Cinema 2 - 3years 3months old

Zo Ee at 3years 3months old. (15th August 2011)

Few days ago, Daddy and Mummy planned to take Zo Ee to watch Smurfs at the Cinema. Little Zo Ee refused, saying that it will be too loud for her and that makes her scared. I couldn't believe it, the last time she was in a cinema, also her first time was watching G-Force at 17 months old.

After some explanation about the movie and what to expert in the cinema, plus a promise to leave if she will to find that she didn't like it. After all this, she agreed to give it a try. She was excited from the day earlier till the morning she woke up. Daddy bought her some Cheesy Popcorn and initially everything was fine. She watched for 30minutes and wanted to leave after seeing the bad wizard being so horrible and attacking the smurfs. She was terrified of the bad wizard and initially she tried to close her eyes whenever he appeared but soon it became unbearable to her and she wanted to leave, saying "Enough. I want to go now. I don't like it." while walking heading towards the exit. So Daddy took her out, Mummy continued watching for another half an hour and we left after 1 hour during the intermittent. ha ha...there is 10 minutes break here in India. She likes the smurfs but hated the wizard.I think Zo Ee will like it better if it's pure cartoon and not a mixture of real actors with cartoon animation.

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Then
17 months old - G-Force

Seeing details - 2years 11months old

Zo Ee at 2years 11months old. (5/4/2011)

Zo Ee kept asking Mummy, "Mum! Mum! What's wrong with Pluto's eyes?" Everything seems perfect to Mummy. Since Mummy couldn't find what is wrong, so Mummy asked Zo Ee, "What is actually wrong with Pluto?" Zo Ee replied, " Pluto's eyes joined together." Oops!!! She is right. Nevertheless, she kept insisting an explanation to that weird occurrence. She was not satisfied even though Mummy told her that it's not real, as it is only a cartoon character, thus the cartoonist can draw it any way he likes although we may not be able to see such in reality.

creativity - 20 month old

Zo Ee at 20months 4weeks old. (7/1/2010)

Mummy and Daddy were busy; getting ready to go out. Daddy was in the kitchen while Mummy was in the bedroom and little Zo Ee was all alone in the hall. Mummy heard loud noises; tumbling boxes but didn't bother to go look. Then, suddenly, it was very quiet and little Zo Ee came running into the bedroom looking for me. Little Zo Ee looked extremely happy and was pulling at my hand, dragging me out of the room. When we were out in the hall, little Zo Ee made a comment, " ooor! " while pointing at her achievement; stacking her toy boxes. Immediately, Mummy praised little Zo Ee for her creativity and effort. So, the many tumbling noises earlier happened when little Zo Ee was trying and figuring out how to stack these boxes. And when she finally succeeded, Mummy's the first person she wanted to share the good news with.

Little Zo Ee's proud of her own achievement and creativity; stacking her toy boxes.

Once, she understood the stacking concept behind; she knocked them down before trying out another new way.

And another new way.... just like a little scientist doing her little experiment!

Fearful of the unknown! - 20 month old

Zo Ee at 20months 3weeks old. (6/1/2010)

Look at my little Zo Ee, sitting so far away from the television. Little Zo Ee was peeping occasionally at the television, retreated a little whenever she sees some fearful animals on the television. She was hiding there as she was not familiar with this show. This is not my usual little Zo Ee who loves to dance and jump in front of the television while watching her favourite programme.

Play-doh

Little Zo Ee was also showing the same fear when Mummy introduced her to her play-doh set - fun factory few days ago. She was running away in fear and went hiding behind Mummy's back when Mummy extruded some play-doh from the extruder. She must have been wondering what is this moving and growing thing! Little Zo Ee needed many assurance from Mummy and Daddy before seeing the real meaning and picture behind this extruder toy. Now she can extrude some play-doh herself.

Twinkle-twinkle(actions) -20 month old

Zo Ee at 20months 2days old. (13/12/2009)

Little Zo Ee can now copy many actions and act them out along with her music VCDs since a month ago. She just loves to be a part of them too. Surprisingly, little Zo Ee was acting out all alone with this song; twinkle-twinkle little star which was playing on the television. There wasn't any children in the video, only a house and a blinking star. And neither does we have any twinkle-twinkle little star version with children in action but little Zo Ee was seen following this song with her actions; hands opening and closing for the twinkle star, pointing to her cheeks, pointing up to the sky, etc... If you ask me, where did she learn these? I would say she learned from my relatives during our stayed in Perth (video - Farewell hugs, August 2009), and surprisingly that was 4 months ago.

Specific smell - 19 month old

Zo Ee at 19months 4weeks old. (9/12/2009)

Little Zo Ee must have a more sensetive smell senses than Mummy and Daddy. Whenever we passed by this particular interchange, little Zo Ee never fails to ask Mummy, "What's that smell?" but neither Mummy nor Daddy could smell anything, no matter how hard we tried. But little Zo Ee has been very consistent with this since few months ago. Then, when little Zo Ee was younger and less articulate, she will ask Mummy, "smell? smell?" whenever we were nearby this particular interchange. And this continue to happen even until today, little Zo Ee's still asking Mummy about this particular smell but Mummy and Daddy have yet to notice any.


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Then
16 month old - smell

3rd Song - 19 month old

Zo Ee at 19months 2weeks old. (28/11/2009)

Wow! My little Zo Ee was heard singing a new song today - her third song so far. This time, little Zo Ee was singing along with her lullaby music during bedtime. "Guess which song did little Zo Ee sing? "

Little Zo Ee was singing these, "Rock a bye baby, on the tree top. When the wind blows the cradle will rock." Again, Mummy was really shocked hearing this full sentence in her clear voice. This prompted Mummy to listen carefully and little Zo Ee was actually singing along when this song was being played on the CD player. Little Zo Ee sang these "Rock a bye baby, on the tree top. When the wind blows the cradle will rock." a few times until the song ended. WOW! WOW! WOW ! although little Zo Ee was only singing half of the song, still little Zo Ee sang this part without any missing words (16 words) .


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Then
15 month old - 1st song (1st version) ,1st song (2nd version-video)
17 month old -2nd song

Saxophone! Guitar! - 19 month old

Zo Ee at 19months 1week old. (19/11/2009)

Saxophone
Two weeks ago, Mummy found some old music CDs from the famous saxophonist- Kenny G in the house. Mummy thought it will be a good idea to expose little Zo Ee to different type of music. So everyday, Mummy tries to play a few of Kenny G's great pieces to little Zo Ee. As usual, Mummy introduced little Zo Ee to this special sound - saxophone. Initially, whenever Mummy played these CDs, Mummy will tell little Zo Ee , "Zo Ee, that's the saxophone. Do you like this nice music?" Now, whenever little Zo Ee hears these music CDs, immediately little Zo Ee will comment, "saxophone!" .

Guitar
What surprised Mummy was , little Zo Ee is able to recognize the guitar's sound too. Little Zo Ee heard this sound (at the beginning of one particular Chinese song) while we were in a private feeder bus. Little Zo Ee was so excited, kept telling Mummy, "guitar! guitar! guitar!" Little Zo Ee kept yelling this to Mummy until Mummy responded, "guitar?" So Mummy looked around; front, back, left and right but Mummy didn't see anyone carrying a guitar. Again, the impatient Zo Ee kept yelling to Mummy, "Guitar! Guitar! Sound!" Ooh! with this comment, immediately Mummy could hear the guitar solo soundtrack being played on the radio too, just in time, just before the singer started to sing along with it. This incident really amazed Mummy that little Zo Ee not only can recognize the saxophone sound but also the guitar too. Although Mummy has yet to play her any guitar's music pieces yet, little Zo Ee did have some exposure during our short trips to Perth (played by Ah Chik Gong and Uncle Amin) and Ipoh (played by Gong-gong).

Upon reflection
Little Zo Ee can recognize the sound of the drum and bell too. She has been telling Mummy these sounds long time ago but Mummy just didn't as particular notice like the guitar incident recently. Maybe, little Zo Ee does recognize the sound of other instruments too but Mummy is yet to have the chance to discover.

Other music
With this amazing discovery, Mummy is planning to get a few more different music pieces of different musical instruments. Mummy has in mind to get some nice music from the famous Kitaro, Richard Clayderman etc. Of course, other than these, occasionally Mummy played Mummy's favourite Audiophile vocal collection (Zo Ee seems to love them too.) and Mummy's favourite classical music; Mozart and Bach at home too. Maybe Mummy shouldn't restrict little Zo Ee to Mummy's liking only but to widen little Zo Ee's exposure to other nice composers too.

Twinkle-twinkle(video) -18 month old

Zo Ee at 18months 28days old. (8/11/2009)

Zo Ee sang the complete version of Twinkle twinkle little star since 18months 3weeks old but am not lucky to have it captured on video yet. Little Zo Ee seems to only sing this song to herself and not when being requested. Sigh... This is a partial version of it when Mummy requested little Zo Ee to sing for Mummy.

Zo Ee : About twinkle twinkle little star. How I...wonder what you are. About twinkle twinkle little star.

Blowing whistle - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18months 24days old. (5/11/2009)

Little Zo Ee's seen blowing her whistle in this video. She also asked, "What happened your head?" and also mentioned "tou" (head in Chinese).

Twinkle-twinkle little star - 18 month old

Zo Ee at 18months 3weeks old. (2/11/2009)

Zo Ee first sang Twinkle-twinkle little star (1st song) about 3 months ago. She was singing partially then but little Zo Ee stopped singing this song totally when she started singing her second song, "Incy Wincy Spider" at 17 months 2days old. She could sing the whole of this song with Mummy's help but not on her own then. Now, at 18months 3weeks old, Mummy overheard little Zo Ee singing the complete "Twinkle-twinkle little Star" all by herself with appropriate actions, self-praising and clapping at the end of the song. Surprisingly, she indeed sang this complete version a few times today with her improved pronunciation although still lacking in the tunes.

Updated as on 13/11/2009
partial song

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)



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Then

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

Re-Play "Same" and MUSIC - 17months old

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

Today, Mummy heard some nice music coming from the living hall which caught Mummy's attention. It was little Zo Ee, playing attentively on her keyboard, not the usual noise created by her. Although it was not any particular song, impossible from a 17-months old, but the music was definitely nice to Mummy's ears. Mummy could see that little Zo Ee was paying a lot of attention on it, and was playing like a professional little fellow. It was amazing that she has moved on to another level rather than impatiently pressing the keys randomly or the most is making some high to low or low to high sounds. Little Zo Ee was in no hurry just now, Mummy even noticed that she did press some keys longer and pausing in between too. Was she trying to create some nice music of her own? (Will try to capture one for keep sake.)

Mummy took the opportunity to show little Zo Ee the function of the record and re-play keys. So Mummy played a few notes on the keyboard, showing and telling Zo Ee about the record key while recording it and followed by showing and telling Zo Ee about the re-play key. Mummy repeated this demonstration a few times with different sets of music notes. Each time, Mummy was telling little Zo Ee, "record" before each recording and later "re-play" before pressing the re-play key. And to Mummy's surprised, little Zo Ee was able to notice the same sound being reproduced by the re-play function without being told or explained to. Little Zo Ee was telling Mummy, "same! same!" while pointing at the keyboard during one of the re-play. Amazing, isn't it? Mummy was wondering, "Is little Zo Ee being extra alert or was Mummy's demonstration superb? "

Zo Ee's progress: (ascending order)

1. Only pressing the demo keys, either "1 song" or "FULL" demo.
   
2. Randomly pressing keys, demo key's still her favourite
3. Pressing other function keys like rock, disco, march, etc, but demo key's still her favourite.
4. Knows how to use the "STOP" key to stop the music.
5. Playing the music keys randomly, demo key's still her favourite.
6. Playing the music keys randomly while pretending to be singing the "ABC" song. (imitating a scene from her VCD), demo key's still her favourite.
7. Fully utilized the DEMO mode, between "1 song" demo (can selectively select different songs by repeatedly pressing this same key.) and "FULL" demo (playing all the songs.)
8. Playing from low to high and high to low.
9. In-cooperating two different functions at the same time, eg. DISCO mode while pressing the SNARE drum key, or playing the music keys.
10. Playing some nice music (nice enough for Mummy's ears), usually making noises instead of music.

Singing 2nd Song - 17months old

Zo Ee at 17months 2days old. (13/9/2009)

Ooh! Mummy just overheard little Zo Ee singing "Incy Wincy Spider" again before bed. For the past 1 week, Mummy overheard little Zo Ee singing this song a few times already but this time Mummy could hear a much clearer and louder version of it and with actions too. In fact, she repeated it a few times just now. This was roughly what Mummy overheard;

"Incy ,incy spi...der" mumble mumble "wa..ter...pout..." she quickly took a short breath (Mummy can see that it was such a huge task to little Zo Ee to coordinate her breathe and remembering the wordings.), "rain...der...out", "up...rain", "incy ,incy ider" mumble mumble "up...pout...yeah!" (clapping her hands)

It will be easier for little Zo Ee if Mummy were to sing with her, and with this, little Zo Ee can sing each words clearly (as her usual talking) and with actions. Example; Mummy will sing the beginning of each line, "Incy, Wincy spider" and little Zo Ee will continue, "climbing up the spout...", Mummy continued, "down came the rain" and little Zo Ee will add on, "wash the spider out..." And we could sing the whole song perfectly without a missing word or any mumbling from little Zo Ee. I guess that little Zo Ee must has felt a little overwhelmed to remember every word in the song while trying to coordinate her breathing too. That's why the many missing words and mumbling in between when she sings alone.

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Then

Zo Ee's first song (15months 3weeks old)

Keyboard player - 16months

Zo Ee at 16months 26days old. (6/9/2009)

Seen here in this video is little Zo Ee playing the keyboard (trying to play from low to high and high to low) , showing Mummy her body parts - cheeks, neck, palm, hands and tummy and saying these words "pillow" , "sitting" , "standing" , "stand up" , "tambourine" , "red" , "mum" and "sit Mummy" (sitting with Mummy).

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.

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... "

Dancing Queen - 14months old

Zo Ee at 14months 4weeks old. (8/7/2009)

Look at my dancing queen; She loves swaying left to right, moving her body up and down while waving her hands whenever she hears the music. If she doesn't dance , she 'll be nodding her head so hard...along with the music. Occasionally, she'll be singing her ABC song while playing her keyboard. (imitating a scene that she had seen from her VCD)

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Then

10 months old