Cutie's 18-month Record

You must have thought that I've been teaching my Cutie to type the letters after watching the video. Will you believe if I tell you I have never?

That night, seeing my Cutie's eagerness to "play" on my laptop, that's why decided to let her have some fun on the keyboard and well, she SURE did!! (will upload rest of video in youtube). Guess she must be very curious and think that this thing (laptop) must be fun to play, cos' mummy has been "playing" with it everyday.

I would say this Cutie of mine is learning things fast, everyday pestering me to teach/play with her. Whenever I open the drawer or cupboard, this Cutie will peep at what's inside and of course, to touch the things. I told her she has to ask mummy first before taking the things. She said "k" (ok). The other day, she wants my maid to give her the flashcards. My maid told her "Ask Mummy first" and she came running to me and say "Mummy, ask". As I did not hear what my maid told her, I was like "???" - what is it and ask what? But my Cutie just kept saying "Mummy, ask". Haha... guess having a toddler is like that. We have to constantly decipher what they are trying to tell us with their limited vocab or words.

Currently, my Cutie's been saying monosyllabic words eg. Elmo, she will say "mo"; Balloon, she will say "loon" and she has progressed to say a few double-syllabic words. To me, so long she is able to express what she wants, it is a success. I think, for her current age, it is quite an achievement for her to be able to say a number of words already. She also can say simple sentence like "Mummy, I eat pease" and "I sit pease".

A few more days, my Cutie will be turning 19 months soon. How time flies. I better keep a record of her growth here, so that many years later, she can still find the info in this blog (with belief that blogger will not close down :).


Cutie's 18 months Record
----------------------------
Height: 81.5 cm
Weight: 10.5 kg

Words that she understands and can say
1) ring, bed, plant, park, kite
2) chin, feet, tee (teeth), leg, hand
3) hair, ear, eyes, mouth, nose
4) neck, toes, face, girl, boy
5) men (woman), mond (diamond), fan, cup, poon (spoon)
6) baby, mat, pump, pen, sir (pencil)
7) brush (toothbrush), fish, cake, bag,
8) ker (tricycle), book, ball, pot, milk
9) fly (butterfly), kite, shoes, clock, key
10) gate, door, tub (bathtub), soc (socks), card
11) yon (crayon), phone, tar (star), moon, good
12) kool (school), per (paper), wet, egg, beart (bread)
13) ple (apple), pear, range (orange), greaps (grapes), lon (water melon)
14) cheese, pease (please), wer (flower), klip (hair clip), kiss
15) up, down, where?, there, here
16) siew (tissue), comb, ler (umbrella), no (piano), kream (cream)
17) duck, kern (chicken), cow, pig, yearn (lion)
18) fernt (elephant), tiger, bird, bear, dog
19) cat, mouse, key (monkey), bit (rabbit), guin (penguin)
20) come, draw, rite (write), grin (drink), eat
21) sit, walk, type, hot, warm
22) cold, help, pain, see, kry(cry)
23) hug, nice, give, bathe, press
24) throw, seep (sleep), open, close, beat
25) grop (drop), top (stop), es (yes), k (ok), stand (understand)
26) on (switch on), off (switch off), fall, wash, bake
27) pink, red, low (yellow), blue, green
28) white, black, brown, purple, orange
29) zoo, ble (table), chair, goat, boat
30) rert (carrot), corn, dress, rain, train
31) hart (heart shape), gle (triangle), kware (square), rect (rectrangle), tree
32) loon (balloon), mo (Elmo), rins (rinse), ter (water), der (powder)
33) ter (bottle), peepee, poopoo, no-no, pease (please)
34) ars (ask), cut, fiv (hi-five), see, you (Ru Yi oil)
35) tail, night (gd night), kate (biscuits), bun (rock bun), ven (oven)
36) gout (take out), hush hush, sing, clap, hold, scat (scared)
37) name, plane, bra (zebra, haha...), gougou (chinese meaning dog), pa (chinese meaning scared)
[forgot to add:
38) type, wash, Mei Mei, Gong Gong, jie jie (chinese meaning elder sister)
39) tree, bus, car, fan, fis(fish)
40) low (hello), wash, ble (bubble), nice, gif(give)]

and of course, A - Z, 1 - 10

Double-syllabic words:
paper, daddy, mummy, dun wan(don't want), yummy, baby, nana (banana), bubble, ice kream (ice cream). ar-nut (doughnut), yummy

Words in context:
- ree (can be referring to sorry/ strawberry/ blueberry/ cherry)
- tee (can be referring to naughty/ my maid's name/ potty/ hello kitty, booties)
- toe (can be referring to toes/ potatoes/ tomatoes)
- shion (can be referring to television/ injection/ lotion)

Wow, that's more than 200 words already. But you can see her mandarin is really limited. Guess got to speak more to her in mandarin.

The above is not for comparison with other children. Every child is unique and has their own learning milestones. Personally I feel that so long, the child is able to achieve within each milestone and of course, is happy and healthy, then there's no call for concern.]


I'm going shopping again, you want to come along?






Bye.

Typing ABC

Click the youtube link:

Part 1:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHtQTmxvhY


Part 2:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=PxcEM29jpPI


Part 3:
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=zdjdk3tCda8

Fun at PP

Yesterday, we went to Parkway Parade (PP). Haven't been there for years, still find it a nice place to shop. However, the one having the most fun was not me, it's my Cutie. She was (once again) fascinated by fountain and children playing around the fountain. I don't want her to get wet, so I carried her and let her touch the water that is sprouting out. She was so happy. So amazing to be able to derive so much joy by just touching water.

The best fun she had was with the interactive media floor (dunno what is it really called) . Actually, it is just a rectangular area on the floor and there's a projector or some sort, giving out the image on the floor. Many children were having fun at this interactive floor, stepping and jumping away. Initially, I thought the balls or the rockets etc moved cos' it's programmed to be, that whether the children stepped on them will not make any difference. But after some observation, I'm surprised that the ball when in contact with my Cutie's shoes will bounce away. So in fact, the image is not some pre-program thingy.

The children were having so much fun, so was my Cutie. My main concern is that once children get excited, they tend to push and knock into one another. My Cutie, being one of the youngest there, got bumped a few times by the older kids and she will always come back to me, saying "pain pain". Maybe have to go there during weekdays when there are not so many children around. Today, as I showed her the video, I also taught her to put her hands in front of herself to protect herself. My poor Cutie.

As for my Sweetie, she was happily snugging away, enjoying the comfort of being hug and of course the air-con (cos' the weather yesterday was extremely hot and humid, yet other days it was raining including today). She was also smiling happily when awake, as if telling me that she loves shopping too. So sweet.

My cute cute helper (Part 2) [Helper with an Attitude]

My cute cute helper (Part 1)

Haha... I'm not referring to my maid. I'm referring to my Cutie. Everyday, she will help to pass me the Ru Yi oil to apply on Mei Mei. Whenever Mei Mei has finished drinking the milk, she will then help to pass the milk bottle to the maid and said "wash". Everyday after the maid has bathed her, I will help her to dress up and after that my Cutie will pass her towel to the maid. Whenever I need something (hee... too lazy to walk), I will ask her to help to take for me and this cute cute helper will just help with no question asked.

She loves to "help" me to rock Mei Mei (will be shown in Part 2, the video was taken when she was 17 months old). She also loves to "help" me to feed her Mei Mei. She knows she cannot feed her Elmo with her water bottle anymore. She likes to imitate me - looking at her Mei Mei, calling "Mei Mei eh" and then clap her hands in front of Mei Mei.

The only complain I have about this cute cute helper is that I have to help her too. She will come to me and say "help" whenever her balls rolled under the sofa or when she wants to open the safety gate or she wants me to open the cover of her Magmag (water bottle) etc. Actually it's not a complain lah, I was the one teaching her to ask for help when she needs it and I should be happy that she has understood and applied it (lah).

Think got to "deduct" her salary too (ie. no more yummy yummy snacks) cos' lately this cute cute helper's been telling me "dun wan" when I ask her if she wants to take her afternoon nap or "no-no" whenever asked her to face the camera [guess she has become immuned to mummy's countless photo/video snapshots].

Going to start scrapbooking for my Cutie and Sweetie soon. But guess I have to do this in the middle of the night cos' this cute cute helper will be very eager to touch this and that, guess it's her curious nature. It's a joy to look at her exploring the stuff, but when my things are messed up, it's a different story. I recalled the time when in US, I was constantly packing the stuff in my luggage for my return to Singapore cos' my Cutie was constantly unpacking the stuff for me. Hee...

Hmm...should I fire this cute cute helper? After some considerations, instead I decided to extend the service of this cute cute helper. Cos' I can't resist the joy that this cute cute helper shown whenever I get her involvement. The best joy is when I see her "interact" with her Mei Mei and saying "Mmmuck" whenever she kisses her.

Sweetie latest updates:
My Sweetie is starting to flip. Now she can also hold her neck well and she DEMANDS to face the front when placed in a carrier (cos' she is getting curious and knows that she can get a front view of things when face front). Now also have to raise the backing of the pram cos' she doesn't want to look at the sky anymore, she wants to see where she's heading to.

Oh no, I have to forego my "twin stroller" then cos' it will be too squeezy for 2 kids to sit with the backing raised. Oh yes, don't worry, not a problem. Cos' when the backing of the pram is raised almost upright, I can let my Cutie stand behind. Haha... That's the reason why we got this Peg Perego Piliko P3, where you can have a baby sitting in front and an older child to stand behind (on the pedals). Still a 2-kids-in-1 kind of stroller. Hooray.

A Day with my Cutie

Hooray, it's another bright new day. I'm no longer interested in sweeping and mopping. Now I'm into fixing things. Do you have anything that need my help? I'll be glad to help you.


Today, I went shopping with Mummy. It was fun, I love to go out with Mummy (hee... cos' that's the only time Mummy allows me to eat the delicious junk food). Yummy, yummy.




Got to clean my mouth too


Wow, more yummy food.

Lately, mummy is into baking. We had rock buns, sweet potatoes buns (like butter cookies type) and also pancakes and waffles. Now I'm eating the Kuih Bakar. Yummy, yummy. Would you like to try?



I'm almost potty-trained now. Mummy still wants me to wear pampers to sleep, hee... just in case I pee on the bed. Give me a bit more time, ok? I'm still a baby.


I love to brush my teeth before bedtime. What about you? I also enjoy story time session with my mummy. [dozing off] Good night. Sweet dreams.

LENA System

Chanced upon a website on the LENA System (stands for Language ENvironment Analysis which provide an accurate, critical information about a child's language environment) and so did an assessment for my Cutie. Though I know that my Cutie's development is advance for her age, I am surprised that the result shows her development age is 28 months and she is currently only 18 months [somehow the link to the result disappeared when I tried to do one for my Sweetie. Amazingly, I still got the same result in the second assessment. Link lost again - this is the 3rd assessment done (with same result)].

Thoughts of some people then came to my mind. Maybe due to my Cutie's height, they have forgotten that my Cutie was less than 18 months old then and commented why my Cutie has not achieved this or that. In my heart then, I just want to scream at them - for God's sake, she is still a baby!

*Sigh* Guess I'm losing my patience with people who always think that they know everything (when in fact they do not). [see this mummy's blog dated 17 Oct, her experience with a mummy who thought she knows everything]

I believe no one will know/understand a baby best other than the mummy. I do agree with the result that my Cutie has already achieved a lot for her age. Being her mummy, of course I'm happy with the assessment, but my main wish for her is to be happy and stay healthy always. [though do admit guilty of scolding her at times]

Gee... talking about my Cutie ... [smile]

Sweetie's Head Lifting Exercise

ABC

What’s so special about this softtoy cube? Well, it’s not the colour, but the discovery I've made from these four-letter word.

As I pointed to each of these letters, my Cutie read B-L-U-E to me with no difficulty. So it spurred me on to test her the 26 letters in the alphabet. Guess what, she can identify all of them well. Wow, it is indeed a big surprise for this mummy of hers. Though I’ve been teaching her the letters, I was not expecting her to be able to master all of them at such young age. So never, never underestimate the learning abilities of little children.

Few days ago, brought my Cutie for her 18-month jab and assessment. Her weight is in the 50% percentile but her height (wow, wow) is in the 90% percentile. So when she goes to childcare or school in future, most probably she will have to queue / sit in the last few rows. * Sigh* During schooldays, I was also among one of those sitting in the back row due to my height. I would prefer my Cutie to sit in the front rows, so that she can concentrate better in class. So if any of you get to teach my Cutie in future, please note this mummy’s request.

Whatever I eat, my Cutie will always want to have a share. Yesterday, she saw me eating the dried seaweed and of course, the next moment she was near me, saying “Eat”. I gave her a small piece, believing she will not ask for more cos’ hee… it contained wasabi. To my surprise, she told me “more pease”. Asked her “Is it hot?” and she replied “Yes”. * Faint * In the end, she got a bite of every piece that I ate. For my bubble tea, she drank almost half of it and it would have been more if the other half had not been drunk by me earlier. Guess next time, I better hide in some corner to enjoy my snacks.



My Cutie with her Elmos






Sweetie >>>>
Did I tell you that my Sweetie has a little dimple on one side of her cheeks? Yes, she has and with that sweet smile of her, it can really melt my heart and make me forget how naughty she was earlier. Went to Vivocity the other day and my helper told me that many people say my Sweetie “chantek” (which means “beautiful” in malay language). Guess my Sweetie must have charmed them with her sweetie smile.


Today, my Sweetie is so cute to imitate her jie-jie’s signature “good” sign (my Cutie is not able to do thumbs up, so has been pointing her index finger whenever she wants to say “good”). It seems that my Sweetie is starting to imitate what she sees or hears. That’s why when you talk to her, you will see her trying to give you a respond with her sweetie voice.

My Sweetie likes to hold onto her milk bottle too whenever we feed her, maybe afraid that we might take it away? Her neck muscle is also getting stronger at this stage and at times saw her trying to lift up her head to look around cos’ she’s getting interested with her surroundings. This may explain why she prefers to sit upright than to lie down lately.

Time really flies. A few months later, she will then be able to sit on her own, then learn to crawl and walk. By next year this time, she will be in the cutie stage like her sister now. Of course, plus her sweetie smile too.

18-month old Cutie

Yes, today my Cutie is 18 months old. How time flies. Last year she was just a tiny little baby that needed to be hugged, fed and cleaned. Now, she can run, hug and kiss me (tho many times still wants me to hug instead), feed herself and also switch on the fan whenever she is hot. At times, she will give me massage too.

Lately, she is learning to form speech. She will open her mouth to speak (like a beginner trying to speak a language, ie with a lot of repetition) and also move her hands in big gestures (as if asking “Do you understand?”). She can say her own name too. At times, she will talk to her invisible friend on her toy phone, saying “I, I, I, I, A-man-da”.

She enjoys doing things together with the mummy aka me - like brushing teeth and story-telling time before bed, or helping to pass the Ru Yi Oil to me to apply after bathing Felicia. Finally, I find the vanity top in the master bedroom toilet useful cos’ Amanda can sit/squat on it and rinse her mouth. My Cutie can also look at the mirror when I brush her teeth or when she does it herself. Now she has a total of 8 teeth, with the molars of 3 sides of her gums on their way. But my Cutie is a brave girl.

For Felicia, she’s getting naughtier. Whenever I feed her milk, she will use her tongue to push away the teats. But when I take the milk bottle away, she will then cry. Now she takes ages to finish her milk and then she still “complains” when the milk finally finished. Still a sweetie though, she will smile when someone talk to her.

Yesterday, we went shopping at Plaza Singapura. Whenever we go shopping, I will push the pram while my helper carries my Cutie. At times, I wonder should I buy a twin stroller, so that both my Cutie and Sweetie can sit in the stroller. But I got a better idea yesterday.


Yes, my self-designed “twin stroller”, modified from my peg perego piliko P3. I must say it’s an ingenious idea (haha…self-praise).