PonyTales

At 2.5, she said "MoOOOMMMMY!" at the top of her lung when she sees me. It is such a heart warming feeling all over being a Mom and seeing her grow. She was so tiny when she was born, her leg barely bigger than a fat chicken thigh (I remembered). Just a few blink and now she is a chubby girl already. Trying out my high heels and telling me always, she wanted to eat noodle instead of rice.

Just a year ago, she could only point at things and mumble something, usually not comprehensible. Now, she is correcting me. When I pointed at Dora and said "That’s Isa..", she will very quickly replied, "NO, that’s Dora!".

Just 2 years ago, I was worried and worked up about feeding her solid and not knowing what food is right for her and weather she had enough to eat or too much. Now, she finishes her meals by herself (when she is a good girl) and when I put more food into her plate, she exclaimed, "Nooo…full already!" while rubbing her tummy.

Just about 8 months ago, we were all in the roller coaster ride of getting her acquainted to play school…the crying and oh so difficult parting. Now, she wakes up in the morning and told me, "No school today Mommy", "Today holiday, i dun wanna go school", but she went anyway without much complain later. She even bring me around her school compound and showed me those photos that the teacher put up, explaining to me the events in school. That was what I was doing 8 months ago, trying to tell her how nice and interesting a school can be…

At 2.5 now, when I tell her I am not well. She replied, "Mommy sick sick!?…it’s ok…" and pat me on the head to soothe me. When I tell her I am hungry, she pull out her cooking set, and later, "Mommy, i cook bread with strawberry jam inside, eat Mommy…". When I was helping myself to an extra serving of fried potato, she said, "Mommy…dun eat so much!"….LOL!

It is never a dull moment…

I think in other words, it is also know as ‘nosy’. These days, I am starting to see that Zoe is getting more and more inquisitive, observing my actions and words, wanting to know more. Simply just wanted to be the center of attention. She will get particularly upset if I do not stop half way to gave her the attention she wants.

Scene 1

While I was eating breakfast at the dining table. Daddy already served her favourite cheesecake and she was enjoying it, but she came to me anyway.

Zoe: Mommy, what you eating?
Me: Bread…
Zoe: I want to eat bread also….(pouting and showing me the puppy face)

Scene 2

I was busy cooking dinner at the kitchen and she came up to me carrying her two boxes of puzzles.

Zoe: Mommy, what you doing?
Me: Mommy cooking dinner…very busy (trying to hint that I cannot play puzzle with her now)
Zoe: I wanna play puzzle, Mommy come come…..come with me…. (trying to peel me away from the kitchen)
Me: Mommy cannot play puzzle with you now….Mommy is cooking dinner….later ok!
Zoe: eeeehhh…..Mommy play puzzle with you (me)…I want to play puzzle….
Me: (gotta kneel down and look her in the eyes) Not now Zoe! Mommy finish cooking dinner, then we play puzzle together (stern voice).
Zoe: …Later Mommy play puzzle with you, ok!? ok!?
Me: OK!

Scene 3

Seated at the dining table, having dinner with Daddy while chatting with Daddy. Zoe is eating dinner as well….Out of a sudden….

Zoe: I dun want…I dun want….(push her dinner away)
Me: What’s wrong Zoe…are you full already?
Zoe: Mommy stop! I dun want ….I dun want….
Me: Why Zoe?…..what is wrong?
Zoe: eeehhh…..(trying to jump down from her seat)
Me: Mommy feed you ….ok?
Zoe: ok…Mommy feed you….we sit there….

She actually wanted my attention and is not happy that I am chatting with Daddy and enjoying dinner. As long as I am fully focused on her, she is happy and contented. She does not really demonstrate such reaction towards Daddy to get his attention. Most of the time, Daddy is free to do his own stuff…grrrr….

On several occassion, she also ask ‘Why?’ to statement or answer I gave her. I found myself explaining and talking longer sentences to her. It is extra effort and time, but part of me actually start to like this little conversation that I can have with her. It is like the beginning of another phase, where we have Mommy-daughter conversation and probably…juicy gossip later….hahaha!

Happy Father’s Day! ……this is kinda back dated by 1 day…better late than never right

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!
Let’s go drink and chill out yea :p

We had shabu shabu dinner with two daddys, Zoe’s Daddy and my Dad. It was a good outing except that Zoe and me had slight cough since Sat…

We are better today, with Dad and Mom’s help taking care of two of us at home. Geez, it is sure relaxing being at home with Mom and Dad around, really free until can blog….hahaha!

Before I became a Mom, I never knew I have to handle negotiation with children as young as 2+. Now, I am facing nego situation, almost daily with Zoe…

Sometimes, when the negotiation fails, it drives me up the wall and at the same time, I get a very irritated and unsettled toddler whining and looking at me. As if, I owed her the world I promised but never deliver 

Nego 1

While I was bathing her in the evening after dinner…

Zoe: (while I was applying soap at her hand and wrist area) Ben-10 watch! ….Mommy, WH got Ben-10 watch! Where is Mickey Mouse watch? ….Spoilt already…Ah Ma buy one…spoilt…I want Ben-10 watch! (with a very sad look)

Me: Yea, your Mickey Mouse watch spoilt already, but Ben-10 watch’s for boys! WH is a boy…

Zoe: Hmm…for boy…I want watch….eeeehhh

Me: (trying to avoid further crying)…ermm…princess watch nicer!?

Zoe: Ok, I want princess watch…Mommy buy princess watch (repeat many times till I finish bathing for her)

Me: (After dressing her up) Ask your Daddy to buy princess watch for you…ok?

Zoe: (running to the living where Daddy is happily sitting there watching TV and still at work replying mails)…DADDY! Mommy buy princess watch for me ok?

Me: Sigh….

Nego 2

Me: (rushing) Zoe, faster wear your shoe, we are going already!

Zoe: (dilly dally cooking up something in the little mind)…later, Mommy buy sweet for Zoe ok?

Me: Wear Your Shoe! Mommy is late already….

Zoe: (look dead serious) Mommy buy sweet for Zoe, ok?

Me: (desperate)…okok…later Mommy buy, Zoe wear your shoe now!

Zoe: (happily sat down and wear her shoe with a smile on the face…)

Nego 3

Me: Zoe…eat your rice…(for the uptenth time)

Zoe: (looking disinterested) err….err…..I want mushroom….noodles….

Me: today we eat rice ok!? Mommy cooked soup with carrots, eggs and veges…you see, it is nice…

Zoe: ….later Mommy cook noodles with mushroom ..k?

Me: sigh….tomorrow Mommy cook noodles with mushroom lor….sigh sigh sigh….(loosing battle liao)

Zoe: (took another spoon of rice and went on to play her toys)….

I never knew I was such a weak negotiator. I gave in most of the time. Do you think so?

Parents out there who happen to drop by, how do you deal with this? Do you gave in?
Any tips and tricks

Okay, I admit I have not put much effort into sorting out the thousands of photos we took on all the short trips we had. I was suppose to post it up here, but there are all still sitting idle in the lappie at home.

There are no excuse except that on my rare free times, I find that watching ‘House’, ‘Ugly Betty’ and some episodes of ‘CSI’ a relaxing therapy. Geezz….what had happen to me..!?

I am really looking forward to the weekend as we are heading to Cameron tomorrow! Yeah! Pray that the traffics are good, journey mercy, good weather and everyone have a happy trip. This time around, I am bringing my parents as well. It is kind of a milestone to me, as it is my first time bringing my parents for holidays, all expenses paid by me instead of the other way around when I was a child. It took me a 30 plus years to accomplish this. I have sponsored my parents some trips on their own earlier, but usually I did not join them. Anyway, the last time I step foot at Cameron was 9 years ago…

Past few days, my parents have been taking care of Zoe as she is on school holiday. Some funny thoughts and conversations I would like to keep it here for rememberance:

Dad’s comment: At barely 2.5 years old, Zoe is already experiencing the school holiday break, whereas I only knew all about school holiday at the age of 7.

Dad made a remark: "You are small" to Zoe, and she replied, "No, I am big big (girl)"

Zoe pretending to operate a stall and taking orders from Dad: "You want ice-cream? choc-ket?". Dad replied, "I want cha mee (fried noodles)". Zoe confirms, "Cha mee ar!?…ok". A moment later afters she has fumbled around with her cooking set, she came with a plate, with some torn papers inside, "Nah…ice cream….eat now!". I can see now she is a hard headed girl, she always agree with your instructions first, but return later with what she had in mine from the beginning.

Both Mom and Dad agreed that Zoe loves to sing and dance. They observed that she can do that for hours and enjoyed any songs, even Hokkien songs. She has even made the pole into the microphone and the colorful rings my Mom bought for her to supposedly throw and got trap at the pole into hair accessories.

When someone got hurt a little, like accidentally knock on something, Zoe will quickly run over with a concern look and asked, "Painful?" or "Pain ar?", when you said yes, she will replied, "It’s ok…" and stroke your head or the wounded area to comfort you.

I could see that Mom and Dad really enjoyed Zoe’s company now. They are contemplating to moved in with us and Dad even suggested that Zoe should just attend play school for half a day. The challenge now is looking for a conducive and comfortable place for everyone to stay together. We have been scouting around actively and Dad has also been helping us to ruled out those units that are not so nice, but affordable. All seems to agree towards the newer, more upscale residences. It could just all be a matter of time, opportunity and the right decision now.

Time literally flies for me now and as I checked, my last post was more than a month ago.

I am sorry for this pitiful blog of mine that I was away for so long. Work has been piling up for me now as well as for my hubby. Sometimes, I wonder what other stuff could keep us that busy….wonder …wonder….

I hope to post some updates soon as we did manage to bring Zoe to a few places…just nearby to satisfy her curiosity nature now.

I am soooo looking forward to our next holiday now…just cannot wait…

A lot of photos to share…still trying to find time to post them….

please bear with me yea….

Hmm…first post for the month of April…let’s make it a fun one yea

If you are a parent to a toddler, have you experience the "forbidden words" symptom?

What I mean is certain words that we spoke on normal conversations being picked up by our little one. Then, the demands comes in as if its unstoppable and we regret using that word. Later, we sort of like formulate with our spouse that these forbidden words should be spoken in a language that little one not yet understood…hopefully for a while more….

Lately, I have discovered quite a number of "forbidden words" with my little one, Zoe…

Scenario 1 - Chocolate

Me: (telling Daddy)…today I finally cleaned the fridge and throw away some of those long forgotten chocolates…so messy!
Daddy: ok!
Zoe: Choc-ket!…ehhhh…Mommy, I want eat choc-ket…ehhhh

Scenario 2 - Playground

Me: (telling Daddy)…today i saw your friend’s wife at the playground with her baby…
Daddy: oooh…
Zoe: Mommy….i wanna go pay-ground! wanna go pay-ground!! 
Me: No Zoe! its night time now, we go some other day…
Zoe: NOooooooo! I wan go pay-ground! (pulling my hands and reaching to the door)
Me: Arrrrgggghhh…I should have just shut up!!!

There are many forbidden words now like ice cream, cake, hypermarkets name like Giant or Tesco…hmm…even I loose track of it.

Since we do not want to create unwanted cries and whines, we speak carefully nowadays avoiding any of these forbidden words that we know will trigger Zoe’s keyword search engine…or we said it in another language that she do not understand yet. I tell u!!!….susah-nya! (difficult)

On another note, few days back at around 4-ish morning, Zoe sit up suddenly and started to whine. I was so sleepy and asking her to stop whining and tell me what she wants. The conversation goes like this…

Me: Zoe! stop whining, Mommy dun understand u, tell Mommy what u want, u want milk?
Zoe: ….ehhh…I want shopping!
Me: huh! (thinking inside what have I done wrong to deserve this and let out a big sigh)…dark dark outside, closed already! Go back to sleep…
Zoe: shopping….ehhh (eyes half closed)

Luckily she falls back to sleep shortly after some patting from me….

Do you have issues like these with your toddlers?