Mummy's entry - On her conversations

Rye Li being the natural chatterbox that she is never fails to surprise us with what she has to say. At times, she can be really rude as she must always have the last say, of course, with me telling her off for being rude. But still, stubborn as always, she will then give me that “hmmph” look when she knows she can’t answer me as if her actions seem to be louder than her words.

Here are some more of her conversations with us…

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One night many months back, while on the bed getting to sleep, her papa got close to her to give her a goodnight kiss but instead smell her and she went :-

Rye Li: Why you smell me? You think I’m McDonalds? You want to eat me ah?

Or while lying down on the floor watching tv and we accidentally brushed against her, she will go :-

Rye Li: You think I’m a chair? You want to sit on me?

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She loves to complaint about her little mei-mei whenever Haye Li does something wrong. I know she wants to see my reaction towards her mei-mei and I do scold or correct Haye Li when she is in the wrong too. They’re both at the stage where they will fight over a toy or something and at times mine or their papa’s attention. When one does something, the other will follow. It can be so tiring! For events that I didn’t witness and this girl will come to me and complaint about her mei-mei, depending on my mood, I will tell Haye Li off or at times I will tell Rye Li to stay away from her mei-mei especially if she knows her mei-mei is going to snatch her things.

Last nite, Rye Li came to complain to me that Haye Li stepped on her when she was lying down on the mattress. I didn’t see this and I know Haye Li didn’t purposely want to step on Rye Li and she probably want to get to the other side in which Rye Li was in the way. I just took a different approach this time….

Rye Li: Mummy, just now mei-mei step (ped) on me when I was sleeping on the mattress

Mummy: What do you think I should to her? If mummy scold her, she will probably cry and then she will do it again. So how?

Rye Li: Beat her

Mummy: Yea, but she will just cry and then stop. And probably do it again to you. So how? What should we do to mei-mei so she can learn to behave?

Rye Li: Beat harder!

*Maybe a sign I should stop smacking them when they’re naughty*

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On Mother's Day over the weekend, we spent the day at my parent's place and Rye Li was hanging out with her two cousins, Ro Wyn and Jo Tien. My mom (their Grandma) was with them at that time and in their conversation, my niece, Ro Wyn mentioned that "Grandma is fat".

Rye Li replied "You're not fat Grandma, you're just nice. My papa is fat!"

This really made her Grandma's day that day!

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The most interesting of all are her conversations with her papa over the phone when he is away on his business trips. There will always be the duty calls at nights before her bedtime.

A typical conversation will sound like this :-

Rye Li: Papa, where are you now?

Papa: I’m in XXX

Rye Li: You sit aero plane ah?

Papa: Yes

Rye Li: You stay where papa?

Papa: I’m staying at XXX hotel

Rye Li: Oh, you stay with who?

Papa: I’m staying alone

Rye Li: Ok, what are you doing now?

Papa: I’m with my customer having dinner

Rye Li: Your customer what name?

Papa: XXX

Rye Li: Your customer boy or girl?

Papa: Boy

Rye Li: You having your dinner where?

Papa: In a restaurant

Rye Li: What is the restaurant (‘s) name?

Papa: xxx

Rye Li: Papa, what are you eating?

Papa: I’m eating so & so. Ok Rye Li, papa got to go already.

Rye Li: Ok papa. I love you papa. Talk to you tomorrow night. Good night papa (*typical response every time she ends the conversation*)

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At times, the conversations can also be like this…

Rye Li: Papa, you go there for how many nights?

Papa: 2 nights

Rye Li: So you come back Friday ah?

Papa: Yes, I come back Friday night.

Rye Li: Oh, who is that papa? *upon hearing some voices at the background*

Papa: Papa’s friend and customer

Rye Li: What’s your friend (’s) and customer (‘s) name?

Papa: xxx and xxxx

Rye Li: Boy or girl?

Papa: Boy and girl…Uncle XXX and Aunty XXX

Rye Li: They stay with you in your hotel room ah?

Papa: No, they don’t stay at the hotel

Rye Li: Oh. They stay where then?

Papa: I don’t know Rye Li

* Note: I have not taught her at all to ask these questions to her papa and I myself don’t even ask such things of him. God knows where she has learnt how to interrogate her papa like. She would always ask if her papa is with somebody or not and whether that person is staying with him. I wonder if we women are all born natural at asking these questions. LOL!

More on my conversations

Some conversations I had with mummy (and also my mei-mei)......

a) Scene 1 ....when I was drinking milk during bedtime

Rye Li: Nah mummy, I (have) finished my milk. *passed half finished bottle to mummy*

Mummy: No, there's still milk in the bottle

Rye Li: That's not milk, it's all bones from the milk

Mummy: Very funny, finish your milk now!

Rye Li: *Giggling*

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b) Scene 2 ...when I was really grumpy having to wake up so early on a Monday morning for school

Rye Li: Why papa can sleep and I have to wake up

Mummy: Papa can work from home so he doesn't need to wake up early like you. Your school starts early

Rye Li: Why mei-mei also can sleep, (and) I cannot sleep?

Mummy: She will wake up soon when we leave for Aunty Ng's

Rye Li: Mummy, when you (were) 4 years old that time, you also have to wake up early for school ah?

Mummy: Yes

Rye Li: You cry also?

Mummy: Yes, like you la so grumpy in the mornings and grandma has to scold me.

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c) Scene 3...when mummy was angry at me and I noticed she was smiling at mei-mei and not at me

Rye Li: Why you love mei-mei (and) you don't love me?

Mummy: Did I say that?

Rye Li: *Nodded her head*

Mummy: When? When did I say that?

Rye Li: Why you smile(d) at her (and) you don't (didn't) smile at me?

Mummy: How to smile at you when I'm angry at you? I'm angry at you because you were naughty, you didn't listen to mummy. Rye Li, I will always love you whether you're naughty or not. When mummy doesn't smile or talk to you does not mean mummy do not love you. Mummy will always love you. You understand?

Rye Li: *Nodded her head*

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d) Scene 4...when mei-mei was showing her temper at me

Rye Li: You see, you didn't sleep properly, now you grumpy-grumpy

Haye Li: *whining and kicking*

Rye Li: Cher-cher ask you to sleep, you don't want to listen, now you grumpy-grumpy

Haye Li: *still whining and kicking*

Me first, me first!

It’s been some time ever since I had this “me first” syndrome. Everything we do, I always have to be the first one and I will go “Me first, me first!”.

When we reach or leave home, I have to be the first one that enters or exits the house. If I don’t, I will give you my infamous black face and will sulk. My Kakak will give in to me but not my mummy at times, especially when she’s rushing. Mind you, my mummy will just let me cry it out if I burst into tears which is why I will just sulk instead (saves the energy).

When it’s time for my shower, I will get upset when my mei-mei has her bath first and I will complaint and sulk big time after that (to mostly getting either nagged or ignored by my mummy).

This has been annoying mummy a lot lately as she always nag me that there are no such thing as “Me first” but I will still insist as my friends at the daycare always do this to me.

So mummy has been telling me if I like this “me first” business a lot, the next time when we’re at the doctor's, I can go first instead of my mei-mei and I will quickly respond “No, mei-mei first!” and this has always been the case every time we see the doctor together. I hope we’re not seeing the doctor soon.

More on conversations and stuff

I’ve been getting smarter these days in telling Mummy or Papa what I want. Sometimes, I get away with it, at times I don’t. So I don’t really mind testing my limits all the time.

As you know, I like to dilly-dally most of the times and this gets on Mummy’s nerves a lot. Lately, she has been bribing me with sweets to get out of the house in time in the mornings and also to walk to the car. I used to show my temper when she wakes me up in the mornings to go to Aunty Ng’s and by this, she will scold me and I won’t give in. So, in the end, she will be carrying me all the way to the car while I protest.

For the past one month, I guess she got smarter and know what I will ‘worked’ for and she told me if I listen to her, I will get 2 sweets before we leave the house. I’m fine with this and it works out well for her too.

Several mornings ago, I was in one of those moods again and dilly-dallied while Mummy was rushing me to get ready to leave the house. She was nagging and nagging and I didn’t really give into her although she threatened me by not want to give me sweets. In the end, she managed to get me ready and I tried my luck for getting my daily sweets. And she said, since I was so naughty and didn’t listen to her, she will only give me one sweet. I accepted.

The next morning, she used this as an example and said if I don’t listen to her, I will only get 1 or none at all. And so I listened to her and got my 2 sweets while she praised me. And she is reminding me this every morning.


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On another note, I am always told that I have money in the bank so I’m aware that I do have a lot of money in my bank. Usually, when you ask me what I want to buy with my money, I will say:-

“Buy mee, chicken and veggie. Cook for Mummy and Papa”

Last night, Mummy was telling me other things to buy for her. She went along saying when I’m a big girl already, I can take my money out from the bank and buy her a big house with swimming pool and a big car. I listened to her while nodding my head and then I added;

“I buy toy for Mummy ok?”

Mummy was caught off guard and she went “So sweet of you girl to buy me a toy!”

Actually, this is what I have been telling papa to do when he goes on his business travels “I want Papa buy toy for me please”

Conversations

More on my speech (before we all forget over here):-


Giving excuses...

Mummy: Rye Li big girl already, Rye Li can go make your own milk now.
Rye Li: After (wards) my baju (malay: clothes) all wet how?


When I'm feeling generous...

"After (wards) I finish watch my Barney, I watch Mummy('s) show ok?"

"Mummy/Papa, you want?"


Being Commanding

"Mummy switch on the light, so dark ady (already)"

"Help me open, I cannot open"

Rye Li: Mummy, I want (to) go Giant, shoping-shoping.

Mummy: It's late Rye Li, we will go another day ok?

Rye Li: *sulking and whining* I want!

Mummy: Ok, Mummy give you my car keys, you go and drive yourself there ok?

Rye Li: I cannot drive-la

Mummy: Ok, then you drive your own car (indicating her toy car).

Rye Li: Cannot!

Mummy: It's so late at night, all the people at Giant also go home already to oi-oi (sleep).

Rye Li: Mmmm (indicating ok)

Being Lovey-Dovey

Rye Li: I love you mummy

Mummy: I love you Rye Li

Mummy: How much?

Rye Li: Soooo much!

Mummy: You love papa or not?

Rye Li: I love papa, I love mummy

Mummy: How much?

Rye Li: Sooo much!

Mummy's entry - communicating

I got this inspiration to blog on this topic from ZMM when she was speechless with her eldest daughter, Zara’s speech whom by the way, speaks very well for her age (she’s only 2 and half years old). Similar to how ZMM felt when Zara can converse and respond like an adult, I’m amazed at how Rye Li is communicating fast with us too although she can’t speak as well as Zara.

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Just the other day, I was giving her some biscuits and I thought I’d play along with her so I opened up her hand and shook the biscuits out of the packet on to her hand and she found this entertaining. When she finished her biscuits, she opened up her hand again. She thought I didn’t understand her and she went on to point at her hand till I did the same act again. And after that, when she has finished her biscuits again, she will keep pointing to her hand for more even though she’s full with the biscuits.

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Rye Li’s papa always takes her out to the balcony to feed the fishes or just to hang out there. We didn’t realise that she’s been observing his actions till one day, when he told her that he will take her out to the balcony, she went straight to get the balcony key (which is situated within her reach) and handed the key to him. And now, when she wants to go to the balcony without us indicating, she will go take the key herself and hand it to him.
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Last night, Rye Li’s papa pretended to sleep on the floor in our bedroom and when she noticed this, she went “oh oh” (her version of oi oi which means sleep in Chinese slang). So when I asked her to come out of the room to get her ready for bed, I asked her to say bye-bye to Papa and she pointed at him and instructed him to “oh oh” loudly when she noticed that he looked up at her.

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She now can say “sked-sked” (scared) and will pat her hands to her chest to indicate that she is scared. The other day, Aunty Ng (her caretaker) told me that Rye Li was telling her that she’s “sked-sked” and Shon (her playmate who’s 3 weeks older than her) also indicated with his hands that he is scared. And Rye Li put her hands on his chest and said “no-no” to tell him that it is alright, you don’t have to be scared.

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When we were waiting at the waiting lounge at the hospital the other day (when we saw her doctor for her constipation issues), she walked up to me and pointed at something and talked in her baby talk. She went on for a good thirty seconds as if we were discussing something. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand her and I told her that I didn’t know what she was talking about and she walked away and continued to observe her surroundings.

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She has this fascination for balls and balloons and whenever she sees one, she will go “bor” very loudly. I was driving one day when all of a sudden, she went “bor” and I tried in vain to see what exactly she saw. It’s was those air balloons (promotions) in the sky that I won’t even notice. The same goes when she sat on my lap (she now wants to be involved in whatever we’re doing or eating) while I surfed the net and all of a sudden, she went “bor”. I looked all over the screen and realised that she was indicating on the tiny ball icon on the bottom right of the screen. Amazing how sharp kids can be these days!

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Among other new words she has learnt so far:-

“nana” for banana (she will point to bananas and say this)

“che-che” for elder sister (chinese)

“chor-chor” for sit down (chinese)

“beh-beh” for bear

“to” for throw

“wan” for one

“sis” for six

“eit” for eight (her papa will count to her and she will respond with 1, 6 or 8)

“wok-wok” for walk

“yeh-yeh” for yea or kai yeh (her godfather) and “mama” for kai mah (her godmother)

“baybee” for baby (she will point and say this whenever she sees a baby, even babies her own age or older)

“ayo” for hello

"nmmm-nmmm" or "poo-poo" for poo

"bek" for bread

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New actions:-

She will point to whatever she wants now and if you pretend to ignore her, she will come to you and pat you on your shoulder or chest so that you pay attention to her. Since she sleeps in her cot next to me, when she wakes up in the middle of the night for milk, she will shake me awake if I'm within her reach and if I'm not, she will make sure that she is being heard by screaming "merk" (milk). I'm amazed how her papa can sleep through all that!

And when she knows that you've heard her, she will lie down on her pillow and wait for her milk to be given to her. I tried ignoring her once, hoping that she will fall asleep but she got up and made noise again.

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She can say sorry, not in words but in actions. Aunty Ng taught her to put both her hands on her head to say sorry. So, whenever she gets mischevious in which I will scold her or punish her in her corner (will save this for another post), I will make her say sorry.

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Whenever we're reaching home, once she notices our condo from a distance, she will point to it and go "heh-heh" (her laugh). And when we arrived at our destination, she will clap her hands and go "yea-yea". One time, she was sleeping in her car seat when we arrived home and when I unbuckled her from the car seat, she woke up and did just that; clapped her hands and went "yea-yea" as if she has been brainwashed to do just that.

Kids - what are they on that makes them so smart?!!!