Julian at 77 Months

Julian turned 77 months old on 28 October 2013. Here are some updates: He loves to teach Jianna how to talk. A typical lesson goes like this: Julian: Jianna, say "meat!" Jianna: Mitt! Julian: Say "pork!" Jianna: Pokk! Julian: Say "veggie!" Jianna: Ehgee!

• He now seems to enjoy 'table-top' activities like colouring and doing workbooks.
• He is now able to 'think of others'. For instance, when we ask him if he would like more of something (e.g. sausage) he would ask how many there are. If there's only one he would display sadness and hesitate to take it.
• He likes being helpful. He would help fold some clothes, put his folded clothes away, bring things when asked, etc.
• He is getting more and more independent - taking and doing things for himself :-)

[Julian allows Jianna to sit on him]

Justin at 51 Months

Justin turned 51 months old on 25 October 2013. Here are some updates:

• He is quite good at giving 'reasons' (excuses, maybe?) for incidents.
• When we decline to buy him something, telling him that the thing is too expensive, he would say, "But I like expensive (toys, etc)."
• He says he no longer misses Ah Kong and Poh Poh because we have put their photos on the wall next to his bed.
• He often says he doesn't want to go to school, and that he only wants to go to school on fridays (especially when there's a birthday celebration).
• He very often insists on Mummy taking him to school.
• He still loves to play with trains and angry birds.
• He no longer wants to be a pilot when he grows up. He used to copy Julian previously. He now wants to be a toy maker.
• Seeing Julian getting Geronimo Stilton comics, he would also ask for other titles in the series.

Here are the faces of Justin: 


[Angry]


[Snort]

Jianna at 18 Months

Jianna turned 18 months old on 30 September 2013. She had her immunisation at the clinic. Her current weight and height are 9kg and 78cm. Here are some updates:

• She now has 14 teeth.
  
• Since a few months ago she has been expressing her choice of clothes to wear whenever the opportunity arises. She particularly hates changing into her pyjamas. We suspect it could be because she feels hot in it since it's long-sleeved.
  
• She can identify the trains Thomas, James, Percy and Toby. She can say "more-more" (Thomas), "Bee" (Toby) and "Dee" (James).
  
• She can call her aunts "Ee" (Tua Ee & Gee Ee).
  
• She likes watching the computer with her brothers.

[Jianna loves water]


[Doing homework on the floor?]


[Jianna feeling "urgent"]


[Lazing around]

Julian at 76 Months

Julian turned 76 months old on 28 September 2013. Here are some updates:

• He can now bathe and dry himself up.
  
• He has started eating some vegetables, especially crunchy ones, e.g. carrots, long beans, corn and peas.
  
• For his swimming lesson, he has started to learn how to do the breast-stroke kick.
  
• He is hooked on Geronimo Stilton graphic novels (comics). Must introduce him to the story books.
  

[Julian playing in a stream]


[Julian floating on his back]


[Julian doing a Pee-Wee Herman impression]


[Julian and his tongue]


[Julian doing his homework]

Justin and Bart Charlied!

On 16 September 2013, we met up with Niq and family for lunch in Balik Pulau. As Justin alighted from the car, we noticed a pinkish streak below his right eye. We assumed it was a scratch mark and thought nothing of it. The next day however, it turned into an inflammation and blisters appeared. We also found a similar streak on his hand. The doctor said it was caused by "Charlie" a.k.a. a rove beetle. He must have squished the insect as he brushed his hands across his face.


[Day 2: Inflamation and blisters started to appear]


[Day 5: Blisters on the face have raptured and scabs formed]


[Day 5: Affected area on the hand]

It took about 2 weeks for the inflammation to subside and the scabs to start coming off. Now, nearly 4 weeks later, there's still a faint blotch mark on his face. Some scab on his hand has yet to come off.

Sometime in May 2013, I had an earlier encounter with a rove beetle but on my leg. There was the tell-tale mirror marks and I must have squished the insect when I bent my knees.


[Bart's rove beetle marks on the leg]

Justin at 50 Months

Justin turned 50 months old on 25 September 2013. Here are some recent photos of him.


[Justin]


[Justin enjoying a swim]


[Justin having a splash]


[Justin the Snake]


[Justin the fashion photographer]


[Justin hiding out in the playroom]


[Justin taking a tumble]


[Justin with the helicopter Ah Kong bought]

Julian at the Shop

Lately Julian's tactic of asking for something at a shop has been to ask if we have RMx. E.g. "Daddy/Mummy, do you have RMx?" (x being the price of the item he fancies). This would then be followed by "Can we buy xxx?" or something to that effect.

On 17 September 2013, Julian and I went to a shop for him to choose a 'reward'. He asked me "How much money do you have?" "RM5," I said. At one point, he looked longingly at some chocolates. I asked him if he wanted it. He said, "It costs RM4...then you'll only have RM1 left." When I repeated my question, he gave the chocs a thoughtful look and walked away. His final choice was a packet drink and a packet of biscuits (total cost: RM2.90).I really felt touched!

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort 2013

We did a repeat of our 2011 holiday to Bukit Merah Laketown Resort from 4-5 September 2013 with the same friends. The difference this time is that we had Jianna and our friends had their 2-year old daughter.

The first day saw us at the Waterpark. We visited the Ecopark on the second day. We did not go to the Orang Utan Island this time.


[The kids on the payloader, watched by Aileen]


[Jianna in the Lazy River]


[Justin having fun]


[Julian taming a crocodile in the Wave Pool]


[Jianna getting acquainted with the ducks]


[Justin fattening a couple of chickens]


[A family photo at the Ecopark. Photo credit: IC & WM]

We have had the privilege of visiting the resort during the off-peak season. With Julian starting primary school in 2014, any future visits would mean braving other school-holiday goers. Thanks to Aileen for yet another enjoyable stay.

Three On The Trolley!

Here are some recent photos of the kids.


[Our two superheroes]


[Double horsey]


[All lined up for trouble]


[Three on the trolley!]

Jianna at 17 Months

Jianna turned 17 months old on 30 August 2013. Here are some updates:

• She now has 12 teeth.
  
• She can now say "amen", and when asked "What's your name?" she'll respond "Yanna".
  
• She's been eating quite a lot, sometimes as much as nearly a full Chinese rice bowl of rice with some meat and vegetables. For fruit, she loves bananas.
  
• She's slowly taking a liking to books, especially her brothers' Thomas boardbooks.

[Jianna has started stacking]


[Jianna in a sarong]


[Jianna and Daddy on the organ]


[Jianna's ticket to ride!]


[Jianna scraped her nose after a fall on the road. Ouch!]

Julian at 75 Months

Julian turned 75 months old on 28 August 2013. He is progressing in his swimming with some doggy crawls.


[Julian on the computer]

Sedim Stayover

We had an overnight stay at Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest from 14-15 September 2013. This time we were with a group of friends. Similar to our trip last year, we stopped in Lunas for roast duck/pork lunch at Tan Kee coffee shop.


[Swollen river during the rainy season]


[Our room at the resort]


[Second go at the tree top walk]


[Family photo]


[Water fun in a side stream where it's not so swift] 

On the way home we stopped by a floating restaurant for lunch. The kids enjoyed feeding the fish :-)


[Kamunting Lakeview Restaurant]

Justin at 49 Months

Justin turned 49 months old on 25 August 2013. Here are some updates:

• At bedtime, he often says he misses Ah Kong and Poh Poh.
  
• In our apartment lift, he can now reach the button for the floor where we live.
  

[Justin]


[Justin enjoying a sundae cone]


[Justin pretending to play at the arcade]

In a recent trip back to Ipoh, we took a drive through Ipoh's Little India. As we drove past, we highlighted that there were many things Indian there such as Indian food, and Indian clothes. Justin appreciated the information and added, "... and Indian toys...".