{Dear Baby} 14

Dear Baby,

We are really late this month but it is only because we are having so much fun with Daddy on leave. 

I'm starting to get used to calling you my toddler, and telling others that you are (already!) "14 months old". I'm embracing the fact that my squishy baby has grown up. It could be your height - you are really tall for your age! Or it could be the number of teeth you already have. Twelve of them. Can you believe that your first molars are all out? Teething was a pain this round because all four of them molars decided to sprout together. But then again, it could also be due to the fact that you ARE really acting like a big kid.

You are helping out with chores around the house - keeping of clean laundry, putting dirty laundry into your laundry basket, putting away toys and books at the end of the day, and lately, folding your blanket. You can't do it very well yet but you try. And I'm glad becuase one morning, you just woke and said "fo" (fold).

You can also now indicate that you want to pee and poo. Usually most accurate when you are just awake or about to sleep. Just lately, you started saying "poo" when I asked you what those were. 

You enjoy waving to everyone outside and go "hiii" or "hi-lo" (hallo)

It's so much easier to communicate with you now that your vocabulary has expanded. But it also meant that you start making requests and we can no longer pretend we don't understand (and not do it.)

You say "go go" as you pull and tug our fingers when you want to go somewhere. If you are thinking of getting out of the house, it's clear now because you say "out". When you want to be carried, you go "bao bao". Sometimes you are so specific you indicate the person whom you want to carry you, like "Popo baobao". 

Everyone's favourite is "no more" because you sound so adorable just saying it. You do it waving both hands. And you say it when you meant "nothing" too.

Hello Kitty is "hi cat" to you and I guess that's close enough.

It's too long to write about the new words you are starting to say so here's a list, the way you say it.

Yeye (paternal grandpa)

Yi ta (Yi zhang, aunt's hubby)

Chiu Chiu (jiujiu, mommy's brother)

Ah dou (great grandmother)

Uh-coal (uncle)

And other than identifying body parts when we say it, you are starting to name them.

mao (mouth)
eye
ae/air (hair)

Ear

Arm (this has the most accurate pronunciation so far)

Toes

And because you like to tap my ezLink card when we board and alight the bus, you say these pretty well too.

Tap

(C)ard

Tight tight

You are also saying
wok wok (walk)

Ahhh pah (open)

Ko (close)

Coal coal (cold cold)

Tar (touch)

Ah-pol (apple)

Cho (throw)

Soo (shoe)

Take

Shit shit (sit sit) - very controversial, this one

Some words in mandarin too...

Mei mei (pretty)

Chou Chou (smelly) 

Yao (want)

Hai Yao (still want)

You (yes)

Hao (okay)

And being typical Singaporean 

Aiyoh! 

Although, when said after your bath, that means "oil".

And because I taught you "cheers" and Popo taught you "yam seng", you go, very loudly, "AH-PA!" when you want to clink your straw mug with our cups and bottles.

Looking at those words, it's no wonder only mothers understand what their young children say and probably no one else does.

December is the month of festivities so there are lots of live performances in the mall. We went for three of them and you loved them! I wished we have gone for more! And because it's the holidays, your become good friends with Mommy's old neighbours.

About bedtime, you have sort of developed a routine. 

1. Put all books and toys back.

2. Give Bunny and Bear Bear their goodnight kiss with a loud *muack*.

3. Switch off the playroom lights.

4. Change into your pjs.

5. Snuggle up with Daddy (very important, this one)

And one last bit about being all grown up... You ask to brush your hair before we head out. And some days, you make daddy and mommy kiss for many many times.

Such a sweetie you are. 

We love you more and more each day and it's such a joy to be able to witness your every single milestone.

Love you to bits, sweetheart!

Mommy