Oh my Goodness!

Capturing phrases from me.. that’s what Champion is doing now.

Recently, he learnt phrases like Oh God! Or Oh my Goodness! This I say when the boys do something naughty..

Yesterday, we didn't notice that lil' President wanted to poo. Just when he finished, a little movement and the poo fell out of his nappy and dropped on the floor..

Seeing his brother, he said “Oh my Goodness!”

LOL! He surely knows when to use that phrase.

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..

You're my Champion!

Champion loves Barney. The moment we get home, he will say he wants to watch Barney. But I am getting bored already. Since I didn’t have any new collection of Barney CD’s for him yesterday, I suggested that we watch Lion King instead. He happily agreed. "Lion King, Lion King", he says..

He sat on my lap, as I was narrating the movie to him.. (it may be too fast for him to understand by himself..)

As we reached the scene where Scar plots to kill Mufasa and Simba, Champion shocked me.

I was explaining to him what was happening... Simba was stuck in a stampede; his father was trying to help him; Simba was thrown to a higher ground; his father tried to climb up; Scar didn’t help Mufasa and he dropped; Mufasa died; and Simba crying...

As he was listening to my narration, Champion was going "why, where, how..." and I sensed a change of voice. I knew he felt sad for Simba. But I was shocked when I looked at him, he was tearing...

Huh?! My boy is so sensitive and sympathetic, ah? At this age, he understands?

Champion, I was touched...

----- ooOoo-----

After teaching Champion that the lion is the King of the Jungle...

Amms : Champion, who is the king of the jungle?
Champion : ME! *broad smile*

LOL!

That's why, you are my Champion!

Truly Malaysian, ... lah

When Champion wants us to open something for him, he will say, "Open naaaa". Apparently, he caught us saying "Open lah", and now, he has learnt to use this word!

When you thought I wasn't looking ...

This message was written by a child. A message every parent should read, because your children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say...

“When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favourite cake for me and I learned that little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.”

Each of us, parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt or friend, influence the life of a child.

I constantly remind apps that they (my boys, or even other children for that matter) are watching... so we have to watch whatever we do and say. I realise that everything we do means a lot to them...

Things My Mother Taught Me

I personally found this article interesting. I didn't know that the things my mother taught me had definitions. Cool huh!

Things My Mother Taught Me

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father."

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me"

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: - My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

So, what do think? Do you have anything familiar?

I think item 25# is also my favourite. Some of the other items are irrelevant to me, but item 25#, is something my mother actually mentioned it to me when I was younger. Hehehee, now I understand what she means..

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).

Set your priorities ...

Blue Flowers

I ran into a stranger as he passed by. "Oh, excuse me please" was my reply. He said, "Please excuse me too; wasn't even watching for you." We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said good-bye.

But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later that day, cooking the evening meal, My daughter stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked her down. "Move out of the way," I said with a frown. She walked away, her little heart broken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said, "While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, but the children you love, you seem to abuse. Look on the kitchen floor, You'll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers she brought for you. She picked them herself, pink, yellow and blue. She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise, and you never saw the tears in her eyes."

By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by her bed; "Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?" She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree. I picked 'em because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way." She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway." I said, "Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

So what is behind the story?

Are you aware that: If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the lost for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family - an unwise investment indeed.

It is worthwhile to share more time with them as they are getting older. Make balance among all things. Hence, if those people up there ask you, place your priorities right. Ask them if family is not the right one?? Fill life with love and bravery and we shall live a life uncommon !!!