Aaron walking ... unsupported

After months of crawling and aided walking, Aaron finally plucked up enough courage to "auto-roam", in Aunty Rebecca's words.

According to Bibi, he followed her around the house yesterday, although a bit wobbly. And when Mummy got home, he happily walked into Mummy's arms. What a great way to be welcomed home!

Aaron - 15 months old

Photo: Courtesy of Matthias Tan, taken at Cohen's 3rd 1st birthday party

Weight: 9.5 kg

Height: 82 cm

Aaron went for his 2nd professional hair cut last Saturday. Suddenly, he looks like a boy. Not a baby any more. He's also beginning to be more "independent". Not a baby, waiting to be picked up, fed, and entertained any more. He knows how to initiate.

When he wakes up in the morning, he either quietly plays with his toy cars, or crawl to the door, and knock on it, to tell the world that he's awake, come get him. When he's thirsty, he will pick up his water bottle, use his mouth to open the cover, and drink. When he wants to get to Daddy or Mummy or Bibi in the kitchen, he'll try and enter from the front door. If we close the front door, he'll quickly crawl to the back door. Very determined little fella.

Last Sunday, while shopping at Toys R Us, he sprouted his first words. Not Papa, not Mama. Ball ball and car car! So boy!



Dilemma of a working mum

Nadine is always asking Mummy to fetch her home from school. Could be because whenever I pick her up from school, it's usually an outing day. Or maybe she envies her friends who get picked up by their parents. Or perhaps she just wants to see more of Mummy.

Every now and then, she'll ask me, "do you have to go to work today? why?"

Yesterday morning, she pointed to a Mum and said, "that's my friend's mummy. She doesn't have to go to work."

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because she fetches her home."

It was said very matter-of-factly. But, it really got me thinking ........

And while thinking emo thoughts, something else came came to my mind. Since she takes the school bus, Nadine comes out from a different door as the other children who get picked up by their parents. She must have been really observant to note and remember that particular mum! Great observation, Nadine!

More signs from Aaron

Every day now, Aaron surprises us with a few new signs. It's like he's been absorbing all the signs from the hours of watching Baby Signing Time, and the signs are finally spilling out of him!

Yesterday, he signed:
- brush teeth
- ball
- thank you
- wash hands
- rain
- water

And he does all his signs with a wide smile  :-)

New signs from Aaron

Aaron can now sign:
- milk
- doll
- all done
- bus

And he's finally waving goodbye!

Burnt

Nadine received a memorable and painful Lantern Festival gift this year.

Last Sunday, she went downstairs to play lanterns with our neighbors. In her excitement, she ran under the lantern that Daddy was holding, and hold wax dripped on her ear. She whined for a bit, and Daddy scrapped off the thin layer of wax on her ear. After that, she ran off to play with her friends, and we didn't think much about it.

Back home, no more play, no more friends, time to shower, she suddenly remembered her pain. And only then did we realise it was quite a bad burn! The wound looked really angry for 3 days and even bled a bit before finally drying up on Thursday. Hopefully there will not be any scar!

Aaron's 1st independent steps

While trying to capture Aaron sign some new words - all done, milk and doll; Mummy caught him taking a few steps unaided!

Creative

We were at the toy shop yesterday, and Nadine wanted to buy a toy cash register. Mummy refused. Didn't want Nadine to have a habit of buying whatever she wants, whenever she wants; or to buy a toy whenever we're out. To her credit, she was quite compliant, although disappointed. She put back the toy without kicking up a fuse. But lingered in the shop for a while.

Later in the evening, Nadine took out the lego set and built this cash register! Brought it to Mummy, beaming, and wanted Mummy to be the cashier.

10 points for being creative and resourceful, Nadine! So proud of you!

Little drummer boy

Aaron loves to play the drums. Not sure if it's in the blood, or just coz he sees Daddy play all the time and wants to imitate him. He doesn't just hit 1 spot. He will hit the snare drum, toms, hi-hat and cymbals like a pro! Daddy's really pleased. Claims that Aaron can follow his tempo too. Hmm .....