Birthday 1, 2, 3

The journey that we took both for us as parents and for Maximus from birth till now was a joy ride with blessing of tears and laughter. I am sure as he steps into the next stage of life such as having a sibling to share us and being a bigger brother, he will learn and continue to grow in maturity. Of course at this moment he has all our attention but I am sure he will not be lacking in any too in the future. This journey seems at the fast track and sometimes no bumpy road but I am grateful to have travel in this journey with hubby and my Maximus.
Maximus had his 1st Birthday unknowingly, his 2nd birthday - just simply and only us and his 3rd birthday with family and friends.

Left to right: Maximus's 1st - 2nd and 3rd birthday celebration.

Stepping into the Big 3

As I start to reflect the years before and now my boy is THREE years old. It is amazing to watch him grow, and develop to be a fine lil boy. It is indeed God's grace and blessing. Thank you Jesus.
Maximus was able to tell us what he wanted for his birthday celebration. Since now he can understand better what a birthday celebration is, we want to make it a memorable one so we decided to start planning a month before... and Finally he has his Big 3 Birthday in McDonald's with all his friends from Humming Birds and beyond. He was also given a surprise Angry Bird Birthday cake. It was his day... and was a great relief for us as he said, "Thank you, mummy and daddy. I love you." Those were the best words for us. It is worth paying McD for organising the birthday party after all...

Role Play

Role play started when a toddler's imagination developed. When a child is engaged in the role play he / she is trying to portray the adult's daily life into their own. Role play is an important component in a child's play. This is when the child has a full control in the play to express himself in ideas, speech and actions.
As I recorded down Maximus's ability in his role play session, I realised that this is what he has observed going on in the adult's world - the washing of dishes, arranging them and also preparation of food. This is obvious because he spends most of his time at home despite having the 3 hours in his playschool. So, he learned how adults in action managing the daily life routine. And low and behold, he began to imitate the actions and portrayed it in his role play. Although he seems to be playing with his cousin, he was actually not playing together but just along with her and vice-versa. He is just playing along as both of them set the scene of having a Birthday party.
It's fun and interesting to watch how toddlers engaged into role play session. So do enjoy the video.

My Singing Boy

Finally the time has come that Maximus is able to sing. I remembered watch some video posted by my friends on how their children are singing. Now it's my turn to post the video of Maximus's singing...

Our 4th year together in Marriage

It was our 4th year in marriage on 24th June 2011...I was so busy enjoying the moment and of course juggling with work and family, therefore I didn't have the time to blog this down. After 2 months of our lovely and memorable walks down our 4th year in marriage, I realised that I have to continue to fire-up our love life rather than focusing too much in my lil-man. Yes, my lil-man is growing beautifully and fine in this 3 years, but in the midst of managing my lil-man's life, I think I have abandon our life as not only a husband-wife, father-mother to our lil-man, BUT mostly as a lover. It is important to keep him as a lover as priority so that our love will continue to blossom. Although most people will think that a marriage is all about having a family, and the romantic feeling is part of the marriage, I would want to ensure that I do not take for granted of the situation. 24 hours a day, was what I got but I have to ask myself how much have I shower my love to my lover (hubby). It's not the same as playing the role as a mother or wife. Once I remember reading an article about putting the right priority in marriage. It surprised me that the priority should be our spouse then only our children. The reason stated was that at the end of our life, it will be our spouse who is staying close to us. This is very true...
So as I have passed my 4th year in marriage, it was a time to ponder over this marriage and our love-life. I shouldn't take for granted of things and must continue to keep the fire burning. Reflecting over this, I must thank God for this marriage and the joy of sharing life together. I am grateful for having Jin as my husband and as I recalled during my facial section, when I heard our song "Angels Brought Me Here" By Guy Sebastian, it brought me down the memory lane as it was our song for the day when I said "I do".
There are definitely the ups and downs in the marriage but I am sure that he has spur my life as I share the feelings of joy, laughter, tears and anger with him. I dedicate this life back to God for He has given me 4 years of wonderful and blissful marriage. Thank you, Jesus.

Growing pains with my boy

It was what the saying goes "It's the law of attraction!" I will choose to believe that it's the Holy Spirit that put into my heart to sense that something is about to happen to my boy. I was in the KWSP Office when I just felt so uneasy and wanted to go home fast till I received a miss-call from my Sis-in-law. From the missed call, I knew that something had happened!
Heard that Maximus had a fall and cut his chin. And when I got home, immediately I get him ready to go to the hospital. Made the wrong choice to send him to Pantai Cheras where at the end, I decided to transfer him to HUKM because of the charges and the not getting the confident with the plastic surgeon.
At HUKM, the doctor comforted me by telling me that it's just a small matter and glue will be fine. However, it is also depending on the situation because after the next day, the wound needed to be stitched.
Through out the process of giving Maximus the stitching, he was crying in pain - that lead us to cry with him. Maximus was screaming, scolding the doctor and calling for Jesus. It was then, I realised that Maximus does really put his trust in Jesus. He also apologised to us and begging to go home. It was such a painful process for both of us (parents and son).
But finally, the doctor was quick to his decission that he suggested to put him on drip and totally put him to deep sleep. The stitching process took 4 hours with 2 hours of observation. But finally it was over.
I think it's the part and parcel of the growing pain process for us to go through with our boy as parents.
I really pray that nothing worst will happen especially with our daily prayer. My son will request for prayer when we go to bed too. It's really the child-like faith that drives closer to Jesus and to put all my trust in him.
Thank you Jesus

Growing pains

"It's a sign of growing up!" This is what most people will comment when children got scars or had a fall. No doubt it is part and parcel of growing up but I am sure with a little for careful, growing up doesnt need to go through the pain stage.
Recently my little boy had a really bad accident - a bad cut on his chin from playing on the car rides at home. We have to go through so much of pain together...plus the tears. It was the most unbearable moments for us (as parents) and also our boy.
We moved him from a private hospital (Pantai Cheras) that wanted to charge us a big sum of amount just to stitch the wound to the government hospital (HUKM) that gave us very good and satisfaction service. From just gluing the wound to stitching it and the trauma that my boy have to go through.
It didn't only traumatised him but made me paranoid each time when I am not by his side. I think it is the stage of growing pains for the both of us.
But my boy is much stronger and have the child-like faith each time when he feels the pain. He will utter that "The Jesus will take away the pain-pain." For a 2 yrs and 6 months old toddler to have such faith in Jesus is a good thing because he can count on Jesus. In fact, after the painful experience during the stitching process, he has lesser trust on me. But I am sure with the love and care, I will ensure him that he will not have to go through such pain anymore.
Check out his stitches (Before and after).

His wound after being cleaned. He was put on drug to sleep (totally deep sleep)








Stitches completed! He woke up immediately after that when the nurse tried to put him on side-way.

Number 1,2,3

Maximus is learning to recognise the numbers in a unstructured learning experiences. Most of the time we will be talking to him about the numbers on the Computer keyboard (started by his daddy). Eventually, he is able to recognise some numbers when he sees them and say those numbers out loud. I hardly correct him and allow him to say whatever from his perspective. He will tend to get confuse (sometimes) between number 3 and the letter g which I can understand from his perspective since the number 3 and letter g look much alike.
I am glad that he has such good memory to store his knowledge. Being a MI trained person, I am sure that my boy is a very visual spatial intelligent person. He learns from looking, visualising and looking at the pattern. That explains his ability to compare things and apply his knowledge.
This video was taken in the event when he was reading the calendar on the wall. Every time when we pass by to go up or down the stairs he will tell me the number on the calender. It's amazing to see how he learns by himself in an unstructured learning environment.
I like it when he says that the number 10 as "1 and letter O".

Experience in Kuantan

It was a good opportunity for me to bring Maximus to Kuantan with me. It was a business trip where I have to carry out teacher's observation & assessment and a pre-QC for the centre. Besides have a great and talented colleague with me, Maximus was at his best behaviour and not to mention being independent too.When we arrived in Kinderland Kuantan, Maximus was having a good time with the 2 pet-rabbits and the outdoor play. It allows me to conduct a briefing for the new teacher and also a short discussion with the franchisee. The next day, he followed me around as I went from class to class according to the schedule. He was independent and yet enjoyed his time playing especially with the bigger children.
Through out the trip, I felt that Maximus has grown so much and such an independent boy now. When he wants to go to the toilet, he will ask, "Mummy, want to pass urine." And not a time he wet his pants. He was also exploring around independently too. During meals time, he may be overly excited to eat but yet he was obedient and allowed me to feed him.
I think we had a good time too at the beach before going back home. Through out the journey home, he slept during the 3-hours journey.

Cut-cut...

As the common understanding, a toddler's attention span is less than 30 mins but I think this is also depending on the activity. Maximus was concentrating in his cutting activity for 1 hour!!! I was the one who wanted to call it a quit but looking at him being engross in the activity, I decided to leave him as he enjoys doing it. It isn't the reason that the cutting activity was something new... we have had this activity for few times and each of the session, he will be fully concentrating and ensure that all those strips of papers are cut. *This will allow some personal time for mummy - to take bath or on fb or checking emails.
My little-perfectionist also prefers to do his cutting with the rubbish bin so that those strips and bits of paper will be in the bin.

Colouring activity

I do not have much expectation on my toddler (2yrs and 4 mos) to get prefect in his colouring. It's only for fun and having to practice his fine-motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Although Maximus may not have the right grip of holding the pencil / colour pencil, he is able to have a fine control over the wrist movement. He filled up every empty white space in the picture too.
I am documenting all his colouring work and realised that he does progress from time-to-time as he "scribble" the colours onto the picture.
But this colouring activity can only be performed once in a while as he will get bored... The picture of 3 caps is the result of him getting bored - lost interest in completing his work.
So, occasionally when he started to show interest and look for his pencil-box, it shows that he is in the mood for colouring.

My 27-months old Imagination

This video was taken to observe Maximus fine-motor skill in peeling the egg shell but I discovered that my lil 27 months old toddler has a wide imagination while peeling the egg shell.

Visual Spatial Intelligence

Multiple Intelligences is a theory introduced by Professor Howard Gardner to highlight the different area of Intelligence - Visual Spatial, Logical Mathematical, Naturalist, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic and Verbal-linguistic. Looking into the different strength in each child, that's how a parent or teacher should approach each and every individual differently.
Being a mother and educator is not an easy task for me since I know what I should cultivate especially in my son. However, I do prefer that my son develop naturally when given the opportunity and environment. Other than that, I am sure I own it to God for other blessings too. Maximus is now 27-months and I discovered his 1st intelligence - Visual Spatial (definitely he took over me).
Looking and judging from his colouring skill, he managed to fill every space with colour for every picture. He enjoys colouring. I also noticed that he can relate shapes with objects. After recognising Kong Ming Deng, he started drawing the shape of it and saying "Kong ming deng". And he drew a oval-circle shape.
Check out his colouring pages...

Speaking Mandarin

Mandarin is the 2nd language for Maximus. He is able to understand simple instruction in Mandarin and sometimes he speaks Mandarin to us.
Although we are not Chinese-educated, we are blessed to have parents and parents-in law who can teach Maximus Mandarin. How I wish that my mother and father have more time to spend with Maximus that enable him to communicate more with them in Mandarin. From me, I only introduce 3 words: tang yuen, Gong Xi Fa Cai and Kong Ming Deng. These 3 words are being used regularly during the suitable occasion.
Check out the video of Maximus saying "Kong Ming Deng".

My lil well-mannered boy

Teaching manners to toddlers is often a challenge. Most parents tend to introduce this aspect later in the child's life. I came across parents who apologised or thanked someone on behalf of their child especially when their toddler did something wrong. Of course it is good for parents to model good example that enable their child to follow. However, having to apologize on behalf of the child (toddler 2.5 to 3 yrs old) is really not a good start.
As I recalled, my aunt used to be very firm and stern to Maximus in using the magic word "please" or to say "thank you". Maximus was only 25months or the most 26 months old back then. I have started introducing those words "please" and "thank you" to him but back then he wasn't able to apply it. And due to that, my aunt lead Maximus to crying because it took him a while to get the candy from her.
Now, as he is approaching 30 months (2.5 years old) my little boy is able to apply those well-manners words i.e. "thank you", "sorry" and "please" according to different scenario. Each time when he say "sorry" when I scolded him, it really melt my heart. And it's so sweet to hear my lil boy saying "thank you" or "please".
This is how he applies his manners words:

1. During praying, he started with "Thank you Jesus"
2. Each time when he wanted something and needed to ask 2nd time, he will say "Pleeeeeese" (dragging it to sound manja)
3. Whenever I scolded him, he says "Sorry Mummy" (or daddy, por-por, ah-kor etc)

Yesterday he accidentally broke his aunt's facial serum while meddling with it. He looked so guilty when his daddy complaint to his aunt. Immediately, I prompted him to apologise to his aunt. He went and hugged her and said "Sorry...yyy".
I was so proud of him and I saw that my FiL was teary as he observed from far.

Unstructured play

Unstructured play is open ended with unlimited possibilities and free for exploration. Commonly most children are more into the structured play - which is not an issue! Unstructured play allows children to express themselves freely, applies creativity and endless benefits in the child's development areas - physical, social, emotionally, cognitive, language etc.

Unstructured play includes playing with blocks, puzzles and etc. All toddlers should be given the opportunities to be engaged in the unstructured and free play...since most presechool in Malaysia is now limiting to the play activities. Through the unstructured play, toddlers will begin to wean off from their individual (self) and into the real world, yet learning to adapt into this "new environment" in a safe manner.

In this case for Maximus, his play time is never been limited by any rules and regulations. It was only during his trial class in the nursery that hinder him for liking and adapting to the new environment. He wasn't given the opportunity to be engaged into free play. And not to mention that the worst scenario was that there isn't much time and opportunity given to such play - not even the toys. However in the Sunday school, Maximus begins to feel safe in the environment when he uses the toys in his unstructured play to "interact" and "communicate" with the teachers and aunties.

I could never deprived Maximus in such play not even in the nursery. Here I managed to capture how he uses his imagination and language in one of his unstructured, free play. Enjoy... and together let us support PLAY in your child's life.

What is this?

During the trial lesson in the Nursery, I encountered an amazing experience from Maximus. Sometimes he keeps us wondering what is going through his mind!

From the picture, Maximus was given 2 flash cards of a picture of apple and orange. Here is the script:

Teacher: Maximus, what is this?
Maximus: Paper
Teacher: *Pause...? Ok, what is the picture in the card?
Maximus: Apple

I was laughing inside when I heard Maximus's reply. It's extra-ordinary... And yet it's true because it is a paper (or card).
So, I have learned that I need to ask a toddler in a proper question.
Well done Maximus for showing us (teacher and I) how to talk to toddlers in a proper sentences.

You...and Me...

The confusion with the use of "you" and "me" has started especially when a 2 plus-3 years old toddler learns to talk and grasp more vocabulary. Since toddlers learn language through imitation, "you" and "me" will always be an issue. Example, "Mummy will carry you" and so the toddler will soon say "Mummy, carry you."
This is very common among toddlers when they learn the language. Each time when this happened between Maximus and I, I will quickly switch the "you" to his name. But he has already pick-up the use of "you" and "me" now. He tends to say:

1. Mummy, carry you.
2. Mummy, give you.
3. or the classic one will be "you want..." which was supposed to be "I want"

It's very cute hearing how Maximus talks and he can really chat and chatter non-stop.

1st day in Sunday School

Ok, there is a hope... My 2011 resolution is to grow in the Lord and so I decided to attend Metro Tabernacle church. Maximus followed me to the 1st day of church and he joined in the Sunday school. I have to accompany him but mostly just being there since he was independent. He enjoyed himself on his 1st day lesson and has the 1st good impression about going to church. When asked if he wants to go again...his answer is "Yes". Praise the Lord.
In the Sunday School, he is in Nursery 1 and there are lots of toys and activities that interest him. He did two craft work during the 3 hours session... I am so proud of it since they were his 1st craft work. The teachers are really experienced and passionate. They are so caring and patient too.
The environment - wide space, beautiful and attractive. I am glad that I found this church or the church found me! Hahaha...anyway it will be our home-church.

Nursery Trial class

My 1st entry for 2011 will be on Maximus's day in the nursery. He started being excited and happy about the idea of going to school...but ended refusing to go to school anymore. So, hope did this happen? All I have to comment is that the nursery is not fully equip and interesting for Maximus. This is not exactly his first time being in school. He had been with me in Kinderland centres during my work on Saturdays or any Kinderland's events. In fact, there was where he got the idea of loving school - many toys to play, big playground, rides to ride on and etc.
However, to our disappointment this new Nursery that was newly opened near my area was really not ready! The building is huge and the environment is clean.

However, there isn't much things to do... the only toy available for them is the giant Lego toys that was shared by all ages. Imagine how the lil ones feel when they can't get the chance to play. Although there are rides, playground and the play-house, there isn't enough for everyone.
Then, during the lesson everyone was asked to go upstairs into an empty room for singing. The teachers who were singing those Nursery Rhymes really need training in singing and pronouncing the words correctly - Twinkle twinkle little star was being sang as "Twingkle twingkle litter star" sigh... Talking about teaching young children the right thing! I am sure my Maximus can do better... Hehehe...
Anyway, there isn't my complains because I have expectation. In fact, I didn't even expect much from the centre but it was already a disappointment. Imagine if I have a little expectation...
Maximus is the judge to decide if he is willing to accept that Nursery as his school. And lo-and-behold, he said that he doesn't want to go to school anymore!
I think it's not about Maximus's readiness but it's the centre. I hope that the management will improve their set-up and put in more toys soon before I completely turn them down.