Tired... 16 months old

Zo Ee at 16months 3weeks old. (29/8/2009)

I first noticed little Zo Ee using the word “tired” more than a month ago (around 15-months old) and I have heard little Zo Ee saying the word “tired” a few times, just before her afternoon nap. Usually whenever I noticed a tired Zo Ee, I’ll ask her, “Zo Ee, are you tired? Do you want to have a nap?” Most of the time, little Zo Ee will immediately start to suck her thumb.( Zo Ee has this habit ; sucking her thumb whenever she is tired or hungry.) There were a few occasions where little Zo Ee replied me, “tired” instead. But today’s incident really caught my attention because I wasn't asking her whether she was tired or not, therefore, I was not expecting the word "tired" from her just now.

Little Zo Ee fell asleep in the living room just before we were to go out for dinner. Merely 30minutes of napping, and Daddy was about to wake her up, she was awaken abruptly, choking from her congested nostrils, back nasal dripped back into her throat. The coughing Zo Ee started to cry and throw tantrum. Daddy and I could sense that she was frustrated with her congested nostrils and our poor little Zo Ee does not know how to blow her nose yet. She was very cranky and this is not the usual Zo Ee to us but Daddy and I understood that little Zo Ee is a bit unwell with slight running nose and frequent uncomfortable sneezing. Therefore, when she was crying inconsolably, Daddy and I were trying our best to calm her while she was still struggling with her congested nostrils. Although she was feeling a little relief later on, she was still a cry baby. So I probed further, while still comforting her, I asked “Why? Zo Ee. It’s ok, Mummy is here. Mummy knows that Zo Ee is unwell. It’s ok. Mummy is here.” And to my surprised, little Zo Ee replied me, “Tired!”. (“Woo hoo!” Little Zo Ee was telling me that she was tired. Unbelievable!) Even though I was extremely surprised at that moment, I kept myself calm for Zo Ee sake, so I continued to calm her, “Tired? It’s ok. Let Mummy gives you a hug.” This time, little Zo Ee replied tenderly, “tired…” as she leaned forward to hug me.

Pretend play - 16 months old

Zo Ee at 16months 3weeks old. (29/8/2009)

Pretending...that's what little Zo Ee is up to lately...pretend play, imaginery play...pretend talking in long sentences like us (chatting!). Little Zo Ee also loves seeing herself in the mirror while making funny faces and actions. She can entertain and playing all by herself for an hour, sometimes even up to 2 hours without any complain. Lucky Mummy ha!

Bye! I'm going for a ride with Barney and friends.

I'm the school bus driver..."beep! Beep! Beep!"

I'm the pilot, Zoom.....

What is Mummy doing? Taking her own picture???

Mirror! Mirror on the wall!

Is Mummy again?

So shy...

Hugging and giving Mummy a few pat on the back.

Let's have some fun... let's pretend!

Ooh! I'm still Zo Ee...

up to 100 - 16months old

Zo Ee at 16months 2weeks old. (28/7/2009)

Past 2 weeks, I have been reciting 11, 12, ...up to 20 alternately with little Zo Ee. And today, I made another step forward, crossing the number 20 and began to recite "21" . Surprisingly, little Zo Ee was able to recite "22" after me and we recited up to the number 30 perfectly. So the excited me strived forward, "30" , "31" , "32" , "33" , "34" , ... and we recited up to "100" perfectly. Seems like my little Zo Ee understood the numbering system well now and is able to recite 11,12,13,..,98, 99, 100 alternately with Mummy.

Messiness - 16 months old

Zo Ee at 16months 2weeks old. (27/8/2009)

Well, these few days, little Zo Ee is extremely obsessed with this phrase “Messy, Everywhere.” Since she already knows the word “Messy” months ago (14 months old), she must have been fascinated with the new word “everywhere” as she has been intentionally creating messiness all day long.

Little Zo Ee has been seen intentionally throwing all her toys onto the floor, before excitingly expressing herself by saying “oh! Oh!”. As she went along, she kept saying "ooh!" aloud after throwing each toy onto the floor, creating a super messy living hall with her toys everywhere. Once she was done, she will tell me, “messy!” and with her hands gesture pointing to those toys lying everywhere on the floor, little Zo Ee will continue ”everywhere!” , and kept repeating, “ooh! Messy! Messy! Everywhere!”

This also happens during meal times, when she have had enough of the food, she will intentionally pour them onto her table top, further mess them with both her hands. Again, little Zo Ee will be excitedly telling me, “ooh! Ooh! Messy! Everywhere! Everywhere!” Little Zo Ee seems like enjoying the thrill of messing things up before informing me about the messiness she had created everywhere.

Smell - 16 months old

Zo Ee at 16months 2weeks old. (27/8/2009)

Zo Ee is demonstrating an amazing skill in smell recognition. Merely through smelling, she can recognize the food that I’m cooking for her . This happens quite a number of times since a month ago where at first I thought it was purely coincident. But today, Zo Ee reaffirmed my belief that she does recognize food through their smell.

This was what happened just now; every noon time, I’ll play an educational VCD for her while I prepare lunch for her in the kitchen. As usual, little Zo Ee will be engrossed to her VCD programme. When the show finished, she will look for me and inform me that the show has ended, usually by saying “Finished!” with hands gesture too. While she was near the kitchen door just now and I was expecting her to inform me that the show has ended, but she was asking for “scramble eggs” instead while pointing at the kitchen stove. Surprisingly, I had already made some scramble eggs for her lunch today and it was still hot on the frying pan. She must had recognized the smell of scramble eggs and that smell had changed her topic. When I proceeded to remove the disc from the player and to switch off the television before settling little Zo Ee for her lunch, the impatient little Zo Ee kept telling me, “scramble eggs, scramble eggs” and asking for it while directing me back to the kitchen area.

This incident really brought me back to a few more similar incidents which happened last month. There are a few occasions, where I was steaming some green peas for her, little Zo Ee came near to the kitchen, standing next to the safety gate which was blocking her entrance to the kitchen, telling me "green peas, green peas" while pointing at the stove again. She could have smell the on-going steaming green peas on the stove, located it at the precise location and not else where. And this also happened to “steamed bean curd” too.

I strongly agree that all babies learn through their senses, and many books have clearly stated that babies do have strong senses during the first 3 years of their lives as they tend to learn through all five senses, and thus things learn during these years tend to stay permanently in their brains. And Zo Ee is a good proof to this statement as she is already able to express herself well in words, where most of the time, little Zo Ee will ask to touch and feel a new object while saying “touch, feel” while trying to reach it with her hands or to smell it, asking me to open it for her, saying “open, smell.” Sometimes, she even put things into her mouth to taste it. Therefore, all babies need to be carefully monitored while they explore their new world especially when they just started to walk and are in the most active phase of their lives, 12months – 18months old.

Saying please... - 16months old

Zo Ee at 16months 2weeks old. (26/8/2009)

My heart melts upon hearing my little Zo Ee's soft voice, asking me to carry her out of the baby cot, "Mummy, please bau... bau... please bau..bau..."

Some of Zo Ee's other two words sentences are:
" so cute. "
" bye baby "
" Mummy hug. "
" Daddy hug "
" Milk...hungry. "
" Messy...everywhere "
" choose one "
" drink juice "
" open gate "
" stand up "
" sit down "
" eat orange "
" pretty colours "
" colour pencils "
" fly kite "
" watch VCD "
" letter box "
" Towel wipe "
" touch feel "

In/Out of toy car - 16months old

Zo Ee at 16months 1week old. (20/8/2009)

Little Zo Ee is able to get in and out of her toy car independantly. Besides, she also loves to push her Pooh bear around in it, giving the bear a ride.

Perth photos - 15 months/ 16months old

Perth: 8/8/2009- 16/8/2009

8th August 2009: Changi Airport - Departing for Perth

9th August 2009: Zo Ee with Aunty Hana's Ukulele

9th August 2009: Breakfast at Le Croissant de Moulin Patisserie, Gooseberry Hill

Aunty Rina, Aunty Hana and Mummy

Aunty Lisa, Aunty Hana and Mummy

9th August 2009: Vineyard, Swan Valley

10th August 2009: Aunty Rina's apartment - balcony

11th August 2009: The Esplanade (seagulls), Fremantle

11th August 2009: Shipwreck Galleries, Fremantle

11th August 2009: Bathers Bay, Fremantle

11th August 2009: After Vietnamese Dinner, Saigon.@ Northbridge

12th August 2009: On our way to City, Sunny Day

12th August 2009: Perth City.

Wow! We were at this spot exactly 180-years after Perth was founded in 12th August 1829.

London Court, Perth City

Swan Bells, Perth City

South Bank - over looking Perth City

Daddy, Mummy and Zo Ee

Zo Ee and Ah Chik Gong : Tursday night Shopping in Perth.

15th August 2009: At Home, Zo Ee with Uncle Amin

At Home, Zo Ee with Aunty Hana

15th August 2009: Karrinyup Shopping Centre

15th August 2009: Station Street Market, Subiaco

16th August 2009: Just landed at Changi Airport at 5.30am.

Milestones - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 4weeks old (10/8/2009)

Motor skill

• Playing while squatting down
• Picking up a large beach ball and walking with it
• Throwing a ball and chasing after it
• Kicking a ball and chasing after it
• Rolling a ball and chasing after it
• Running frequently
• Standing and walking on bed (soft surface)
• Walking up/down the stairs with Mummy’s help
• Try to jump (one step down)
• Try to sit onto a potty without help; bottom on the side, legs in the center.

Language

• Willingly learning 2 syllables words – repeating words after us. By end of the month, Zo Ee already mastered well (read/say) many (most) 2 syllables words (in a month) and a few 3 syllables words. Rough estimation of Zo Ee vocabulary - at least 800 words, should be more as Zo Ee can say and read most (99%) of the 2 syllables words.
• Able to use words appropriately; even words like "feel" , "smell" , "touch" , "step" , "smelly" , "many" , "nice" , etc,…
• When Mummy asked, “Why are you sucking your thumb?” Zo Ee answered, “Milk” . When Mummy asked, “What is your name?” On many occasions, Zo Ee answered in a full sentence, “My… name… is… Zo E.” – 15months 12days old
• Uttered “I uff you.” after Mummy. – 15months 2weeks old.
• Reading short sentences. (3 words or more) eg. "Taste some cheese. In the park. Sing a song. Wash my face. Comb my hair. Giraffe is so cute." and etc– 15months 11days old.
• Read a whole book without taking any rest, (Title : Spin, spider, spin! By Rau), “Spiders have eight legs. Spiders have eight eyes. Spiders live in grass. Spiders live in trees. Spiders make silk. Spiders spin webs. Spiders catch bugs. Spiders eat bugs. Spin, spider, spin! “ -15months 11days old
• Starting to say 2 words sentences. Eg. “Hug mummy.” , “Get in.” , “get out” , “get down.” , “read book” , “brush teeth” , “brush hair” , “no more” , “put on” , “put back” , “wash hands” , “pen write” , “matching shapes” , “ oh! O” , “Over there” , "change diaper" , ….
• Starting to say 3 words sentences. Eg. “jam and bread.” , “I uff you” , ” go kai-kai”,
• More than 3 words sentence. “My name is Zo Ee.”
• Having a simple conversation with Mummy. (Amazing talking)
  

Indicating want:

• Know how to use the word “want” when wants something.
• If Mummy gets her the wrong thing, Zo Ee will tell Mummy, “put back.”
• If Mummy gets the correct one, Zo Ee will either say “yes” or nod her head for a yes.
• Asking for her favourite food occasionally, “juice” or “cheese” or “green peas” or “bean curd” , etc
• A simple example of Zo Ee conversation; Wanting to smell the herbs in containers. “ Mummy, bao-bao (carry)”, “ Herbs!” (while pointing at those herbs in containers on the table.), “Open!” , “Smell!”
• Another example; Putting on her watch. Zo Ee will say, “Watch! Watch!” (Pointing at her watch on the shelf), Telling Mummy, “Want! Want!” , when Mummy passes her the watch. Zo Ee will ask Mummy to put on for her while saying, “Put on” .
  
  
  

Numbers/maths

• Recite 11,12,13...20 alternately with Mummy. – 15months 3weeks old.
• Can even recite numbers in backward order, “ 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” Or “8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1”. – 15months 3weeks old.

Love

• Love to play peek-a-boo, always initiate this game while Mummy is sitting.
• Love Mummy to blow her tummy, always telling Mummy, “blow tummy”
• Love to drink cold drinks.
• Love to eat ice-cream
• Love to eat chocolate (first taste in Perth)

Fine motor skills

• Drink from a cup / straw ( being introduce to these only recently)
• Can hold a pencil in a better way.
• Colour picture (messy), able to differentiate colour, write and draw.
• Putting plastic puzzle together; circle, triangle, square and 2 semicircles into a circle, 2 rectangles into a square, 1 trapezium + 1 small triangle into a bigger triangle.
• Trying to scope and self-feed with a spoon and a fork.
• Pick up drop-food from the table/bib pouch before putting them back into her mouth.

Emotion

• Refused to be carried by strangers; calling Mummy and Daddy and wanted to be hold by us when feeling insecure.
• Sticking to Mummy and Daddy when others try to show physical affection towards her.
• Making sure either Mummy or Daddy is around when in a new place/ room. Keep checking on us while trying to explore her surroundings.
• Willingly hug and kiss a soft toy but not to strangers, except Mummy and Daddy.
• Trying to get others attention, especially strangers sitting nearby by touching or pulling at their sleeves, when strangers response, Zo Ee will further initiate a friendly smile.
  
  
  
  

Sense

• Complain and trying to move away from too cold/hot water(shower). Sensitive towards water temperature.
• Accepting new food/drink more easily.
• Always telling Mummy to “Change diaper” whenever she poo poo.
• Complaining "Itchy" while scratching and telling us "scratch!" .

Memory

• Recite the complete set of A to Z (26 letters in correct order) -15months 2weeks old
• World Map: can locate 32 countries (Alaska, USA, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Greenland, Antarctica, Spain, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Madagascar, Afghanistan, India, Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Canada)
• Singing 1st song, “Twinkle, twinkle little star” – 15 months 3weeks old
• Recite 11,12,13...20 alternately with Mummy. – 15months 3weeks old.
• Can even recite numbers in backward order, “ 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” or “8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” . – 15months 3weeks old.
• Easily learn a new word instantly. ( 1 time learning)
  
  

Intellectual skill

• Enjoy Imaginative play (pretend talking, etc.)
• Chooses her own VCD, put VCD into player, passes Mummy the remote controls without being told, and finally sits at her floor cushion
• Love to carry a bag over her shoulder /arm (imidate adult doings)
• Put things back at the correct place: eg. after playing/browsing with Mummy’s diary, Zo Ee stick the sticky notes back (although not at the correct pages) and slot back some paper in between pages back before putting the diary back onto the computer table.
• Matching more shapes (star, cross, heart shape, triangle)
• Locate countries on little globe – 15months 26days old.
• Know and can call out daddy’s name, “Wai Keen”
• Look for her own belly button.
• Can point to more body parts accurately; neck, chin, cheeks, forehead, eye brow, thumb, palm, wrist, chest, tummy, ankle and back.
• Can understand the term, “breathe in, breathe out”
• Can differentiate plastic and metal material.
• Sense of danger; will not immediately touch or grab onto a new object offered to her, will usually try to touch with a finger tip a few times before willingly hold onto it.
  
  

Perth (videos) - 15months / 16 months old

Zo Ee at 15months 27days old - 16months 5days old (8/8/2009 -16/8/2009)

Perth: 8th August 2009 - 16th August 2009

Departing for Perth at Changi Airport

Excited Zo Ee was running around happily.

Breakfast with love.

Ah Chik Gong made omelette for Zo Ee.

Farewell Hugs from Perth:

Aunty Hana, Uncle Amin, Aunty Lisa, Ah Chik Gong, Aunty Rina, Aunty Salmah & Zo Ee

Little Globe - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 26days old. (6/8/2009)

Mummy is amazed! Daddy found this little globe during spring cleaning last week and immediately Mummy thought it would be fun to let little Zo Ee plays with it. When Mummy asked little Zo Ee to locate countries that she already know in her World Map, she was able to locate them precisely on this little globe too, moving her finger a little further up or down or rotating it a little to the left or right. This shows that she does not only know the World Map well but is able to relate and apply her knowledge else where too.

Reciting A to Z - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 20days old. (31/7/2009)

Mummy first overheard little Zo Ee reciting A to Z perfectly on 24/7/2009 and merely few days later, Mummy was lucky, managed to capture little Zo Ee in action.

Chatting - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 26days old. (6/8/2009)

This is little Zo Ee's usual daily conversation at home. In this video, little Zo Ee was saying: sit down, kicking, kick, bear, big eye, sit, leg, heel, stand, standing, working, money, food, toys, shopping, bau bau(carry in chinese) ,book, and read book.

Conversation on why daddy needs to work - Scene 2 of previous blog on amazing talking.

Eleven, twelve...(video)-15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 20days old. (31/7/2009)

Little Zo Ee was reciting eleven, twelve, ..., nineteen, twenty alternately with Mummy. (related blog)

One to ten - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 25days old. (5/8/2009)

Although little Zo Ee occasionally recite 1 to 10 out loud to herself and can recite them perfectly since 2nd July 2009 (14months 3weeks old) but she refused to recite them in front of the camera. I have been trying to capture little Zo Ee reciting her numbers, 1 to 10 for the past weeks for my keep sake but these are the best I could capture.

Video captured last week.

Matching shapes II - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 25days old. (5/8/2009)

Basically little Zo Ee already known these shapes well and able to match them correctly. What I'm more interested here is, the chirpy little Zo Ee.

Some of the words said by little Zo Ee in this video are: square, matching shapes (repeated many times), oval, cross, done! , star, heart shape, paper, and triangle. In this video, she was very busy and attentive, moreover especially particular of the correct direction of the foam base.

Singing 1st song - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 3weeks old. (4/8/2009)

I overheard little Zo Ee singing Twinkle, twinkle little star a few times past few days. It doesn't sound like singing to me, more like reciting instead... ha! ha! ha!

" Binkle, binkle (pause) ...ittle star. (pause) ...wonder what you are... (pause) above ...world so high.... (pause) ....in the sky.... (pause) binkle, binkle... "

Amazing talking - 15months old

Zo Ee at 15months 3weeks old. (3/8/2009)

Lately, little Zo Ee has been frequently telling us, “poo poo” while pulling at her diaper. But most of the time, she didn't have a soiled diaper, maybe just a little wet, that's all. Is she telling us, “poo poo” after each pee or is she just seeking our attention? And this was what happened this morning.

Little Zo Ee called out to Mummy, “Mummy!” (pause, waiting for my response). When I said, “Yes, Zo Ee.” Little Zo Ee continued, “ poo..poo.. aah..” while pulling at her diaper. But when I checked, she didn’t have a soil diaper. So I told her, “ No, no poo..poo..” But little Zo Ee kept insisting that she had poo on her diaper, again telling me, “poo..poo…aah” while pulling at her diaper again. So when I ignored her this time, she continued, “melly” (smelly). As I have been telling her that she must have her soiled diaper change, else it will be very smelly. But knowing that it was only a prank, I continued to ignore her. Persistent little Zo Ee didn’t give up, this time she was telling me, “melly!" (pause) , “change” (pause) “change” while pulling at her diaper again. I’m not sure why she wanted to have her diaper change but it is amazing hearing the way she talks nowadays, she doesn't sound like a 15-months old toddler.

Scene 2:
Whenever little Zo Ee is looking for daddy while daddy is at work, she will ask Mummy, “Daddy?” Knowing that little Zo Ee does know where Daddy actually is, I asked her back the same question instead, “Where is Daddy?" Little Zo Ee will always reply, " working! " Mummy probed further, " Daddy needs to work to earn?” Little Zo Ee will reply, “money” . Mummy asked again, “Why do we need money for? We need money to buy?” Little Zo Ee will answer, “food” and Mummy continued, “food and?” Little Zo Ee continued, “clothes”. Mummy, “and?” Little Zo Ee continued, “toys”. Mummy continued, “and go?” Little Zo Ee happily answered, “shopping!”.

Scene 3

I overheard these while little Zo Ee was happily playing with her big beach ball alone in the hall. Little Zo Ee raised the ball above her head before letting it go repeatedly while saying, "Toss! Catch! Toss! Catch!" . When she was rolling the ball with her hands, she was saying "roll! roll!" or "kick! kick!" while kicking and chasing after the ball. Occasionally, stopping by to hug the ball, saying "hug!" .

Eleven, twelve,... - 15months old

Zo Ee is 15months 3weeks old. (1/8/2009)

I would say that little Zo Ee is already a pro in reciting 1 – 10, she can even recites backward at times, “ 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.” Or “8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1”. So it is the time to take another step forward, going beyond the number 10, and little Zo Ee has been reciting alternately with Mummy, “11” , “12” , “13” , “14” , “15” , “16” , “17” , “18” , “19” , “20” .

Video added