Halloween III

Its Matty's third Halloween this year. But I don't think he knows what its about yet, since most kids here don't go trick-or-treating. Afterall, its a bit difficult to tell if the 婆婆 (grandma) next door knows what Halloween is. You don't really want to scare anyone into having a heart attack right? And what fun is it to go trick-or-treating in the 20 or 30 floor building you live in?

This year, Matty said he wants to dress up as a spider, because he likes the Incy Wincy spider song. But because he already did that last year, we decided to dress him up as a knight instead. My hubby convinced Matty that a knight was better because he can protect Ma Ma.

After steaming his costume the other night, Matty couldn't wait to try it on. "I saving Ma Ma." he said, pointing this $10 devil fork thing he got from a book store at my hubby.

Now, I don't know why he was pointing it at his dad, but what he said, to me, was sweeter than all the candys you can get trick-or-treating any time.

E & C Wedding

Matty was surprisingly well-behaved at Auntie Evelyn and Uncle Corey's wedding dinner over the weekend. He smiled almost non-stop as we stepped into the room. Matty gave the newlyweds a picture he drew for them, and said 恭喜 (congratulations). The English version of 恭喜 was still a little too complicated for him. I wish he would be this cooperative all the time. Well, at least I hope he will be cooperative at his kindergarten interviews coming up soon.

Although, there was plenty of food and aunties and uncles to play with, Matty's favourite part of dinner was still the heart-shaped chocolate wedding favour. And being extremely well-behaved that night, Matty promised to eat it when he stopped coughing. Yes, it felt like a dream come true.

Matty @ Playhouse

What started off as a pretty boring, but relaxing week for Matty, who is on his half-term break, ended with an exciting afternoon out with his friends:  Jonas, and Jason, from his old playgroup.

We went to check out this indoor playground in Kowloon Bay that I didn't even know existed. It was great! It was just what any kid would hope for. Matty and Jason liked the ball pool drop slide the most. I know because I had to go down the slide after Matty three times, and I saw Jason's mum go down the same slide at least FIVE times! Luckily my hubby was there so we could take turns. I don't remember if I had ever played in a ball pool (波波池) myself when I was a kid. But I hate them! Actually, its more like I'm scared of them. I don't know if its because of this government ad about hand, foot, and mouth disease on TV, but everytime I slide into the ball pool, all I can think of is germs! Yes, I admit it, I am a germophobe!

Anyway, Matty and the boys had fun. I heard Jonas say 無驚驚啦! (I'm not scared!) after he climbed onto a really high platform. His mum said he's a scaredy-cat when is comes to climbing, but he seemed fine to me. And when a staff there asked Jason if he would come play again, Jason quickly said: 會! (Yes!).

I think what we all found really amusing at Playhouse was when both Jonas and Jason decided to feed Matty during their little snack break. Maybe they both sensed Matty's desire to be served ALL the time.

Matty meets Euclid

Yes, that does look like a rectangle, but according to Matty, its a square! And whats with the sad face? I don't know. I asked him to smile but the rebellious side of  him took over, and he frowned!

Matty has been drawing and writing quite a  lot recently. He likes writing the letters, "E", "F" and "Q" the most. I guess he picked up on drawing the square this week when I was teaching him cantonese words for various shapes.

He's also really into numbers now. "100" is one of his favourite. Matty would occasionally force me to write all the numbers from 1 to 100 on a piece of paper for him. And he'd get really excited when we finally reach one hundred:


Matty:      "One hundred!...A lot of money!"



Me:          "One hundred can be money. But it can also be many other things, like one hundred books, or one hundred toys. Its not just about money.

Matty:      [Blank look]

Matty:      "WAH! One hundred dollars! So much money!"

Sigh. I don't know who taught him that. I assume it was my helper, because I certainly didn't, and  my hubby has denied any involvement.

"16" is another favorite number of Matty's, but thats only because my hubby keeps telling him about all these toys he can play, and things he can do when he's a BIG boy-- when he's 16-years-old.

Parappa Matty The Rapper

Matty just turned two and a half a few days ago. I don't know if its because of this, my hubby got him his first guitar pick. Its got Parappa the rapper's face on it (a character from a video game).

I was a little surprised, because my hubby's only been getting Matty haw flakes (山楂餅) recently. Anyway, I was determined to find some deep and meaningful reason behind this rare purchase.


Me:       "So why did you buy him a pick?"



Hubby:  "Dunno."



Me:       "You want him to learn how to play the
             guitar now?



[Silence]



Me:       "Or do you just want him to stay away from your picks?"



Hubby:  [Chuckle] "No."



Me:        "Then why?"



Hubby:   "Because he looks like Matty."


So was THAT the deep and meaningful reason I was looking for? No! And does Matty really look like the rapper dog? I don't think so. But Matty said he likes the pick and thats what really matters I guess.

Matty obviously doesn't know how to play the guitar right now. He's just really good at  dropping the pick in the sound hole. Um...I wonder if he will still have this pick when he's old enough to have his own band.

Getting My Stubborn Patient To Say, Yes!

Matty had his first ever high fever over the weekend. 103F. He seemed perfectly fine actually. He was playing just as hard, and eating just as much as before. But of course he was a lot hotter. Even after he took paracetamol, he was still 102F.

We tried to make him put one of those cold gel packs on his forehead, but he refused. He said it was "too cold".

Me:         "But it would make you feel better, because your forehead
               is so hot."


Matty:      "No."



Me :        "If you get any hotter I will have to put this pill
               up your bum."


Matty:     "NO!!!"


Me:         "Can I stick the cold pack on your armpit?"


Matty:      "NO!"


Me:          "Do you want to use a wet towel instead?"


Matty:      "Yes."


YES! Problem solved. But how do I keep the towel attached to his forehead when he's playing?

We ended up using this purple head band I have to hold it in place. Strangely enough, it was something he didn't seem to mind.

I Nuv You, Ma Ma!

I always put Matty to bed at night, because my hubby is either at work, or at school during his bedtime. But in the morning, my hubby is the only one in bed with him because I'm already at work. And even though Matty loves his Da Da very much, he often cries for me when he wakes up. It drives my hubby crazy sometimes because he likes to go to sleep very late at night (or VERY early in the morning).

To help solve the problem I had a little chat with Matty before bedtime:

Me:       "No crying when you wake up in the morning
              ok? You know Ma Ma is at work, right?"


Matty:    "Matty cry."


Me:       "No need to cry, because Da Da will be here with Matty."


Matty:    "I don't want Ma Ma go to work."


Me:        "Ma Ma has to earn money to buy things for Matty."


Matty:    "Buy what things?"


Me:        "Like food, clothes and toys."


Matty:     "I don't want things. I want Ma Ma stay with Matty."


It was only a few simple words, but my heart melted instantly. I don't think I've ever felt that way before.
It sure felt good.

Belated Post-holiday Blues

Its not often that I see Matty sitting still. He's usually climbing our bookshelf, singing his ABC's, or playing teacher with whoever is available.

The other day I found him lying in his bed! I know it sounds strange for a two-year-old, but he was staring at the ceiling as if in deep thought.

I calmly asked him what was wrong, and he said he wanted to go on holiday! It has been several months since we went to Koh Samui. But I just didn't expect him to get the post-holiday blues now.

Me:              "So, where do you want to go?"

Matty:          "Thailand."

Me:              "Again? Why?"

Matty:          "Because I want play, play, play!"

Me:             "Who do you want to go with?"

Matty:         "Ma Ma,  and Pa Pa (short for our domestic helper,

                  Suparmi)."

Me:            "Can Da Da come too?"

Matty:         "No, he's got beard." (Ha ha ha ha--serves him right for

                   not shaving all the time.)

Me:            "Can Da Da come if he shaves?"

Matty:        "I want to go on holiday with Da Da if he shaves...

                 tomorrow."

Well, we're not planning to go on holiday any time soon. But with the pair of boxing shorts we got from Thailand, a pair of old socks,  and a little imagination...I guess we managed to beat Matty's post-holiday blues for now.

My Crayon Shin-chan (我的蠟筆小新)

Matty has been going through different phases recently. He's now in a phase where he wants to be funny...and sometimes he really is.

I was watching a little TV the other night after my shower. Matty came along and started playing with my wet hair. This is what happened next:


Matty:    "Your hair is wet."



Me:        "Yes, Ma Ma just washed it,                but no one used towel to dry it for me."



Matty then rushed into his room.



Me:        "Its Ok Matty, no need to get towel for Ma Ma."



Matty then came out of his room with a naughty grin on his face.



Me:       "What are you holding in your hand? That doesn't look like a
             towel."


Matty stared at me with his eyebrows raised, and his eyes opened as far as they could.


Matty:   "Its underwear!"


Trying very  hard to stop myself from laughing at all, I told him he couldn't use his dirty underwear to dry my hair. But he wasn't worried or scared. Instead of appologising,  he said with a big grin "Matty is funny!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Matty really likes this high-tech fireworks gadget we have at home. Actually, my hubby REALLY likes it too.  He was the one that got really excited when he first saw it, and spent $16XX on it. But let me clarify something: the "high-tech" gadget is really just a nicely packaged slide machine that shoots fireworks to the ceiling. Its not THAT cool.

Anyway, because Matty enjoyed the machine so much we took him to see the National Day fireworks yesterday, live, in Tsim Sha Tsui. He's seen fireworks on TV before, but never live.

So, did he jump up and down, or scream with excitement? Nope. He was expressionless. It was only after a few minutes when he got a little more excited. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" he said, opening and closing his hand. But this excitement didn't last long.  

Two minutes later...

Matty:        "Is it finished?"

Me:            "Not yet."

One minute later....

Matty:        "Is it finished?

Me:            "Not yet."

Ten seconds later.....

Matty:        "I want to go home."

We actually never planned on watching the whole thing,  but because of Matty's response, we left even earlier.

Sooooooo glad we didn't book an expensive buffet just to watch the fireworks!