Meeting Auntie Cheryl again

Auntie Cheryl took us to Clearwater Bay Country Club. While Dexter slept I rode in a boat in the playground and chatted with Auntie Cheryl and Auntie Mui, and to SGG’s pleasure did lots of my party tricks including showing Auntie Mui my yoga positions and talking lots and coherently. After lunch, we went to the marina to see the big boats and fishes. I had fun.

While we were at Clearwater Bay with Auntie Cheryl, Papa went to see my class teacher Miss Stella to discuss my achievements this term. Both Miss Stella and Papa agreed I have grown-up a lot recently, and gave me only stars and ticks on my report card this time around, no triangles :-). SGG and Grandma both think I have really come together over this past month. I’m not sure what this means but I think it has to do with me being better behaved (although I still do senseless things sometimes) and making more sense and holding proper conversations instead of only giving one-word replies such as “Yes”, “No” or saying only “I don’t yike it” when I talk.

Excuse me!

I am talking more than ever and, according to the grown-ups, coming up with lots of cute phrases. I used to shout “No listen” when I wanted everyone to be quiet, now I say “Excuse me, no listen, I want to talk”. Grandma and SGG are teaching me to say my address in both English and Cantonese - they are afraid I might get lost one day!

SGG tried to take me to Penfold Park today, but found that it was closed due to avian flu (whatever that might be). So we went to Beas River Country Club instead where I had fun riding on my tricycle and playing with Pun. We then stopped off at Auntie May’s to pick up “something nice”, which turned out to be a very tasty apple strudel :-p . Auntie May was really chuffed that I called her name without being prompted. SGG said I was a very good boy.

November

I had a very busy month starting with a play date with Marvin and his family, Megan, Auntie Esther and Uncle Calvin at Happy Valley Jockey Club. The weather was very good so we played outside and ate pizza and fruit.

Sai Gugu took me to the park with a little girl called, Danelle. We played separately and Danelle gave me a little digger as a parting gift. Gugu Big signed me up for Soccatots on Saturday mornings at the USRC. I like Gemma, my coach but it still takes me about 30 minutes to warm to the group before I am able to join in with the fun and games.

Despite the introduction of the “Star Reward” scheme in September, I’m still very naughty so SGG is trying out a punishment scheme where my toys are taken away and put "under lock & key" when I do something naughty or unsociable, such as throwing my food and spitting. My toys are returned when I’ve been good. Let’s see how I get on.

I’m talking quite a lot now and in addition to English, I’ve started saying words and phrases in Cantonese and Putonghua. Although I’ve been singing songs in Putonghua since I started school in September, speaking it at home is new.

Uncle Thomas Schieber, SGG’s good friend was in HK for a day and came to meet me. I liked Uncle Thomas so I was on my best behaviour ;-)

Summer holidays

Luckily its been dry the last two Sundays in a row - Papa and Gugu took me to the country club to see horses. Last week, I was fascinated to see one taking a shower. I nearly touched one, but got scared when I got up close :-( This week, we watched people riding them and jumping over gates. It has been so hot to be outside that droplets rain off my face :-0

Although most children have started summer holidays, I now go to school 4 days a week instead of 3; Wednesday is my new day off. I love school : One very wet day in June, I was very upset when I arrived at school to find that classes have been cancelled due to the rainstorm warning. Since Mrs Griffin left, my class has been taken over by Miss Rachel, who I know from last year. I go to class alone for two of the four days. My classes start two hours earlier than before, so I now commute in the morning rush hour. Gugu took me in on the first two days to make sure I started off smoothly.

Winking has become my latest party trick; Every day, I speak some new words. The adults sometimes still wonder where I learned the words. Grandma says my pronunciation is improving by leaps and bounds; Papa was impressed with my first five-syllable word - "organisation".

Although I don't sit in my high-chair for meals any more, Gugu realised it was a stretch for me to sit on the big chair, and much food ended on the floor. To make it easier, the Gugus went and bought me a booster seat. The adults are resigned to the fact that I still get mucky paws and food still ends up on the floor.

Goodbye Mrs. Griffin

It's still rainy season. I go to the outdoors playground at the Jockey Club if its dry, and playroom if it's rainy. I like the ball pit in the playroom, where I am surrounded by spheres and can collapse face up and face down without fear of hurting myself. I can say "ball pit", but it sounds a bit like "puppet" right now. Papa is so pleased with further progress this week: he says I can now speak in grammatically correct phrases. I started collecting things recently, and I ask grown-ups to help me capture horses, pylons and "crankies" with this new-found linguistic skill.

Mrs Griffin teaches us songs in school. I often like to hum 'She'll be coming round the mountain, and can now sing 'Twinkle Twinkle'. Mrs Griffin is leaving for home [Ireland] in a few days, so Big and I baked cookies for her leaving party tomorrow; Papa got some photos of me, and we made a card for her. Neither Mrs Griffin nor the folks at home like me throwing things. In order to get me out of unwanted habits, Gugu started putting me in the "Naughty Chair". I have had to go to it several times this week :-( She got the idea of from 'Supernanny'.

I am allowed to sit in a big chair most mealtimes and feed myself. I make a mess: Papa says it's normal; Grandma cringes. Since I read 'Maisy Goes Camping', my sleeping bag has become a prop these days. I no longer wear it at night. If I get put to bed in one, it's usually off before I fall asleep.

Papa is speaking more to me in Mandarin. Also my ability to express myself in both English and Cantonese is also improving, and my verbal comprehension is progressing well in all 3 languages. I have no difficulty in pronouncing new words taught to me every day. I already know all my fruits, for example, mango, papaya, pomelo, strawberries, avocado, pomme, and joining these with words like 'more', 'another', 'get', 'only', 'help', 'milk', 'cheese', I can give precise instructions at tea and meal times. Grandma introduced me to clear beef and vegetable broth - it was an instant hit!

Yesterday was Grandma's birthday. I gave her a card and a present, and wished her "Happy Birthday" out loud. I wished her "Happy Birthday" again and again throughout the day. Grandma was chuffed to bits.

Development

It's hot and rainy outside - not very pleasant, so I've not been to play out very much since my last entry. On the one nice day last week, Gugu took me to play golf (see the slideshow). I got back all hot and sweaty, and referred to the droplets as "rain" ;-)

I still go to school every week, and I now have a "best friend" at school called Eugene. I'm very much looking forward to a play-date which Gugu organised with him for me next Monday after school.

I am learning to construct longer sentences of three, four or more words. Yesterday I saw Grandpa sleeping on the sofa, and told him "Yeye room bed". I am still obsessed with balls, but have developed a great interest in "crankies" (cranes) since seeing the Thomas the Tank Engine episode "A Cranky Day". I point them out whenever I see them on roof tops and building sites, which is quite a lot- as there is a lot of construction on route to my favourite destinations;-). Gugu has been so impressed that she went and bought me a Cranky to go with my growing train set.

Whilst Big plans my meals, I get to select the dishes: I like to eat a variety of things :-), but I am still essentially a vegetarian.

New words

My language development is progressing, new words are coming thick and fast. As I am now officially 2 years old, so I learned to say 'two' and 'deux'. Papa says I'm not a baby anymore, but I still mostly refer to myself as Baby, or Booboo [Bear], as Papa likes to call me.

Weeks ago, I said my first two-syllable words "turtle" and "hello". Now I can use two words together, which I usually use to indicate possessions or to ask for something. A current favourite word is "non", which I now use routinely and emphatically like a little Charles de Gaulle. I also learned to say 'Gordon'. Gugu was so impressed she rushed out to get him for my collection :-) I now like to run Gordon under bridges, or even better to attach my magnetic trains to metallic objects.

Since last week, I get given fresh cow's milk to drink now instead of formula; Little Gugu reports that I am another centimetre taller, at 90cm. She has it marked on a wall-chart :-)).

The weather's been a lot better again, so I've been going out more often to the park to play. Gugu took me swimming today instead of Papa, but she says I should feel more comortable with her next time.

My second birthday

It was soooo much fun celebrating my second birthday yesterday. Gugu Big had left me a present, which I recognised immediately when I opened it - it was James, Thomas' friend. Papa gave me a fire station to go with my train set, whilst Mummy gave me a Lego train. Little Gugu gave me a nice picture book for my collection.

In the evening, my relatives from downstairs all came up for my party, and I got more presents. Somehow, everybody learnt of my love of Thomas the Tank Engine, so my presents have a common theme:-O. My train set is getting bigger - only Papa is making me wait to open my presents as he says I have too many toys right now :-(

I had a delicious cake which Grandma ordered as Gugu wasn't around this year to make me a cake. I couldn't help asking for second helpings, which I devoured without any assistance. Grandma was impressed that I only made a little mess.

People often laugh at my party tricks now, as I often say "Oui" when asked a question - even when people ask my name; colours are usually either 'green' or 'rouge'.

Gugu came back this week, and has noticed I'm taller and more mature - I think it has something to do with the cheese I've been eating ;-)

Black eye

Since my last entry, I sustained a black eye and learned to say my name. I have once again had the most exciting and eventful week starting on Tuesday when Papa celebrated his birthday. Gugu had taught me to say “app-e-bird-e” to Papa, who was very thrilled.

Today, I skipped school to attend my Uncle Des' wedding (by the English reckoning, he's not really my Uncle but my first cousin once removed). I was a bit shy at first, but soon confidently started to perform all my party tricks including speaking in English, Français, Cantonese and Putonghua to keep the grown-ups amused while they were queuing to have their pictures taken with the bride and groom. I love Auntie Kinnie, who gave me an hat - she's beautiful and always comes to play with me.

My second Christmas

I've taken to pointing and saying "more" when I want something. It's a useful word to ask for and get given more food, easier than naming the object; the grown-ups usually work out what it is I want. But they try to teach me to say 'please' each time......

I was most pleased when little Gugu arrived from England on Sunday to spend a few months with us. She says she has missed me, Va and Grandma. Papa has had a few days' break for the holidays, so he took me swimming, and to play in the park.

My Christmas stocking was put out several days ago for Santa. On Christmas day, I knew instinctively to look in it for my presents: Santa had given my two more choochoos to go with my little wooden Thomas :-0 . I love Santa! Right now, I'm wondering what sticks my choochoos together, and not understanding why my other cars don't do the same. Papa explains it's called 'magnetism'.

Lots of people arrived in the house for Christmas lunch yesterday, and they all brought me presents. My new Aunty bought me a ball pit; Gugu gave me 2 railway tracks to help build my own private railway. Grandma's friend gave me a little tricycle which makes lots of noise, so grandma can always find me ;-).

A little cockney thug ;-)

Since my last diary entry, my hair has been cut very short again. I was having a laugh with Gugu and Va in the bathroom when heard this buzzing sound around my head. Next thing I knew, there was hair in the tub behind me and my neck started to itch, I realised that it was too late :...-(

My vocabulary has grown quite a lot. I can identify many objects and say a lot of everyday words now, but always dropping my aitches: I say " 'ead", " 'at", " 'and" and " 'ot", so I sound a bit Cockney. I am very strong, and I like moving my furniture about in the house. My favourite is tipping the tables and chairs over, sometimes while Bear is sitting in the chair in question. With my skinhead cut and behaviour to match, Gugu is now calling me "a little thug".

The house is in a state because we have all had to decamp into half the usual space during renovations, so Papa has been sleeping over at the hotel where he works; I miss Va because he is in hospital for an operation.

Mummy left for Paris

Mommy left on Tuesday, and I shall miss her. Before she left, Papa decided that we should all go to get some family photographs. I brought along Tiger and my newly acquired tennis ball, so I have one or other in our photos.

Two days before mommy left, the three of us went for a day out to Ocean Park. I saw some sea lions and some real live dolphins. Although it wasn't the first time I've seen real dolphins up close, I now realise they are animals which live in water. I got to ride a bubble lift to go from one end of the resort to the other and I also got to see the world from up on Papa's shoulders for quite a long stretch while walking around :-)

In school, I like it when teacher Miss Sarah shakes our hands when we first greet her - we each get a star-shaped sticker :-) However, I saw that another little boy didn't get one when he refused to shake her hand. Last week, I added 'star' to my vocabulary, this week, I learned the Chinese word for 'clock'. I started to use 'Wow' to express wonderment.

Since I started school, elevenses has become an important ritual. Not to mention I get peckish if there's no school, and miss elevenses. I had Grandma wondering that my body clock had gone wonky when I begged and pleaded for my mid-morning snack. Fortunately Grace got the message before I starved to death ;-).

I started partially immersing my head in the bath for laughs. Mommy was worried that I would choke on bath water. Grandma has decided to use less bubble bath in my tub from now on. I just need a snorkel and some flippers now ;-)

"Grasshopper"

This week I resumed swimming after all my spots disappeared; I went to Baby Gym at the Y; I learned to blow a kiss; I walk around on my tip-toes; I have started putting objects down gently instead of throwing them all.

I enjoy eating plums all by myself - first I skin them bit by bit using my teeth, then I eat the flesh; I love my freshly squeezed orange juice every day. Sometimes, I will turn down my food, and sometimes I will demand something to hold instead being spoon-fed, but I always drink my juice and eat my fruit - I prefer chomp on a whole banana than having it cut up for me. Gugu says that I am just beginning to assert my personality.

I learnt the word for "angry" in both English and Chinese: Grandma told me off for messing with my food by wagging her finger at me. When I was naughty again, she asked me to show her what she did when she was angry, so I wagged my finger back at her. Now, I have been practising by adding a little grunt [learned from grandpa] when I wag my finger. I sometimes wag my finger pre-emptively if I have been naughty. It gets me off the hook because the grown-ups roar with laughter at me.

Today, Papa went to have his haircut, and took me with him. The staff at the hairdressers all lavished their attention on me for half an hour until it was my turn. This little sheep did not like the thought of being sheared, and bleated in protest when facing the clippers. I cried and struggled, so Papa and Grandma had to console me and hold my head still. When it was all over, I just knew I had to wag my finger at Mr. Frederick who cut my hair, and also at Papa and Grandma for their part in this ordeal. To add insult to injury, Grandma says that I now look like a shaolin monk, and Gugu is calling me 'Grasshopper'. Fortunately, my hair is now soooo short that I won't need to have it cut again, ever ;-).

Father's Day

Today is Father's day in America; we went out for lunch today like most Sundays. The restaurant we went to was busy and noisier than usual. I was dressed up nice, and I put on a new pair of trainers with flashing lights which grandpa bought me. What a lovely surprise to find that Lulu and her whole family were also invited. We ate some char siu baos and had lots of fun together, and I also made friends with some people on the table next to ours.

Papa started going to work, so I did not see him at all during the day except today and Monday. As I am usually the first one up in the house, my job starting this week is to sound "the reveille", to make sure Papa isn't late for work. I call out to him. I would take him a cup of coffee if grandma thought I could hold it that far without spilling it. Papa took me swimming on Monday, and it's been Grandpa's turn to take me swimming otherwise. Grandpa reports that I'm still making good progress.

I finally overcame my fear of a brightly coloured beach ball which Gugu bought me: It's been sitting in the store room for 2 months but I was afraid to tackle it, yet I've been to take a peek at it every now and then. One day, I finally plucked up enough courage to pick it up. Now I often grab it with one hand, and throw it around the house. I've seen gugu use her big green ball for pilates, so I also use my beach ball just like her. I was also afraid of balloons, so Papa put one on each chair so that I would stop climbing them. It did work to start with, but it wore off over the next few days. I was soon back climbing the chairs again, much to Papa's chagrin.

I'm now 81cm tall, and I weigh about 26 pounds (11.8kg). It turns out once again that my sleep patterns have swung back the other way. My morning and afternoon naps have been quite long this week, so luckily Grandma has some breathing space during the daytime.

I still like to spit out my food sometimes, but I am now allowed to drink water from a cup on my own. Papa is pleased that I am finally starting to drink more than I spill. I learned a good trick from 'Wobble Bear Says Yellow'. His word is "yellow" but, mine is the Chinese word for "lamp". I like its sound, so I say it often. For me, it means anything which is attached to the ceiling.

Playpen

Gugu took off the glove on Wednesday. My hand looks uglier than it feels. It doesn't hurt any more, and most of the old dead skin has already fallen off.

Grandpa and Grandma went shopping last week, and came back with a playpen for me. It now lives in the living room. It's fun in the playpen coz papa lined it with foam tiles with numbers from 1 to 9, and I'm surrounded by lots of toys. On top of that, as Gugu has put some of my toys in every room, I'm gradually taking over the whole apartment. I think this arrangement suits the grown-ups because they don't have to put my toys away every day any more. Also, I can play unsupervised, and without me going touching radiators and knocking things over. The air temperature has gone back up this last week, and the heaters have been put away.

Every day now, I try standing without support. My legs are not strong enough for walking, but I can support my full weight for a few seconds at a time. I still go around on all fours like greased lightening. Grandma's 18 holes of golf have been upgraded to 22 ;-) !!!

One day, Papa showed me Nemo, said 'fish', and I was able to repeat it after him. My 'F' sound, right now sounds like "tsch". Being proud of this achievement, Papa clapped, and so did I. I feel more words coming, so watch this space.