19 months old

Actually, I am now almost 20 months old. For the past few weeks, I had grown to become more self-assertive and insists upon my ways often. I have also started to practise selective hearing and many a times, Mama's words seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Papa said I am ill-disciplined. Perhaps now is the time to take me in hand... ;p

I am now able to spend more time concentrating on things I am interested in. But the only thing that can hold my attention for long is probably the brand new series of Hi-5. In the past, I was only interested in their opening and closing songs but now, I am able to sit through the segments as well.

Just a couple of days ago, Mama was feeling very tired in the morning and after letting me have my milk, she switched on the Hi-5 video cassette, curled up on the sofa and napped for another hour. And I actually watched the show on my own and stayed out of trouble for that hour.

In addition, I have started to imitate one of the movements. There was this song about Party at the Zoo and one part of the song, the guys were beating their chests like gorillas. I actually imitated this action.

Another activity that I actually enjoy is reading. Now, I can enjoy the books Mama borrowed for me from the community library and I like lifting the flaps found on the pages of the book. Papa also bought me many palm-sized board books that I can hold in my palm. My current favourite is called Opposites. It is a small palm-sized board book Papa bought from a second-hand book store. I will often take the book from my shelf and hand it to Mama who is on my bed. This is my way of telling her I want her to read to me. It has many pictures of different animals eg a fat hippo and a thin monkey.

For the past couple of weeks, I have a pretty established schedule. I wake up at ard 6.50am in the morning to a bottle of milk. Mama would then let me watch Hi-5 on the video until she has washed up and is ready to take me out. Sometimes, we would do some reading before Mama take me out at around 9am. We would then go for a walk at the void deck and the playground nearby for about an hour or Yew Tee central for about an hour and a half.

We would be home at around 11.30am for a bathe and lunch. At 12.30pm, I will be watching Hi-5 from TV and then settle for sleep at around 1.45pm. I usually nap til around 5pm when I will wake up to see Mama cook dinner and watch more Hi-5 so that she can cook without worrying much about me.

Then Papa will be home to spend some time with me before dinner. I usually sleep at around 9.50pm though Mama will love to have me sleep earlier.

Mama is not too sure is it due to some change in my feeding schedule but I seem to have become what Mama called "a moody eater" this month. Gone are the days when I eat a hearty bowl of porridge for lunch and when I would happily eat anything that is offered to me.

Now, I seem to have "food mood". For example, Mama gave me red bean paste bun (tau sar pau) for breakfast on Tuesday and I would enjoy it. But 3 days later, I would refuse to eat roast pork bun (char siew pau) for breakfast. Maybe I am settling into a 3 hourly feeding schedule.

This month, Mama is trying to wean herself off the pram as this means she can have more freedom to move around. When she wheels me around in a pram, she can only walk to Yew Tee Central which takes about 15 minutes and she would try to walk in the shade offered by the shadow of the MRT tracks. When we are on our way home, it is nearer to noon time and even hotter. But the advantages of using a pram are that she can buy more grocery home and localise me when she needs me to stay around her and not wander away from my own. As it is, Mama knows there are at least one toddler who already refused to be wheeled around and so she considers me good that I am still willing to travel in a pram.

On the other hand, if she takes me out without a pram, she can take bus 302 which is a much faster way to get to Central. But that means she can only buy a few items as she needs to carry me when we board the bus. Also, she has to chase after me as I am now more daring and think nothing of wandering away from her.

Of course, we can also take the MRT and I really like to walk on the metal links that join one carriage of the train as that is where the rocking of the train is most keenly felt. This is fine if the train is not crowded but not if Mama travels at around 930am with me. ;P

This month, I went more places and further from home with Mama. We went Botanic Garden with Aunty Elizabeth, visited Aunty Hwee Kiah, Mama's University mate who stays at Redhill and even my maternal grandma.

I also own more toys as Mama and Papa has bought them for me. But Papa and Mama found out that it's usually the simple toys like a straw and an empty plastic cup that provides me the most fun as I explore the world around me.

Socially, I am quite the opposite of what Papa thought of. Papa was afraid I will be bullied because I am smaller in size compared to many peers my age. But I have proven him otherwise. I am not afraid to snatch toys and fight with Matthew gor-gor, Uncle David Sy's son, who is about 5 months older than me. Papa observed that when I play with the church school children, I do not know how to share the toys nor do I take turns.

Mama took this picture of me and Matthew Gor-Gor when we went Aunty Hwee Kiah's place. I was actually quite a bully as I sank my nails into his thighs. Not to be outdone, Matthew gor-gor pushed me too but he did not use much strength and so I did not fall down.

Such incidents have made Papa even more firm to send me to a playgroup in January. In fact, Mama has already registered me and God-willing, I will be attending a 1.5 hr playgroup starting

4th Jan 2010. I am going to school! :)

Ok, that is about all. thanks for reading this far. :)