Zo Ee's phrases - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18months 3weeks old. (30/10/2009)

My little Zo Ee doesn't sound like any 18-month-old. She always surprises us with her selection of words and the way she conveys her messages. Even my dad(gong-gong) did notice this too when we were in Ipoh earlier this month.

These are some of little Zo Ee's this week collection:

"Where are you?"

"wait a while"

"get into the water"

"get out from the water"

"kick the ball"

"catch the ball",

"please give me",

"please put lotion...",

"the other side"

"what do you want?"

"get more books"

"please get"

" still hot"

" share with koh-koh, share, sharing "

" cannot "

" don't want "

" Daddy chews bone " (I'm surprised she used the word 'chews' instead of 'eats')

She understands "What?", "Whose?", "Why?", "Where?" and is able to give us astonishing answers.

Stadium - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18months 19 days old. (30/10/2009)

Zo Ee and Daddy walking on the track.

The rain has stopped and the playground must be still wet. So instead of going to the playground like any other day, Mummy and Daddy decided to take little Zo Ee to the Bukit Gombak Stadium for a walk as little Zo Ee has never been to any stadium before.

Little Zo Ee got so excited the moment we stepped into the stadium gate, seeing many people running on the stadium track. Immediately, little Zo Ee joined the rest on the track, running happily and was heard yelling, "people running! people running!". She was so excited and was running all her might for the first 100 meters before getting too exhausted to even walk. Little Zo Ee wanted Daddy to carry her. Ha! Ha! So we stopped for a while, and let her explored the field, as it is not a common sight of such a huge field of beautiful green grass here.

Little Zo Ee pointing at the spot lights.

Then, we walked the rest of the stadium track, let little Zo Ee explored the spectators' seats at the side before she continued her running again. When we finally finished one round (>400 meters), little was too exhausted to walk anymore. So Daddy carried her all the way back home.

Sharing - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18month 2week old (28/10/2009)

When little Zo Ee was reluctant to share the sofa seat with us ,pushed us away, and wanted to occupy it all to herself, Mummy and Daddy think that it's time to teach her how to share. At first, she refused to comply, but persevere Mummy and Daddy gave lots of praising and positive motivation to her to share. Slowly, little Zo Ee seems to enjoy sharing her seat with us, always telling us, "Sharing Mummy" (sharing with Mummy) or "sharing Daddy" (sharing with Daddy).


Today, at the playground, she was carrying herself so well. When a 3 year old boy refused to share and let her play the slide, and the boy intentionally blocked her way up the slide by sitting at the the 3rd steps of the slide's ladder. Initially, little Zo Ee looked confused being blocked by the boy and when the boy still refused to give way, little Zo Ee tried to make friend with him instead, "hi, koh-koh" (big brother) while offering him her friendly smile. When the boy still refused to move away, little Zo Ee chose to sit at the lowest step of the slide's ladder, and was saying, "Share with koh-koh, share, sharing". So my little 18-month old has resolved to share with the bossy 3 year old who had reluctant to let her play the slide.

Sorting books - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18 month 2 week old. (24/10/2009)

While daddy was busy at the Page One bookstore at Vivo City, Mummy let little Zo Ee the freedom to roam around. Mummy followed little Zo Ee around and was surprised seeing little Zo Ee sorting books at the popular pick corner. She was reaching out to those books misplaced by other readers at the popular pick corner and was re-arranging them back accordingly. She put the books back to their original locations, stacking them on top of the same books. She was so particular that she even rotated a few books which were located at the correct places but were upside down. She seems satisfied seeing those books back in their correct places before walking away from there and she was doing all these spontaneously without being told or instructed to by Mummy.

taking a rest -18 month old

Zo Ee at 18month 2week old. (27/10/2009)

When the house is totally quiet, I 'll always wondering what my little Zo Ee is up to. Immediately I'll check on little Zo Ee, and most of the time, she will be resting quietly on this floor pillow at the hidden corner.

Little Zo Ee was surprised to see Mummy.


Tired Zo Ee taking a rest.

Shake hands - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18month 17day old. (28/10/2009)

Occasionally, Mummy will teach little Zo Ee how to shake hands with Mummy, coaching her what to say too, " Hello, I am Zo Ee. Nice to meet you." Although little Zo Ee will shake hands with Mummy but she never says those words or repeats them after me.

Lately, little Zo Ee is keen to shake hands with Mummy, always initiated this by telling Mummy, "Shake hands" while offering her hand. (sometimes she offers her left hand instead of her right hand.) Usually she will just shakes Mummy's hand without saying a word but Mummy will always repeat the same line, "Hello, I am Zo Ee. Nice to meet you." for her.

Surprisingly, just now, little Zo Ee initiated to shake hands with Mummy again, telling Mummy, "Shake hands" and when Mummy did shake her right hand, little Zo Ee shocked Mummy with these words, "Hi, Zo Ee. Nice to meet you." (6 words) Wow! Although little Zo Ee omitted two words (I am), still this is little Zo Ee's longest phrase so far, 6 words.

Making friends - 18months old

Zo Ee at 18month 2week old. (24/10/2009)

My little Zo Ee has been seen trying to make friends with other kids, especially those older than her. Little Zo Ee has been doing these since 15-months old, trying to make eyes contact with other little kids , bending over or lowering her body to look others in their faces, before giving them her friendly smile.

Zo Ee tried to make friend with this older boy.


Today (Zo Ee's first trip to the Sentosa Island), Zo Ee was not only seen making eyes contact and offering her friendly smile to these little kids playing at this fountain but she was trying to make conversation with them too; by naming the colour of their shirts, eg "green" or naming those pictures on their shirts, eg. "penguin" or "car" while pointing at them with her little finger or trying to tell them, "trees, flowers" while pointing at the trees or flowers nearby. Mummy can see that little Zo Ee is trying very hard to communicate in her own way, hoping to make some new friends . Unfortunately, she rarely gets any response from other kids, whom either still lacking in speaking or communicating skills.

My little helper - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18month 7day old. (18/10/2009)

My little Zo Ee loves pushing her baby in this toy stroller around our house. My creative little toddler also uses it as her wheelbarrow and will be pushing it with only the two back wheels, telling me, " my wheelbarrow". ( the word wheelbarrow - learned from one of her library books.)

Helping Mummy around the house, sweeping the floor?

She has always wanted to sweep the floor whenever Mummy is doing so, trying to grab Mummy's broom. So we bought her a toy set few days ago. "Look! She is good at imitating Mummy's doing and does know how to sweep the floor."

Still sweeping....

More sweeping

Almost done....

Done!

Long sentence (14 words) - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18month 12day old (23/10/2009)

Although little Zo Ee can read most one, two and three syllables words and has been reading short sentences (3-5words at 15-months old) occasionally, but it is still uncommon to hear little Zo Ee read longer sentences. It all much depending on little Zo Ee's mood, and surprisingly she was in a good mood today; read another longer sentence (14 words), breaking her previous record (8 - 9 words sentences at 16months old). Similarly, little Zo Ee was seen pointing and reading this long sentence word by word aloud to Mummy voluntarily just now;

"Carl has made a list of all the tools he used in one day." (14 words)

Also, Mummy noticed that little Zo Ee is able to concentrate and spend more time (5 - 10minutes) patiently browsing any new borrowed book independently. She will be attentively scanning every book, but as she understands and gets familiar with the content, she will spend lesser and lesser time on it, flipping through the book and stopping only at those pages that she still has interest at. Eventually, she will loose interest at one particular book once she has mastered every detail of it. And this whole process doesn't take longer than few days. Usually, the life-span of each book that will interest little Zo Ee is between 3 - 6days. A more complicated ones will last her throughout the week, just nice, in time for Mummy to get her new books from the library.

And luckily we do have a superb library facility here, to support little Zo Ee's big reading appetites, providing her 15-18 good books weekly and thus savings Mummy's loads of money. If Mummy were to buy that amount of books weekly, that will easily cost us S$200 per week, S$800 - S$1000 per month just on books alone.

First Question - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18month 10day old. (21/10/2009)

Mummy cannot believe her ears, little Zo Ee has asked her first question, "What is it?" at 18 month 10 day old.

Just now, when Little Zo Ee saw Mummy holding onto a new box of shapes pasta(alphabet and numbers) in the kitchen, she pointed at the box, asked Mummy, "What is it?" and wanted to take a closer look at it.

Growth - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18 month 8day old. (19/10/2009)

Height :85cm (>90%)

Weight: 11.5kg (>90%)

Head circumference: 48cm (>90%)


.....................................................
Then...

At 15 month old

Height : 81.5cm (>90%)

Weight : 10.5kg ( >90%)

Head circumference : 47.9cm (>90%)

At 12 month old
Height : 78cm (>97%)
Weight : 10kg ( 90%)
Head circumference: 47.5cm (97%)

At 9 month old
Height : 77cm (>97%)
Weight : 9.6kg (90%)
Head circumference: 46.5cm (97%)

At 6 month old (24weeks)
Height : 69cm ( 90%)
Weight : 8.4kg (90%)
Head circumference: 44.0cm (>90%)

At 4 month old (18weeks)
Height : 67cm Weight : 7.45kg
Head circumference: 42.5cm

At 3 month old (13weeks)
Height : 61.5cm (90%)
Weight : 6.65kg ( >75%)
Head circumference: 41.5cm ( >75%)

At 1 month old
Height : 55cm (60%)
Weight : 4.4kg (50%)
Head circumference: 37.0cm (50%)

At birth
Height : 48cm
Weight : 3.19kg
Head circumference: 33.0cm

Thank you & Excuse Me - 17month old

Zo Ee at 17month 23day old (4/10/2009)

Thank You
Wow! I'm so happy and proud of my little 17-months old. Although, little Zo Ee has been saying thank you many times, but she never did that to any strangers without being told. Today, for the very first time, Mummy overheard little Zo Ee saying her "thank you." without being instructed to. Little Zo Ee spontaneously said "thank you" to a four years old boy (a relative's son) after he had handed a ball to her while Mummy was watching them play from afar. Mummy was surprised with little Zo Ee's good manners. But upon reflection, now Mummy thinks that little Zo Ee has been saying her "thank you" spontaneously a few time before today incident, where she actually said them in advance of asking Mummy's favors in helping her. eg. "Mummy, open. Help, please. Open. Help. Open. Help." pushing the object into Mummy's hands, followed by a soft, "Thank you." Due to her restlessness and impatient attitude while asking Mummy for help and her long repeated sentences, Mummy did miss her good manners in thanking Mummy in he little voice in advance. Nevertheless, today little Zo Ee did make Mummy so proud of her.

Excuse Me (17month 26day old - 7/10/2009)

"Please" was little Zo Ee first "good manners" word (16month 2week old - without being told), followed by "thank you"(17month 23week old) and merely few days on, her third word, "Excuse me" (17month 26day old). She will say "Excuse me" whenever she burps, sneezes or farts or says on behalf of Daddy; whenever Mummy or Daddy burps or sneezes loudly. Now, Mummy has moved on, coaching little Zo Ee to say her "Excuse Me" whenever someone is blocking her way.

She is already using them(Please, Thank You and Excuse Me) appropriately without being told to (most of the time) even before turning 18-month old. "My little Zo Ee is indeed progressing so well. "


Video added as on 12/11/2009
Excuse Me

yee-yee's birthday - 17month old

Zo Ee at 17month 28day old. (9/10/2009)

Yee-yee, a LAW graduate(graduated last November, 2008), is now working part-time in UK while furthering her studies in ACCA. She came all the way back from UK, to give her beloved grandfather (tai-gong) a grand 90th birthday, footing the huge bill. This must be tai-gong best birthday, seeing yee-yee after 3-years, graduated and seeing little Zo Ee for the first time. And of course, with the many warmth wishes and ang pao(s) on his birthday.

When yee-yee came to visit us in Singapore, and coincidentally it was yee-yee 's birthday. Mummy and Daddy thought that yee-yee deserved a birthday treat herself after giving tai-gong a big birthday bash. So, Daddy, Mummy , Zo Ee, yee-poh and yee-yee went to have lunch at Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore. And we (Daddy, Mummy and Zo Ee) gave yee-yee a little surprise there; a house wishing birthday song from Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore with a compliment sundae (came with a candle) and an instant photo shot. Unfortunately, Mummy was fiddling with yee-yee's camera, only managed a partial shot of the video.

yee-yee in black - the birthday lady.

Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore

My dancing girl - 17month old

Zo Ee at 17month 22day old. (3/10/2009)

My little girl is so fond of dancing. She'll be dancing everywhere even in the public places; on the street, at the shopping mall, in the park, at friend's house, in the car, at the airport, etc. Upon hearing some music, she spontaneously stops doing all other things; be it walking or playing, and started to move her body along with the music. Mummy wonders, " Is she fond of music or dancing or both? "

dancing at poh-poh's house

rap dancer (17months 27days old - 8/10/2009)



.......................................................
Then

Dancing Queen - 14months old
(Dancing with music - 10months old)

No! Violin - 17months old

Zo Ee at 17months 25days old. (5/10/2009 - 6/10/2009)

Toy violin

While Mummy and Daddy were busy at the electrical department in Parkson Parade, Ipoh, poh-poh took little Zo Ee to the toys department instead. While at the toys department, poh-poh pointed at a few toy guitars and was telling little Zo Ee, "Zo Ee, guitars." Little Zo Ee was looking towards those little guitars pointed by poh-poh. When the short-sighted poh-poh(without her spectacles on), pointed at a toy violin, which happened to be hanged next to those little guitars, and was telling little Zo Ee, "Zo Ee, guitar." This time, little Zo Ee corrected poh-poh, "No! Violin." while pointed at the same toy violin. Viola! surprised poh-poh took a second look at that toy again for confirmation, and poh-poh was amazed that little Zo Ee was correct, it was a toy violin and not a toy guitar.

Steering wheel
Little Zo Ee was sitting in the push car cum trolley at the Jaya Jusco Departmental Store, Ipoh. She loves steering the steering wheel and kept telling us, "driving car, beep! beep!". When Daddy's younger sister, gu-jie overheard little Zo Ee saying "wheel" (steering wheel), gu-jie tried to correct little Zo Ee by telling her, "steering" instead and to gu-jie surprised, little Zo Ee defended her answer, "No! wheel!" Little Zo Ee ignored gu-jie and continued to pretend driving. Merely a moment later, gu-jie overheard little Zo Ee telling herself again, "steering wheel". Ha! Ha! Little Zo Ee does know the exact name. So neither "wheel" nor "steering" is correct, it should be the "steering wheel". Bravo my little 17-months old.

Old Town White Coffee - 17months old

Zo Ee at 17months 25days old. (6/10/2009)

Zo Ee , Mummy and Daddy were having a nice night out, enjoying Ipoh white coffee with Daddy's younger sisters; both gu-jie and gu-cheong.

tai gong's 90th birthday - 17months old

Yee-yee (far left) came back all the way from UK to give tai-gong this birthday bash! Tai-gong (sitting)

Poh-poh, Mummy, Daddy and Zo Ee

Poh-poh and Zo Ee

First trip back to Ipoh - 17months old

Zo Ee at 17months old. (30/9/2009 - 7/10/2009)

Budget terminal at Changi Airport

Look, this little 17-months old is able to climb and sit on this see-saw independently.

Taking the Firefly back to Ipoh. (Zo Ee's 5th plane ride but her first propeller plane ride!)


Celebrating Moon Cake Festival at Poh-poh's house with my first lantern.

Ipoh Railway Station. (Zo Ee and Daddy)


Ipoh Railway Station. (Zo Ee and Mummy)

Ipoh Tree (Zo Ee and Daddy)

Ipoh Railway Station

At poh-poh's house. (Zo Ee, yee-poh, yee-yee and tai-gong)


At poh-poh's house. (Zo Ee and yee-poh)


At poh-poh's house. (Zo Ee and Gong-gong)



Zo Ee and Tai-Gong. (Mummy's grandfather)

At yeh-yeh's house. (Zo Ee and yeh-yeh)

At Old Town White Coffee. (Zo Ee, Gu-jie and Gu Cheong)

Good night - 17 months old

Zo Ee at 17months 3weeks old. (2/10/2009)

Mummy noticed that little Zo Ee started to truly understand that she should not anger Mummy or make Mummy angry since she turned 17-months old. Little Zo Ee can differentiate and know precisely when she has to stop and obey Mummy. Most of the time, little Zo Ee will pause and retreat whenever she hears Mummy's warning or stern voice, "ZO EE !" or "ZO EE, you don't do that. Mummy is angry!" or "ZO EE! You are making Mummy angry." Since Mummy rarely restricts little Zo Ee doings or gets angry with her, thus little Zo Ee understands that whenever Mummy's angry, it is not a joke nor a prank. Mummy really means business here and she should oblige. Moreover, Mummy rarely says "NO" too, reserving it for urgent situations only. as Mummy believes that too many "No" in daily situation will only lead to a more stubborn toddler.

Usually, little Zo Ee will be obeying Mummy, but like any other toddlers, she sometimes tests the water too, pushing Mummy's limit. Therefore consistency is the key to success here and as inconsistency will only confuse the child. Also, whenever little Zo Ee makes Mummy angry especially around her bedtime (while in her bed), little Zo Ee will immediately tell Mummy, "Good night." before pretending going to sleep upon hearing Mummy's stern voice. Little Zo Ee is afraid of making Mummy angry, and always diverting Mummy's attention by telling Mummy, "Good night." and pretending to be going to sleep. "Cheeky and smart little toddler isn't it?" But this only last a short while before little Zo Ee is up again with her other explorations.

Nevertheless, Mummy is glad that little Zo Ee is slowly getting to know her limits, like she will oblige willingly in not touching or playing with other people's stuffs upon hearing Mummy's interruptions.

3-syllables words - 17months

Zo Ee at 17 months 18days old. (29/9/2009)

Zo Ee is already saying and reading many 3-syllables words. This video showing some 'big words' that little Zo Ee learned from the many library books. Mummy had re-write these words onto cards for this video purpose. (easier than having to grap and flip many books)

Words read by little Zo Ee in this video are:
continent, Australia, Maiasaura, telescope, investment, internet, energy, dinosaurs, camouflage, orchestra, gymnastics, saxophone, clarinet, microlight, enormous, equipment, material, millipedes and glossary.

...............................................................................
Then


15 months old
reading short sentences
2-syllables words

reading chinese - 17months

Zo Ee at 17months 2weeks old. (25/9/2009)

Although little Zo Ee is able to name some objects in Chinese, she cannot recognize Chinese Characters yet, maybe limited to a few simple ones. But lately, little Zo Ee is showing strong interest in learning this language, always asking Mummy and Daddy, "teach Chinese" or "learn Chinese" while bringing out her Chinese learning materials. Also, occasionally, Mummy overheard little Zo Ee mumbling to herself; "fall down, chinese, die dao" or " tiger, lau foo" or " clothes, yi fu(chinese), sam(cantonese)" etc.

Seen in this video, little Zo Ee is actually reading the han-yu piyin (below each characters). That's why Mummy must get new teaching material without han-yu piyin.

Running - 17months old

Zo Ee at 17months 2weeks old. (28/9/2009)

Running! Running! Running! What I meant is someone who is really dashing at speed. This is what little Zo Ee does every time we put her down on a big open space; big playground or long runway.

From Mummy's observation, she 's running at high speed constantly since she turned 17-months old. She is able to stop instantly and turn around to. Mummy thinks that little Zo Ee is fit to join any running competition now but making her runs towards a particular direction may still be a challenging task. As for now, she runs and runs, falls over and runs again fiercely as she likes. Little bumps and bruises are common sight on her legs nowadays. And lately, she not only runs, she will be yelling "running, running" as she's running with all her might.