Blabber Update: 14.5 Months

9 month old gabe in front of a Japanese painting in a ryokan in Hakone, Japan

Time flies. Gabe is about 14.5 months old. Staying home with him on a daily basis does emphasize the meaning of routine, and in this, much details are lost. I forget all the little things in his developmental process just a few months ago and flipping through the writing on this blog has proven to be helpful in refreshing some memories.

I have given up listing all the things he can say. The dam is showing much signs of weakness. Any day now it will burst forth into what a friend of mine calls the 10-new-words-a-day phase. But there are some really cute ones which are worth mentioning.

"Itchy. Ca ca (apply). No more itchy!"

Me: What is your name? Tan Tee Guan Ga-
Gabe: -briel
Me: 你叫什么名? 陈智-
Gabe: - 源

Me: 开...
Gabe: ...门
Me: 关...
Gabe: ...门

Me: 宝宝， 我们回家了好吗？
Gabe: 好... Bye bye!

"再见", " 谢谢", "宝宝" and any other Chinese that comes out of his mouth sounds pretty much like a guai lou speaking Chinese.

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Not, I hope...

You see, the mother reads one local magazine a week and much of the front portion is really garbage (in the sort that benefits only the gossipy, batt gua part of me) and who took to flipping its pages when he finds it lying around?

It started with me pointing out pictures he can recognise: taxis, buses, watches, shoes, bags and most of all, maam maam. Then one day, I heard him repeat like a broken recorder, "Mark, yeee. Mark, yeeee." A bit bewildered, I looked up to see him focusing on a paparazzi shot of a Chinese girl and her Caucasian boyfriend. The bulbs in my brain almost blew when it dawned on me what was going on in his mind.

Then on another occasion, he saw a picture of an old lady and promptly went, "po po".

Looks like the sponge is soaking away. Words, pictures, whatever form of verbal and non-verbal communication, I'd better be careful.

Gabe and His Papa: April 2008

Gabe's papa has gone off on a two-week-plus patriotic mission up north. The little one will be calling "papa papa" in the morning in vain; the morning routine involves gabe calling to his papa to come pick him up from the cot when he rises and shines for the day.

Here are some pictures for the papa if he has internet access where he is located:

Bedtime drawing near. Fingers did the talking.

Huge shoes to fill? Wait till you try papa's t-shirt.

About half of papa's body length at 14 months old. Mother shudders.

How many cheeky monsters do you need in one family?

Family portrait for gabe's 14th month-day. Funny thing is that gabe will keep a stern face while watching the light of the timer flicker but gives his hugest grin only after it goes off *faint*

Will You Marry Me?

We have been offered a proposal of betrothal! Derod's good friend jokingly suggested that gabe and his five month old daughter be bound by this traditional arrangement. I turned it down immediately, citing reason of "not in favour of in laws". Didn't help that the son kept yelling "mei mei" once she was carried out of sight.

Surprise number two came from a very unexpectedly liberal mother in church. One Sunday, Gabe was busy walking around chairs when he "barged" into the territory of a feisty little lady who pushed his hands away from the chair she was occupying. After some gentle chiding, her mother proceeded to say that Gabe can be her boyfriend next time, since he was after all, only a year younger. Thoroughly caught by surprise and much amusement I was, at that point in time. After some thought, this could spell good tidings for us, since little lady is a real smart one and her parents are... shall we say... overflowing with abundance in the *keching* sense. Good in laws! *tsk tsk* Gold diggers.

Well, whoever he chooses next time will not have the privilege of planting a first kiss on him. He's already been smooched quite a few times... by the youngest member of the orforgod family. His "true love's kiss" (inspired by the movie Enchanted), they call it. Yeah, if you caught that, the youngest member of the orforgods is a BOY!

Meanwhile, Gabe can start practicing: Seen here with auntie Nikki and mummy's jewellery in right hand.