My Brave Bilingual Babe

A few months ago, I gave Cailia some food and she said "Shi-shi" (thank you in Chinese). I didn't think I heard her right, so I asked her what she said and she said "Shi-shi, thanks!" She now alternates saying thanks in English and Chinese. Then tonight when I was putting her to bed, I put her baby down next to her and she turned to the baby and said "Ni-hao" (Hi in Chinese). Who said you can't learn anything from tv?!

Also today I was trying to open a bottle of bubbles and couldn't get the seal off of it so I said quietly mostly to myself, "I need something sharp", but just kept trying to do it with my fingers. A few minutes later I heard Cailia yelling "Help Mommy, I stuck!" So I went to see what was wrong, and found her with only her belly balancing on my laptop desk, teetering back and forth about to fall off, with my scissors in her hand! I didn't know she knew I kept them up there! I also didn't know she could figure out that when I need something sharp, scissors will help! She's smart, but too brave for me! She also climbed up on Jeff's motorcycle twice today. She reminds me a lot of Jen, good thing her legs aren't long enough to climb the walls yet!

At Least He's Honest

For the past couple of months, we've been using charts with stickers to reward Max's good behavior. When he fills a chart, he earns what he's been working towards. (It's been lots of different things like a new bike, a trip to Jumpin' Jacks, etc.) Most recently, he was working on earning some new Curious George stamps. A couple of days ago he told me, "Mom, after I earn my Curious George stamps, don't do any more charts because I don't want to have to be good anymore. I want to do things I'm not supposed to do."

Clever Boy

I teach the Sunbeams (3 & 4 year olds) in church. A few weeks ago in class I was passing around a bag with an apple in it and the kids were trying to guess what was inside without looking. After Jace had a turn with it, he looked at me and discreetly said, "Why don't you just tell me what it is?" - and then he winked at me! I couldn't believe it! He not only knew how to wink, but he knew how to use it to his advantage!

Bum-shaker

Yesterday at dinner, Carter was sort of standing up in his seat saying, "shake-a-bum-bum, shake-a-bum-bum" while he shook his little bum.
I'd never seen him do this before so I asked him, "Where did you learn that?"
He said, "At my Grandma's house"
I asked, "Grandma Brown?"
He said, "yeah, my Grandma"
"Who taught it to you?"
"My Grandpa."
Apparently Dad has a bum-shakin' side of him that we've never seen. :)

My Nurturing Boy

The other day, I had to use the bathroom and Carter followed me in, closing the door behind him. He then turned off the light and said, "I-I-I-I-It'ch awight (he's going through a stuttering phase), Me hewe. Don't be cawed." --(translation: It's alright, I'm here, don't be scared). He's always looking out for me.

Too Much Information

Max and Ella were sick and had diarrhea all last week. They both finally fully recovered yesterday. So today I took Max to get his hair cut. He was being especially good and very talkative to the hair dresser. At one point she asked me, "How do you feel. . . " (asking me about the length in one spot) when Max said, "Better! I have real poopies now!"

Cailia's new nickname

Today Xander, Cailia and I were all eating dinner, when Xan looked over at Cailia and said "Hi Hittie, that's your new nickname because you hit everyone!" Cailia has been getting a bit violent lately, and Xander usually takes the brunt of it without ever hitting her back, usually he just falls to the floor and cries. I don't think he realizes he's bigger than she is! I did just realize though that anytime she hits someone and it's not on the face or head, she's usually trying to give them a "good game" (i.e. smacking them on the bum like football players do), so it's not all out of the need to assert her power. Although, I've been trying to ween her the past few weeks, and the first few times she tried to nurse and I told her we weren't going to do that anymore, she got a defiant look on her face and tried to hit me, so sometimes she does just want to show us she's the one in charge.