Territorality

As part of the challenges that come with the terrible twos, Gabe has begun to get really possessive of what belongs to him. The items can range from his own toys to stuff that he is holding in his hands at that point in time. His angst is especially towards children around his age and to the dismay of the parents, he gets aggressive enough to shove the kids on top of shouting "no!" in instruction.

On our part, we have been trying to be consistent in teaching him that he should not push other children, or anyone for that matter and to share. We have also been very liberal in smacking his hand in response to his disobedience. It is the perseverance in consistency that is most tiring on us. Sometimes I wonder if this whole process if for the disciplining of the child or of the parent.

Anyway, we were surprised when he reacted the same way to others coming near to rourou's bouncer. He will also protest when adults whom he is not familiar with or close to, carry his sister. He'll verbalize "don't want so-and-so carry meimei". I wonder where he got the idea that meimei belongs to him since we never really drilled that part in. But well, the beginnings of protectiveness of his little sister is something we are happy to see in the midst of struggling with the problem of his territoriality.

Same Same But Different

The gor gor

The mei mei

Brotherly Love

Right from the beginning, our prayer was for Gabe to embrace his little sister and be gentle with her. We've also done our share of drilling - from how mummy's going to be away in hospital for the doctor to help to take meimei out from mummy's stomach, to how mummy needs to carry meimei pretty often to feed her milk. God has answered this prayer and thus far, he has been a very cooperative little boy. I know dynamics may change as the two of them grow, and we'll just keep praying for the big brother to love his little sister and take care of her, as the younger one learns to love and respect her gor gor.

Gabe was so excited to carry meimei in the hospital.

The usual cheeky face.

Let me take a closer look at meimei.

He was supposed to stretch out his hands under her, but it happened otherwise.

"Mummy let you sayang meimei!!" is the daily cry from Gabe. And he's really gentle with her ; )

Looks like we're beginning to collect pictures like this one.

Another one of those times where Gabe asks to sayang meimei.

Now papa's got his hands full.

A Happy 2nd Birthday

Gabe is two years old!

His birthday happened to be right smack in the middle of my confinement period so we made do with a small celebration at home, with both sets of grandparents and aunties over for dinner. My confinement auntie volunteered to cook and whoa... did she cook up a storm. Can you believe it? We forgot to take pictures of the spread -- beehoon, curry vegetables, fried chicken, fried ngo hiang (made from scratch), and some soup just for Gabe.

The long-awaited cake cutting took place after dinner and you can see the glee on the boy's face.

I'm two and happy!!

Oh... that's meimei behind me.

Soooo happy when everyone was singing the birthday songs (both languages).

Serving cake to all the elders.

With waigong, waipo and yee yee.

With yeye, ah ma and gugu. Ah pek was at work.

Time to open presents! Rip rip rip. Gabe got so excited over this gift, which was from waipo's colleagues.
Not bad hor, so distant also give presents, and a very apt one samore. Cement mixer!

This, in yee's words, is the "bestest birthday present ever" and it's a vrooom vroooom Ferrari car!!!
Thank you Mark and yee!!