87 seconds better

After my first 5K run in 2011, I was determined to improve my timing..

I know I cannot do too much.. but I tried. I trained by running 3-4K thrice a week..

And I succeeded.. at the Desa Park City Run 2012, I finished in 38 minutes and 3 seconds - that 87 seconds faster *wink*

The Desa Park City Run 2012 FINISHERS!
The boys are definitely my motivators :)

I’m impressed

Being the third child, I assumed Aaron will speak even faster than his brothers.. (usually the case when there is an older sibling). But I was wrong. He was slower than the two of them.. Thytus and Nixon spoke quite clearly at 15-18 months of age.

I was getting worried, and I checked with his pediatrician about it. She said that its quite common for boys to speak a little, not until 2 years old..

And she was right! He did not speak much words until he was 2 years old. Now, he amazes us with his vocabulary. He speaks in full sentences; with the little words like ‘it’, ‘now’, etc. to make the sentence sound good, in correct tenses too (most of the time). He beats both his brothers when it comes to vocab comparison at the same age!

What happened to my baby?!

He was so excited to go to school, but for the past few weeks, he doesn’t want to go to school.

This all started when a boy hit him on the back. He said it was because he wanted to see his pencil and he didn’t let. So they boy hit him on the back. From that day, he was scared to go to school. That I understand.

But, he is still crying even after few weeks. Now when we ask him why he cries, he says..

You leave me, that’s why I cry.

I scared of that boy.

The teacher takes to long to finish the school.

He holds on to me real tight when I am in the school compound and start crying when it is time for me to leave. He grabs on to me even tighter. Recently, the only way out for me is to pull him to his teacher and she will hold on to him so that I can leave. I asked them whether he continues to cry for a long time after that or not, they said no. He is okay after some time.

I just have to give him some time for him to settle down and hope that he will get back to his normal self.

My baby is 1 today!

How time flies..
I remember how you couldn’t wait to be delivered.
You threatened me a couple of times.
And then you arrived very much near the due date. Phew!

I saw your first smile.
I saw you crawl.
I heard you call me ‘amma’.

Now you climb on your brothers.
I can see that you want to join in their play.

Now you can walk.
You don’t like us to carry you around.

My, my, my, how time flies.
My baby is already 1 today!


Happy birthday Aaron!

Reaching out to me

With open arms I call out to him.

He looks at me with a broad smile.

Even in the midst of his exploration...
he gets down on his knees,
crawls in high speed into my arms.

I carry him up and give him a kiss.

I have to let him go immediately...
coz' he wants to continue his exploration!

Those few moments is just enough to make my day...

PS: He is also calling out to me now.. "amma" *melt*

No more embarrassment..

.. or may be not just yet.

So far, so good, Nixon hasn’t sent us to the optician to mend his glasses. He used to send us to the optician every two days to mend his glasses!

We had actually scared him that he would have to put in the eye drops if he does not wear his glasses or if he breaks it. Scared of the eye drops, he has been taking care of his glasses. What a relief!

The eye drops were administered for Nixon when he had to go for the eye check since he does not know how to read yet.

Happy Birthday lil' Presiden!

Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday to lil' Presiden..
Happy birthday to you.

You are 3 years old today. Hmm, no more in the terrible twos, is that going to make any difference?

You make me scream, you make me smack your butt,
But you are not afraid. Nothing I do stops you from being yourself - naughty!

Nevertheless, I am proud of you. You take care of d-prinz whenever he cries. Every time I ask your help to talk to him while I feed him medicine or change his nappy, you are always trying your best.

You are very attached to appa. When he is not home, you come to me. Unlike anna who loves to stay with ammachi and taatha, you always think twice.

You speak very well and always impress us not just with your vocabulary, but with your wittiness as well. Sometimes you make the funniest statements. You never fail to amuse us :)

Happy Birthday Champion!

Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday to you..
Happy birthday to Champion..
Happy birthday to you.

You are 4 years old today. My, my.. how fast time flies.

You always make amma proud of you. You do disturb your brother now and then, but most of the time you listen to me. Sometimes you say the sweetest things..

You can remember how to spell a few words.. ant, boy, cat and dog. Learning well at school.

You love to spend your weekend at taatha and ammachi's house, unlike thambhi. Every time you are there, you like them to write dotted words for you to write over it. They keep you occupied, and you love it.

'Susu' baby

He is definitely a ‘susu’ baby. That’s what we called him when he was younger, and I think that name stays since he doesn’t mind whether he drinks the formula milk or my breast milk :)

Unlike Nixon (who tried 2 oz. breast milk mixed with 6 oz. of formula milk.. and rejected it immediately), Thytus is drinking the whole 6 oz. of breast milk willingly.

I am so glad that he likes it the breast milk.. I must say it is even saving us come cash on formula milk ;)

Short term excitement

While I was waiting to fetch Champion after school on the 1st day, I went back to in-laws place to have my breakfast. Guess who was excitedly waiting for me to bring him to school.. lil’ President! All dressed up including his socks and shoes, wheeling his bag around (we had prepared a school bag for him as well, complete with stationeries and some books).

As a consolation, I brought him to fetch his brother. While waiting, he played in the playground in the school grounds. Then he comes to me and says, “I want to write on the table like anna. I want to sit in the class..”

We thought he would forget about it, but we were wrong. The next day, when he got up same time as his brother (about 7 a.m.), he insisted that he wanted to wear only the school uniform. After talking him out of it (took us some time), he wore his long pants (which is his current favourite dress code.. only longs!).

On the second week, when sending Champion, I talked to the principal and she allowed for lil’ President to try out his brother’s class. (This kindy only accepts children 4 years and above). He was so excited when he knew he was going to school, waiting at the gate when I called home to ask him to get ready.

He was still excited on the 2nd day. However, after the one day public holiday, he told us he didn’t want to go to school. Hmm, what happened?!

I guess he just wanted to have a feel of ‘going to school’ and now that he knows what anna does in school, he is satisfied. We also concluded that he didn’t like being confined to the chair for more than a few minutes. It’s just not him! :D

Psst.. he is not telling us, but I think he must have missed his thumb sucking too! ;)

Handling it better this time

Last year, when we tried sending Champion to a kindy, he didn’t want to continue going because he was afraid of the transport lady. As we didn't have much choice for transport and since he was only 3, we didn't force him.

Being a year older now, we hoped that he would handle things better this time. We enrolled him into the same kindy as his 5 year old cousin so that he would be more comfortable in that school. Apart from the little tear and initial look out for me, he adjusted quite well almost immediately. I got him another transport lady whom he is already familiar with (another lady who has sending his other cousins for the part years).

Champion is now excited to go to school. It's such a relieve.. at least there is no headache when it comes to getting him ready for school!

But as he was getting adjusted with his new school life, guess who else was excited to go to school?!

Back to work..

... 5 days ago.

As I am getting used to my work routine, Aaron is still trying to get used to his routine of moving from one house to another, changing hands from me to MIL. He seems to be finding it difficult to adapt during this transition period, compared to Champion and lil' President. He cries when he is being fed, he cries when he wants to sleep..

I hope he gets through this phase soon.. Then, it would be easier for MIL to handle him. As it is she is already taking care of Champion and lil' President apart from the other grandchildren aged 7, 8, 12 and 15!

On the other hand, I am glad to be back to work after nearly 3 months being away. Although I still feel I haven't rested enough, I think I need to get back to work. I don't see myself staying home and taking care of 3 boys. For this, I salute MIL for being able to take care and bear with so many..

Thanks to jazzmint, I am still breastfeeding. It seems to be hardwork to continue now that I have started work, but it is definitely satisfying when I see that it is all for the best of my son.

How is it going...

.. with me?

I am definitely getting so much heavier than the last two pregnancies. I'm in my 33rd week now, and can't wait to deliver already. I wonder whether I will deliver early just like my second pregnancy.. at the 37th week.

So far, we are unable to confirm the baby's sex. Since we have waited till long, we might as well wait another month, huh?

.. with Champion?

He is impressing us with his perfect sentences.. with some English accent.

"Amma, can I some orange juice please?"
"Can I watch that CD, please?"
"Can I have some more please?"
"Thank you amma." When we say welcome, he replies with a "No problem."
Or, he gives us the short "Thanks" .. sounding just like a grown up.

Hmm, apart from learning manners from us, I think the TV programmes is influencing him. He is a TV addict. Given a chance, he will sit there watching TV whole day. He does get involved with other activities like badminton with apps, loves his 12-piece jigsaw puzzle, playing with his cars and reading books, or rather, getting me to read to him.. but when he is not given any attention, he resorts to the TV. I wish I was able to spend more quality time with him.. especially at this age.. but since I am trying to cope with myself at the moment, it is tough to sit with him long enough :( I guess I can do better after the delivery...

Champion listens to our instructions well.. (most of the time). He even straightens things when they are not right.. puts back what he took. He is also easier to handle when we bring him out. When I brought him to a function without apps, he ate all by himself, even when I offered to feed him. He impressed me!

.. with lil' President?

He is getting more clingy to apps. When apps is not around, he looks for me. He is still sucking his thumb and looks for my elbow to scratch when he is sleepy. Somehow, he doesn't like apps elbow.. so it's mine that he looks for.. Even if he was sitting with apps, he will get down and look for me.. or rather, my elbow!

He too is getting involved with the 12-piece jigsaw puzzle.. but we would have to ask him for different parts of the picture and he would point out. Then, being lazy.. he would ask us to pick it up and fix it ourselves!

Somehow, he is not interested in TV.. he loves playing with toys.. even if it meant playing by himself. He loves to irritate his brother by switching off the TV while he is watching.. Hmm, may be he is seeking his brother's attention?!

His communication skills is definitely better than Champion at the same age. He speaks and understands three languages (English, Tamil and Bahasa Malaysia) quite well. I am impressed with his Bahasa Malaysia when he communicates with the maid.. Champion can do the same.. but lil' President is a year younger!

Lil' President is a little hard to discipline.. he does what he wants.. Champion was the opposite at his age. He listened well to our instructions and was an obedient boy. Lil' President loves to throw things and keep the table clean buy pushing everything to the floor!

.. with apps?

He is definitely doing his best to handle 3 people with different characters.. me, Champion and lil' President. He tries to satisfy our needs, tantrums and fusses.. and I must say, he is dong just great! ;)

Nowadays, since I have lessen my shouting and conditioning with the boys.. (to reduce my own stress..) apps is coming into action. He has been the quite one all this while.. but now the lion is awake. He can't help it but to do a little scolding and conditioning with the boys.. especially lil' President!

I guess we are just hanging in there and waiting for the arrival of the new addition to the family :)

Little tongue twister

Comparison of development and milestone between siblings is common. We can do it as a healthy comparison.. just to make sure each child is growing up in the right pace and we are doing the right thing to guide them in each of their milestones.

Just as we were discussing when did Champion start speaking real words, we were passing the ‘ketupat’ deco along the road. I remember teaching Champion to say ‘ketupat’ the same time last year at about 19 months. He said "pat" for ‘ketupat’.

So, I tried it on lil’ President, now at 17 months.. I pointed to the ‘ketupat’ and said “Ketupat” and he said “pat-tu-tu-put-tu-pat” with the saliva spitting out. He said it just as if it was a tongue twister. It sounded real funny.

As long as he is still tongue twisting his ‘ketupat’, we are asking him to say the word. It still makes us laugh when we ask him to say ‘ketupat’..

Happy & Speechless

I am happy because..
Champion has stopped drinking milk in the nights. He is no more waking up in the middle of the night asking "Appa, susu".

Early this year he reduced his night milk requirement to twice, about two months ago he reduced to once, and since two weeks ago, no more!

It all started when I got pregnant the second time, when Champion was about 4 months old. During the pregnancy, I was always tired and couldn’t wake up at night to attend to Champion. Apps and I had agreed that he will take care of Champion while I take care of lil’ President.

While in his care, he had fed Champion milk every time he cries.. assuming he was hungry. That routine continued and Champion got used to it until over 2 years old. Even if he was not hungry, he will get up and ask for his ‘susu’.

Pity apps.. I couldn’t help even after lil’ President grew older. Champion only wanted apps to make him his night milk.

Thank goodness, now he has grown out of it. It is actually for the good of both apps and Champion. Apart from Champion reducing the possibility of tooth decay, both of them can have a good night sleep.

I am speechless because..
Lil’ President is climbing almost everything… Wait! Correction.. not almost everything, actually, EVERYTHING!

Yesterday I caught him climbing the TV cabinet which is taller than him. He hung from the edge, and started climbing himself up. He walked on the walls of the cabinet and tried to get higher!

He did the same thing at the back of the sofa. He was able to climb a side table ¾ his height. He even climbs the gate.

Oh my goodness, what else will he be climbing next?

When I look at all this, Champion is a gem. But still, I know lil’ President is just experimenting his surrounding. We’ll give him some time before he understands the danger?!

As they grow...

They are achieving their milestones, one by one, day by day. We are becoming more and more proud of them, but sometimes it can give us headache too *sigh*

He is 25 months old, and he is near to perfect in toilet training. 99% of the time, he tells us before he pee and we are in time to get him to the toilet. He does forget 1% of the time, especially when is too engrossed with something; watching Barney, playing a new toy, etc.

However, when he poo, he is only capable of telling us when it is at the tip.. and by the time we bring him to the toilet, he has done it in his pants! I know, he is getting there. We’ll just have to wait another few weeks and he’ll be 100% toilet trained :)

On the other hand, his milestone of walking has given him so much freedom to explore. Now he is walking all over, switching ‘on/off’ all the switches along his way, switching on the fan, dragging big stuffs (things heavier and bigger than him), climbing everything cabinet and sofa.

Yesterday, he was going under the altar table (a bit taller than him) and climbed it’s based, sitting on it, hang onto the sides.. swinging. We were afraid that he might knock himself on the sides or even bring it down, so we moved it to the smaller living room. I was carrying him while apps moved it. When I let him down again, he went to the altar table’s location and started crying.. non-stop without tears! Hmmm, Champion never did this...

At MIL’s, he loves to climb the coffee table, and jump onto the sofa from there. I didn’t quite believe it, until I witnessed it myself. Arrghh!! What a headache.

He seems to be more mischievous than Champion. Even at 25 months, Champion is a very good boy compared to 13 month old lil’ President.

I’m afraid that it would be difficult to discipline lil’ President when he is a bit older. I wonder whether he will listen to me just like Champion does? I hope he does.. coz’ it’s all for his own good :)

Hmm... brothers, but their personalities are so different.

We are impressed

Champion continues to impress us with his ever improving vocabulary as well as his spontaneous answers.

At home...
When a neighbour was drilling in their house, Champion asked us "What is that noise?" It was his exact words, with correct grammar.

One morning...
Champion was sleepily sitting in the front passenger seat, when a noisy motorbike passed by. He asked me "Ma, what is that noise?"

While at my babysitter's house...
Karu uncle suddenly said "I like lil' President", looking at Champion. Within seconds, Champion replied "I like her!" pointing to his wife. Apparently, aunty Kala has entertained and fed Champion on few of his visits to their house. Since Karu uncle was trying to make Champion jealous, Champion's response amazed everybody!

When at taatha's place...
Taatha was having 'tairu sooru' (yogurt rice) when Champion came near for a feed. He thought he was eating something interesting. But when he saw what taatha was eating, he said "Don’t want. Sour!" when taatha offered him some.

We are so impressed by the way he is picking up his vocabulary. We suddenly find him growing so fast right before our eyes, speaking like an older child..

If not, amma …?

As part of my toilet training effort, I would ask Champion, every now and then, whether he wants to pee, and rush him to the toilet...

Even then, when I forget to remind him, and if he forgets, he would just do it in his nappy. It’s not like when he was younger, the nappy is good enough to hold his pee. Now that he is older, he pees more. Sometimes, it even wets the sofa. Arrgghh!

Since he doesn’t like the potty, I try to train him to do it in the toilet. He is quite okay with that. Many times I have reminded him, and he repeats after me...

Amms : If wanna ‘usa’ (tamil word for pee), go where?
Champion : Bathoom! (don’t wanna confuse him with the term bathroom and toilet just yet)
Amms : If not, amma...?
Champion : Beat you! (he gets a smack on the thigh)

He got it quite right, although he is directly repeating what I told him (instead of saying 'beat me'). But he still understands what I mean :)

Not that I really beat him.. but just to make him tell me when he wants to pee.. ;P

He used to only go to the toilet after we ask him whether he wanna pee, and when he says yes.

Last night, I asked him a few times whether he wanna pee, he said no. Later, he came to me and said 'usa', and rushed him to the toilet. He even was twisting his legs to hold his pee. So young also know how to hold already ;)

Then my maid told me that the whole day he had been telling if he wanted to pee, except for once when he forgot.

Yipee! My Champion is on the way to his toilet training..

Old McDonald had a Farm

Champion listens to the nursery rhymes in my car, on the way home. Normally I will sing along while he claps.

Then suddenly he sang out,

E-I-E-I-O..
Moo-moo here, Moo-moo there..
E-I-E-I-O..

And he went on joining me with his bits and pieces. I was dumb founded. I just cheered him. I am delighted that he is learning more songs.. other than his usual Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, etc..

When the song finished, he asked me, "Ma, some more..".

Little did I realize that he was learning the songs.. He knew quite a lot of songs, but in small bits and pieces. If he didn’t know the song, he will be quite.. listening. I think he’s trying to learn the words.

When we got hone, I called apps to the car so that he can listen to Champion sing his E-I-E-I-O!

But Champion was shy. When apps was there, he just smiled at him, and didn’t sing a word. Pity apps, no show for him this time!

Getting better with words

Its so cute to listen to Champion speak his sentences. I love the way he says things.

When we're driving, he says

• 'strait' for straight,
• turn.

When we're out on the road or on our outing, he calls out

• 'busss' for bus,
• 'busss' for lorries too (I think he finds them similar b'coz of their size),
• 'tain' for train,
• 'van' for van,
• 'mooon' for moon,
• 'tar' (with a silent 's' in the front) for star
• 'pat' for ketupat (calls out to the ketupat decos he found along the road during raya).

He says lots more stuffs, too much to capture. He says the words by catching the last syllable. For example,

• 'ter' for water,
• 'ri' for strawberry (his favourite fruit at the moment, apart from kiwis and oranges)
• 'fuut' for fruit.

The best part is he understands whatever we say and tries to reply us in his ways. Wow, how fast kids learn. Soon, he will be talking away... Keep up the good work, Champion.

Mr. President is also going forward. He is now louder with his babbling, and also voices his interest to play with Champion. Whenever Champion is playing around the house, he twists and turns his head to search for his bro through the sounds he hear.

I was even trying to get Champion to share his toys with Mr. President. He was good enough to share most of his toys. Sometimes, when he sees a toy that he hasn't played with for a long time, he plays with them first, before sharing it with Mr. President. But, some special toys get special protection, and Champion gets us to keep it for him while he drinks his milk (while hands are full).