Still Got?

Maximus is picking up language fast. I would say that he learns a new word daily and is able to apply them. He learn his language from everyone in the family - Chinese from grandma, English from us as well as his cousin.
My concern is having Maximus picking up the wrong words and also using Bad English especially from his cousins. Since his cousins are all Chinese Education and not exposed to good command of English, they tend to translate words from Chinese to English.
A very good example is "Still Got". I tried to figure out where did Maximus learn that word and soon realised that it was from his cousins... and to my horror it was a direct translated word from Chinese "hai-you"
In fact, I tried correcting Maximus from using the wrong word but then I stopped because I found it very cute when he says "still got". There are few context where he applies that word into his speech:

1. During sticker time - when he pasted the stickers, he said "still got" and wanting more stickers.
   
2. Switching on the lights - he pointed to the light and said "light" as to ask me to switch on the light. Then he pointed to another light and said "still got".
3. Snack time - he enjoys his favourite snack / biscuits and says "still got" when he finishes his 1st bite.
   
4. Playing with his toy cars - he pushes the car to knock on each other. Grab another and say "still got".
   
5. Applying oilmen - when I apply some oilmen on the mosquitoes bites mark, he points at other marks and say "still got."

Soon I learn to accept that word but I hope that as he grow up he will learn the right word. I do not wish that he speak bad English because it doesn't serve the purpose. I am sure he will learn from it.

Let's Go to the Zoo...

This is a outdated post - too busy and forgot to write my post last month.

June 24,th was our 3rd year wedding anniversary. We took Maximus for a trip to Melaka.

On June 25th we visited Melaka Zoo after so many years...

It was Maximus's first experience learning about the wild animals. I have not expose him with the wild animals. He only know the domestic animals i.e dog, cat and bird.

It was a fun but tiring time because we have to walk and carry Maximus at a certain point.

Top-left: Maximus posing at the zoo sign-board.

Top-middle: Checking out some animals with daddy.

Top-right: The giant-turtle replica.

Bottom-left: The noisy birds

Bottom-right: Cheeky Maximus with the giraffes.

Ferris-Wheels

It was just a month or two ago when we wanted to give Maximus an experience in the Ferris-wheels. It was in Melaka when we went to the Pirate-Park near the Melaka River. After we bought the tickets, Maximus refused to get into the Ferris-wheel and indicated that he was scared.

Now, after the incident I tried to convince him again to go for a ride in the Ferris-wheels. This time it was in Sunway Pyramid. To our surprise, he was so excited over the ride and can't wait to get into the Ferris-wheel when we were queuing up.

It was a good, fun and memorable experience for Maximus and us. In fact, we laughed when we realised that Maximus fell asleep on daddy's shoulders after the last round. The people around and the staff in-charged too laugh or smile when we carried Maximus out asleep. The staff commented that it was a fun ride that our lil-one fell asleep.

Another encounter, Maximus was charged RM 5 for the ride because he is more than 90cm tall when measured. Although I told the staff that he is not even 2-years old, the staff responded that they based on the height measurement and not the age. Darn!

Ride in the Komuter Train

Maximus has his first experience in the train...but it's not the train as what he knows from the cartoon character "Thomas". He was confused because the komuter train doesn't make the "choo-choo" sound as what I taught him from the book. I have to explain to him the difference by telling him that this train is running on electricity and show him the cables.
When the komuter train passed by he waved good-bye. However, when we went into the komuter train, he was terrified with the crowd since it was so crowded during weekends.

At the end of the journey, he can tell us that he likes the train ride.

Left: Maximus sitting on the waiting area for the Komuter to arrive.

Right :Maximus and I in the Komuter. We stood near the door and only holding to the pole in the crowded Komuter.

Imitating the sound of animals

Maximus associated dog as "Woof! Woof!" and he will call every dog from the sound it made. But when he sees a cat, he will say "cat". Now, Maximus is imitating the sound of a pig. Although he may not say the animal as "pig", he can make the sound of pig.

He imitated the sound from his toy... check out the video.

My Chinese Speaking lil fellow

Since Maximus is being taken care by his grandma during weekdays (8:30am - 7:00pm) which he spends most time with her, he is learning his Chinese language (Mandarin). His grandma usually speaks Mandarin to him and he will pick up the simple vocab from her.
Now, he uses more Chinese vocab to communicate with us compare to English. But Ive no complain because this can be a basic and good exposure to him at later age when he attends school. We are able to teach him English or BM but not Mandarin since both of us are not Chinese-educated so it's very much depending on his grandma.
His Mandarin vocab are:

1. chi-ge (this)
2. na-ge (that)
3. pah-pah (scared)
4. pao-pao (carry)
   

These 4 lil words care being applied most in his daily conversation with us. For example: When mummy asked him what does he want, he replies chi-ge (pointing to the thing that he wanted). Or when he is scared of something, he will pat his chest and say "pah-pah".
So my lil boy is able to understand the Chinese language. This is a good sign for us to decide - Chinese-medium or Kebangan school (BM-Eng medium).
My personal opinion, I dont like Chinese-medium school because there is too much of drilling in the learning. Anyway, it's a long journey before we actually decide. We are still enjoying listening to our lil boy speaking different languages for different contexts. Cute-little voice yet very chatty especially when he is in the mood!