Mommy Slide Together

Aug 10, 2012:  First day Daniel goes to BoxHill International Kindergarten (FoTan).  Mom stayed in the classroom with him.

Aug 13 week, one hour session each day  by himself;

Aug 20 week, two hour session each day by himself.

Starting Aug 27, he starts to stay three hours there each day.  

In the beginning, he cried when being taken to the classroom by the teacher.  Soon he could walk in without tears.  I'm very proud of him.

The teacher wrote on his handbook (used for parent-teacher communications), "Daniel is very quiet in class, but he seems to be happy and he does listen."   That is him, a cool boy.

He still doesn't say any Chinese words.   His English vocabulary is about 100 words or less.   Each time mommy says something he knows in Chinese, he translates it into English.   His first sentence that Mommy heard is "Mommy slide together" when he climbs up to the slide in the playground. 

Happy Birthday, dear Daniel!

My baby Daniel (well, not a baby any more) turns 2 today!

Even though Mommy needs to work full time Monday to Friday, even though Mommy will read story to Nathan every night by default and Auntie will do to Daniel, Daniel still loves Mommy so much. If Mommy is present and he wants to be carried, it is her who has to carry him. When Mommy arrives home from work, he will walk towards her and ask to be carried like a pet.

He still can't say Mommy or Daddy, but he started to read A~Z and type A~Z on laptop; he started to count 1~20 in English, regardless that only a few sounds are similar to the correct ones.

He has attended English playgroups in Zebedee kindergarten for almost half year now. Only recently he started to play with Miss Kate, the teacher. Only recently he began to use the sponge/brush to draw/paint.

Mommy brought him to try other playgroups, Music/Baby Dance/Phonics and none of them worked, he always cried/shouted and wanted to get out of the classroom. I think it takes him long time to get used to a new class. I forgot, he liked one short-term course in Little Gym. It was more free-style class and he could walk around in the spacious & interesting place with Ocean View. But it was too far and too expensive, Mommy didn't enroll him (Shall I now? )

For a while he was quite cool and it was hard to make him smile. Recently he easily get excited with life and has shown his sweet smiles more often.

Thank you my baby to bring so much joy to the family. Daddy, Mommy and your older brother Nathan all love you very much.

p.s. Mommy has to add a note: Daniel loves to eat. Before he ate everything. He became picky on what to eat though. He loves certain biscuits, chocolate without nuts, cashew nuts, meat, chinese medicine and juice.

Nathan's favorite songs

Last night, mommy asked Nathan "what's your favorite song No. 1? "
The answer is undoubtly the "ABC song".

A - B - C - D - E - F - G
H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P
Q - R - S - T - U and V,
W - X - Y and Z
Now I know my A - B - C's
Next time won't you sing with me?

Favorite No. 2 is: "One Two Three Four Five"
(the song name should be "Once I caught a fish alive")

One, two, three, four, five, Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine ,ten, Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite? This little finger on the right.

Favorite No. 3 is: "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"
Lyrics & Actions:
Five little monkeys (Hold up five fingers.)
jumping on the bed. (Jump up and down.)
One fell off (Hold up one finger and then roll your hand down towards the floor.)
and bumped his head. (Tap your head with your fist.)
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, (Put your pinky to your mouth and thumb to your ear like a telephone.)
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" (Put one hand on your hip and wag your index finger.)

Four little monkeys (Hold up four fingers.) jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Three little monkeys (Hold up three fingers.) jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Two little monkeys (Hold up two fingers.) jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

One little monkey (Hold up one finger.) jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped her head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Favorite No. 4 is: "the Alphabet Song"

"A," you're adorable, "B," you're so beautiful,
"C," you're a cutie full of charms.
"D," you're a darling and "E," you're exciting
And "F," you're a feather in my arms.
"G," you look good to me, "H," you're so heavenly,
"I," you're the one I idolize.
"J," we're like Jack and Jill, "K," you're so kissable,
"L," is the lovelight in your eyes.

"M," "N," "O," "P," I could go on all day.
"Q," "R," "S," "T," alphabetically speaking, you're OK.
"U," made my life complete,
"V," means you're very sweet,
"W" "X" "Y" "Zee."
It's fun to wander through the alphabet with you
To tell you what you mean to me.

Haha, his favorites are Letters and Numbers, period.

Favorite No. 5 is: "Old MacDonald had a farm"

In the version commonly sung today, the lyrics allow for a substitutable animal and its respective sound.

Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O,

And on that farm he had a [animal name], EE-I-EE-I-O,

With a [animal noise twice] here and a [animal noise twice] there

Here a [animal noise], there a [animal noise], everywhere a [animal noise twice]

Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.

hair dresser

Since Nathan was born, his first hair-cut was done by mommy using a pair of scissors. It was simply cutting the hair that block his eyes and ears and neck on the back.

Then I had always been bringing Nathan to neighborhood hair salons to get hair cut. Mommy held him on her laps and most of the time Nathan was doing a good job. When it was towards the ending, he showed impatience and started to shake his head. Mommy used tissues to remove the hair on his face. After it's done, we went back home and give him a bath immediately.

Well, what the hair dressers did, was just to set the clip to one or two level and go over Nathan's head. Mommy had always thought it was so simple and "I can do it myself". However for two reasons Mommy didn't go and buy the hair razor: (1) such hair cut is not expensive, it's HK$40 (about US$5.3); (2) mommy had no confidence due to no experience.

After we move to the new home, there are a few hair salons in the nearest plaza, but all expensive. Also the 2nd baby will be a boy again, it's the time to buy the hair razor. Thanks to Mommy's colleague who told her where to get the deal. In the end, Mommy spent HK$150 in the Conair hair razor for kids with everything in the package.

Last Saturday afternoon, when Nathan was watching babyTV channel, mommy started the experience. Surprisingly it's not that difficult. Even though there is a few long hair stick out after washing, the whole image was pretty good. See the picutre below.

no need to sneak out

This morning when I took my bags, wore shoes and opened the door, Nathan was watching me doing all these without expression. Then I waved "bye-bye, Nathan, bye-bye", he waved back and smiled. I was so relieved, my baby grew up, Mommy doesn't have to sneak out every morning for work anymore.

mommy's Y-th birthday

Mommy's friends know what the Y is. Mommy couldn't believe that how she had lived so many years on the earth already and went so few places on the earth. Also Mommy felt a little bit ashamed because of lack of achievements.

However, to Nathan, July 1st was just like a regular holiday when the helper goes out to have fun and Mommy is home to be with him. After breakfast, mother and son went down to the VP garden to take a walk and watch birds for 1 hour. Before we wanted to take lift to go home, Summer appears in the lobby. Two toddlers were very excited to see each other. They blow bubbles, watch boats and chase in the club house for another hour before we all go back to our house to eat snacks.

To "celebrate" Mommy's birthday, Nathan slept from 12:45 pm to 3:45 pm, 1 hour longer than usual. Then at 4:30 pm, we met up with Tara on the shuttle bus to Ma On Shan. Tara was so nice that she offered to buy a cake and drinks for Mommy. Mommy insisted not to buy a whole cake. In the end, three of us got 3 slices cake from A-1 Bakery and found a good seat in the shadow at Ma On Shan Park. Nathan liked the cheese cake and blueberry so much. Also it was his first time to drink Lemon Tea and he was so into it.

It was almost 7 pm when we got home. Nathan had no appetite for dinner. Then Summer and her mother came to play and chat. Nathan ate little dumplings after 8pm and drank his milk at 9 pm.

The highlight of this birthday was definitely in the afternoon in the park. Mommy felt so good seeing Nathan eat cake and drink lemon tea so aggressively and seeing Nathan play more independently than before. Mommy felt so grateful that she had met a good new friend Tara.

happy and upset moments

Happy Moments:

Nathan has many happy moments when playing in the bathtub, playground and park, when eating his favorite food. Below listed is from Mommy's point of view.

(1) wake up in the morning, sitting in the crib, make some sounds. The Moment Mommy came into the room and pick him up.

(2) sit on the kitchen floor waiting for Revelie to prepare for my food; or sit in the high chair eating my dinner. The Moment Mommy opens the door after work.

(3) watch "Brainy Brain" DVD. The Moment the baby in red clothes appear on the screen.

(4) alone with Mommy for a while. The Moment seeing my buddy Summer.

(5) seeing bubbles floating in the air;

(6) playing hide and seek

(7) chasing other kids or being chased.


Upset Moments (again from Mommy's point of view):

(1) wanted Mommy to hold him up and get the DVD, put into the player, then sit on the sofa to watch DVD. The Moment Mommy says "NO".

(2) wanted Mommy to hold him up when she is busy in doing something. The Moment Mommy says "WAIT".

(3) distracted by Revelie and went to the bedroom. The Moment Mommy, who were in the living room, is gone for work.

(4) took a ride in the morning with Mommy to the Station, got off the bus being held by Mommy. The Moment Mommy gave me to Revelie and I have to get back on the bus and ride home.

(5) seeing his playmat crying

(6) toys were grabbed or occupied by another kid.

Mommy's new friends

At work, Mommy has many colleagues and made friends with a few. Y joined ASTRI about the same time as Mommy and they sat next to each other in the beginning. Coincidently both of them lived in HK island at that time. Therefore sometimes they take the same train and then same bus going home after work. Most importantly they seem to have many things to share with each other.

Outside work, Mommy's friends are sort of limited to Vista Paradiso (VP) residents. Many Professors live in VP, most of them work in nearby Chinese Univ. of HK and PolyTech of HK. Exception is Daddy who works in far-away Univ. of HK.

A and her husband's situations are very close to ours. Husband came first, then wife with kids joined. Difference is A is also an AP herself and they have 2 kids already. A's daughter is about 7 months older than Nathan. A's family lives one floor above us, very convenient. Along with the many visits upstairs/downstairs and family outings together, the two kids and two mommies have become buddies, respectively. However, A's family is gonna to move to their new home in 2 months and we are gonna to move to our new home in 3 months. We will all feel sad.

Mommy sees an Indian couple on the shuttle bus once in a while. One day while walking from Science Park to University Station, Mommy saw the pregnant wife walking in the same direction. Mommy said Hi to her first. Not very surprisingly, T works at Science Park too. Surprisingly she met Daddy before through her Professor husband. T and Mommy also has a lot to talk about.

Due to the swine flu, all the kindergartens in HK are now closed. Nathan's last 2 playgroup sessions were resheduled to the end of August. In the class, there is another Nathan, let's call him "Nathan L", who is 5 days younger than "Nathan H". His father is the only male adult in the classroom since he is so attached to his father. One Saturday both Nathan showed up in front of the boxhill and found no class. Mommy invited Nathan L to play at our home since Boxhill is located at VP. After that, Mr. L and Mommy exchanged phone numbers and we were invited to their house last weekend. So many toys. Both Nathan's look, weight and personality are very different, but it should not prevent them from having playdates regularly.

Fruits at 4 pm

"Today’s fresh: Apples, pears, mangoes, grapes and lychee." Every Friday afternoon, Mommy gets such an email at work.

The AWT (advanced wireless technology) group started Fruits Time at 4 pm every Friday a few weeks ago. One may make contribution any time any amount to the Fruit fund managed by a tech manager Derek.

Mommy is a social person, so has always been on time. Well, the real reason is if you go late, you may not get the most popular fruit. If you go 15 minutes late, there is nothing left. Therefore, it's not a really long break. However Mommy still appreciates what Derek has done: for at this time, everyone is talking about eating, not 0 and 1 as usual.

Jelly & Belly Baby Playgroup (1)

Nathan was 15 month old on Sunday. Saturday morning 10:30 - 11:30 am, Nathan and Mommy went to the very FIRST PAID playgroup at BoxHill. It was chosen by its location, which is right in Vista Paradiso, so no transportation is needed. It is a 9-session program, 1 hour each Saturday.

There was some rain, Mommy held Nathan standing in the line waiting to be admitted in. Most kids were accompanied by both parents, although in the end only one parent can be in the classroom. Daddy is at home doing his own work. We hope that Daddy can appear too at Nathan's FIRST events.

wash hands -> walk around the room -> clear up toys -> get a rattle -> sing 2 songs -> get a ball -> throw back -> put on apron and sleeve cover -> art work using glue -> wash hands -> eat snack -> queue up and sing bye-bye song.

Nathan initially was a little bit uncomfortable seeing so many "rivals" and their parents. He couldn't follow the instructions either. But he gets better later on, and he became so comfortable that he started to grab the crayon, the baby doll, things he was not supposed to touch. He likes that same baby doll he grabbed last time on the open day.

A few boys cried when their mothers tried to put on the aprons. Teacher believes that it's some baby's nap time, but kids will get used to the class time. It's funny every kid sits well and no cry during snack time. 民以食为天.

little teachers of Nathan

Recently Nathan has more interaction with Louis, the 2-year old British-Chinese gentleman. Nathan went to Louis's room and there is a big poster on the wall with the alphabets. Louis was teaching Nathan ABCs. How wonderful it is!

Nathan still plays with 2-year old Wesley a lot. They go to parks and playroom together, and visit each other's house, play each other's toys.

That's why Nathan is so smart because he got a few little teachers and they are free of charge.

milk once a day

Nathan now only drinks 180ml (6 oz) milk (formula) at around 9 PM.

For a while, he drank twice a day, either early morning and before bed time; or mid-afternoon and before bed time. At 13.5 month, Nathan's weight was above 90% on the weight chart in Hong Kong. The nurse suggested us to cut his milk intake, by 18 months, he should drink at most 2 x 120ml milk a day. We achieved that goal much early.

Instead, we use little bit fruit, bread or toddler crackers to replace the milk as his snacks. Nathan is fine with that, still a fat yet healthy boy. His bowel movement is very normal, 1 or 2 times a day.

Happy Baby Book

On the shelf in the library of club house, there sits a book called "Happy Baby Book". It seems to have been reserved for Nathan and Mommy. Everytime we go there, it sits at the same position that Nathan put back before we left last time.

The book contains lots of happy and cute baby pictures, with topic titles like "give him a bunny", "give him something to play", "give him a cookie", "sing a song", etc. Nathan just loves the book, so does Mommy. Nathan walks into the libraray, takes the book from the bookshelf, sits down and reads. He turns the pages randomly and points to the pictures, and say "da" or something else. Well, Nathan, you should say "happy" or "cute".

There is one page "Sing a song" with picture of a mommy with baby sitting on her laps. They hold two hands together and the text is the lyrics of the song "row your boat".

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

One day, Mommy put Nathan on her laps and held his hands, and sang the song. I wish someone took our picture. After that, each time Mommy sings the song, Nathan reach out for Mommy's hands, and become happy.

Thanks to whoever donated the book to the small library.

A Message From Habit

The following is copied from http://mei2000.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post_31.html.

Smart Start Morning Ritual Challenge - A Message From Habit

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.

Half of the things you do you might as well turn over to me and
I will do them - quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed - you must be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of great people,
and alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine though
I work with the precision of a machine
plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin -
it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and
I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am Habit.

Two little British Gentlemen

Revelie told me about a five-year old British-Indian boy named "Adam" this morning. He goes to kindergarden only in the afternoon. So in the morning, he needs playmate. When he got the playroom in our clubhouse, and when no one else is there, he asked his helper to call Revelie and bring Nathan there. He said that he can take care of Nathan in the playroom. Wow, looks like mommy got a volunteer babysitter. Revilie told me that all little girls like to play with Adam, because he is a "Gentleman".

The other one who lives in Vista Paradiso is named "Louis", who is 2 year + old. His father is 50 year old british, and his mother is a Chinese. I often met Louis and his helper on the shuttle bus. He goes to Tutor Time Nursery school, the expensive one I visited last month. He is always neat with little smile. When helper asks him to give toy to Nathan, or to give way to others in the playroom, he does so. I never see him shout, cry, or laugh loud. Louis is a real gentleman too.

Without the British blood, Nathan will never become British Gentleman. Mommy has seen Nathan shout, laugh loud and cry in the playroom. Could Nathan learn politeness and generosity from Adam and Louis, instead of rudeness and stinginess from some other kids, please?

Toy Library and Shanghai Garden

Hong Kong has a Toy Library and Mommy called one week ahead and made a reservation for Sunday 5 pm - 5:45 pm. Both parents and kid can go inside the big playroom and check out 2 toys (one at a time). They limit number of kids to about 15. We arrived there early and sat down in the Delifrance cafe to have latte and some snack. Nathan was sleeping in the stroller at that time.

The playroom is very clean, shoes off. Two tree men plus a two-floor wood house decorate the room, Some funny mirrors, a heavily packed floor area for babies. Nathan had lots of fun. He couldn't distinguish the fake food (bread, cookies, corn, etc) from the real one. He fed mommy and daddy lots of food. When I say, "baby eat", he tried to put them into his own mouth.

Time passed very fast. We met Auntie Pan and went to Central to have dinner. Dadday brought us to Shanghai Garden, a very nice restaurant. Every time his department has visitors, they come here. The food and drink is great. Nathan started to love mommy's cold melon juice and drank quite some. Later he pooed at 10 pm and 8 am the next day. Maybe the drink, maybe the food (more oil than his usual food).

Toy library is a very nice place to visit. But it's too far from where we live and Nathan started to shout on the bus when he gets bored or sleepy. Still, it's a good place to meet with friends. Afterwards, we can enjoy a great lunch or dinner in Central or Causeway Bay.

Thanks to Wesley's Mother

Revelie is the name of our helper. She has a friend, who is hired by an employer who live in the same building as we do. The friend is taking care of a toddler too and his name is Wesley. Wesley is 2 year and 3 months old. Wesley and Nathan play together quite often in playroom, Ma On Shan park. I only saw him once and never met his mother.

One day last week Revelie brought home a bag of second hand clothes, maily sweaters and long sleeve T-Shirt. About ten pieces. They were wore by Wesley. It's great that I can save money to buy Nathan books.

I'd like to express my thanks to Wesley's mother but haven't got chance to buy him a gift. Hopefully I can buy the gift soon and call his mother to visit.

吃喝拉撒睡 update on Eat Drink Pee Poo Sleep

Nathan's weight (naked with a diaper) was 11.65 kg when he was 13.5 month old, which is 90 something percent by HK statistics. He definitely inherited the "good" habit of eating anything.

Eat:
breakfast: one egg (steam or pan-fry) + mixed cereal (power) or bread;
morning snack: toddler biscuits + fruits
lunch: rice or noodle + meat + vegi
afternoon snack: half apple or other fruit
dinner: rice or noodle + meat + vegi

Drink:
(1) milk 3 times a day, 180 cc each, 7~8am, 3:30~4pm, 9pm. We will try to cut the morning and afternoon milk to 120 cc.
(2) commercial toddler juice or homemade: 150 cc?

Pee: With the water and milk he drank before going to bed, his diaper get so full in the morning; sometimes he complains after he wakes up and pees, because the pants are wet.

Poo: every day or every other day. Recently we are mixing the Wyeth and Abbott formulas.

Sleep: Recently one long nap after lunch, 2.5 ~ 3 hours; Fall into sleep around 10:15 pm, wakes up 7~8 am. Sometimes drinks milk at 6:30 am, play in bed half an hour or more and then sleep again till 8~8:30 am.

Training Husband

I read a very interesting and helpful article today. I put down the link here so that I can revisit it when needed.

http://www.babyhome.com.tw/calendar/0,o1de,mid1180658,cid113434696.htm

Visiting International Nursery

Most International Nursery & Kindergarten provides "Activity Group" or "Play Group" for 1.5 year old or above. However the expensive Nursery schools do provide programs for 1 year old toddlers, even 6 month old babies. Nathan is 12.5 month today.

Daddy is against sending Nathan to playgroup, saying he is too young. Apparently he didn't realize the competition among kids in Hong Kong or the importance of "Learning in Play" at early age. Anyway, as long as I suggest buying anything, his first reaction is NO. I don't want to spend too much money either, but I think 1 or 2 times playgroup a week will help Nathan's development in all aspects. So I'm looking for something of good quality yet not too expensive. I plan to visit a few schools this week because Daddy is out of town for a conference.

Monday: I started with the most expensive one in Kowloon Toon -Suffolk. 90 minutes per session, half instructions are in Mandarin and the other half in English. The facilities/curriculums are nice, very professional. Parents may view all classrooms online. However the classrooms are not spacious, also Mandarin classes are not necessary for Nathan. Daddy and Mommy can teach at home. It's good for HK locals who speak Cantonese at home. In any case, it's a NO due to the unaffordable price.

Tuesday: Mommy found that she made a huge mistake regarding US tax. So in the following days, Mommy is very busy on that and abandoned visiting plans.

However, since there are very few choices for playgroups for 1.0~1.5 yr toddlers, Mommy decide to use Box Hill, which is located at Vista Paradiso, where we live. HK$200 per session, totally 9 sessions starting from Mid April. One hour on each Saturday morning, so Mommy can bring Nathan herself. Mommy is so looking forward to it.