A Slice of Heaven . . .: Letters to Julianne #26

Dearest Julianne,

If I had to use one word to sum up your July, it would be "FUN"! You went on a school excursion, we brought you to explore new playgrounds, you had your cousin Sophie staying over during the weekends and turned the house upside down with her. If that's not fun by a 21 month old standard than I don't know what is!

Playground fun with cousin Sophie

Fresh children from the veggie isle

You're making the biggest development in your speech. These days, you are starting to speak in simple short sentences like "Gong Gong, sit car" or the other day when again Por Por sat on Papa's usual seat at dinner time, you very protectively exclaimed "Por Por sit (pointing to where Por Por should be sitting), no, Dada" (trying to say no, you cannot sit on Dada's seat). We all burst out laughing!

You are generally very sweet natured and so generous with your hugs and kisses. When the Barney theme song "I Love You" comes on, you will literally drop whatever you're doing (even if you're halfway through eating your favourite fried bee-hoon) and give everyone around you a big hug. You will also always insist on kissing and hugging Por Por and Gong Gong goodnight before bed. But like any child, you are not all angelic. You can get quite feisty at times. Quite a chilli-padi you are. When you don't get your way, you throw a tantrum either by pouting or showing your angry face and going "Argh" in our faces to show your displeasure. We have started time-out with you when you misbehave this way and will send you away to your naughty corner. Unfortunately, that plan isn't working as so well cos you think it's a new game we're playing with you. I've tasked your Dada to work on Plan B. The last thing I want is to see you growing up to be this little spoilt brad so we're going to have to get serious on this discipline business.

These days, you enjoy having fun on your micro scooter which we just got you after seeing how you have mastered it on Che Che Sophie's. You are like a pro on it! I'm mighty impressed. Now you just need to learn how to use the brakes! You also like me to take you on walks every evening to see the dogs in the neighbourhood. You're going through a massive Elmo/Sesame Street craze at the moment where you insist on wearing your Elmo tee everyday and drinking only from your Elmo water-bottle. So when Yiyi Sam came home with Mr Elmo after her trip to Universal Studios, you went almost hysterical! You still love sitting your stuff toys in a circle and pretend to be reading or singing to them. This month - thanks to Dada - you've added to new students to your class - Mr Gruffalo and Ms American Doll.

Spot Elmo, Oscar and Mr Gruffalo!

3 months to your 2nd birthday. Mama has some idea of what the plan's going to be. So exciting! We also got our year end travel plans booked and I'm looking forward to bundling you up in your fleece and winter hat! For now, you enjoy what's left of your 2nd year and have fun exploring the big world around you!