Madness

As we passed by the market this morning, Mummy commented on the crowd...

Mummy: This is madness.
Benja: Mummy I cannot see madness.

😅😅😅

Taiwan fun - Gloria Residences

This is Benja enjoying his soft boiled egg in our apartment hotel, Gloria Residences. It was a fantastically comfortable home away from home and we enjoyed our stay immensely.

The white hen eggs that i got from the chilled shelf of the supermarket was top quality. The yolk was orangey and turned into a thick creamy solid ball after being submerged in hot water for 15 minutes.

The check in experience was efficient and pleasant. The staff accomodated our request to check out at 1pm on our last day. He also gave me a packet of detergent that could last me 3 washes when I checked if the hotel provided detergent.

When we were briefed on our room, the staff told us to help ourselves to the snacks and bar drinks. It was the first time we stayed in a hotel that offered free daily bar topups.

Yeye and Mama took the room next to ours, but only our room had lingering cigarette smell. The staff came to check and offered two options, 1) to perform smoke removal for 30 minutes and we go out for a walk while this is ongoing, 2) pack up and switch to another room. We took option 2 as we were too tired to go out for a walk.

The next morning, we went for the hotel buffet which featured both western and chinese options. The highlight of the restaurant was the warm personalised service and attention to detail rendered by Mr Parry Lin. He helped to settle Benja and coaxed him to eat his porridge.

Seeing that I was too busy managing Benja's breakfast, Benja made a glass of cold pressed vegefruit juice for me. He also reminded Yeye and Mama to finish their juices before they oxidised.

Benja acclimatised himself quickly to this new uncle who was full of smiles and treated us like his own family member.

After our breakfast, Parry even offered to help us take a family portrait at the cozy yet classy corner with the piano.

On the second morning, we were disappointed to hear that Parry was going for a break the next day and it would be the last time we're meeting him. However, the staff managing breakfast on the third morning were just as attentive and immaculate as Parry.

One of the afternoons, Benja and I were disturbed by a mysterious beeping sound at 3 minute intervals. The staff who answered our call came up to identify the source, but couldn't find it. She went off to seek help. Five minutes later, another young lady arrived and solved the mystery - it was the safety feature of the electronic stove that beeped whenever objects are placed on the operation touch panel! Peace at last! :)

The amazing thing about this place is the ability to resolve problems and offer quick, viable solutions by every staff whom we came into contact with. Needless to say, we were greeted with smiles and friendly conversations from the staff too. Keep it up, Gloria R, we will be back next time!

Little drummer boy

Benja set up these drums and pretended to be a drummer at Ah Ma's house last night.

Looks like you had fun!

Changing lyrics

This wasn't the first time, but Mummy thought it was a good adaptation that Benja did this morning.

He released one bullet from his toy gun and started singing,

This is serious
The bullet is lost
We've got to help him

Wonderpets wonderpets we're on our way
To help a baby bullet and save the day
We're not too tough (missed the 'big')
And we're not too tough
When we're all together
We've got the right stuff
Go Wonderpets
Yay!

The longest line

This is the longest line Benja has made with Lego. He displayed patience and meticulousness in arranging the blocks one by one. Each successful placement drives him to place another one, till the very last block was used.

Well done, Benja! ^^

On mummy's side

Yesterday, Daddy made Mummy angry.

Benja said that he would scold Daddy, beat him, and say him when he comes back (he's curently on an overseas work trip).

Benja said it a couple of times.

Mummy is very touched.

Thanks for being on my side, Benja!

Playing with mummy's phone

Benja grabs every chance to play with Mummy's phone.

In the early days, he was only interested in his own photos and videos.

Then he got attracted to the Babyphone app. He enjoyed the vibrations, music and animal sounds. He picked up songs like, "Crooked man" "I'm a little teapot" "Hickery dickery dock" "Pease porridge" "Grand old duke of york" "Baa baa black sheep" and many more. Recently, when advertisements were introduced in the app, he was only interested in the ad for a war game as it portrayed a heroic rugged man fighting. *sad*

Then, he realised the Fisherprice games. He would search and launch them on his own. We loved the many giggles and praises when things were done right. In one of the games, the puppy would slide down to the end he tilted the phone and he loved it.

These couple of weeks, he loved the memory matching game and could play till it reaches 8 cards. When he got to the 12 card stage, he would declare "太难了" (too difficult) and navigate back to the easier stages.

Finally, he discovers the main app menu and would try any icon that appeals to him. He got attracted to this icon and always explored it, though it wasn't any fun.

Over the weekend, he saw this icon on an advertisement in a cab, he commented that it's the same as mine. Good memory!

Colouring in

Beautiful!

Benja has shown great improvement in his colouring skills. He used to colour with big arm-elbow movement. Now he does it by keeping them still and moving his wrist. He finished colouring the clusters by selecting the different colours on his own.

He even knew that the hollowed letters were for tracing in. What's cute was that he thought the trunk was for tracing in as well. ^^

It took him a good 10-15 minutes to complete this, without any guidance from Mummy.

Water the plant

Last night, Benja helped to water Daddy's plant as Daddy was away. He refused to put on his slippers to go out there, but had fun pouring the water into the soil.

Actually, Benja has been helping Ah Ma with her plants during his weekly visits all these while (minimum 6 months).

When Mummy showed Daddy the picture,  he was really touched.

You're a great help, Benja!

Buy crackers for Daddy

Benja was tasked to throw away the wrapper for the fish crackers (鱼饼) at the kitchen. Midway, he bumped into Daddy who wanted a cracker as well, but there was no more. Benja suggested asking Mummy to buy another packet from the supermarket. He came back and said:

Mummy, Daddy 没有鱼饼。Mummy去supermarket买两包给Daddy ok?

A description of the problem, and the solution for it.

Mummy is proud to see your reasoning ability improve, Benja! ^ ^

Self feeding

At the zoo during Easter, Benja ate very well ^^

Yu san 雨伞 (umbrella)

When it's raining, and we talked about opening the umbrella 雨伞 (yu2 san3), Benja started singing:

一闪一闪亮晶晶
满天都是小星星

一闪 (yi4 shan3), yes, it does sound like 雨伞。

Good sound association and singing, Benja!

Happy Easter

Last Thursday, Benja brought this cute Easter bunny craft home. In the cup, there was a toy egg with 3 chocolate eggs (Hershey's) inside.

Benja was proud of his work and delighted with the chocolate eggs. But I didn't want him to eat them as he's still recovering from a big mouth sore that resulted from an accident at Ah Ma's house on Sunday.

Benja exercised good self-restraint by admiring and smelling the chocolate eggs. Things got out of hand when the egg travelled a little further down from his nose to his mouth! He started nibbling the chocolate from an exposed part that was not covered by the metal foil. Benja was satisfied just tasting that little bit. It was heavenly! He obediently surrendered them for my safekeeping.

Hmm... now that his sore is healed, I should keep my promise and let him have them.

Eye mask

Here's Benja amused with his own look in the mirror.

This is the first birthday goodie bag he'd ever received from a classmate:)

Because

Benja: Mummy 不要去 driving class
Mummy: 为什么呢?
Benja: 因为小朋友生病。
Mummy: Driving class 没有小朋友的。
Benja: 因为 uncle 生病。

Benja had been missing the last week of school due to HFMD outbreak in his kindergarten. Then he had a week of term break, thinking that his friends are still sick.

Benja, Mummy wants to learn driving quickly so that I don't have to rely on others to pick you up or send you home. We will have more time together if Mummy can drive. Please be patient ok?

Xoxo

Peeling eggs

2 years 7 months 2 days

This is the first egg Benja peeled.

We were at a ramen place that lets us help ourselves to an unlimited amout of hard boiled eggs. Besides brown eggs, there were white ones too.

First mummy helped to knock and crack the shell, then Benja did the rest.

Isn't it cool to peel and eat your own egg, Benja? *wink*

Using scissors

2 years 6 months 3 weeks

Benja can cut slits into paper.

One has to have good tools in order to perform his work. Do not give kids blunt scissors in fear of getting cut. Give them proper scissors so that they learn to use them with care at an early age.

When mummy uses scissors and cuts too near her fingers, Benja will ask mummy to watch out. Thanks, Benja!

Folding clothes

Last night, after some learning activities, Mummy was trying to fold some clothes. As soon as Benja realised what I was trying to do, he sprung up and said, "Help Mummy fold the clothes."

He picked up a t-shirt and tried to put his hand through it. He was trying to turn it inside out!

Mummy taught him how to hold up Daddy's boxers high, lay them down and fold them into half.

We also tried folding the handkerchief into halves and quarters.

Benja was also very keen to keep the folded clothes into the drawers. But there were some cute hiccups.

First he tried to stuff all the towels into the towel drawer without folding. Mummy folded and let him put them in again.

Then, he stacked up Mummy's clothes together and tried to put them in the wrong drawer. Mummy showed him where her clothes were kept and Benja happily placed the clothes in.

Well done, Benja!

Deaf 耳聋

Benja said hi to a worker at the construction site, but the wirker did not respond. Benja told Mummy, "Uncle 耳聋 (is deaf)."

Taken aback by the rudeness, I asked Benja who used that word. He told me it's Grandma Marzuki.

For a second, I was glad that it wasn't Ah Ma who taught him this word. But the next second, Benja continued, "爷爷耳聋 (Grandpa is deaf)。"

I couldn't believe my ears, so I asked questions to confirm that I didn't hear wrongly.

Benja said, "是, 爷爷听不到, 爷爷耳聋。 (Yes, Grandpa can't hear, Grandpa is deaf.)"

Omg!! What else does she say to my Benja??!!

Are you here

Mary, Mary are you here?
Yes, yes, I am here.
OR No, no, she's not here.

(Sung to the tune of twinkle twinkle little star)

Benja has been singing this for the last two weekends. He always begins with his favourite friend Caleb and continues with someone called Beelylina (ballerina).

This week the development was to say "Next one" before going to the next person.

There are more impromptu names added to the song. Benja will glance around the room for ideas. First he started with curtain, cards, followed by Mummy. Yay, he finally included me in his song-game!

Well done, Benja! Mummy is glad that you are learning from school and enjoying yourself. ^^

Skunk

Teacher Nora has a skunk in her Flash Memory set that mummy doesn't have. When mummy flashes to the last card,  Benja will always tell mummy about the missing skunk card.

When mummy finally prepared the card, this was the conversation:

B: Mummy 有 smelly skunk。
M: 对了! 是谁告诉你 skunk 是臭臭的?
B: 是 Hi-5。Hi-5  有一个 smelly skunk。

Language development

Benja had terrific language development over the past month.

He spoke sophisticatedly:

这个是假的, 不是真的, 是 toy (来)的。
我们比 taxi 快 。
爸爸不要做工。爸爸要出去(玩)。
妈妈穿鞋, 出去。
不要马来人 (邻居)。

I wear my uniform.
I want to wear the blue shoe.
This is my toy.

Separation anxiety

On the second day of school, Benja went into the classroom without any fuss. Mummy was very proud of him.

It was mummy who had separation anxiety. Together with other parents, I hung around stealthily to peep at him from the darkened windows outside the classroom.

I must had been so proud of Benja that I lost my head. I went to the door to wave and say hi to him.

At first, Benja couldn't recognise it was me, so he stared blankly.

When he realised, he ran to me for a hug and refused to let me go.

Realising my mistake, I left abruptly to work, without turning my head back.

My silly separation anxiety resulted in chaos for the rest of the day for Benja and the teachers. An hour later, a kind parent sent me a video of Benja crying and refusing to wash his hands..

*Roll eyes*

I shouldn't had peeped.