I am 17th Month Old

Star by Bryan Adams

During a motivational workshop I conducted for the primary 6 pupils, I played the song 'Star' by Bryan Adams for them. I simply love this song, and I'm glad the kids love it too. This song brings tears to my eyes and helps to heal.... We all need a shining star when things get hard to take, so tonight we're gonna wish upon a star we never wished upon before

Here's the lyrics...

What cha wanna be - when you grow up
What cha gonna do - when your time is up
What cha gonna say - when things go wrong
What cha wanna do - when youre on your own

Theres a road - long and winding
The lights are blindin - but it gets there
Dont give up - dont look back
Theres a silver linin - its out there somewhere
Everybody wants an answer - everybody needs a friend
We all need a shinin star on which we can depend
N so tonight were gonna wish upon a star
We never wished upon before - (to find what youre
Looking for)
Therell be times - in your life
Ya when you be dancin n shit - but you aint gettin it
But dont get disillusioned - no, dont expect too much
Cuz if what you have is all you can get - just keep on
Tryin - it just aint happened yet
Everybody wants ta be winner - everybody has a dream
We all need a shinin star when things aint what they seem
So tonight were gonna wish upon a star
We never wished upon before - (gotta get where youre
Headed for)

Everybody wants some kindness - everybody needs a break
We all need a shinin star when things get hard to take
So tonight were gonna wish upon a star
We never wished upon before

Mad. Sad. Glad. Scared.

Mad. Sad. Glad. Scared. The 4 basic emotions.

Little Yule has learned how to act out the 4 basic feelings. And she does it in such a cute way!. When asked how to show an angry face, she will hold her fist, stamp her feet and sometimes even given a stern look. When asked to show a sad face, she will pout her lips and make a whining sound. When asked to show happy face, she will squeal in delight, and when asked to show scared, (or 怕怕) she will pat her chest. Little Yule also know how to show a surprise look, by putting both her hands on her cheeks and opening her mouth wide! Oh, one more, Yule even know how to 扮鬼脸!

I can't help but laugh and laugh as she pleasantly surprised me that she actually knows how her feelings 'look like'!

Happy Yule

Lantern or Candles?

Carrying lantern or blowing candles? I think I prefer to blow candles!

Papa and Me

不要！

Recently, Yu Le has learned how to say '不要!' She used to love saying '要!' to most things we ask her, and when she doesn't want something ( usually during feeding time), she will just keep shaking her head or turn away or give a whining sound. Now when she has mastered '不要!', she is no longer so obliging, at least not until we play a little reverse psychology game with her. It almost seems like she realises now that she has another option other than the ever-obliging '要!', and she loves using it now! She will say '不要!' to many of the things which she would previously say yes to, and enjoy the reactions she sees in us! Like throwing her diapers, she will say '不要!' now, ask her if she wants to listen to Barney songs or not, she will say '不要!', and ask her if she wants to eat something, she will say '不要!' agian, but quickly changes to '要!' when she realises its something she wants. It almost seems like my little tod is now capable of talking back too! 'How fast she has started to talk back' I thought to myself.

Well, I guess it's a normal phase where my little girl is learning assertiveness now. I suppose she is still rather obliging despite her learning how to say 'no' now. Whenever we change the task to a little game or a little challenge or somewhat like a reverse psychology, it still works to get her to throw her diapers, or getting her to wait, or picking up her toys. So little Yu Le still remains the cute little Yu Le, or even cuter now!

Mummy's thoughts

At 16 month old, Yu Le has achieved 2 major milestones....

Everytime when we asked her 'Where is Yu Le?', she will point at herself. And when we asked 'What's your name?' and 'Who is this?' (pointing at her picture), she will still point at herself, not able to call out her name yet. Today, when we asked her 'What's your name?' or '你叫什么名字?', she is able to call out her own name. It's indeed a pleasant surprise. She's not pronuncing her name very accurately yet, but it's so cute to see her excitedly shouting her own name when asked. I'm so happy.

Another major milestone - Yu Le is weaning off her 'tutu' (pacifier). For the first night since she was 2 months old (or was it earlier?), she has slept without her favourite, must-have 'tutu'. She kept asking for it, but we just keep telling her we throw it away, snd there is no more 'tutu'. It took quite a long while of carrying, hugging and story telling (by her papa) for her to fall asleep. Again, I'm so happy. Days where we can't go anywhere without her tutu will be gone soon...

Sing-a-pore

Another attempt at 3-syllabus

Mummy: Yule, say 'Singapore'
Le: por!
Mummy: Ok, now try 'Sing'
Le: ting!
Mummy: 'nga'
Le: ah!
Mummy: 'pore'
Le: por!
Mummy: Sing-a-pore!
le: por-por-por!

Papaya

Papa is trying to teach me the 3-syllabus word 'papaya'... here's how it goes

Papa: pa-pa-ya
le: paya!
papa: ok, now let's try to say 'pa'
le: pa!
papa: pa-pa
le: papa!
papa: pa-pa-ya
le: paya!
papa: pa-pa-ya
le: paya!

Looks like I'm still stuck with 2 syllabus =)