Sophie's diaries : 23 months old

A little updating:

This month, we saw a growth spurt in terms of Sophie's speech.

We realise that words had probably been etched in her vocabulary for a while. Of course, she understood our conversations, but after refusing stubbornly to speak (instead of just grunting and signing) while we prompted her in vain (which made me fear that it had got to do with some developmental delay - because most kids her age talk way more than she does), she surprised us. It was as if she had finally gotten tired of holding her tongue! Suddenly, she is stringing together the cutest two-words sentences too. Go out! Open door! Dog bark! Gong-gong Ah Ee! My Dadda! LOL. She still uses a lot of signs (a lot more than before), and I wouldn't have it any other way because they allow her to communicate even without having to speak, minimising her frustration and tantrums. (Her "I love you" signs never fail to melt my heart.) But thankfully, she is also moving in a verbalising direction.

Here is "Piyo" ~ as she calls herself!

She is still that active ball of energy who loves a good climb, a lot of movement, making friends with older children, and a good laugh. Stuffed animals, picture storybooks, paints (beware the mess though), makeshift slides, handheld toys, and boxes (from our packagings) amuse her to no end. Of course, there is the occasional YouTube to relish in too. Nursery rhymes MTVs, cartoons, videos of kids (and dogs) playing, and such. I am glad that she is so easily amused. It helps much when she is in a tantrum mode, ready to stun those in earshot with her exceptional lung (and abs) power. A little distraction and laughter goes a long way.

She gets more anxious with grown-up strangers nowadays, especially "uncles" i.e. grown-up men. In three unrelated encounters with male strangers, she refused to shake their hands... and when they pretended to cry in response to her "aloofness", she burst into tears. Cried so hard that she threw up, much to their (and our) dismay. It was hard to clean her up - and one of those episodes occurred while we were eating at a mamak stall (go figure the kind of bathrooms they provide). So please, please don't pretend to cry in front of her. It upsets her badly. And you'll be lucky if she doesn't throw up on you. :'P

Thankfully, there are still people that she doesn't mind meeting over and over again. Family, relatives, her little friends who stay in the same neighbourhood, and godma.

With godma, whom she calls "ah-mah"

Godma Rachel returned to Penang (from Kalimantan) for a few days last month - which availed us the opportunity to meet and have Sophie lunch with us. Sophie, having corresponded with Godma Rach via WhatsApp messenger all this while (she records her voice messages and sends it over) had a delightful day out - at the mall too, one of her favourite places to go! It was also nice (for me) to see my best friend again. I thank God for giving Sophie the best godma in the world, one that is prayerful, humble, sweet, and kind. As well as doting aunties (and uncles), grandparents, cousins... and even a spiritual grandma.

Sophie, inspired by her experiences of playing with younger children (girls) over Chinese New Year, asks me for a mei-mei (and occasionally, di-di) every now and then. I don't know whether she is for real or not. However, one part of me - the annoying part driven by hormones, the desire to hold and breastfeed another baby, and the courage that probably doesn't come from myself - the part with terrible memory when it comes to labour pains, broken nights, cracked nipples, and poo accidents - is crazy enough to have begun considering a second child despite the high possibility that I might have to make even bigger sacrifices. Eeeeeeks. The encouragement of friends are not helping much. Nevertheless, we are not doing too well financially. This would certainly be a deterrent to any baby-making for the time being... unless God surprises us. Then He'd better provide for His will to be done.

But I am thankful even if it is just Sophie. She is enough.