HELLO, WORLD!

HELLO, WORLD!

Hi there! My name is Grace!

I am the cute lil' youngest cousin at 16-months-old.

I have fat and chubby cheeks, and I like to pout. Prettily at that.

I have a big big round round tummy. Everyone likes to affectionately touch, rub, and tease me about it.

I am tall for my height, but short for my cousin's. We're at eye level with each other only when she's seated on the ground, and I, standing. The teacher down at the childcare center was so surprised when my Mum told her that I'm only 16-months-old. She had expected me to be older than that, because - according to her - I'm quite big for a baby of my age.

I walk fast; so fast that the sole of my feet touches only for a split of a nanosecond, before it leaves the ground. It almost looks like I walk on my toes. It's endearing; the way I walk.

I learn things very quickly. 2 weeks ago, I picked up the guitar tuner which my cousin, out of convenience, left on the floor of her bedroom after practice. She was mugging for her exams then, but she saw me. Wagging her right forefinger at me, she said, "Nono, Grace, nono. Nono". The message was short, but clear. I reached out and handed it to her. The strict, crazy woman refused to accept it, but pointed sharply to the floor instead. "Put down. Put it back to where it was. Fang hui qu." I didn't understand the words coming out of her mouth, but I understood what the pointing finger meant. I did as instructed. Oh, WOW! The cousin trusts me so much! What if I fling the tuner out of the window or throw it onto the floor? But I'm a good girl. I put it down on the floor gently.

10minutes later, I again wandered into her room. The tuner was still there. I walked right up to it. She thinks I'm unaware of it: the sneaky cousin was surreptitiously watching out of the corners of her eyes. Lifting up my right forefinger, I wagged it to the tuner and repeated what I've just been instructed, "Nono!". I turned to face the sneaky lady, wagged my finger at her this time round, and repeated, "Nono". See! I know I'm forbidden to touch the tuner! Surprised the bananna out of her. Hohoho! But I know she was as pleased as punch.

I like cold things. Ice cubes. Ice-cream.

My parents are weaning me off the diapers now. Thus, half of the time, I'm diaper-less. But I'm rather smart. I know to inform my parents whenever I need to answer nature's call. I do this by saying, "Shee shee", or by putting my hands to my nose; indicating that I need to do some smelly business. Sometimes though, it's either I forget, or I fail to recognize the urge; but I end up soiling myself.

I know how to "shhh!!!" when it's necessary. One of the neighbours own a noisy dog whose barks are so sharp and loud. During my first few weeks, I was so startled by the barks. Now? I put a finger to my lips and "shhh!!!" towards the direction of the corridor. Ain't I cool? But I don't think the dog hears my shhh, though. It keeps barking incessantly as and when it feels like it. The genius but sinister cousin once indulgently fantasized about feeding it a biscuit laced with poison - all because it has an uncanny timing to bark whenever she's sleeping or napping. Oh! Poor dog.

I've only been here for about less than one month effectively, but I've already made a new friend in the neighbourhood! One of the neighbours has a baby in their house. I call him "Didi". As he's residing in the opposite unit, we'll sometimes wave to each other across the metal grill gates.

Oh! Speaking of waving, I like to wave! I sometimes even wave to the Fortune Cat in Yi Zhang's and Ah Yi's bedroom!

I am afraid of tortoises. Unfortunately, there are 2 big ones in my Uncle's house. So scared of them that I dare not approach the 2 reptiles.

My vocabulary, for now, is still fairly limited. I like to say "baby", "che che (cars)", "bus", "zhuo (sit)", "no more", "no no", "Pa Pa", "Mummy", "Yi Zhang (Uncle)", "Ah Yi (Aunt)", "Jie jie (older sister), "Di Di (younger brother)", "bao (carry), "Eee", "shee shee", and "dog".

I can say "Thank you" too, but it really depends on my mood. If I simply don't feel like, I won't say it. Sometimes though, I blurt out "Thank you" without even being cajoled. It always thrills the socks out of everybody in the house whenever I do that. Mountain tortoises.

I'm a pleasant, happy baby. I hardly cry - even if I got bullied or if I lose my balance on my 2 tiny feet. The only predictable times I cry are only when: it's time to sleep, and I need to poo.

My favourite song is "Old McDonald (has a farm)". I can listen to it on a particular website on the internet for ages and ages. However, due to the sparse number of words which I am currently able to articulate as of yet, I can only "Ee-ya-ee-ya-ooo". I like the song so much that I can sing "Ee-ya-ee-ya-ooo!!!" repeatedly - like a broken recorder - anywhere, anytime, anyday. Totally randomly! BUT hey! At least I get the melody, pitch, and tempo perfect! My cousin thinks I'm brilliant in singing for my age.

I'm great at imitating too! I think it stems from my remarkable ability to pick things up real fast. Even since I've come here, I've learnt to stick out my tongue and make monkey faces. Apart from these, I've also picked up the cousin's trademark; AND, what's more, I couple the action with an additional "HEEHEEHEE!"!!! As my motor coordination skills are still in the developing stage, instead of placing my palms on the cheeks and cupping my chin, I place them on my ears. HEEHEEHEE!

I know how to get my message across too! Just 2 weeks ago, on Saturday late afternoon, I walked into the cousin's bedroom in search of the lady. Yi Zhang - her Dad - found me in her room. I turned to him and said, "Jie Jie... No more... No more (Heeheehee + action) Jie Jie. He understood what I meant.

I do the HEEHEEHEE! action to the cousin almost daily. Especially in the morning. When she wakes up and opens the door to her bedroom, and if I so happen to pass by, I'll do it to her. Now she has a first-hand understanding of the word "karma". But I suspect she thinks the term "7-fold retribution" is more apt.

I am still sick, and am still warded. My sister Serene was discharged yesterday, though. The doctor reported my temperature for today is 37.4oC. I'm so glad! It was 39.7oC on Sunday, the day I was warded!