What's she saying?

I really miss blogging about Joelle and the stuff she talks about. I used to find them really funny cos she just started talking and everything is just so ... wow! Now that she's speaking fluently, I don't really record her conversations anymore. But the things she is saying now is even more... wow! wow! Just as impactful or even more! So I'm reminding myself everyday to take notice of our little conversations. Sometimes it's the simple things that makes the world beautiful.

#1
Joelle : mummy listen...
rabbit monkey dog rabbit monkey dog rabbit monkey dog
(*at this point I thought I'd better memorize them in case it's a test or something)
dog tiger bear dog tiger bear dog tiger bear
do you know what I'm doing?

Mummy : No?

Joelle : Patterning!

Mummy :Patterning? Wow... ok.
(*felt a little disappointed cos I was memorizing for nothing!)

#2
Joelle has holiday classes this week and I'm afraid she will not want to attend so this morning (being the first lesson), I try to be cheery and excited when I walk with her into the school premise.
Mummy : Ohh.. so exciting! Speech and drama.. wow! Singing.. dancing.. acting..
(I actually include some exaggerated actions and dance movements)

Joelle : *whispering* Mummy.. no.. don't.
(pulling down my hands and holding them close to her chest)

Mummy : Why? What's wrong?

Joelle : It's embarrassing.

HA! My daughter is four and she knows what's embarrassment. I know that she felt bad cos she smiled while telling me softly not to do it. It's a little hurting that she thinks I'm embarrassing her but at the same time it's a good thing to be conscious of the surrounding. Perhaps I was overdoing it. I should have remembered that she's a big girl now and she probably has friends somewhere in the school watching her crazy mother doing a probably outdated hi-5 move. Somehow I know that the day will come when I can no longer make her laugh the way I used to. The day will come when mummy is no longer funny. My girl is growing up too fast.

Daddy's back!

When daddy came back from china, he asked me to bring the girls to the airport since it's an afternoon flight. Most of his travels before either fly early in the morning or late at night so this was one of the rare chance. Isabelle is like... a little mountain tortoise! She just keep looking around at the lights, the flowers, the vastness of the terminal. Guess I should bring her out more before she starts growing a shell. It's good to have daddy back with us. Though the girls did not give me a migraine, high blood pressure or heart attack, it would definitely relief me of some responsibility when daddy's around. Joelle commented one day that she wish her daddy is home cos she miss him. It's really nice to hear such sweet nothings. Daddy missed them alot though. He confessed that he would view their videos on his handphone and look at the photos of the girls which I inserted in his wallet.

We are considering a holiday for Joelle now that she's four. I'm sure she will enjoy the trips better and remember them at least. When they're younger it makes no different to them whether they're in Singapore or overseas. To them a beach is a beach and a playground is a playground. We brought Joelle to Genting once and she doesn't even remember a thing now! Even when I show her the photos, it's like telling her a story. So next year when we take Joelle out of the country, Isabelle will have to stay home with grandma and mary. Her time will come eventually and it will be when she knows how to enjoy the holidays.

My Isabelle.

Let's see... today I would like to talk about Isabelle. She has just turned one last month and somehow I feel that she has grown so much. She has gotten cheekier, funnier, smarter, naughtier and faster! I have been religiously charting her development progress so far. I made myself do it this time cos with Joelle, I was too busy enjoying the wonderful aftermath of a first time mummy that I sort of forgot to record many little details. For Issy, my recording has more details. I would like to mention that our potty training seems quite slow (as compared to Joelle's) but still consistent. She will pee after every nap and if we're lucky, she will poo after her lunch. Lately I have just started her on using the shower instead of her bathtub. She cried for five days, twice a day. We persever till she relents. Now she will only rub her eyes with her hands whenever we wash her hair and face. I'm very happy with her adaptation so far. I've more confidence about putting her to more changes.

Issy is a strong character and she can be very fierce but I have very special feelings for her. She makes me smile, she makes me laugh, she cools my anger and softens my frowns. She knows what she wants and she will try her best to get it. She hardly gives up (good and bad) and I admire her determination. Issy is very different from Joelle and though I love them both the same, I do have different "special" feelings for each of them.

Joelle is my firstborn and she is very special to me. She is very emotional and sentimental. I really appreciate that quality for it makes her so caring, so loving, so humane and so... mine. I think Joelle represents LOVE.

Issy is my miracle child and she is proof of God's existence. She is very alert and brave. I went through much pain, worries and difficulties having her and I believe that made our bond stronger. I have a certain soft spot for her. I guess I do not expect as much from her as I do with Joelle. It might be unfair but I do believe in their strength and I know their limits. I love this baby doll very much and I'm really happy to be able to see and know more of her now. It's funny how with Joelle, I saw most of her every first as I was with her for the first 12 months. But with Isabelle, I miss many of her first as I was working during her first six months. But I'm thankful I'm able to watch her become a cheeky little girl now.