Anyway, here's a start. We went to San Diego, LA and LV at the end of August and she was a great traveller. In fact, much better than me. She ate as and when she was hungry and was not too picky. All she needed was either pasta, noodles or chinese rice and fried rice. She drank water and juice well too. And when it was sunny, she did try to keep her hat on for as long as possible. When she was tired, she didn't fret but fell asleep in the car seat or pram and we would be able to drive peacefully/enjoy the lovely sea. All in all, i think the trips were so wonderful because she was such a joy to be with.
Some highlights include:
1. San Diego Zoo - she enjoyed the zoo alot because she is starting to recognise the animals.. she was so quiet when she was in the panda enclosure... was so afraid she would scream or shout but she didn't.. And in the end, we were all able to observe in awe as the panda ate bamboo lying on his back. What a sight.
2. Swimming in hilton's pool. She took some time to get used to the water. The first day she didn't like it but the 2nd day, she went in after much coaxing. She played 'throw the slipper' (her own invention) with daddy as the seal. how hilarious!! She also made a new friend - Karsten - who sat quietly on my lap for 30 mins just staring at me. To make things even better, sherrie didn't even get jealous! My baby is growing more mature indeed!
3. Playing with sand on the beaches. She wasn't scared of sand but a little uncertain but she soon got over it and enjoyed walking around in the sand.
4. Seeing live seals. She always knew Sealwy but didn't make the connection till she saw seals at the Zoo and also live ones swiming around Shelter island.
5. Touching the cool waters at Point Loma tidal pools. This awesome place was so mysterious when we first arrived, shrouded in clouds. But when it cleared, we were able to climb down to the pools to look at the sealife. Sherrie was so adventurous and wanted to touch the cool water, again and again.
6. Bellagio buffet. She loved croutons and the japanese sesame noodles. She was extremely well behaved, in part largely due to having more people to entertain her and having her friend Andrea around. What a splended night.
7. Learning more words. She learnt to say 'carousel', 'noodles', 'drive' and many other new words on the trip. She learnt so much just by observing and never showed any signs of boredom. We knew that if she was cranky at home, it must be due to boredom. What an insight for us. We need to keep this young lady stimulated.
Nowadays, she is eating well and asks for 'bread', 'milk', 'rice', pasta, yogurt and fruits. She enjoys them all but her fav has to still be bananas and pasta. She can eat them anytime. :)
Her friends are really important to her now. She looks constantly for them by saying 'ka ka' for hanaka or manaka and god for freya (somehow godfrey's name is easier to pronounce). She then goes to the door and says 'out' and then 'play'. She knows that they are her friends and that she can play with them. She has also gotten to know a boy at the bookstore called parker and she seems to like him.. the other night before she slept she said his name.
Physically, she has grown taller and heavier and definitely more agile. She is learning to jump and can go up and down one step. She wants to be independent but still practices caution when she is not sure and asks for help. i like that about her - she is willing to ask for help when she needs it.
Emotionally, she has grown more attached to V, Popo and gong gong, cos they have been spending alot more time with them. I think it's great that there are other people she can now feel attached to. When i am away for my studies next year, at least there will be a support network for her and also V. I hope that she will take to V's mom and Koko.
She has started to love musicals and her favourite one at the moment is the Wizard of Oz - she says 'cause' because the word 'because' is repeated in the title song. She also knows the word rainbow for the song 'somewhere over the rainbow'. She associates lions with the musical too. She also likes beauty and beast and can say the word 'beast'. Cuckoo is still an all time favourite and so is twinkle twinkle little star. She knows the songs very well that she can almost sing along.
Reading is also good fun for her. She can memorise some books and in some way, it has helped her understand procedures like washing of hands after peeing etc. It's great what books can teach because sometimes we may not be the best person to teach her. Oh yes, she has started helping out the dishes and we are giving her stickers for her good behaviour. I hope it will help her be potty trained as well as well behaved. I think she certainly has become less rough and more well mannered.. in part due to growing older but also playing wtih her friends more often.
