Random things IZ Says

Backdate these to P2 days, as sometimes my Blogger app doesn't work.

Pronunciation

IZ: Mom, I won something from the teacher, a sticker!

Me: Oh cool!
IZ: Ya, I got it coz I read something
Me: That's nice, did you make sure you read all the s correctly?
IZ: Yup! There was no s!

@-@

Bookshelf

IZ simply refused to give away any of his books these days.

Desperate, I told him we will not buy any new book or magazine if the shelf has no space.. he went to tidy up the shelf, rearrange the books properly so that he has space to squeeze another one or two..

IZ: look mom, if the books are slanted, means it has space for more books!

Positivity

Commented on her positive parenting towards her cancer stricken child, "All I have to do is make my child happy, the doctor will take care of the health".

SEA Games

Inspired by SEA Games ongoing lately, he brought Lego play to another level:

How to be a good sports?

IZ has difficulty admitting defeats. Absolutely nil sportsmanship.

Let him win in a game, he'll smile happily.

Let him start losing lose in a game, he'll sulk.. even cry.

And so the cycles went.. we tried very hard to make him lose in almost every game if we could help it.

Teaching him to be a good sport has been in vain.

Then I thought of a good idea..

To show him how it feels to lose, for real.

The 28th SEA Games in Singapore is the right place to start.

So I had to choose a game. Long enough to let him see how hard the players played, short enough for him to still be engaged.

Naturally, I chose the cheapest one, the free one. Naturally, I chose my favorite, the field hockey.

And so I chose the day when SIN was going against MAS. 

An almost no-fight match. I knew MAS was going to win.

But it was utmost important to let IZ see by himself, what "losers" do after a game.

We reached at half time and there was queue. We were denied entry as stadium was full. We were told there was no guarantee we could go in. We queued anyway, and glad we did.

Started to queue

During the game, he asked 1001 questions.. about hockey.

And I kept bringing him back to the point that SIN was losing, but the players were still playing hard.

SIN was defeated 1-4.

The most important moment arrived at the end.

The players from each team shook hands with each other. The "losers" didn't cry. The "losers" was applauded by the crowd for trying. The "losers" did not say "I don't want to play again!"

Both IZ and I clapped and cheered along that they worked hard. That's the spirit, my son.

How much has he taken away? I can't tell now.. until the next losing moment.

Bye milk bottle!

We were advised there's no need to continue giving him formula milk. And that we could try fresh milk instead.

Since we told him we will just finish up the formula milk at home, he has been savouring every drop of the milk, as much as he could, from the bottle.

He would prop a pillow nicely, and lie down before sucking the bottle. I can't deny he looks really cute sucking!

Then a friend brought her daughter to the dentist and found decay. My friend then took the opportunity to eliminate sweets and milk bottles out of their lives. All has been good.

And I told myself to do it later, while thinking of all the possibilities that the transition ain't gonna be easy.. then opportunity chanced upon us..

My sister bought a cute cup-bottle with straw for IZ during our trip back to KL last week. So I told him during our trip to Bukit Tinggi, that it'd be the last night he sucked his bottle, we need to say bye bye to the bottle.

Last night with the milk bottle

Hello new cup-bottle!

Amazing how the kiddo could adapt so easily!

Now, how do we wean off formula milk smoothly? The last can ain't gonna last long!

The unlucky weekend..

I made meringue
- I burnt 2 fingers

I went for dinner with friends
- I started having diarrhea before the dinner ends

I went for company wellness program
- we had to cycle in the rain
- I near missed an accident at a slip road
- I missed a turn and had to make a big detour on the way back

I went to pick IZ up from art class
- I got complained by the school neighbor for parking illegally opposite his house

I sent IZ to violin class
- I near missed an accident at a slip road
- I accidentally pressed the faulty side mirror switch and the side mirror folded out of shape
- IZ spilled yogurt drink on his shirt and pants in the car

I sent IZ to swimming class
- I missed a turn and had to make a big detour
- he panicked in the water and cried throughout his lesson
- someone took our float, we had to look for it around the pool

I'm just so glad the weekend is over.

A step towards independence..

During our vacation lately, he insisted on brushing his own teeth, using the toilet himself, feeding himself.. all thanks to my friend's daughters. They were great inspirations..

So, suddenly starting last week, he could put on his socks and shoes on his own for school.

Yeay!

My big boy

Scattered brain? Where?

Telling hubby my brain seemed scattered..

IZ: what's scattered?
Me: means everywhere
IZ: but I didn't see your brain anywhere?

Feels loved..

when he opened up his arms, asking for a hug when we wake up in the morning despite how late he got home the night before..

when he sent me to work as usual, only to sleep in the car by the side of the road to catch up on sleep as work starts slightly later than usual..

when he asked with concern how I got home while it was raining and he was not around to chauffeur..

I loved it..

when he drank milk like a baby in my arms..

when he was "drowsy" sucking milk..

when he was dozing off in my arms..

when he slept holding on to me..

when he grabbed and held my hand even when he dozed off..

when he woke up smiling and said "Good morning!"..

when he said "I love you, Mommy!"

Spot the Difference!

IZ got this Christmas last year from gift exchange (if I remember correctly.. see what have I said about my memory?)..

We started doing Spot the Difference in National Geographic for Kids way before we received this gift. He was not interested.

Starting beginning of this year, after doing it a few times more.. he got the hang of it. Now he enjoys doing it randomly so much that he would bring it to me instead.

Instead of circling (which I know he would do well), I asked him to describe instead.

In the beginning: "I don't know!"

Then: "this one have this and this one don't have this" (pointing to the difference)

For now: "this one have a small butterfly, this one don't have"

I'm still working on the steps..

1) describe what he sees (this one will take time, as he would straight jump into pointing the differences)

2) describe the differences (pointing out colours, sizes, etc)

3) praise.. and lots of praises!

As you can see, it's not just about observing what is the difference.

1) He learnt to pause for a few seconds, looking at the pictures. 

2) He learnt to describe what he sees in general.

3) He learnt to spot the difference.

4) He learnt to describe the differences he spotted.

3 levels of difficulties..
Green - 1 difference
Orange - 2 differences
Red - 3 differences

This one (as he pointed to the card on the right) is ice cream on a crunchy.
This one (as he pointed to the card on the left) is ice cream on a stick.

Initially we did about 5 sets.. I stopped before he wants to stop.
Then I increased to half the stack.. I stopped before he wants to stop.
Now he can complete about 75%.. I stopped before he wants to stop.
The key is not to bore him.. take clue from his body language and attention span.

Slowly, but surely, he'll be there.

Our interests..

As we installed a built-in cabinet in our former study room, now IZ's room, we discovered something..

Something obvious yet not so obvious.. if I do not put it down like below:

Daddy's comic - not sure how much they are worth NOW
But they fit in 10 carton boxes!

My limited collection
Now that we have a cabinet and still have space, I can buy more eh?

IZ's passion obviously.. painting, drawing
Art & Craft shelf I called it

Random Updates

Mother's Day Craft in Kinderland

That's MOMMY he said, with ear rings and long hair

An art piece for the daddy

Dinner @ Seoul Yummy

Yummy ice cream!

Happy boy

Heart shaped marshmallow

Kiddie ride in Novena Square

Second chance in life..

I've always been a pessimist. For fear of losing, I rather not having.

For fear of losing, I dare not keep a pet.

For fear of losing, I gave up on relationships.

I chose not to rent a place with my then buddy during uni days. Being so close to her then, although we were in different faculty and hostels, I feared of falling out with her. And so we rented different places in our 2nd year when we had to move out of our hostel. I lose her completely. We went our ways, and our paths never crossed again. It's one of the regrets in life.

A decade ago, my BFF lived in Sg for a year. We didn't meet for more than 5 times. I didn't attend her wedding back in KL. All the excuses (then reasons) I gave then was I had to work. A friend told me "you would not wish you had spent more time working, on your deathbed". It wasn't until I was getting married, that I understood.

By fate of life, she gets the opportunity to live in Sg again. I'm given a second chance, I'll not hesitate to jump at it. And so my BFF of 22 years is moving in with me.

Today, I finally understand the meaning of work-life balance. I finally understand the meaning of bestie. I finally understand the need to treasure relationships and friendships.

We do not need many friends in life, a few good ones is enough.

Happy end for the day..

Ordered the strawberry milkshake on his own

Posing with fave donut & Happy Humpty

Random updates over the weekend

Waking up and started reading right away

What else can you do with this throwing toy?

As a tent - sick boy finds comfort in the tent

Played treasure hunt - to hunt for an egg!

Guess where?

At Old Turf City Vegan Burg

He made this choc cookie for me
"Be careful, it's hot!" he said

And I made the choc cupcake!

Saw this on the paper..
I hope we would say the same next time.. ;-)

CNY 2014

Eve of CNY Eve - shopping for plants!

Pretty like the flowers

With beloved Grandma

CNY Eve - Reunion Dinner

CNY Day 1 - blessed in the temple

Happy boy with the red dot on his forehead

Super cute chewy!

Concussed on Day 1 as usual...

CNY Day 2 - Headed to KL on Aeroline!

Fell asleep while watching 2nd movie, Monsters University!
He killed Cinderella 3 once the entertainment system was on.

Feast at Da Jiu's - bamboo shoots!

Hou si fatt choy - yummylicious!

Very yummy fish - I do not know the name

1999 red wine

Lion Dance in the house!

CNY Day 4 - Lunch at Tai Thong KLCC
IZ's first louhei for the year!

Gong Gong Poh Poh and Yima's family

Gallop gallop!

Dinner with Aunty Jenny's Family @ Pumpkin Garden Restaurant

With Gong Gong Poh Poh too

Yummy pumpkin porridge steamboat

Asked for baking class the night before we left

Engrossed with how Yi Ma bakes

Can I eat?

Little helper helping out

I did it!

Pretty flowers

CNY Day 5 - On the way back to Sg

His blessings received in Sg

His blessings received in KL

This year, he wished people he met "happy new year" and "gong xi fa cai" and kinda waited to be given red packets. A janitor in our neighbourhood also gave him one. What a blessed child.

I was very proud of him when relatives came to our house on the 1st day of CNY, and he was not afraid, instead he stood near the door, greeted and shook hands with everyone like a little adult.

Even more proud of him when I brought him to my Aunt's house in KL where my mom's side would gather on 2nd day of CNY. He was not afraid of our relatives who he has not met since he was 8 mo except for an Aunt that came to Sg for visiting just last Xmas. He greeted and smiled and made himself just at home.

Felt comforted that he show signs that he is an independent and securely attached child.

Good job, my son! May you be blessed with good health and lots of happiness in the coming year!