Gabriel In My Nokia N70

Some photos taken between July to September 2006 of my little clever boy.

13 July 2006: Favourite vehicle - car.

14 July 2006: Distracted by flashy graphics and sound on the TV.

19 August 2006: Itchy/curious fingers at the hardware shop.

27 August 2006: Got to sit here everytime we start off.

23 September 2006: Testing the stability of the sign.

Gabriel frequently amazes us with his keen senses, memory and developmental skills.

He is able to join in singing songs by saying the last word of a stanza. This week when we were singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", he sang "what you are"! Other times he would be humming to the tune or trying to mimick the words, but this was the clearest he has ever sang.

When mummy took Gabriel out for a walk around our home, he saw a signboard put up on a lamp post. It was an advertisement for the satellite pay channels. Mummy initially couldn't believe it when he shouted "Astro"! We know that no one has told him about it even though he watches a little bit per week. Possibly he has been listening to the word spoken in commercial breaks.

So you see, don't under-estimate the perceptive power and learning potential of babies and toddlers. We are thoroughly convinced that my son, like his peers, are at the age when their brains are absorbing and processing data at an unprecedented rate. The Shichida Method and Glenn Doman's institute support this important characteristic of our little ones.

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Brushing Teeth for Babies and Toddlers

Babies and toddlers drink lots of milk during their first few years. Even without solid or "adult" food, milk serves as one of the primary food sources for them. The frequency and amount to give them varies between parents. Our method is "on demand" - when Gab asks for it.

Since most baby milk contains lactose, or milk sugar, these sugars may have an effect on babies' gums and teeth. Doctors have suggested good dental health in young children begin are the early age when they are just babies, before they even have teeth. The basic foundation of the gums must be in good shape for the teeth to grow. Thus, it is a very beneficial practice to allow babies and toddlers to brush their teeth.

In short, the benefits of early teeth/gum brushing for babies and toddlers:

• Puts in place a life-long habit and importance of brushing teeth
• Exercises the gums and promotes proper teeth development
• Removes sugars and food solids which cause teeth decay
• Encourages self-confidence and bonding by learning to brush own teeth

For babies who have yet to show any teeth, you can use either a wet soft cloth or fingertip brush to wipe and massage their gums.

Toddlers love to learn to perform physical tasks themselves, brushing teeth is one of the most suitable things they can learn to do. Make it a habit for them to brush when they wake up and before they sleep, especially after their night bottle. Give them a designated stool to sit on while they brush. Of course, it is best that you lead by example and show them how it is done by brushing together.

Please purchase proper toddler toothbrushes with small and soft bristles. Our boy loves to hold his own brush and imitate our brushing movements. Although toothpaste is generally unnecessary, you can use toothpaste specially for children below two years. These do not contain fluoride, which can cause fluorosis (more info) if too much is swallowed. Even if your toddler has not yet learnt how to spit, it is a good idea to start teaching them from young instead of always swallowing.

We use this brand of toothpaste, FirstTEETH, which is does not foam, has a pleasant taste and is safe to swallow. The downside with such toothpaste is that it is several times more expensive than regular brands.

Good dental health is very similar to overall development and health. The first few years are very crucial and possibly determine one's health for the rest of his or her life.

BabyCenter "How to care for your baby's gums and emerging teeth"
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/babytooth/126.html>

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I can ride my tricycle Mummy!!!

That's exactly how Gab looks as he was placed in his tricycle. Since he has grown taller now, his legs can actually touch the ground and he looks ABSOLUTELY cute using his butt to maneuver. If this is not enough to melt daddy and mummy, he even put his little hand on the back handle while he reversed his tricycle. We nearly died of laughter looking at his ‘adult’ behaviour. So much like his daddy. (The photo above is not the tricycle that we bought him - but does show how much he likes things with wheels)

We tried to video him playing the GD games i.e. flashcards sessions. Boy! What a difficult task it was. He kept looking at the video camera. So much so that we have to hid the camera behind my hubby’s black underwear which was there conveniently by the way. And next, he kept crawling away in search of his toys or be anyway except in front of mummy flashing all these cards to him. Finally we managed to go through the Maths session really fast and caught that on tape. But it is not a very clear one so we won’t be sending this one to GD…..hahahahaha. Just joking.

But I must say that he is getting good on the Math session. We are doing 2 step equations right now and so far he has been correct on all problem-solving. Not so much luck with English though. He just refused to look at the cards. Anywhere but the cards. *Sigh*

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