Thomas the Tank

You have somehow switched from liking Chuggington to Thomas the Tank. You know the names of all the trains (popo is really baffled by them and am not sure if you're telling the truth ;)) and love one of the Thomas songs 'Never never give up'. I love it too. We can hopefully bring you to Thomas Land in spring next year. Because of this Thomas craze, you have Thomas puzzles, books, pajamas, sweater and underwear!!

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

We watched the first 'play' as a family. It was a children's production about Rudolph in Sefton Park. I didn't have very high hopes, but was quite disappointed when the 'production' consisted of only 2 people and minimal props. I think you were slightly bored too, but remained well behaved throughout.



We did have a good lunch after that with friends and you really enjoyed playing with 'D' again. Thankfully, you will now wear your 'black jacket' after popo patiently adjusted the 'elastic band' around the sleeves and waist.

Dancing around

Our latest pasttime is you 'dancing' while I 'bang' on the piano. It's all very simple: your dancing involves running round and round the living room, while my piano playing involves simple nursery rhymes. But it's really fun, especially since we have taught you how to bow to your audience.

Ring bearer preparation

In about 3 weeks, you will be walking down the aisle in your 'suk suk's' wedding. We worry that you may not want to walk down the aisle, or run away with the 'ring', or may not even want to put on the suit ;) So, in preparation, we tried this:

26 months old

I'm not sure why I worried about you not speaking previously. You talk NON-STOP now, requesting for things, and 'report' to us.

'Isaac play nusery today'
'Isaac fall down like that'
'Isaac no eat vegetables'
'Isaac want watch/play iPad/TV'
'Isaac no want fireman jacket, want blue jacket'

Your favourite phrases are 'Who's that'?, pointing to something (You're confused between 'what' and 'who'), or 'What man doing?'

You're also very cheeky. A recent conversation went:
Popo: Isaac, you want to help popo put clothes in the washing machine? (you love doing this)
You: Say please
We just could not stop laughing. Looks like you know your magic words very well :)

You love to sing, can complete 16 pieces jigsaw, and hit a ball with the racquet. Hopefully we'll be able to play badminton/tennis with you soon. You have been keeping your nappy dry at night but I still do not dare let you be 'nappy-free'. You can also now recognise all the letters in the alphabet. Sigh.. I wish you will stay like this forever. Such a fun stage

Introduction to Santa

You were terrified when you were first introduced to Santa. Thankfully, your dada came out with the brilliant suggestion in telling you that Santa is Barney's best friend. Amazing what these 'tales' can do. You'll even 'hi 5' with Santa now. I wonder if this is how myths and fairy tales came about.

'Just about to cry'

Pampering times

My parents have come again!! :) This means lots of attention for you, Isaac (including all the Yi's), and lots of pampering for us, Mummy and Dada. We had a good break in London for a few days. You were so excited by everything and refused your afternoon nap EVERYDAY. You would 'crash' with tiredness in the evening, and fell asleep once while on the toilet bowl (literally), and once while eating dinner. This also meant bedtime at midnight those few days.

Fussy pot

I didn't know kids your age could be so fussy with clothes!! You've worn your favourite 'GAP blue jacket' for more than a year now and you're outgrowing it. So, we took out a jacket that was previously bought, in time for winter. You did put it on (once, picture below) after much coaxing, but has refused to wear it ever since. We then tried and bought another winter jacket (nicknamed it fireman jacket), hoping that you'll put it on, but you point blank refused. You even went as far as not wanting to go out and wanted to sleep to avoid me 'harrasing' you.

Hopefully bringing you shopping and choosing your own jacket will make you change from your favourite 'blue jacket'?

Autumn with Isaac

It is definitely getting colder, but your energy levels have not reduced at all :) We love going to the park to let you run about, and play in the playground. You also talk lots and amuse us with obervations that are completely bizarre.

'Dog eating leaves'

You eyeing a scooter for Christmas? but don't think you would know how to ride it yet

Breakfast time

We aim to go out for family breakfast on a saturday morning (if we're both not working). Our favourites are Mcdonalds and Toby's Carvery. This has become such a routine that you recognise the golden arches of McD's :)

You normally entertain yourself with your cars/trucks or books while Richard and I chat. However, we were really entertained by your 'help me, help me'. We still do not know why you said that.

New game

It started off with accidents of your cars sliding under the fridge. However, since seeing us take it out, you think this is the most fun game. You now love hiding and putting things under the fridge and will be very pleased with yourself if you manage to take it out using a chopstick.

Halloween

Your nursery had a halloween party and we were asked to get you a costume. So on the weekend before, we rushed to try get a costume that was not too 'dark', not too expensive and that you may wear. True to our suspicion, on the morning of the party, you yelled 'NNNnnnoooooo' and ran around your room, refusing to be a little 'vampire'. All our efforts wasted. I did bring it to nursery though, hoping that you will put it on if you see your friends all wearing costumes. Your carers did manage to get you to wear it for a short while, just enough to take a photo in. I look forward to seeing that photo.

Finding Nemo

Movies can really be put to good use. There's a scene in Finding Nemo where Nemo listens to Marlin (the father), so we explained the importance of listening to Richard and I. Now he repeatedly chants after he's been obedient, 'Nemo listen daddy, Isaac listen daddy' :)

Bedtime havoc

It has been really difficult getting you to sleep nowadays. It used to only take about an hour from bathtime to you falling asleep but lately it has been mostly 2, somtimes 3 hours, which is so frustrating, resulting in me scolding you occasionally. This means time for me starts about 11 or 11.30 at night, which is really tiring.

This is what happens:
- Lights off and finished drinking your milk
- Toss and turn, again and again
- Climb over me (as I lie next to you) and up and down the bed
- Ask to 'wee-wee'
- Ask for more milk (which I did in the beginning but now give water instead since it cleans your teeth)
- Toss and turn (I've raised my voice by this time)
- Ask to 'wee-wee' again (sometimes 2-3x)
- Toss and turn (arrgghhhh)
- Finally falls asleep

Any solutions? I left him twice, and he cried until he vomited. Sigh..

Barney

It must have been the nursery as Richard and I have never introduced Barney to you. Barney, the purple dinosaur is your favourite programme now - TV or U tube, and ask for it everyday! Like a broken record, you repeat over and over again 'Watch Barney, Barney TV....'. It probably is the songs that you like. The good thing is you learn from it, and follow instructions of 'Barney says you must share', 'Barney says you must be a good boy', 'Barney says tidy up' etc :)