Well I haven’t blogged in what feels like ages. Micro-updates on my Facebook page. The kids have kept me busy, and today was one of those days when I wish I didn’t have any. But I won’t dwell on that because it’s now past midnight and I should just think of it as been and gone and not to be repeated.
Nicolas is now 3.5 years old and Eloïse is 16 months old.
They have both grown (not vertically though, boohoo) and acquired new skills at an impressively quick rate (at least for me, I don’t know anything about kids so have nothing to compare it against).
They both go to Bizzy Kidz Childcare (that’s Nico on the 1st two pictures on the website, standing looking at the hutch) and have adapted really well. The only hitch is that they’re fairly long days for Eloïse who doesn’t sleep much there. So by the time we come home and eat, she’s grouchier than usual. Nicolas also goes to Mangere Bridge Kindergarten (no post on the afternoon kids, I guess they don’t get up to too many interesting activities) which he enjoys. Ellie has to do some painting each time we go there to either pick up or drop off Nico. There’s another child standing in front of her chosen canvas? No problemo! She just slots right in and takes advantage of the fact that the other kid is too stunned to protest. We also take Loki to pick up Nico and leave him in the car. He’s hugely popular with the kids walking past.
Eloïse’s speaking is well underway. Cá, Bò, Fish, Naliah (that naughty cat would be back at the SPCA if the kids didn’t love her so much despite the scratches on their faces), Oscar, Bà Ngoại, Oma, Maman, Papa, No (actually it’s ‘no-no-no’ just for emphasis. She hasn’t learnt yes yet), Hi, Please, Cheese, Eyes, Nose, Bye Bye, Stop (as in, Mrs Bunny hops and hops and hops; Mrs Bunny hops and stops.), Baby, Dog, Chim. Wow I’ve just realised that she doesn’t speak any French, that I can think of. Must try to remedy it next week. She’s very chatty and will often come to us to have conversations. She loves singing and dancing and is having a ball at Mainly Music and Story Time and sometimes will try to sing along when I play the songs at home. Favourites are Fitness Rap, All of a Sudden, Mrs Bunny, The Little Green Frog and of course the Alphabet song. Points at their names’ letters on their bedroom door and randomly enunciates letters. Goes swimming with Oma and puts her heard underwater.
Nicolas’ preferred language is English. While he understands the other languages and is capable of asking the same thing in 4 languages (cycling them till he gets his chocolate!), he naturally falls back to English and has to be prompted to respond in the appropriate language. I did note that on several occasions, I asked him in French to say something to Papa, and he translated to Dutch. Every so often he’ll get too excited to use words and comes up with gibberish, but for the most part he’s understandable. One thing I never got, and guess I never will, is the nickname he has for Eloïse: Eloïse-tewitt… Eloïse the witch? twit? the wit? I hope it’s #3. He’s taken a strong liking to our iPads and knows his way around them. Tried to claim the house, my keys and my iPod. Chooses to play the Collins Learn Japanese CD tracks rather than the playlist I have for him and Eloïse. Currently learning the days of the week and doing pretty well. Next target: the countries of the world and their capitals.
They spend most of their time bickering over toys and food and anything not super-glued to the walls, but will every so often co-operate during bath times or when I ask them to bring something to the other. I was doubly impressed today that Eloïse gave something to Nico - one that she actually did give it to him, and two that she understood who I was referring to when I used Nico’s Vietnamese name.
I’m not serious about teaching Nico the countries and capitals by the way. But we did go through the planets in the solar system today. All he remembered was the sun.
When I grow up I want to be…
An artist. Or a graffiti vandal.
Médecin sans frontières
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An AA (Automobile Association that is, not Alcoholics Anonymous) vehicle inspector.
Some pretty cool pics on Bas’ Facebook.
