Ellie-isms

Me: Ellie, is Mummy cute?

E: Noooope!

M: Is Daddy cute?

E: Nope!

M: Who's cute?

E: Ellie cute!

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M: Mummy loves....

E: Ellie!!

M: Ellie loves...

E: Ellie!

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(Driving home from school)

E: Mummy, no go home. Want go School. Want go School!!!!

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(After bath time)

E: Mummy, where Ellie pants? Where pants - hmmmm Mummy? Hmmmm?

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(The teachers have introduced mandarin oranges in school in view of the upcoming Chinese New Year. So Ellis learned the word "ju zi".)

M: Ju zi!

E: Orange!

M: Ju zi

E: No, no zhu zha (mangled pronunciation). Orange!

M: Ju zi!

E: NO! NO! ORANGE!!!!!

So much for bilingualism.

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M: Look Ellie, it's a lion! (pointing to picture of lion in book)

E: No lion. Tiger.

M: Lion, Ellie. A tiger has stripes. This is a lion - look at its mane.

E: No. Tiger! Tiger!

M: Lion.

E: NOOO! NO LION! TIGER!!!!!

Birthday Celebration Part 2

In the morning during breakfast...my baby turns 2! How you have grown, little one!

Ellis' 2nd Birthday Party

With Emily

Cake by Lana, as usual. I grew up eating this and Ellis will too!

Of course, after the cake cutting (& when most guests left) was when the real fun started. I gave up fighting off food stains. After all, the requisite pretty family and cake cutting shots were done.

Of course, no 2 year old party would be complete without a tantrum or two. Here's Ellis' current strategy - throw herself on the floor when made to do anything she doesn't want to do. That would be me grabbing her and trying to wipe off chocolate stains.

She was much more interested in the stairs and elevator located just outside the function room where we held the party than in the party itself. Her routine - climb up the stairs and take the elevator down. She didn't do it in reverse to the chagrin of the adults who had to accompany her on her many trips up and down.

We had a Noah's Ark theme. The party theme and main activity - baking and decorating cookies - was organised by my friend Cindy of myfunbuilders; do check out her site! In all the confusion, I only managed to snap the backdrop at the end of the party. There were also some really cute animal beach balls which I used as decor and gifts - again forgot to snap them in the flurry of activity. (Note to self: Assign a photographer for future parties. If, there are future parties.)

Here's Ellis eating cake (again!) with Shayne. I think she had at least 3 helpings, more likely 4. At that point I was so exhausted I didn't really care anymore. My excuse was: It's her birthday.

And one last shot before we wound up for the day. These are my friends whom I have known like, forever! It's rare to get a group photo nowadays :)

Birthday Celebration Part 1

My conclusion: She has no idea what the heck is going on.

The Thinking Chair *

Ms L, Ellis' class teacher at school usually gives me an update on the day's activities when I pick her up in the afternoons. Typically, this consists of, Oh Ellis really enjoyed art and craft today! Or, she had a great time in the playground!

But one day:

Ms L: Today, Ellis and N were playing with the toy blocks, and N took her toy block. And Ellis did this (hand grabbing at face motion) to him.

Me: Oh dear.

Ms L: But when we told her to say "Sorry", she did.

And one week later:

Ms L: Oh, today, Ellis walked past A and she pulled his hair.

Me: Oh no!

Ms L: Yes, she walked past A (who was seated) and suddenly reached out and grabbed his hair. A was so startled, he screamed.

Me: (speechless)

Ms L (trying to soften the blow): You know how A's hair is really curly? I think maybe she was curious about it so she pulled it.

Me: Oh dear, that's no good. But it's happened before, right? The other kids do such things too, right?

Ms L: Errrrm....actually no, not really.....

Me: ......(oops)

* The Thinking Chair refers to the little red wooden chair at one corner of the classroom where the kids are sent to after something like the above happens. Ellis is obviously familiar with the piece of furniture. I'm so not prepared for this. Have ordered a bunch of parenting books off Amazon.

Counting

In Chinese

ellis: yi - er - san - xiiiiii (like in Gong Xi)

In English

ellis: one, two, three, four.....six, seven, eight, nine, ten!!!! (she always misses the 5)

me: one more time?

ellis: one, two, three, four....ten!!!!!

So difficult to get a proper shot nowadays with this active toddler! To illustrate...

Jumping is a favourite activity these days - on the bed, in front of the mirror, on the sofa, from sofa to floor, on the coffee table, from coffee table to floor....you get the idea

Taking a breather

And with the lantern she made at school for the Mid Autumn festival.

Sleep - Another Milestone

Another change in her sleeping habits - I usually sit in the chair in her room and carry her for a bit (5 - 10 minutes) till she's slightly drowsy (but not asleep) before putting her into her cot.

Yesterday and this evening, as I sat her down, she pointed at her cot. I asked her "Ellie, do you want to be in your bed?" and she said "Bed". I wasn't ready to put her down yet so I asked her for a big kiss, which she happily gave "MUAH!" before I placed her in her cot. She scrambled down, clutching her little bolster and started rolling around.

I said "Good girl", "Good night" "See you" to which she giggled loudly and said "See you!" back before I left the room and closed the door. I can still hear her talking to herself as I type this, but I know she'll settle down to sleep on her own in a few more minutes.

Snuggling before she falls asleep is actually one of my favourite times with her (it's one of the few times that she actually lays still and lets me hug her) so I'm a little sad to see it go. But I'm also pleased that she's making the transition on her own. Oh well, my little girl is growing up :)