Updates - Jan 2010

Wow, I never could commit myself to diaries and journals..

But, as to my efforts of chronicling my little one's development, here goes:

• Zii is 23 months old, a month shy of his second birthday. He is now taller and stronger, not to mention heavier.
• He can tell simple stories, form short 3-4 word sentences, and loves to mimic people's habits and antics (like snoring, sneezing, the way someone laughs, etc), and does it well too! He breaks into hysteric laughter if we do something ordinary but abrupt (like sneezing, try to surprise him, almost slipping/falling down).
• He likes stacking stuff. Not only blocks, also toys, random things like mineral water cups. And he's quite good for a not-quite-two-year-old ;)
• He LOVES going out, to the mall, or on a walk, it doesn't matter, he just enjoys going out on mini trips
  
• Took him for a swim (hisashiburi ni), and I thought he would jump into the water without delay. But he preferred to sit at the edge of the pool with only his foot in the water, splashing, and it took considerable effort to persuade him to take the plunge. but once he got used to the water, he went crazy with excitement! We had to drag him (okay, not drag, but carried away forcefully) out of the pool because his fingertips were already very wrinkly and it got too cold in the pool.
  

Well, that's about what happened these past couple of weeks. Will be back for more Zii updates.

Your Current Faves (Dec 09)

Been a while since my last post... So, your current favorites are:

• broccoli, quail's eggs (you call them "MY eggs"...)
  
• coffee (everytime I make a cuppa you sidle by and try to sneak a sip)
  
• jumping (while chanting "jump! jump!") and spinning round and round until you get dizzy
  
• running upstairs despite my yelling for you not to do that, and stopping halfway to see my reaction
  
• pulling the cat's tail
  
• toy cars--even toy cars that aren't yours...
  
• peanuts
  
• BabyTV and CBeeBies, Spacetoon. Esp. SpongeBob Squarepants, Mr. Bean, Go Diego Go, Handy Manny, and many more...
  
• magnets. you have a keen fascination on how they stick on the fridge and other metallic objects, it's so cute to watch you move them around <3

A Surprise Birthday Present... From You!

My dear little one,

At around 04:30 AM this morning, I was woken by a gentle tugging on my arm. It turned out that you had crawled next to me. You opened your eyes just a teeny bit and cooed softly, "Mamamaaa...," and went back to sleep with a smile.
So you've been saving that word for today, have you?

Thank you dear little Zee, that was THE BEST birthday present I ever got! Even better than I ever imagined!

And you can't stop repeating the word all day!

Zii - 8 months 3 weeks (Nov '08)

Oh my, how you've grown!!

You're in your most adventurous mood, exploring the room, picking up (and throwing) random objects.. Now that you're crawling, you don't really like to be carried and always wriggle, attempting to free yourself from the clutches of our worried arms (I wonder whether you're imagining elaborate escape plans, haha)

You now have 2 teeth and signs of sprouting a third (in the same row, in the middle of your lower gum). Your hair is thicker (some say I should shave you bald so you could grow fresh "better" hair, but I don't want to..), and curlier :> You show more of your neck now that you frequently stretch to see lamps, the ceiling fan, and other things above you.

You love getting behind the steering wheel when Papapa warms up the car, and wouldn't get out of the rides in the game center without a fight :p
When I wanted to buy you another stuffed animal (as a sub for poor Pak Buaya whom you throw around every day), you wont even touch the fluffy toys, and your little hands stray to little toy cars & trucks instead. You're much too young for matchbox cars, you'll have to wait another 2 years (and a half, at least, because the box says "over 3y")

Here's your current preferences:

• Food: anything others are eating :p
• Toy: your Monster Jr. mini trike (although you're still actually too young for it), Pak Buaya (your little trusty stuffed crocodile), si MonMon (stuffed monkey), rubber duckies, spoons, tins, anything you can make noise with.
• "Words": papa, apa, wah, wawa, buah (no actual words, just babbling really)

Teaching Sign Language?

I'm interested in teaching baby Zee some sign language, mainly because I'm interested in learning to sign myself, and also to ease communication while his speech skills are still developing. Might also come in handy when communicating in the midst of a crowd or in a concert, hehe

So far there are plenty of good references online, such as this site and it's simple signing baby dictionary.

I've started trying to teach Zee some signs but not regularly.
Now that he's 7 months old, he'll probably like an effective way to communicate what he wants to everybody.

Another collection of pics

Another collection of pics, starring Zii!

He HAS grown indeed! :)

You're growing too fast!

Dear little one,
You're now 64cm tall (long? hehe) already! You almost outgrown your little sleeping bag & the clothes you wear are almost too small, lengthwise.

I am taking pictures of you all the time so I don't miss every single change you're going through. Your face also changed from when you were a newborn. You now have a 'little boy face' :)

But you're cuter than ever!