A couple of days into her writing project, she started complaining when I asked her to do writing after dinner.
“Why every day I have to do writing writing writing only and not have fun like playing.”
I told her she had her play time from 1pm (after school) to 8pm (after dinner), isn’t that enough. She just sighed and went on to write.

Yesterday, I asked her, “Do you know why I’m asking you to do writing every day?”
Zara replied “So that my brain will be refreshed and when I grow up, I’ll never forget to write.”. *Her exact words. I think what she really meant was, she will remember events and won’t forget how to write.

On another non-related item, Zara is becoming a rather strong character. She rarely cries when I’m stern with her during homework or piano practice time, although sometimes I can see her in the verge of crying. However, she’ll cry if Zaria bullied her (the slightest punch or a tug of hair) or when she has a fall. More like cry for attention and TLC.

2 days ago, I spotted a cavity in her molar (her very first cavity), and when I pointed out to her, she started crying, and crying, like loosing something precious. Being the vain pot that she is, she doesn’t want to have rotten teeth, as she’s very proud of her nice pearly whites. I told her she’s getting cavity because she’s been having too many sweets since Christmas. So she made a vow, “I’ll eat sweet and I’ll jump day. Yesterday if I eat (ate) already, then today I don’t eat, and then tomorrow I’ll eat again.” Good girl.

*If you asked me how I remember what the girls said, I actually write them down in pieces of paper.

I just started a writing project with Zara this week.

I was worried about how she still mixes up d and b, writing j and s the other way round, and mixing capital letters and small letters in the same word (i.e. boG instead of dog, or dEb instead of bed), so I thought I should spend an hour each day with her, to get her to do some writing, what better way than to start something like a diary.

I’ll ask her to think about what she wants to write, then help her by
1) making sure she doesn’t mix capital and small letters in the same word,
2) spelling with phonics, or guide her on the spelling of sight words

After she’s finished writing, I’ll tell her the correct way of spelling some of the words that she’s spelled phonatically.

Here are her writing the last 2 days. Since she likes drawing, I ask her to attach a small picture about what she wrote.

25/1 – Both girls played with party poppers (they got from friend) without any adult’s supervision (although I’d told them before hand they can’t play with them on their own and told them what could happen if they did play on their own). I punished both by getting them to stand at the naughty corner, and when they started fighting at the naughty corner, I smacked both. She drew a sorry card for me (and drew herself on the naughty ‘chair). She crossed out the tear, and checked smile, and she said, “Having tears is not good, but smiling is good.”

26/1 – When I went to pick up the girls from school, we saw a mother’s car window being smashed by a thief who wanted to get to the handbag the mother left in the car. I like the smashed window she drew.

I hope by doing this, it’ll help with her writing.

I’d bought 3 packets of jellies for the girls the last week, when Daddy (who doesn’t like the girls to eat junkfood) saw the girls eating the jellies, he complained and said I was indulging the girls with too much junk food.
Zara defended me, “This is not junk food, this is good quality jellies.”
Daddy said, “How do you know this is good quality?”
Zara replied, “Mummy bought from the organic shop (girls went with me to get them actually), of course it’s good quality.”
(I just hope she’s right, that organic shops don’t sell bad quality stuff).

Daddy went out with Zaria, and the radio was playing a song about ‘who can stop the rain’.
Daddy asked Zaria, “Zaria, who can stop the rain? Can you stop it? Can I stop it?”
Zaria thought for a while, then said, “The thunder and the lightning can stop the rain. Because, after the thunder and the lightning, then the rain stop(s).”

🙂

We don’t have Astro installed in our house, girls don’t get to watch Cartoon Network nor Nikelodian except when they are visiting their cousins or friends, or staying in a hotel with these channels.

It’s through their cousins that the girls were introduced to Sponge Bob Square Pants, and they love the program as well as the characters.

So when Zaria went to Tesco with Daddy (while Zara and I attended Yamaha class) last week, and picked up a box of Koko Krunch with Mr Krabs figurine (which Zaria insisted on buying), Zara made noise and wanted one too. Daddy had to go back to Tesco the following day to get Zara another box of Nestle cereal, and this time with Patrick (Zara’s favourite Sponge Bob Characters).

Then this week when I attended Yamaha class with Zara, Zaria again went to Tesco with Daddy, and picked up another box of Nestle cereal with Sponge Bob. o.O”

Zaria said she has 3 children now at home, which I think will just eventually end up a decoration on the tv stand. Her Sponge Bob and Crabby Crab (that’s what she called Mr Krabs).

And Patrick.

They wanted a family photo.

And another, and they said the bread I baked was Krabby Paddy (Krusty Crab) Restaurant.

And another.

So now, we’re stuck with 3 box of Nestle Cereals (luckily different flavour), and the girl will have to have this not so healthy breakfast for the next few months.

Zaria kind of pick up the interest in arts from Zara. During the school holidays, when Zara spent time drawing, Zaria too would request for paper, and joined in. Sometimes she would ask us for help with drawing certain things, most of the time, she’s on her own.

While Zara made me a handbag, Zaria did this with scraps of colour papers.

Here are some of her pictures, drawn during the school holidays.

She said this is a family.

And here is another family drawing.

Here is one she asked, “You know what is this or not?”

I could only say, “It’s very beautiful. Can you tell me what this is?”
Do you know what this is?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Zaria said, “It’s a mermaid on a rock. See the long hair or not.”
Oh.. ok.

Here is another one she asked me to guess.

I was very confident, “A bird flying towards a mountain.”
She said, “Nooo..”
What do you think it was?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
According to her, it is “A bird flying to a diamond castle.” o.O”

And then one day, she was drawing a birthday cake for herself. She asked me to help with the knives, and then she did more doodling, and came over to surprise me with this.
Her first attempt in writing her name.

All these before she turned 3.

Zaria is getting good with arguments these days.

Can’t remember why, but she was angry with Jelly.
Zaria : “Auntie I don’t want you any more”
Me : “Ok, then we pack auntie’s bags, tonight she’ll take airasia flight, and go back. Tomorrow you won’t see her any more.”
Zaria : “No I don’t want.”
Me : “Then why you said you don’t want her.”
Zaria : (innocently) “I didn’t say anything.”
o.O”

And then another, she got angry with me.
Zaria : (towards me) “I don’t want you any more”
Me : “Ok then, later, I go stay in hotel”
Zara : “If Zaria said that again, then you and I will go somewhere together.”
Zaria : “Stop it! I say stop it.”
Me : “What’s wrong?”
Zaria : “You said you are going somewhere without me, so I’m very angry with you (pointed to me), and you (pointed to Zara)! You cannot go anywhere without me. Hmmmph!” (folded her arms)
Daddy : “I won’t go anywhere without you. Don’t worry.”
Zaria : “Hmph! I don’t believe you.”
Daddy : “I cross my heart.”
Zaria : (pointed to me and Zara) “You and jiejie also must cross your heart(s).”
o.O”

During dinner 1 day, she was drinking water by holding a cup with single hand.
Daddy : “Zaria, you are still a small girl, use two hands to hold your cup.”
She didn’t listen and midway through dinner, she spilled her whole cup of water.
Me : “See?”
She started defending herself (and blaming everybody but herself).
Zaria : “Auntie! Why you put the cup so near to me!”
Jelly : “Aiya mei, I didn’t touch your cup at all.”
Zaria : “Daddy! It’s your fault then!”
Daddy : “Huh? I didn’t do anything, why is it my fault?”
Zaria : “I’m still a small girl, and you never help me hold my cup! That’s why it’s your fault!”
o.O”

(seriously, I have to discount everything she said)

We wanted to go to a Chinese Restaurant for dinner, the tai-chao type (outdoor, no aircon) which the girls don’t really fancy. Zara kept saying she didn’t want to go and asked us to eat at another place, but we told her we’d decided.

Zara : “I will go to the restaurant. But….. you promise me to read 6 books tonight.
Me : “6 is too many. 3.”
Zara : “No.. 5.”
Me : “4 then.”
Zaria chipped in too: “No….. 5.”
Daddy : “Come on. 2 daddy 2 mummy.”
Both girls : “OK then.”.
And true enough, both girls behaved during and ate their dinner.

(I’m actually quite happy they love reading so much that they used this to negotiate. We had to limit night time reading to 2 books per night as their books are getting thicker and stories are getting longer as they grow up.)

We asked Zaria who she wanted to invite for her birthday celebration, she told us slowly and counted, “Auntie… Mummie… Daddy… Jiejie. Only 4 people.”
“You don’t want to invite your friends?”
“Nope.. after they sing happy birthday too loud.”
When I asked her if she wanted any cake. She said no as well, because of the above same reason. The strange thing is, she has been drawing pictures of birthday cake after birthday cake decorated with sweets (oh well, at this age, sometimes I don’t know what she’s drawing, but that’s what she told us her drawing was about).

So, how do you celebrate a 3 year old birthday if she didn’t want a party and a cake?… I decide for her.

My brother’s birthday falls on Christmas, and 3 days after, it’s Zaria’s. I offered to bake a cake for us to celebrate their birthdays. Zaria, not really a fan of my brother, really didn’t want to share her cake (maybe that was one of the reason she didn’t want a cake! :P)

Here is the cake I baked, hazelnut torte with chocolate ganache.

And because she didn’t want to share her cake with Ah Ku, and didn’t want us to sing too loud. We have to sing once for my brother, then the 2nd time softly to her (and no clapping! That’s her command). She then refused to blow her candle but when Zara did it for her, she cried.. 🙁

You can see how sulky she was with her cake.

Ok, that was Christmas eve.

I wasn’t planning to bake any more for her because since she said she didn’t want any cake. On the actual day, when she woke up and we greeted her with hugs and Birthday wishes, she said, “Yeh! Today is my birthday!” then added, “Can you make me a mermaid cake?” *faint*

I can’t whip out a mermaid cake just like that, but the next 1hr + I was in the kitchen and made her these, orange butter cupcake with chocolate frosting.

As a celebration, we just invited Tasha and my sister out for lunch and then to Jungle Gym, so the 3 cousins could play.

She didn’t get as many presents as Zara, but I think she did have a good time.

Zara since a toddler has been amusing us with the way she speaks, now barely 5, we’re still at aw at the things she said and her astounding vocabulary. Now I don’t really speak that well, so the credit is not mine. I think she picks up a lot from TV and books and also Daddy who tries to introduce new words to her frequently. What amazed us is she knows when to apply those words, and uses them so effortlessly.

♥Safety♥
We were talking about safety. Like when we cross a road, the girls have to hold on to our hands and not just dash across, or they cannot play with sharp things or fire at home etc.
Zara said, “If you do any of these, then it’s safety violation right?
o.O” I don’t use such big words at home.

♥Why I got married to Daddy♥
Daddy was away, and we were chatting in bed. Zara was telling me some of the ‘safety violation’ things the Daddy did.
“You know, one time when he picked us up from school, he left us in the car and went to buy char-siew-rice. And the car was parked near some shops not opened yet (it was actually a row of new shops), I can see a lot of construction workers walking around.” (OMG! I gave Daddy a good one after that, but he kept saying it’s safer to leave them in the car than to bring them down to the busy restaurant. Grrr!)
Fired by what Zara just told me, I added, “Your dad ah, when it comes to safety he’s really bad. You see, when meimei didn’t want to be belt up in the car, he just left her alone and didn’t insist she should belt up. When the car breaks suddenly what will happen?”
“Mei mei will fly to the front of the car.”
“Exactly.”
After a moment of silent, Zara sat up on the bed, looked at me angrily, turned her palms up and said, “Then why did you get married to him? You shouldn’t have married him in the first place!” (she thought I should marry someone who observes safety rules and then she’ll have a dad who doesn’t leave her in the car).

♥That’s not talking♥
We went to a friend’s house and the girls got to play with my friend’s almost 3yrs old son who speaks ok for his age but probably not as well as Zaria. On our way home, I asked Zara, “Did you enjoy playing with J?”
Zaria said no, because J was very rough (It’s a boy thing, I know). Zara said no, because he doesn’t talk.
I added, “Who said he doesn’t talk. He was talking.”
Zara said, “No. That’s not talking, that’s muttering.”
o.O”

♥Renovation♥
The girls went back to school, and during dinner, we asked them how things were at school. They were telling us their teachers’ names, and which classroom they were at etc.
Zara added, “You know now the library is not upstairs anymore? They dynamite the walls at the library and made it into a classroom. Now the library is downstairs.”
o.O” (Dynamite!)

♥Daddy stay home♥
Daddy was talking about a trip he was making to Germany. The girls were strongly against that. Zaria said, “I don’t want you to go to Germany.”
Zara said, “If you go to Germany, mummy had to send us to school and pick us up. Mummy will be exhausted!”
o.O” I didn’t think she would use such an excuse, and I would have used the word ‘tired’ in my conversation.

♥Am I a Mum?♥
Upon reaching the mall, I got the girls to do their pee-wee, then I brought them to MPH while Daddy went for his haircut. Barely 20mins later, Zara wanted to go to the toilet again.
I was annoyed, so while walking to the toilet with the two of them, I said, Why 1st time you didn’t she-she properly, now want to go again?, and then I added, “After this you want to she-she again I won’t bring you any more.. you can sheshe in your pants.” (I know i’m bad)
Zara just said, “Mum.. you know.. if you are a mother right.. you won’t say such things. Why are you saying such things?”
o.O” Piak, it hit me right in the face.

I don’t just have 1 entertainer, I have 2. Don’t you envy me?

♥Machine♥
I have a little machine at home. She switched to different machines according to her mood.
Some day she says she’s a toaster, and she says, “So I want to eat chemical bread*.” or when it’s bath time, “Toaster no need to take bath.”

Sometimes she’s just a machine. And when it’s time to brush teeth, she says, “I’m a machine. You must touch the right button, then my mouth will open.”
We have to pretend to touch something on her face/head, “Dee-Deet. I touch the open mouth button already. Can you open your mouth now?”
If the game ended here, she would open her mouth, if not, she’ll close her mouth even tighter then says, “You touched the wrong button, so now you must touch the righ one, after that I open my mouth.”

♥Mispronuncing words♥
Love the way she mispronounced certain words. I.e. Olivia, she said Oli-dia (she has seen then corrected herself).
Vanilla, she said Va-lilla.

She calls Maggie mee Mega Mee (just because she has been going to Mega Mall), and then she told me one day our High school musical chair (i.e CD) wasn’t working, it took me a few seconds to realise what she was talking about.

♥Understand♥
After the incident which caused a bump on Zara’s head. I told her I will only let her wear her click clock shoes when she turned 23.

On the day she turned 3, and after all of us wished her Happy Birthday. She proudly said, “I’m 3 years old now. Now can I wear my click clock shoes? Now I understand you already, because I’m big girl.”
When I asked her what she understood, she said, “Cannot throw click clock shoes at jiejie. See, I understand already.”
So the click clock shoe ban was lifted.

When I repeatedly asked her in a public toilet if she wanted to she-she (Chinese : urinate) since we were already there, she said, “You understand or not? Why I tell (told) you so many times I don’t want to she-she, you still asking me?”

When she had a fall, and I told her that’s because she was clumsy, she told me, “You understand or not? The door pushed my head (actually she knocked her head on the door and fell), that’s why I fall down.”

She’s extremely irritated when we don’t ‘understand’ her

♥Others♥
When Zara keeps disturbing her, she tells Zara off. “Jie, stop irritating me.”

She put a fork in her mouth, and started climbing from chair to chair. Daddy told her she can’t do that, she might accidentally swallow the fork and then we’ll need to bring her to the hospital to remove the fork from her throat, possibly having to cut her open her if the fork stuck too far deep. “You cannot cut open my stomach. After that my blood splatter on your face then you know.”

My, I’m so entertained by the things she says.

*I told the girls Gardenia and High5 breads are ‘chemical bread’, since I wanted the girls to eat homemade bread; and if you read the label, those bread do contain lots of chemical