His little quirks and habits

* Its obvious he loves music now. When slow music play, he will sway slowly side to side, sometimes with hands in the air, and hum to the song in his own tune. When fast music play, he will bounce, shake his head, nod his head, wriggle, and sometimes go "cluck cluck" with his tongue. When the music stops, he does the action with his hand/wrists and says "No more...".

* He takes the rolled up mahjong paper (which we bought for him to draw on), hold it like a guitar in one hand, and drum it with his other hand, making clucking sounds with his tongue and nodding his head to the "music" from side to side.

* In his car seat, he will nod and sway his head and wriggle his body when nice music plays. He also attempts to snap his fingers like his Daddy to music.

* He's enjoying shape sorters more.

* Can stack blocks and bowling pins but prefers destroying them with one big swipe of his hands

* sometimes instead of signing or saying "more" when he wants more fruits he will say "aahm" (the sound of eating).

* Many times when hubby and I are having our meals at dining table and Jovann is playing with his toys on the floor, if he hurts himself, he will walk to me, lift up his leg that was hurt and demand that I sayang and kiss it. that done, he will walk around the table to his daddy and asked for the same treatment before he goes back to his play.

* This is how you look when you sit on the ledge to finish up your cod liver oil at night.

* Recently at Wharjda, you were busy touching cabinets, pulling table runners, opening drawers all over the showroom. You then opened a drawer and placed our house keys (you were holding it) into it, and closed the drawer. Luckily Daddy saw the act, for the next moment, you turned away to attack other furniture. He asked you "where's the key??", and you looked at him with a questioning air, then open your palms upwards, looked around you, and said "Where is it???", with a curious searching look on your face. You simply forgot you put it in the drawer. Daddy had to fish it out, hehehee....

* Some of the words my darling has recently started saying...

- No. when he don't want that person to carry, or don't want us to read that book....

- Shoe (and point at his shoes)

- Up!

- No More

- Elmo

- Go where?

- Bird

- Chair

- Elephant (started 28 April during bedtime reading)

- Aeroplane (started 28 April during bedtime reading), complete with sounds and actions of a plane. He said the 3-syllabus clearly for the first 2 times, then thereafter the 2nd syllabus cannot hear hahaha.

* Jovann cheeky in his new customised shirt. It says "VIP - Very Important Prince (Jovann Teo)"

* this photo was taken on Sunday 26 April. You found the camera and handed it to Daddy, who conveniently put it under the cushion on the sofa. He didn't noticed you had walked to the coffee table and struck a pose. When you saw what he did, you walk over, take out the camera and handed it to Daddy, saying "take take TAKE!". Only after a few tries that Daddy understood your meaning. He pointed the cam at you while you happily posed at the coffee table obligingly for a few shots! hahahaa....so funny... that was the first time you did something like that.

Happy 19 Months

18 April 2008 - Happy 19 Months little Prince Jovann.

Poor thing, you are sick again. Its the 3rd time you are sick. And the 3rd time its bacterial and you need antibiotics. You are as active and happy as usual, but can see that this cough is the most discomforting so far, very phelgmy and you have trouble sleeping. Ah Ma, whom I think passed this to you, is also taking a long time to recover. Strong stubborn bug this time. Pls get well soon.

How you have grown. Looking at recent photos of you makes Daddy and Mommy realise how fast you are growing up. All your little quirks and habits, are all precious in our hearts and we love it more and more each day.

*** @ 19 Months ***
..1plus months ago, you have started liking books (FINALLY). but only when we lie down and read to you, so that happens at every bed time. Your favourite books then was Little Blessings and The Lost Sheep, both bought for you by your God Ma Yipei as your baptism gifts. You always asked for these 2 books and only this 2 books when you were 17-18mths old. Seems like once you start you want more and more. Now, at 19 months, our bedside table is filled with more than 10 books (Little Blessings, Lost Sheep, Busy Railway, Cheeky Baby, Devotions for Toddlers, When I am Feeling Loved, Story Book of Jesus, The Little Blue Engine that Could, Three Little Pigs, Beauty & the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin, and some more). Once you start drinking your milk on our bed, you will pat the pillow next to you, asking one of us to lie down beside you, then once we did, you will point to the bedside table and say "book". I will have to show you 1 or 2, until you find one you want, whereby you will nod your head (if you don't want that book you will wave ur hands no). So we will go through the books till you finish your milk.

... For some reason you like playing with door stoppers. you can spend some time looking for door stoppers and putting them carefully all under our bedroom door in a row.

...When Daddy pretend not to want to kiss you, you want to do it all the more, and will hold his head in both your hands and move him forward to be kissed. Like this.


.. You love drinking the original cod liver oil. Every night now Mommy will feed you. Sometimes it takes the cod liver oil as a prize to persude you to take med. Don't know why you like it since it taste yucky to me, but you do. You will patiently wait for me to feed you all the spoonfuls from the measuring cup, then getting impatient, will grab the spoon and cup from me and start feeding yourself. When you are satisfied that you have cleaned it out, you will walk to the sink and drop them both in.

... Its very hard to feed you breakfast now. I have tried many things, but you just don't eat much except fruits you like.

...You like doodling, which to you is just drawing lines and lines on the board, and can hold the "pen" quite prettily.

... you can drink from cup pretty well now, except when you get too excited and pour most of it onto your shirt. You prefer adult cups to your own straw cups.

... you still refuse to chew your food much. Somehow your molars are very slow in coming out. They are still inside your gums!!

... You like to drink soup

... You tend to mix up your "F's" and "S's". When asked to say "Soup", you will say "Foup". When asked to say "Sure", you say "Furh". When say "Fork", you will say something that sounds like "Sock" instead. hehehee....

... you like sitting in Mommy's lap for cod liver oil, to be fed medicine, or just to watch TV. you will come in front me, turn around so your back facing me, and reverse and plonk your bottom onto my lap. In my condition now, I have to be constantly careful you don't bang into my tummy, which you tend to do a lot of times.

... You will kick a fuss during nap times or bed times refusing to be put into your cot. Your eyes can be closed and your arms limp (signs that you are asleep) pretending to be asleep, but once we put you into the cot, your thighs and arms will tighten around us and refuse to go down. But when we put you on OUR bed, you will either give a cheeky secret smile, or just roll over, hug the bolster and proceed to sleep. We are kicking you of this habit. One night (think it was Thursday night 17 April), Mommy was making you sleep and it happens, you refuse to go into your cot. No amount of coaxing or persuasion could make you let go of me. You kept crying piteously once I try. I was getting mad, and scolded you "Its very naughty of you to do this, this is the LAST time you are sleeping in our bed, don't think you will get your way EVERY time". I plonked you down sitting on our bed while I prepare our bed, huffing with anger, with your pillow and bolster. You stayed in that sitting position, head down, quiet, not a word. I thought you were upset with my voice, and for a moment I felt guilty and heartpain. I went to you and peered down at your face. You lifted your eyes up at me, and I realised there was not a single sign of upset-ness (I know there's no such a word) in your face. Instead, there was a cheeky grin!!! which grew larger and more cheeky with each passing second you look at me!!! I knew I had lost, AGAIN. Sigh...

... You will say "GOAL!!" after you kick a ball.

... you can play with our new maid, but you refuse to let her wash you up, bathe you, feed you, or change your clothes most of the time. Hehehee.

Julia Gabriel Eduplay!

Jovann got a place at Bilingual Playclub at Julia Gabriel. Yippeee! it was with great excitement that we made our way there for our first class this term. For during a previous playnest trial, I could see that Jovann enjoys JG very much.





It will be a 2hours session, so Mommy and Daddy decided to rotate. Daddy took the first half which is the English class.

When the kids reported for class, they are required to "punch their cards". Its so cute, each has a laminated card with their names and photos on it, one each for english and chinese class. At the begn of the class, you are to slot the respective card into the red mailbox to signify you are present. cute!




You had such fun during the free play, and you stacked bowling pins and swiped them down with such a gleeful chuckle. You actually screamed with glee after you swiped the pins down even though you had just painstakingly stacked them nicely on the mat.
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This is your funny happy laugh when the pins went down.



The teachers were really really nice, warm and enthusiatic individuals, who showed their love for the kids through their dedication, and they know how to capture all your attention and kept you riveted. It was a joy watching them teach/play and interact with you. We can't imagine having such energy like them!

You had fun in the arts and craft class too.


Later on, during noodles eating time (today's theme was Mian Tiao/Noodles), you actually finished your whole plate of noodles with help from daddy, with no problems chewing or swallowing. Further prove that its whether you want to do it or not. Nottie boy.

During Magic Box time, the teacher asked the class to guess whats in the magic box, and you were so kaypoh you followed the magic box once it appeared in the classroom. As you can see, you were not at all shy or reserved or cranky during JG, compared to your sessions at Kindermusik. Its funny.
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When Mommy took over, it was chinese story telling time! you stayed riveted and glued to the chinese teacher's antics and voice for half the time, then started exploring the room and touching the arts and crafts pieces displayed on the shelves. When the teacher went out and came back in with the "mian tiao' in the story, you were hungrily looking at her bowl with interest.






During self feeding time, you were served a bowl (non suction) of sausages, papaya, and cornflakes. you self feed with your hands without much help from Mommy, and took dainty sips of the diluted apple juice from the cup. it was a joy to watch you. So cute! At home, it will be a mess. You just observed what others are doing and did it too. But at a few points, you did try to "steal" other's kids food and cup.



During singing time, you were turning around and dancing to the music, and at times venturing closer to the organ playing teacher, wanting to touch the organ.

Outdoor play! Its a sign you really enjoying yourself when you got your tongue sticking out like that!

Old car new car....

In March 2008, Daddy returned his first car. Because he has decided to buy a new car in early Feb, and in early March, has very efficiently, with the help of a parrallel importer who is also a family friend, purchased the COE and paid deposit for the new car.

Before the road tax expires in mid March for our first car, he has to return it. It was mixed feelings. We are elated with the idea of the new ride, but yet sad coz this car we are returning was our first buy together. We decided on the brand, on the make/model, on the colour together about 1 yr after our wedding. We went through the test drive together, signed documents tog, took the first ride tog. Daddy ferried Mommy to and fro in this first Altis when pregnant with you, and I reclined in the back seat to rest whenever getting into the car from work. This is the car that fetched Mommy to the hospital to deliver you. Its been 3 years. Maybe silly to some to feel this way about a CAR, for goodness sake, but both of us ARE sentimental people, so there. Hahaa.

We took a lot of photos a few days before the car is due for its return....had quite some fun in the carpark.














We collected our new car on 26 March 2008. :) Daddy is mighty pleased with it.

This is unrelated. A little something Daddy bought back for Mommy when he went to KL to help out with a wedding. :)

Sick for the first time

For the past 17 months, the only time Jovann was no well was when he was 5 months old and 8 months old. When 5 months old, he has a jab and a rotavirus oral vaccine, and the afternoon he started crying and running a low grade fever. no other sympthoms. We fed him paracetamol and his fever subsided within 24hours and everything was well. All tests done at KKH and TMC showed nothing.

When 8 months old, the same thing happened, but this time it was 5 days after his first swimming session at Four Seasons Hotel with some friends. Again, only paracetamol was administered. Again, his fever subsided within 24 hours, and all's well.

We have been scratching our heads what caused the fever, and could only conclude its either the jab or a virus caught from the swim, and somehow his body fought it himself without anything else except paracetamol. I was total breastfeeding that time, and I felt so thankful my breastmilk protected him and kept him strong to fight the virus, without falling sick.

From 8 mths to 17mths, he was perfectly fine and healthy despite me falling sick when he was 11mths old, and I was sick for a total of 2-3months. I stayed in the same house as him, still total breastfeed him (but wearing a mask), but sleep in different rooms. I was again grateful my breastmilk (though I was sick) kept him strong coz the antibodies protected him.

I stopped breastfeeding at 15mths.....and then, somehow......at 17mths, the inevitable toddler flus and colds started. sigh....

During CNY, 3 days (20 Feb) after the fun afternoon at Auntie Grace's Jovann and I came down with cough, then flu. He has phelmy cough, with mucus from nose, and with less appetite than usual. Next day, we took him to the PD, he refused cereal, and only ate fruits. We started medication and tried to let him eat more food.

At the PD.





22 Feb, his fever started. He felt warm throughout the night, but his temp was 37.5deg, which we know is higher than his usual body temp but is not considered fever in the medical sense yet. But we fed him paracetamol to be safe, and in the evening when we reached my mom's place where he was that day, he felt hot. We sponged him down and changed fever pad. His face was very red from the heat, but he was still active.

For the next 3 nights, he had fever in the middle of the night, ranging from 38.5deg to 39deg. He moan in his sleep but is alert and contented when we wake him up to feed med and sponge him. He was so cooperative and cheerful during sponging. But his eyes started being covered with a layer of dried eye discharge, and his nose was so dry from the dried mucus. Been feeding him more fruits and more watery porridge and liquids these few days.

Then 25Feb, saw PD again. This time Dr Ong checked his throat, ears and nose after we tell him about the eye discharge. and we were shocked to hear that the infection in his nose has caused his eyes discharge to block up, thus causing the discharge. And he is having middle ear infection coz his nose is blocked. His throat is also red.

But this nottie boy is still so active and happy, which we are mighty glad of. He even did a dance with Barney while waiting for Dr Ong. We love this video, so cute!
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His condition sounded so worrying. But doc gave antibiotics Augmentin, and Jovann had antibiotics for the first time. It kinda smelled good, like chewing gum. With the antibiotics, and the fact that that night itself I gave him the steam bathroom treatment, plus the fact that we switched off aircon at night and let him sleep in fresh air, his condition improved very fast. He recovered before the end of the antibiotics course. So glad so glad....still a bit of dry cough occasionally but it was not supposed to be a concern coz no running nose and his appetite improved.

What an experience......Thinking back, its really amazing how many things you learnt from internet and textbooks and friends last time that you thought you know, but totally forgot once its YOUR kid who is sick. e.g. steamroom treatment and not sleeping in aircon room when with running nose,. all this I knew but SOMEHOW i forgot about it when my kid fell sick. Only when a well meaning friend reminded me did I kick myself for it. I also should have know, such high fever is usually not viral causes. So I shld have brought him to the PD earlier when I saw the eye and discharge. Fortunately the middle ear infection wasn't too serious.

During this episode, we brought out his new THomas and Tank watter bottle which I bought from the Taka Sale 2-3 mths back, and slinged it around his shoulders. He seemed so pleased with it.




I wish to note here that if not for hubby and Jovann's Daddy, this period of time would have been more difficult. Sam turns out to be such a capable daddy when Jovann is sick. For more than 3 of the nights during Jovann's episode, I had to stay in my mums house nearby overnight coz I was also sick and do not wish to stay so close to J throughout the day for fear of aggravating his condition. Samuel was solely responsibly for feeding Jovann breakfast, preparing his lunch and sometimes feeding him lunch, before bringing him over to my mums plc. At night, he brings him back home himself, washed him up singlehandedly, changed pyjamas, read a book, make his milk, and put him to bed. Throughout the night, he constantly checked Jovann's temp and fed him med when needed, and sponged him when his fever appeared. He updates me through phone calls and sms during the night when this happens. And both of us worry at the same time, but I am not there to help him. He breezed through it without complains, and with a better and closer relationship with his son then ever. Though Jovann calls for me sometimes, it was clear he is closer to his Daddy now after all this, and its so heartwarming to see. I am proud of my hubby!

I am also very proud of my son. He was happy and cheerful throughout the illness, and did not complain when his fever was high, when we were sponging him. Initially, feeding him med was hard, he will struggle and cry and it will need me to pin him down while hubby forced the med through the syringe into his mouth. But, miraculously, on the 6th day that we started antibiotics, Sam was alone at home before his bedtime, feeding him med. He tried letting Jovann walk to towards him without coercion, and he did! Jovann walked up, opend his mouth when asked to, and tilt back his head when asked to. And down went 1, 2, 3 sometimes 4 syringes of med with sips of water in betw! From then on, thats the way we fed him med. And he took it without complains! sometimes even doing his version of the "good" sign... I am so proud of him.