Hello, I'm 2.5 years old!

Hello everyone, I haven't been talking to you all in awhile, so does it surprise you that I'm already 2.5 years old?? Some of you may remember that I went to US with my D&M some time ago, actually that was 1 year ago! Time past so fast yah?

Let me tell you what I learnt and sharpened the past few months - I can cycle a trike very well, write an 'A', I know most of the words to >20 nursery rhymes and kids songs. I have a few story books memorized. I can say my own short prayers. I love playing with puzzles and building houses with blocks. But the biggest area of learning was in talking and expressing what I am thinking, what I like and what I want. My Mandarin, while almost as good as my English, has an English/'ang moh' twang to it, people find it funny but they understand me :) I also understand and speak some Penang Hokkien (maybe more than my Mummy), but when my Grandma speaks to me in Cantonese, I only smile and laugh like it's something very funny.

As my Daddy told you, I recently 'graduated' to a toddler's bed. D&M bought it from Ikea in KL and had to bring it back to Penang with the back seat partially folded down to fit the mattress. So my Mummy could not sit in the back seat with me. I was OK to sit by myself for the 4 hour journey, but it was a long one because I stayed awake the whole time! Mummy had reclined my car seat but for some reason I couldn't nap. Still, Mummy did not give up hope that I might eventually sleep, so she said no when I asked her to put my seat back up. I complained twice (with tears in my eyes) that I was very sad not be to able to sit up, but I pacified myself and entertained myself with my Mickey and listening to kids songs and talking.... the whole way back to Penang. My Mummy & Daddy were impressed with my good behavior and told me I was a very good girl.

I love my new bed! I call it my 'nii-ce bed'. Since the first morning that I excitedly got up and went to wake my D&M in their room, M&D have taught me to stay in bed after I wake up and wait until they come to fetch me. They left some books beside my bed for me to read when I wake up. I have been pretty obedient so far. Daddy found me in the morning reading a book and my Mickey 'reading' another book. On one night, I woke Daddy up with my crying, he found me on the floor. Fortunately Mummy had placed a mattress there. Another night, I cried because my Mickey fell off the bed, the next morning I told Mummy that Mickey was 'broken' after falling off the bed.

Mummy started feeling better after week 16. She did not vomit after that but suddenly she vomitted twice yesterday. The last time when I was in Mummy's belly, Mummy had eczema on her tummy, but this time it's worse. Mummy has bad eczema all over her hands and legs, it can't get well because Mummy cannot take oral steriod medication. So my Mummy has to wear long skirts to minimize the irritation and also cover the scars.

I know there is a baby in Mummy's tummy. Mummy told me that when baby comes out I can have a play mate. I kiss and hug baby everynight before I sleep, I also say that 'I love Daddy, Mummy & baby'. I talked to baby the other day: ' Baby, please come out of Mummy's tummy, I want to play ball with you.'

My Daddy will take more pictures to share with you all soon! Bye for now.

~ Shanna LYY~

Little Talker

Today this is what our little talker said- "Mummy, carry Nana nicely." (My belt was in the way)

As we left the house Monday morning -
Mummy: "Shanna, did you enjoy Sunday school yesterday? "
Shanna: "Ya, Nana go with gor gor jie jie. Now Nana want to go to Ah Mah's house." "Nana one-two-three, kick ball at Ah Mah's house". (She likes to count one, two, three, up until 30)

Yesterday after we sent her Daddy off to the airport- "Nana don't want to go home. Nana want to follow Dadda. Go airport"

More quips-
Who's Shanna friend? "Clement di di, Esrene mei mei."
"Oh no, Nana's shoe come out"
"Ahhhhhh (ear piercing scream)! Hos pital. Nana went there before! With Dadda Mummy"
"Mummy pray. Nana go to sleep. Good night, sleep tight."

How does she describe small (baby) animals? "Nana sheep" "Nana lion" "Nana chicken" "Nana pig"

Just Saying

It's been very interesting to hear the little girl's opinions and thoughts voiced out through words. Since Shanna started going to Sunday School two weeks ago, she is very proud to say that she is going to school now.

Driving past a school, this is the conversation:
Shanna: " Nana go to school with gor gor jie jie, Dadda Mummy too"
Mummy: "Daddy and Mummy needs to go to work, cannot go to school with Shanna" Shanna:"Bye bye Dadda, bye bye Mummy"

Little girl is a dictator at home nowadays... especially when playing ball.
Shanna: "Mummy stand there, Dadda stand here beside Nana"
Daddy: "Can Daddy stand over there?"
Shanna: "No."
Daddy: "But Daddy wants to stand there..."
Shanna: "No, no, no... dowan!" (Face crumples up)
Mummy: “Shanna, can you scream like that?”
Shanna (straightens her face and softly says): “No”
(Mummy sits down) Shanna: "Mummy! Get up!" (Face crumples again)
Shanna runs to the corner and sulks.

When in the car, the little girl will chat continuosly.
Shanna: “Nana dowan to sit on Mummy’s lap.”
Shanna: “Nana sit in car seat in Dadda’s car.” Shanna: “Dadda’s car moving home.”
“Nana going home, Dadda Mummy too”
"Ya!"
Shanna: “Ooh, bas! Yay! Nana sit in the bus, beside people.”
(The last time she sat in a bus was when we were in OZ last Nov)

Mummy: “Shanna, come over here and potty”
Shanna (running to the other side of the hall): “Nana run run run away!”

Shanna: "I wan nide"
Mummy (puzzled): "Noise?"
Shanna: "No, I wan nide."
Mummy: "Nose?"
Shanna: "No, nide. Eee... bomm"
Daddy (figured it out): "Shanna wants to slide? Wheee.... bump?"
Shanna: "Ya!"

it's a guessing game for the parents right now :)

Evolving Eyes

Not many people have noticed the evolution of Shanna's eyes over these 2 years. From single eyelids ala Mummy to double eyelids like Daddy's... scroll down and see this phenomenon for yourself :) @3 months @10 months @15 months @18 months @2 years

Dry Nights

Another milestone in our little girl's life - she is now totally nappy-free!

For the past 2 weeks she has not 'wee wee' in her nappies at night. Usually we get her up to potty at ~11.30pm, and then she will potty again only in the morning.

Just about time, we have only 1 piece of Mamypoko left and another unoponed pack now that can be put up for resale :)

Shanna has also been fully potty trained during day since she was ~22months. She never fails to let us know when she has to use the toilet. There was only 1 incident when she got too pre-occupied that she forgot (Ah Yi witnessed this).

Little girl is growing up!

~ Audrey

Shanna's 2 Year Old Birth-DAY

Mummy: "What is Daddy's name?"
Shanna: " Tin Lee"

Mummy: "What is Mummy's name?"
Shanna: "Aaeey Lee"

Mummy: "When is Shanna's birthday?"
Shanna: " 'Ar five"

In case you cannot inteprete what Shanna said, her birthday is March 5 :)

This year, she had 3 opportunities to blow out candles.

The first time was when we celebrated her birthday a week earlier at Camerons. While Shanna liked the cake (with Mickey) a lot, she was a little scared by how the match struck fire and wasn't too thrilled to blow out the candles.

The second time was one day before her actual birthday. Shanna's babysitter (Ah Mah) bought her a cake and prepared some light refreshments. This time, Shanna was thoroughly into the birthday song and blew out her candles with some aid from Ah Mah/Ah Gong.



Red eggs for the birthday girl. Wearing New Year clothes from her babysitter Ah Mah.


Happy that she managed to blow out the candles




Yum yum!

On the day of her birthday, after a short trip to the market the birthday girl came home to open her presents.


Opening Daddy & Mummy's present (besides the holiday we gave her :))

Thrilled to find a doctor's kit.

Side note: Shanna has been enamoured by the whole doctor thingy (hospital, doctor, stethoscope on her chest, nurses, etc) since her last hospitalization (good thing no trauma) and also from reading her book Curious George Goes To The Hospital (which she wants to read all the time since we got it for her 3 months ago). Everytime we drive pass the hospital, she shouts & kicks with excitement and does the action of doctor putting the stethoscope to her and asking her to open her mouth 'aaa'.... it's really funny :)

Showing two fingers - 2 years old!

The big food set was gifted by the Chews (thank you!!). Shanna will tell you it was Di Di (Clement) that gave it to her. The other two small sets of toys from D&M was a low cost score (total RM12) from Sunshine hehe.


Playing doctor. She calls herself 'Doctor Nana'

After persuading Shanna to leave her presents as is and get ready to go out, we brought her to QBMall. First stop at the Kiddie rides section.

Just ridin'

(
She hasn't been 'corrupted' (knowing that with coins the rides will move), so she was perfectly happy with climbing up and down the rides.

Notice her shirt says 'It's my party!'

Finally Daddy decided to give her a treat on the carousal by depositing some coins. At the end of the ride, Shanna said 'more!'. Did I just say she had not yet been 'corrupted'... that just changed :)

For lunch, instead of boring home cooked food, we gave her a treat by going to TGIF. There Shanna got to eat spaghetti from the Kids Eat Free menu.

Since it was her birthday, we got a cake on the house. Also the Friday's famous birthday cheer.

Wondering what is going on... what happened to the good old Happy Birthday song? :)

This time, Shanna blew out the candle all by herself (even with a mouthful of food). Here's her trying to smile with her mouth still full of food.

There is a street with blooming trees near Sunway Tunas (those from Penang will know), where we get our annual mini-Japan-cherry-blossom-like season.

Happy birthday to our darling girl, we love you very much!

~ Tim & Audrey

2 Year Old: Cameron Highlands

The next few postings will be about events that took place about 2-3 weeks ago. Yes, Tim and I have been pretty busy with work and whatnots...

This year, for Shanna's 2 year old birthday celebration, we decided to bring her for her first trip to Cameron Highlands together with my family so we can have a little celebration there and some family time. My parents used to bring me & my siblings to stay at OMF bungalow back since I was in secondary school :) The place is comfortable, with a beautiful private garden, 3 delicious meals a day, close to Brinchang... what more could we want? Of course we had to go back there again this time.

Shanna was delighted to see Grandpa, Grandma & Ah Yi. It was great fun for her to play in the garden, read the children books at the library and play with the toys at the Bungalow. The library there now is really great, one could stay for a month and not finish all the books! I did however managed to finish a Danielle Steele novel while there :)

It was a relaxed time. We ate, went to the tea plantation, Kea Farm. Shanna learnt about mountains, roses and thorns, saw stars at night, and of course celebrated her birthday. For the occasion we ordered a cake from Jennie's Cake house with her favourite Mickey Mouse on it.


Admiring the cacti plants but not daring to touch (she's smart eh)



At Kea Farm

Shanna said 'big strawberry!!' when she first saw this... here she is trying to show with her hands just how big is the strawberry.

At the tea plantation as the sign shows...

Overlooking the tea plantation. Food here is overpriced, but it is nice to eat while enjoying the view and fresh air.

Hiking up the tea plantation trail

The beautiful rose bushes at the OMF

Giving Grandpa one of her precious kisses

Outside in the garden of the OMF Bungalow

Shanna & her doting Daddy

Playing with Grandma in the garden

Hitching a ride...

On the way home, we stopped by Ipoh to get our favourite Salted Chicken and Kaya puffs.

When we came down from the mountains and into Ipoh town, Shanna said 'go home Pearl Garden' :) When asked what about Grandpa/Grandma/Ah Yi, she said 'K-L'.

We had lunch at the famous 'Lou Wong' chicken rice shop. Shanna finished almost one whole bowl of kueh teow and a lot of beansprouts.

'Tam chiak' face while gorging on Cameron strawberries

Shanna knows how to hold on to the stalk but bite off the strawberry.

It was a refreshing time away from work and great time with family.

~ Audrey

'Audio Record Playback'

We are having so much fun with Shanna recently now that she has started talking much more and in mini sentences. Her pronouciation is not very clear yet, but that makes it even more amusing for us. She talks mostly in English, but also in some Mandarin and Hokkien. Some times we don't know what she is saying, each time I guess the word wrongly, she will say 'No' and patiently repeat again.

Some excerpts of conversation:

Every morning on the potty.
Shanna: "Ma-mee, take book. seease (please). Ta (thank you)."

When we are arriving home from some place.
Shanna: " Nana, 'ome. Perl 'Aden (Pearl Garden). Da-dee, 'ome. Ma-mee, 'ome"

Mummy: "Where is Ah Mah?"
Shanna: "Ah Ma. 'ouse (house)."

Mummy: "Where is Ah Gong?"
Shanna: "Ah Ma. 'ouse."

Mummy: "Where is Grandma/Grandpa/Ah Yi?"
Shanna: "K-L"

Shanna taking up her bag.
Mummy: "Where are you going, Shanna? Shopping?"
Shanna: "No. Market."

Shanna points to Por Por's clothes.
Shanna: "Po po. Mei mei (pretty)"

Mummy: "Shanna?"
Shanna: "Har mi la??" ('What' in Hokkien)

Shanna can also 'report' to us now what she eats at the babysitter's house everyday. We have verified that her reports are quite accurate :p

At almost 2 years old, she amazes us sometimes by her understanding (perhaps we adults underestimate our kids). She can clearly differentiate opposites and uses opposite adjectives in her vocab - big, small, up, down, on, off, high, low, clean, dirty, wet, dry, smooth, pricky, etc.

Her little legs are pretty strong, she can kick balls very hard and very far, climb & pull herself up the slide (not the way of steps), go up and down steps so many times (she loves steps) and balance walk on the curb. In this area, she's like her Daddy, not like Mummy who is kaki bangku.

She's really growing up fast.

~ Audrey

22 months old at the start of 2011... missing Daddy

Wow, it's already 2011, Happy New Year everyone!


It seems like not too long ago I was telling you all that I turned 21 months, now I am 22 months old!

My Kao Fu will turn 21 years old in a few days' time. When Grandma, Grandpa and Ah Yi came to visit last week, we had a small little celebration. Yummy dinner and then a cake with candles. This time, I was so excited about the candles and singing the Happy Birthday song for Kao Fu. Mummy says I'm all ready for my 2 year old birthday soon.



One nice family photo... without Daddy



I'm so excited about the cake!



With my Ah Yi

Mummy and Dadddy were happy when it was declared national holiday on Dec31 after our football team brought home a trophy, so we had more time to spend with Grandpa, Grandma and Ah Yi. That night, with all the fireworks going off, I woke up at 11.30pm and did not manage to sleep back until 2.30am. I didn't disturb Daddy Mummy but I talked and played by myself.

On Jan 1st, Grandpa, Grandma and Ah Yi went back to Kuala Lumpur so that Ah Yi can prepare for starting her first job on Monday. The same day, in the evening, Mummy and I sent Daddy off to the airport. Daddy went to Seattle US for a short business trip.

Every trip to US is a shopping opportunity. Not knowing that Daddy will be going to US, he got Mummy a Kindle reading device last month (my Mummy loves to read) with Aunty Shiau Yen helping to bring it back. Aunty Shiau Yen, my Mummy thanks you! My Daddy owes you a meal.

This time, Mummy was thinking about getting a sewing machine so she can learn to make pretty and useful things. But she was worried that she will not have the patience to learn a new skill. Daddy said Mummy can try, and got her the sewing machine from US, which is about RM250, which costs RM750 here in Malaysia! Besides that Mummy got other things too, so Mummy says after this she won't buy anymore things for herself for awhile. Once, when Mummy asked me whether I had any money, I said yes. Mummy asked 'where', and I pointed to my play kitchen area. Mummy is puzzled because she never gave me any money, maybe I was referring to some 'imaginative money' since I pretend play a lot now.

I miss my Daddy, but I know where he is... I will say 'Dadda', then sign 'not around', and sign 'aeroplane' while making the sound of the aeroplane. When there are sounds outside the corridor of our house, I will run to the door and say 'Dadda'! When Mummy's phone rings, I also rush to it and say 'Dadda'. I even asked Mummy to bring me to the balcony to look outside for Daddy. After I talk to Daddy on the phone ("Dadda! Bub-bai"), I will give him kisses 'muak muak'. Mummy says I'm so sweet and I'm a good girl.

I have learnt to say many words more accurately lately. I can recognize and say numbers 1-10. I can also recognize and say out colors. I can sing many songs, but Mummy can't really tell what I'm singing except for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. My Ah Mah says I can sing some Mandarin songs well too. I can also recognize letters A-E... still have many more to learn. Nowadays, my favorite book is 'Curious George Goes to the Hospital'... I can relate to many things in the book. D&M have to read it to me everyday. I insist.

Everyone who knows me says the most difficult thing about me is eating. I like to keep my food in the mouth, unless I really really like the food. Despite that, I am growing well. D&M say I'm getting rather heavy... they are really glad about that, since I lost so much weight when sick about 2 months ago. Do I look more healthy lately?

:)

Shanna LYY.