Last Call

Today is our last day in Toronto, and we spent the morning visiting with Avery and Auntie Binh.  Avery was an excellent playmate, and I think Magnus got a very good taste of what life will be like with a sibling.  They played, they argued, they tussled (ok just Avery), they tattled (ok just Magnus) and they even dressed up for each other.  Magnus was in a bowtie, and Avery in her robot outfit, along with her robot routine.  It was hilarious and cute and I unfortunately left my camera in the car!!!!   When we said goodbye they had a good hug, and Magnus continued chatting about "E-vee" in the car on the way home.

Here's a video of Magnus at home after the visit to Avery:

Magnus Listening Exercise

Magnus counts to 10 in this video.  Please make sure you read the Magnus translation guide before you watch this!!

Scarborough Rapid Transit

I thought it would be a good idea to introduce Magnus to a metro system before going to Dubai, since I plan to take him on the metro regularly.   The other day he spotted the subway above ground at Yorkdale and was very excited about the "train".  I told him that his Gonggong and I were going to take him on the "metro-train" very soon.

The Toronto subway isn't anywhere near my parents' house, but there is small extension that is entirely above ground called the Scarborough Rapid Transit.  I thought would an appropriate place to start since the Dubai metro is entirely above ground as well.

(Nostalgia: my father took me and my brother on the SRT decades ago when it first opened)

To get to the station, we went to the mall at Scarborough Town Centre.  Magnus looked down at this atrium and got very excited.  Was it the Christmas decorations?

Nope!  It was the escalator.  Christmas, Schristmas…

Here we are waiting on the platform.  Magnus outwardly looks calm and cool, but inside he finds the noise nerve wracking!

It took awhile to convince him to stand up.  He preferred to stick as close to Gonggong as possible.  After we forced him to stand, he enjoyed the view...

The view afforded by the SRT is unfortunately very bleak.  It's mostly hydro fields and the parking lots of industrial buildings.  Once in a while you'll see a small park with a baseball diamond.  It's funny how this was never clear to me as a child - the SRT was a project created with a lot of cost consciousness and probably a lot of compromise. As such, it is a far cry from the Dubai metro, which triumphantly runs right down the middle of the city, hoisting its passengers up to see all the dazzling sights of the city.  

Did Magnus enjoy it?  Yes and no.  I think he really didn't expect it to be so noisy.  After a couple hours, in the safety of our family room, I was finally able to get him to talk about the "train" ride and to say that he liked it.  

Here he is at the mall hanging out with some mall rats before heading home. 

Socializing Winds Down

Magnus' socializing schedule has been fairly packed these past few weeks, and since we are going to slow down and start getting ready to go to Vancouver, I thought I would post some outstanding pictures of "dates" not previously mentioned on this blog.

Here is Magnus at a quick park stop before visiting Darwyn, Avery, and Maverick.  I did take some pictures when we got there, but with their camera so no pictures at the moment!

Here we are having dim sum with Thor in Richmond Hill:

This was a date in High Park with Evelyn; Magnus' last chance to woo her back from Thor!  Perhaps he came on a little strong...

Later that day, Magnus contemplates the commercialism of Christmas at the local mall:

Sunday brunch at Thor's place in Port Credit, with Evelyn too.  There was a fantastic spread, a mind blowing view, and a captivating train set, but sorry no pictures.  I caught these moments at the end of the visit in the playground downstairs.

Magnus picks up a chick at the park:

Magnus and friends romping on the brand new equipment:

And now a magic trick:

Tadaaa!

Magnus Rosetta Stone

This is a quick translation guide for all friends of Magnus.

It's easiest to remember that there are consonants that he avoids pronoucing and substitutes with other consonants.  His vowel formation is not bad, but depending on word, it varies from "very good" to "sort of".  The consonant substitution is definitely the most challenging part.  He likes to map everything to a 'D' sound!

1. 'K' is pronounced like a 'D': e.g. "Car" = "Dar", "Kick" = "Deek"
2. 'G' is pronounced like a 'D': e.g. "Gonggong" = "Dongdong", "Gone" = "Done", "Yogurt" = "Yodurt" 
3. 'T' is pronounced like a 'D': e.g. "That" = "Dat", "Water" = "Wa-da"
4. 'V' is pronounced like a 'B': e.g.  "Avocado" = "Abodado"
5. 'L' is pronounced like a 'Y': e.g. "Light" = "Yight"
6. 'S' is pronounced like a 'D': e.g. "Soup" = "Doop", "Applesauce" = "Appledod"
7. 'F' is pronounced like a 'D': e.g. "Four" = "Door", "Five" = "Dibe"
8. 'R' is pronounced like a 'W': e.g. "Rain" = "Ween"

In the past 3-4 weeks, Magnus has really started to enjoy talking, and more importantly enjoys making an effort to say new words.   My parents speak a lot of Cantonese around him, and he's been pretty good at picking up Cantonese words too:

• "yut yee sam" - 1 2 3.. he picked this up much more quickly than the English version, although he has been hearing the English numbers for much much longer and far more frequently. 
• "mei duc!" - not finished yet
• "lo dong!" - husband (often said by my mother in exasperation - note magnus substitutes the 'G' sound for the 'D' as usual)

Potty Training Begins

I didn't plan on potty training Magnus in Canada, but while we were in London something seemed to click.  Mina and I were talking about potty training Lucas and she was giving me some tips for Magnus.  The first tip was to get a potty book.  She took out the book she used with Lina and encouraged me to let Magnus have a read.  Magnus is funny about books - he either hates the book or he loves it.  Sometimes I can convince him to love a book after several attempts, but he usually judges a book by its cover and/or first read.

I read "Too Big For Diapers" with him, and to my amazement he was hooked on every word, every page, and every picture. He made me read it to him three or four times before I got tired of reading and got him to do something else!

Then next day, I quizzed Magnus about the potty story, and he gave me a thoughtful look which indicated to me understanding.  During his nap, I went to the store to look at some potties.  The potty below was reasonably priced and nicely designed, so I made the decision to buy the potty and get started right away.

That night, before going to sleep, I told Magnus the potty story again (but without the book of course) and he was hanging on every word just as before.  After the story, I told him that I was going to get him a potty.   I nearly sabotaged my own plan with my next question:

Gina: What colour would you like, Magnus?  

Magnus: Green!

Gina: I'm sorry Magnus, there are no more green potties.  I will get you a blue potty.  

Magnus: No more green!  Blue Potty!

Gina: Right!  Tomorrow when you wake up, there will be a blue potty right here next to popo's bed.  Remember, when you want to pee… etc

After Magnus fell asleep, I assembled the potty and stationed it as promised in his room.  The next morning, it was not too difficult to convince a sleepy Magnus to have a seat.  I'm happy to report success on two occasions today (for a #1 and a #2), and hopefully we'll continue to have growing success for the rest of the week!

I have two potty books ordered and on the way - I actually did pick up a potty book at the store with the potty (featuring Elmo) but Magnus didn't like it at all.  I hope I can return it!

Snow!

Although he still mixes it up with the concept of rain, Magnus experienced his first snowfall today.    Once we get to Vancouver next week, he may never see snow again!  I snapped a few quick shots with my phone:

Here he's admiring my footprint in the snow.   I couldn't convince him to make one too.  Maybe tomorrow if the snow holds...