Sweet potato Doughcake

Yes, lactose-free

I use egg yolk only cos it's less allergenic 

mashed cooked sweet potato, sprinkled w sesame seeds

Yes, you got it. No sugar, no salt added.

I'll put cheese when she is older. Currently, cheese makes her bloated and cranky.

The Blue House Nursery

THE BLUE HOUSE is one of the few schools in Singapore implementing the Reggio Emilia curriculum. The Reggio Emilia approach is not child centered or teacher directed. It is child originated and teacher framed.

Cardboard tunnel with Christmas lights #1

She crawled halfway through the tunnel with much encouragement (with me at the other end) and then u-turn and crawled out of it. She sat there for quite sometime awed by the pretty sight.

Cardboard tunnel with Christmas lights #2

The #2 time we were there, she crawled in and even stayed inside for a while. 

She is afraid of this mirror prism - too overwhelming #1

G is scared of this and couldn't understand why there are so many of herself all over the place. She was always at the edge. Even when I carried her with me and sat in the middle, she would quickly crawl out of it.

#2 at the prism

She is not as afraid the second time we were there. We stayed inside together for a minute longer :)

sensory board #1

sensory board #2

Papa has decided to make a sensory board for G at our new place :)

acrylic mirrors and animal toys 

The rice shaker caught her attention. Mommy will make one at home for you .

Money plant #1

Money plant #2

G dug out some soil with her fingers and ate some of it. She went back again for more and I stopped her. 

The second time, she ate some soil again!

lightbox table #1

lightbox table #2

Mommy wants to get such a lightbox table at our new house. It costs more than S$300 to buy online from US. (excluding shipping and taxes) Should I, should I not?

Papa bought a 6 sessions package at the Blue House. So we'll be going back for more activities next month.  Each session consist of an hour is $25. Thankfully, it's 6 sessions and not more because venue is a challenge. Have to literally take a cab to and fro because of it's inaccessibility.  This is a beautiful school for children and I am committed to bring some of the inspiration back home.

Stay-cation at Roxy Hotel

We had a staycation at Roxy Hotel (courtesy of my brother-in-law). Yes with my hubby on clutches and a 11 month old baby. We had quite alot to bring. Mainly because we want to let G feel as at home as possible. We brought her pillow, bolster, teddy bear and bunny along.

yes we requested for a cot

The TV which was never on.

Cruising while mama unpacks

Snuggle with my fav bolster

Poor girl only had food jars to eat. If there were plain porridge, I would stir the contents in. Still, she didn't eat well. She could eat twice as much back at home when mommy cooks.

With the tired mommy, because G wakes up 3 - 4 times at night. And she refuses to sleep / nap without much coaxing, because she feels insecure in the foreign place.

My sweet G looking at the menu and wondering how come there's nothing for her, 

only lukewarm food in jars.

Really nothing for me to eat??

Ok, you may have wholemeal bread with unsalted butter spread

And we have my sis and gang to come and join us for high tea :)

It's going to be G's birthday this weekend!