Developments in January 2011

As I approach my third birthday, Mama is noticing some more development milestones.

For example, I have started to have an idea of my possessions. One day, I just looked at my T-shirt I was in and said,"Ah ner shirt". I still can't pronounce my own name properly, calling myself "Ah ner" but there is no mistake that I am referring to the piece of clothing as mine. I now have a deeper awareness of my body parts too eg my pointer, my thumbkin, my pinkie.

For the past few days, I am also starting to sing.

Ok, Mama has blogged about me singing many times but those seem more like single episodes rather than repeated ones. This time round, Mama could see that I seem to be holding a tune, going on and on and at times, when I hear a song, I will sing certain words.

Recently,I heard the song that goes something like,"Oh Mr Sun, Sun, Mr Golden Sun, please shine down on me.." and I will sing the words "sun', "me" when these words appear in the song. Also, I would often suddenly say "Clap, clap, tap, tap, amen!" when we were not singing.

Mama would sometimes ask me if I was feeling happy and that was why I said,"Clap clap, tap tap, amen!" You see, Aunty Siew Lan has been showing us the song If You Are Happy when she teaches the toddlers in church school. The song teaches us to clap our hands, stomp our feet and say amen if we are happy. I had learnt this song and this sequence very well. In fact, so well that even if other actions were done such when the song is sung, if you sing"If you are happy and you know it, do all three", I will automatically clap my hands, stomp my feet and say Amen even if we had been pulling ears, tapping thighs or doing other actions before "do all three".

Mama thinks what I am learning in church school is taking root in this way. Talking about church school, Mama has started teaching church school this year and she has been leaving me with Aunty Audrey and Aunty Siew Lan who are teaching the toddlers in the church. According to Aunty Siew Lan, I am much better in my behaviour when my parents are not around.

My parents often think I am unable to participate in the church school activities because I am too active and unable to sit still. Last year, Mama had often feared I will disrupt the programme with my walking around as well as me being hurt if I am not watched after (Mama once saw a pin on the floor when she was following after me during church school and she had picked it up in case other toddlers stepped on it by accident). Hence Mama dared not leave me unattended during church school.

Now that I had shown myself to be better when they were not around, the arrangement is that I will be left in the church school on my own with the teachers to help me integrate into the programme. Mama is very thankful for such an arrangement as this means she and Papa can be freed up to attend the church service together.

Just last Sunday, they attended the worship service in church together and I was with Aunty Mee Fong. Even though our family was late and my parents only arrived in the sanctuary in time for the sermon, Mama was really thankful there is someone to look after me. After the service, she told Aunty Mee Fong it has been ages since she and Papa last attended a church service together. Indeed, God honours us when we choose to honour God. :D

My Papa has also started our family Christian education. Now, if you ask me who made me, I will tell you "God" and if you ask me where is God, I will tell you "Everywhere". These are basic truths Papa wants me to learn.

I am still unable to fully understand these questions and answers though. Many a times, when Mama asks me who made a mess on the floor, I will also say "God" when in fact, I was the culprit. Mama often asks as she wants me to learn to own up to my mistakes. It's a little funny that I always answered "God" whenever I heard the questions that started with "Who".

Also, I am now able to jump up and down. I usually do it when I want something done my way. You know my Mama. Many a times, she wanted to give me what I requested for but if I throw a tantrum like this when I make my request, she will with-hold what she originally wanted to give me. She wanted me to learn that I will not get my way if I throw my tantrum. If I had fully understood, I probably will have my way more often.

By the way, I still love my dinosaur hair.

Many a times, I will ask Mama to give me dinosaur hair and request that she carry me so that I can see myself in the mirror when Mama helps me shower. Mama will often carry me so that I can see my dinosaur hair. Here's another picture. Really dinosaur-like, don't you think so?

During shower, I will often help to hold the shower head and spray the water onto the various parts of my body. For example, Mama will point to my left arm and ask me to wash that part and I will bring the shower near to my left arm and let the water wash away the soap on my left arm. Mama thinks I am really a big boy now, getting more independent! :D

That's about all for the time being. Mama will post more when she thinks of more things to write about.