Early Goodbye, Long Goodnight

Tonight, Mummy explained to Ning that Ah Mah is going back to Malaysia tomorrow. She'll have to say "bye bye" then. It took slightly more than a few seconds for the message to sink in (no thanks to BabyTV in the background). Then, she went to Ah Mah arms open and headed for her, but Ah Mah told her "Ah Mah is dirty, don't need to hug (me)".

Ning looked so taken aback and hurt. Then she backed off and said "bye bye" sadly.

I immediately asked Ah Mah, which is more important, a little bit of "dirt" or saying "I don't want to hug you". Disappointingly, Ah Mah says, it's okay, when Ning grows up she'll understand. I'm so sad. She thinks it's okay to hurt her now, then when she grows up, she'll need to understand why her Ah Mah doesn't want to hug her.

Later on, when it was time for bed, she automatically went to kiss Papa (on the waist, as he was having dinner at the table) goodnight. Audibly. "Muack". Then waved and said "bye bye" while walking away. And repeated this six times before Mummy whisked her away into the bedroom. This time, she didn't go to Ah Mah. I guess she's been turned away too many times before...

The Many Ways to Wear Mummy's Bandana

Ning seems to be trying out all of them, including the unconventional ones.

She always have a blast, skips around with the bandana over her head.

Pink Squirrel, Pink Shoe

Busha Pants and "Mau Tau Ying" (Owl)

Mummy ordered 4 Busha Pants from GMarket.com.sg.

We opened them in front of Shay Ning, Ah Mah and Papa. When we identified the owl in Cantonese, it translates literally to "cat head eagle".

Ning went to get the cat and brought it over to compare to the owl. We laughed till our stomachs ached.

The pants are quite well made, only feels a little warm. Guess Mummy will keep them for the child care then.

She knows where the temple (body part) is...

and was probably confused when Mummy kept telling her we're going to the temple today.

On the way to the MRT station, Mummy said, we're going to the temple to pray to Kwan Im today. Then she tapped her hand on side of Mummy's head, where the temple is. Then I realized, hey, she remembers the body part! Mummy then explained that temple is also a place where people go to pray.

Oooh, Mummy is so pleasantly surprised.

On the way home, Mah Mah sat beside Ning in the MRT. When the MRT was out of the tunnels, Ning stood up and watched the vehicles on the road along the MRT tracks. She started pointing out, "bus", "car", "(lor)ry", "taxi" and went "wooo", Papa's sound for moving vehicles. 

Mah Mah reacted like it's the first time she heard Ning do this. I said, whenever we were on the roadside, Ning would do this. :D I'm so happy someone else shares my pride ;) Aside from Papa. Papa's already stepping up on naming things for Ning!

Ning (and Mummy) missed Popo & Gong Gong

We were just starting to eat with Mah Mah and Papa. And she asked "Popo, Gong Gong?" My heart just melted.

Then last night, or was it the night before, it was time to turn off the TV and say good night. She switched it off, then went to Papa first, first kiss, the "bye bye" for good night. Papa pushed her away, saying he's dirty, didn't want to kiss her and make her oily. Mah Mah did the same when Ning went to say good night. Then, she followed Mummy into the bedroom and asked, "Popo, Gong Gong?". She remembers the good night kisses and hugs Popo and Gong Gong gave her and craves for them.

How do I explain to Mah Mah and Papa, which actually matters more? Passing some oil over to Ning, or giving her love?

Ning shows empathy watching BabyTV

I've noticed her demonstrating exaggerated emotions like coughing/crying sometimes while watching TV. I thought she was sleepy and acting up at first. Then, I watched closer.

I saw her watch a bird being kicked by the hippo (by accident), and it fell over. It was suppose to be funny, but she coughed and "cried". Not long afterwards, Humpty Dumpty came on. The ball knocked Humpty Dumpty off the wall and off came his hat and he looked sad. Then she did it again! It's like she's telling Mummy, "Oh no! Humpty Dumpty fell down."

I wonder when she'll start trying to hit the "bad" characters on the TV, like the hippo. 

*grin*

Afternote (29 Apr 2011):

Today, the nursery rhyme came up again. This time, Ning is visibly and certainly distressed. She was already shouting out in distress before the ball hit Humpty Dumpty. I had to assure her that the fairy will make him alright at the end to prevent the tears from falling.

Slightly earlier, while watching "Love" ("Ai"), the foster mother was giving away the baby boy back to his birth mother, and the baby boy was crying and reaching for the foster mother and father. She stood in front of the television and pointed at the boy and at both parents, as if telling them and me, that he wants the foster parents to carry him! And she pulled Mummy to the television. I explained that the foster mother is very ill and may die, so she couldn't take care of him. She has to return him to his birth mother to care. Then she didn't pursue the matter anymore.

Whoa, complex!!!

First really awkward/disappointment situation with Ning

Last Saturday, something really awkward happened.

We were told weeks earlier, by our good friend, Kakak, her Mum was planning a birthday party and inviting us and the other neighbour with 3 kids.

Mummy was preparing Ning for the big day once we were told of the intent. Saying what a birthday party was, there'll be the birthday girl, lots of presents for the birthday girl, and cake, and lots of playing and laughing. We even went to pick out the birthday gift together, saying how she'll give it to the birthday girl. We'll put on a pretty dress and go over with the present and wish her "Happy Birthday!".

Up to the day itself, Kakak did not say anything afterwards, nor did her parents. So we assumed the party was still on. When the guests were arriving, lots of family members, we were surprised at the growing "small" party and thought we'd just stay half an hour at most for Ning to "party" with her Kakaks and Abang, then leave. We even asked Kakak, when she'll be expecting us over, we'll shower and come on cue.

When the last guests / family members arrived, Mummy was worried we were unfashionably late, so Mummy sent an SMS to Kakak. The reply came as a shocker for Mummy. Kakak says her Mum says there were too many guests already and Kakak cannot invite us over. The invitation was purely from Kakak. 

There was a gross miscommunication. Mummy should've checked with Kakak's Mum earlier. 

Now Mummy had the MOST DIFFICULT task of letting Ning down, that we weren't invited, she'd have to take off the party dress (Papa is really mean, we could've kept it on and went out to KFC in it), and we're not joining in the fun. Ning didn't cry, but she ignored Mummy, ignored the party hat and mask that Kakak brought over earlier. She ignored Kakak. I think, inside, she doesn't really know how to react. It is the first time she felt sour and ignored us. I suggested we went to KFC, which was one of her favourite places, for dinner to ease the pain. Put her on her overalls.

On the way out, she saw the party hat, reached for it. Mummy asked if she wanted Mummy to help put it on, she shook her head and swiped her hands at it, indicating she doesn't want it.

When we went out, she looked the other way, away from Kakak's house. I guessed she was still sad.

When we were almost at the lift lobby, Kakak called, to give us cake. Initially, I thought she wanted to ask us over, I didn't want Ning to be subjected to disappointment again, so I said, "It's ok, we're going out already!". Ning didn't want to walk back, even when Mummy had to go back to get the cake from Kakak.

At KFC, she ate and drank very little. Mummy's heart broken.

I felt like I shouldn't have let this kind of thing happen, especially when she's so young and understands what is going on.

We haven't had the chance to play with Kakak or Abang recently, since Popo and Gong Gong's visit, but I hope she'll still remember how happy she was playing with Kakak and Abang and not remember the incident for too long. Maybe I should throw the unpleasant reminders of a party hat and mask away, just in case.

She says goodbye to (good night) and kisses Popo & Gong Gong

The first few nights, Mummy carries her to kiss Popo & Gong Gong good night. Then Mummy sometimes forgets when Mummy's been trying to coax her into the bedroom.

Last night and just now, when she asked for milk and looked sleepy, Mummy said to turn off the TV and say "bye bye" to Popo and Gong Gong because we're going to bed for milk.

She walked to the TV, turned it off.

She walked to Popo, while Mummy went into the bedroom to close the window and turn on the fan, kisses Popo and says "bye bye". Then she did the same to Gong Gong, who was in the dining room. Mummy came out in time to view her saying and waving "bye bye" to Popo and the repeating with Gong Gong.

My heart just melted. Mummy planted many kisses on this sweet little girl afterwards :)

Ning's first independent somersault, in fit of anger

Ning was sleepy, we just returned from a long walk after breakfast.

To cut a long story short, she threw a fit today! For almost half an hour.

She was already sleep deficient and hungry. Mummy made it worse by bringing her to shower despite her protests. After that, she was inconsolable. She wouldn't latch on or lie down still. Even when carried, she was crying and all communications was down. So was sobbing. Mummy braved the teeth, and stuffed one nipple in, and she finally suckled to sleep.

But, before that, when I laid her down on bed, she pulled her butt up so high, hands and feet down, that she rolled over her head! She paused, surprised for a while, she'd probably laugh and try again under normal circumstances, but then, she didn't. Sigh.

I held her in my arms for full half an hour before moving her onto the bed and she suckled some more. We only slept 1 hour before she woke up and asked "ball?" Tried to nurse her to sleep again, but she was rolling about and asking for Popo and Gong Gong already.

She finally slept at 6:00pm, I'm so thankful. Hopefully she'd recover from sleep deprivation. We couldn't sleep at the chalet on Sunday because all around, people were barbecuing till midnight, and after that, our neighbors were playing mahjong till dawn! We checked out yesterday, skipping one night of paid accommodation for our sanity!

Wild Wild Wet on Monday

Wild Wild Wet only begins operation at 1:00pm on weekdays.

We arrived there at 10:30am. Early, and lots of time to kill.

Bought Popo a 2-piece swim suit, or tankini, and Gong Gong, a beach shorts, all for $38.80 there.

We went on the River a couple of times. Then stuck around the children's water playground for a while, going on the reduced scale rides. Once with Ning on the straight slide.

Mummy was wearing the cotton nursing top, it got Mummy stuck on the slides where the person has to lie down. Mummy had to use Mummy's legs to "walk-slide" down lying down. Such a damper.

All in all, I think Ning had most fun on the river. Mummy sat her on Mummy's tummy, holding my thumbs, floating on my back, so she sits facing forward, Mummy floated backwards, feet occasionally kicking off the bottom. She enjoyed the rapids, which sounded like "rabbits", so she was looking around for "rabbits" at first. Then when I explained, rapids, means rapid water, when we were going thru the rapids, she got it. And she says "rapids" whenever we approached choppy waters.

We were very tired, when we got home, we were so tired,  Popo slept before 9pm, no aches, no complaints, except for a little hunger. Gong Gong slept after a Guinness.

Lougong, thanks for everything! *muAcks*

She eats more with company

Today, she had 2 more playmates than normal. Popo and Gong Gong.

She drank 60ml of fresh milk, had loads of teaspoonfuls of soup with bee hoon (short strands, no piling), some tomato and a shred of chicken.

Popo asked her if the soup or bee hoon was nice, and she said, "ya!". Popo kept going at it, and she kept smiling, nodding and saying "yep".

Mummy's pleased.

Today, we went down as usual, but Ning quickly wanted to come up again. I'm guessing the thunder and dark skies are frightening, or she wants to go home to Popo and Gong Gong.

So, here we are. Mummy will try to feed her more tomorrow!

Yesterday, was almost perfect!

We watched just under 45 minutes (in 3 sessions) of BabyTV. Morning, when Mummy was preparing breakfast and Papa needs to get ready for work. Another session to feed her, after that we watched a yoga DVD, she joined in when the guy in Yoga Journal did the Downward Dog pose. After that, Mummy did another 15 minutes of Paula Abdul's "Get up and dance" workout DVD. She also danced, her own style :)

After that, we played together, her toys, played hide and seek with her toys, pretend to feed, toilet and wash the hair for her Baby Pooh and Mickey Mouse. Oh, she's funny at Guardian. Mummy pointed out shampoo for her, and she tapped under the spout, then put her hands on top of her hand, and swipes downwards a few times. She's indicating, shampoo is for washing hair. Mummy's delighted!

At night, she finished almost another bowl of vegetable soup. Earlier in the afternoon, a whole bowl with egg yolk. And in between, nibbled some strawberries, apples and mango, and then some yoghurt.

Today, I can't say the same. I smacked her buttocks 4 times because she poured out all the peas from the cup after I told her not to the first time. Then I asked her, do you want me to hit your buttocks? She nodded. I smacked her faster than I could regret it immediately after. She cried a little bit, more shocked than in pain. Mummy's very concern, I need more sleep, I'm losing my temper and finding her more challenging than I'd normally would. She's a real darling, and I shouldn't lose my temper and shout or hit her. After all, she's just 16 months old, what does she know right?

Bad Mummy. BAD Mummy.

Sad Mummy. Miserable Mummy.