Dear Isabelle
Mommy seems to have neglected this blog for a while. We have been in Singapore for the past 2 months, that's why. It was a pretty last minute trip and what can I say, blogging hasn't been the top of mummy's list since we arrived.
However you turned 20 months last week, our little darling, and so mummy needs to pen down some of your developments and milestones, which are too many to list.
One surprising moment for me was during bedtime one night- just when I switched off the lights, I groped in the dark to where you were and asked "Where is Isabelle?" To my amazement you answered "Here!" And that was the start of our newly discovered mini conversations with you. You are able to tell us what you want these days. I think our days of sing and sign are over; you have truly graduated from that course.
One thing to mention is your commendable learning ethics which we have observed. You love to repeat things which you have learnt during the day, be it a new song, or reciting numbers or the alphabets, just before sleeping. In the dark bedroom mummy will always hear you sing or recite to yourself. You even prance around practising your ballet moves in the dark bedroom. In short, as much as a double edged sword Youtube or Netflix is, we cannot deny the fact that you have learnt loads from these videos.
After an epic trip, we will be heading back very soon to a cooler London. You probably don't understand at this stage, but saying goodbyes is always a hard thing to do, regardless of whether we have spent two weeks or two months with our families. You won't be surrounded by so many people around you everyday when we are back. You will need to learn to play on your own more, Isabelle. We have been showered with so much love from everyone since arriving; and you are the delight in everyone's eyes. For all the love, care and concern shown upon us, mummy is very touched. Perhaps next trip you will understand saying goodbyes more. Meanwhile, let's enjoy our last few days here and we look forward with reuniting with daddy very soon.
Love you so much our darling,
Mummy xxx
Mommy seems to have neglected this blog for a while. We have been in Singapore for the past 2 months, that's why. It was a pretty last minute trip and what can I say, blogging hasn't been the top of mummy's list since we arrived.
However you turned 20 months last week, our little darling, and so mummy needs to pen down some of your developments and milestones, which are too many to list.
Speech
Your speech has developed a lot in the past weeks. You can say words which make sense now and you tend to repeat after us adults. Which is interesting because at the same time, you are exposed to different languages back home besides English. Your great grandmother speaks her Teochew dialect to you; your grandparents speak Chinese to you and between them, they pepper their conversations with a bit of Hokkien. And above all, you hear Singlish everyday. Your vocabulary is officially very "rojak" now. Mummy wanted to find something to do with you every week, and so I signed us up for a Chinese playgroup, 1.5h every Monday morning. Glad to report that you have learnt a few Mandarin words especially when it's snack time and the teacher asks every child to repeat after her. That's when you really say out loud and repeat the Chinese words after her. Because food.
One surprising moment for me was during bedtime one night- just when I switched off the lights, I groped in the dark to where you were and asked "Where is Isabelle?" To my amazement you answered "Here!" And that was the start of our newly discovered mini conversations with you. You are able to tell us what you want these days. I think our days of sing and sign are over; you have truly graduated from that course.
Nursery Rhymes and more
You still have a deep love for nursery rhymes on Youtube. We have tried to expand your repertoire by introducing you to some cartoons like Peter Rabbit and even the recent National Day song "Our Home" - for some reason you like the oh-oh-oh-oh part, and also the short segment where the 4 kids sing toward the end. Like millions of other kids, Baby Shark has caught on and you keep telling us "shark!" whenever we switch on the TV. After hearing it for the nth time, mummy managed to find a ballet video clip for you with more soothing music, and you have been hooked on ever since. In fact you attempt to copy the ballerina Emma's moves which is so cute to watch. You can sing some songs on our own, much to our amazement: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, the ABC song, Johnny Johnny (Yes, papa) and many other songs to which you are able to repeat parts of them.One thing to mention is your commendable learning ethics which we have observed. You love to repeat things which you have learnt during the day, be it a new song, or reciting numbers or the alphabets, just before sleeping. In the dark bedroom mummy will always hear you sing or recite to yourself. You even prance around practising your ballet moves in the dark bedroom. In short, as much as a double edged sword Youtube or Netflix is, we cannot deny the fact that you have learnt loads from these videos.
Food, glorious food
What can I say? We already know your love for food but I think Singapore has brought it up to another level. You enjoy almost everything we give you. Even those which we don't offer you either because they are too sweet/ salty or spicy. You will always show us your frustration and want to try. So we gave you a bit of mee siam. You ate the spicy noodles with gusto. You have tried countless kinds of local delights, even mummy has lost count. Bringing you out is a breeze because we don't need to pack congee with us. We offer you some seafood fried rice or pineapple fried rice, or fish soup and you are a happy bunny. Many people have told me how lucky am I to have such a good eater and I don't disagree. However there is always a slight naggy worry inside me that you are over eating. I mean, you have definitely put on the rolls on your arms and thighs since arriving! It's ok, once we head back to London, it's all cucumber and carrot sticks for snacks and healthy meals with no sugar or salt added hehe. You need to keep those modeling assignments coming! (Although your aunt thinks you can model for milk powder brands because of your very healthy weight).
After an epic trip, we will be heading back very soon to a cooler London. You probably don't understand at this stage, but saying goodbyes is always a hard thing to do, regardless of whether we have spent two weeks or two months with our families. You won't be surrounded by so many people around you everyday when we are back. You will need to learn to play on your own more, Isabelle. We have been showered with so much love from everyone since arriving; and you are the delight in everyone's eyes. For all the love, care and concern shown upon us, mummy is very touched. Perhaps next trip you will understand saying goodbyes more. Meanwhile, let's enjoy our last few days here and we look forward with reuniting with daddy very soon.
Love you so much our darling,
Mummy xxx
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