"For Halloween I want to be an alligator, just like Bella," Ivan told me today.
"I don't want to be Mickey Mouse." Ivan was Mickey Mouse for the past two years.
"When was Bella an alligator?" I asked.
"When I was three," he responded.
He's correct. For last year's Halloween, when they were both three, Bella was dressed as an alligator.
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ivan: drying hands
"Ivan, dry your hands!" I reminded him, after he washed his hands but started walking out of the bathroom
"No. I have a better way," he responded. "I have an extra way on my shirt," he said, as he dried his hands on his shirt smiling naughtily at me, running off to play.
"No. I have a better way," he responded. "I have an extra way on my shirt," he said, as he dried his hands on his shirt smiling naughtily at me, running off to play.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Ivan wonders why I came here
"Mama, why you came here?" Ivan asked me today in the car as we were driving home from the beach.
"Why you came here to our home from where you were born," he clarified.
"I came with Baka and Didi to see what it's like to live in America," I answered.
I guess he's realizing that I'm originally not from here and what that means. Now, it really would be a good time to take him to Croatia.
"Why you came here to our home from where you were born," he clarified.
"I came with Baka and Didi to see what it's like to live in America," I answered.
I guess he's realizing that I'm originally not from here and what that means. Now, it really would be a good time to take him to Croatia.
van tries to classify Elmo
"Is Elmo a type of animal?" Ivan asked today.
"Elmo is a Muppet," I answered.
"What?"
"Elmo is a Muppet," I repeated.
"What?
"Elmo is a puppet," Andy attempted to clarify.
"Oh," Ivan responded.
I assume he doesn't know who Muppets are, but he does know about puppets--they explored them as a topic in summer camp. He even made his own puppet (piece of paper on a stick), and built a puppet stage (as summer camp photos indicate.)
"Elmo is a Muppet," I answered.
"What?"
"Elmo is a Muppet," I repeated.
"What?
"Elmo is a puppet," Andy attempted to clarify.
"Oh," Ivan responded.
I assume he doesn't know who Muppets are, but he does know about puppets--they explored them as a topic in summer camp. He even made his own puppet (piece of paper on a stick), and built a puppet stage (as summer camp photos indicate.)
Ivan reasons where squirrels live
"Squirrels live on TV and on airplanes. One time I was watching TV with mama, dada and Allen and there were squirrels on airplanes and they were going to take people away," Ivan told us today.
I have no clue what he was talking about and referring to.
I have no clue what he was talking about and referring to.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Ivan on gravity and catzilla
"Noah can break gravity. I can't. He's stronger than me. I can't break
gravity," Ivan told me today.
Then he immediately segued to ask:
"Is there a catzilla on this island?"
Andy and I have no clue who catzilla is, or where he picked that up.
gravity," Ivan told me today.
Then he immediately segued to ask:
"Is there a catzilla on this island?"
Andy and I have no clue who catzilla is, or where he picked that up.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Mama I'm learning the voice you're learning
"Mama, I'm learning the voice you're learning," Ivan told me today.
"Sruju." Struja is the Croatian word for electricity (or 'trissity as he says it in English).
"Now you and me need to teach dada. Then dada will teach Allen. No, then mama, dada and me will teach Allen."
"Struju," he repeated.
Even though Ivan fully understands Croatian, he refuses to speak it. He says he can't or don't know how. (And when he was learning to talk, the first words and sentences he'd say were in Croatian. However, as he became more verbal, especially this past year at preschool, English took over.)
I've been quizzing him for months what's a Croatian word for this and that, and the words I ask about are the words just used in a conversation with him. He never wants to tell me. He says he can't. I've tried telling him that if he and I speak Croatian to each other, it's like our own secret language, but he didn't by it. I've tried telling him who else in preschool speaks another language with their mom (Kimia, Andre, David, Eddie, etc....). I noticed that kids whose both parents speak another language at home, will speak that language with them, but if it's only one parent who speaks it, then the kids are more reluctant to speak it.
In any case, I'm tickled that he's expressing interest in it.
"Sruju." Struja is the Croatian word for electricity (or 'trissity as he says it in English).
"Now you and me need to teach dada. Then dada will teach Allen. No, then mama, dada and me will teach Allen."
"Struju," he repeated.
Even though Ivan fully understands Croatian, he refuses to speak it. He says he can't or don't know how. (And when he was learning to talk, the first words and sentences he'd say were in Croatian. However, as he became more verbal, especially this past year at preschool, English took over.)
I've been quizzing him for months what's a Croatian word for this and that, and the words I ask about are the words just used in a conversation with him. He never wants to tell me. He says he can't. I've tried telling him that if he and I speak Croatian to each other, it's like our own secret language, but he didn't by it. I've tried telling him who else in preschool speaks another language with their mom (Kimia, Andre, David, Eddie, etc....). I noticed that kids whose both parents speak another language at home, will speak that language with them, but if it's only one parent who speaks it, then the kids are more reluctant to speak it.
In any case, I'm tickled that he's expressing interest in it.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Ivan not napping
"I will not nap ever," Ivan declared. A few minutes later, he was in nap-land, with snuggled with his oversized friends.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Ivan: Nose bleed
This morning out of the blue, Ivan's nose started bleeding. Seconds before he and I were quietly practicing writing in his journal. Then he got up to go and play by the couch. A second later, he was flying into the bathroom. I followed him from the couch to the bathroom. There was a trail of blood. By the time he got to the bathroom to grab tissue, he had blood all over his shirt and hands, and all over the floor. Allen, of course, was right behind me, grabbing the chance to enter and explore the bathroom.
After I managed to remove Allen from the bathroom, I went to help Ivan. One on hand I was surprised, how he knewwas on what to do--to run to the bathroom to grab tissue--while on the other hand, he was really scared. I laid him on the couch and pried Allen of him, who, of course, wanted to climb on Ivan to play.
Ivan was scared and freaking out, crying "I want dadda. I want dadda. Dadda is better." It stung a bit that he wanted dadda, not me.
Then I took him upstairs and laid him in bed. He thought he was sick, so we measured his temperature. He was fine. I plopped Allen in the pack-and-play so he wouldn't be hanging off Ivan.
Ivan just wanted to be comforted and babied.
"I had a blood tection," he kept explaining to me, and later to Andy.
"It was a blood tection."
I have no clue why his nose started bleeding. Probably because he's contantly picking it. And although a nose bleed is not dangerous, when that blood starts gushing and gushing, it's scary because it doesn't look like it will ever stop. Ivan never had a nose bleed before, so he must have been really frightened. My poor baby.
After I managed to remove Allen from the bathroom, I went to help Ivan. One on hand I was surprised, how he knewwas on what to do--to run to the bathroom to grab tissue--while on the other hand, he was really scared. I laid him on the couch and pried Allen of him, who, of course, wanted to climb on Ivan to play.
Ivan was scared and freaking out, crying "I want dadda. I want dadda. Dadda is better." It stung a bit that he wanted dadda, not me.
Then I took him upstairs and laid him in bed. He thought he was sick, so we measured his temperature. He was fine. I plopped Allen in the pack-and-play so he wouldn't be hanging off Ivan.
Ivan just wanted to be comforted and babied.
"I had a blood tection," he kept explaining to me, and later to Andy.
"It was a blood tection."
I have no clue why his nose started bleeding. Probably because he's contantly picking it. And although a nose bleed is not dangerous, when that blood starts gushing and gushing, it's scary because it doesn't look like it will ever stop. Ivan never had a nose bleed before, so he must have been really frightened. My poor baby.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Ivan: Nail biting and a chewie
Ivan's nail biting, which has been going on since last fall is really getting to me. I don't like it and I'm concerned about it for many reasons. (From it's a unsightly habit and his fingernails will look awful to wondering whether it's just a habit or whether it masking some other anxiety or nervousness.)
As a result, I've tried everything from ignoring it, hoping it would pass, scolding him and telling him to stop, to bribing him and telling he unless he stops that something will or won't happen, such as he'll get this or won't get that, or Santa will come or won't come. But nothing has worked. On the contrary, I've even caught him trying to bite his big toenail, while we were driving in the car the other day.
So when we went to Sandy Point Park a few weeks ago, we saw that Seger that a "chewie" around his neck. It's a silicone plastic tube which he can bite on. His moms got it for him on an advice of an occupational therapist, who suggested it to help Seger with some sensory issues they've identified he has. It's basically a pacifier for 4-year-olds. But I wondered whether it would help Ivan stop biting his nails as it would give him an outlet to bite something else. So I asked Ivan whether he'd like a chewie. He said yes. But of course, since I ignore most things he says he wants because I'm not sure whether he means it or just says it, I haven't acted on it yet, and because I wonder whether getting a chewie would stop the habit or just replace it with something else.
But since we saw the chewie fingernails, every time I scold him to stop nail biting, he reminds me to get him one, including this morning:
"I told you, if you don't buy me that chewie, I will never stop biting my fingernails," he told me very determinedly.
"I told you, but you're not listening. You'll have to go to time out," he added this morning.
As a result, I've tried everything from ignoring it, hoping it would pass, scolding him and telling him to stop, to bribing him and telling he unless he stops that something will or won't happen, such as he'll get this or won't get that, or Santa will come or won't come. But nothing has worked. On the contrary, I've even caught him trying to bite his big toenail, while we were driving in the car the other day.
So when we went to Sandy Point Park a few weeks ago, we saw that Seger that a "chewie" around his neck. It's a silicone plastic tube which he can bite on. His moms got it for him on an advice of an occupational therapist, who suggested it to help Seger with some sensory issues they've identified he has. It's basically a pacifier for 4-year-olds. But I wondered whether it would help Ivan stop biting his nails as it would give him an outlet to bite something else. So I asked Ivan whether he'd like a chewie. He said yes. But of course, since I ignore most things he says he wants because I'm not sure whether he means it or just says it, I haven't acted on it yet, and because I wonder whether getting a chewie would stop the habit or just replace it with something else.
But since we saw the chewie fingernails, every time I scold him to stop nail biting, he reminds me to get him one, including this morning:
"I told you, if you don't buy me that chewie, I will never stop biting my fingernails," he told me very determinedly.
"I told you, but you're not listening. You'll have to go to time out," he added this morning.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Y Pool with Yulia and Leila
Ivan and I went to the Y pool today with Yulia and Leila. We had a great time. Ivan and Leila played in the pool really nicely. While neither could swim they kept walking back and forth in the "middle pool," where water came to Ivan's neck. At his own pace, he even tried putting his face under water.
When we arrived at the pool, he was, of course, initially really interested in exploring and examining water filters. Other kids don't even notice filters, but that's always the first thing he notices--and must figure out how things work.
We were in the pool from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. or so. Leila and Ivan played really nicely. I was surprised because I don't think that they ever played just the two of them. Usually it's a bigger group of kids. And the last time we saw Leila at the playground at the bottom of Dale earlier in the summer, Ivan and Leila didn't even acknowledge each other, as if they never saw each other.
After the pool, we went to get ice cream at this little doll-size hut near the edge of the lawn area. Ivan very eloquently told the girl in the hut that "I want vanilla and chocolate with sprinkles." He insisted on placing the order himself and absolutely refused my help. However, I had to intervene because the hut didn't serve scoops of ice cream, but rather prepackaged ice creams. So for the confused girl, I translated Ivan's order into a vanilla cone dipped in chocolate.
I was proud of Ivan for wanting to order ice cream on his own, eloquently putting in his order and wanting to be independent. When it comes to ice cream, he knows what he wants.
When we arrived at the pool, he was, of course, initially really interested in exploring and examining water filters. Other kids don't even notice filters, but that's always the first thing he notices--and must figure out how things work.
We were in the pool from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. or so. Leila and Ivan played really nicely. I was surprised because I don't think that they ever played just the two of them. Usually it's a bigger group of kids. And the last time we saw Leila at the playground at the bottom of Dale earlier in the summer, Ivan and Leila didn't even acknowledge each other, as if they never saw each other.
After the pool, we went to get ice cream at this little doll-size hut near the edge of the lawn area. Ivan very eloquently told the girl in the hut that "I want vanilla and chocolate with sprinkles." He insisted on placing the order himself and absolutely refused my help. However, I had to intervene because the hut didn't serve scoops of ice cream, but rather prepackaged ice creams. So for the confused girl, I translated Ivan's order into a vanilla cone dipped in chocolate.
I was proud of Ivan for wanting to order ice cream on his own, eloquently putting in his order and wanting to be independent. When it comes to ice cream, he knows what he wants.
Allen: My toe; water at bed time
This morning Allen, frustrated that I was in the kitchen with him but not paying full attention to him while he was playing with the plastic electronic book, in protest, he dropped it on my pinkie toe. I shrieked in pain. Allen started laughing. Then thinking it was funny and wanting to hear me scream again, he bit my thigh. I screamed again.
Now, my toe is deep purple and has tripled in size from swelling. Everyone who's seen it has agreed that the toe is probably broken.
Overall, Allen was good today but hard to put to bed. He wouldn't calm down to nurse and be lulled to sleep. Finally, he calmed down and acquiesced to bed time. But he woke up around 11 p.m. crying. When I went to check on him, he was awake and handed me his empty water bottle. I tried nursing him, but he didn't want the boob. He wanted water. So I filled up the bottle, gave it to him, plopped him back into bed and he went back to sleep.
It's funny because in the last few months, Andy has gotten him to go to bed with water, which he now likes to have in his crib. He doesn't want milk , probably because I'm still nursing him. When I try to give him a milk bottle before bedtime, he rejects it; he wants the boob. I don't know how much more milk I have and whether it's milk he's after or the whole experience of snuggling with me and engaging in making funny noises with me.
I wonder if he'll want the milk bottle after I stop nursing him. I actually don't mind that he prefers to go to bed with water instead of milk--although he shouldn't drink any water since he's so skinny--since that was a habit that was really hard to break with Ivan.
Now, my toe is deep purple and has tripled in size from swelling. Everyone who's seen it has agreed that the toe is probably broken.
Overall, Allen was good today but hard to put to bed. He wouldn't calm down to nurse and be lulled to sleep. Finally, he calmed down and acquiesced to bed time. But he woke up around 11 p.m. crying. When I went to check on him, he was awake and handed me his empty water bottle. I tried nursing him, but he didn't want the boob. He wanted water. So I filled up the bottle, gave it to him, plopped him back into bed and he went back to sleep.
It's funny because in the last few months, Andy has gotten him to go to bed with water, which he now likes to have in his crib. He doesn't want milk , probably because I'm still nursing him. When I try to give him a milk bottle before bedtime, he rejects it; he wants the boob. I don't know how much more milk I have and whether it's milk he's after or the whole experience of snuggling with me and engaging in making funny noises with me.
I wonder if he'll want the milk bottle after I stop nursing him. I actually don't mind that he prefers to go to bed with water instead of milk--although he shouldn't drink any water since he's so skinny--since that was a habit that was really hard to break with Ivan.
Ivan worries about Andre
"I miss Andre," Ivan told me in the car this morning as we were driving to the pool.
"Andre isn't in the green room anymore, he will never be in the green room again," he said.
"Well, Andre is a five now and he will be in the kindergarden room now. Next year you'll be, too," I tried explaining why Andre who's a year older than Ivan wasn't in the green room for summer camp nor will be in the green room this upcoming school year.
"Andre isn't in the green room anymore. I worry about him," Ivan concluded.
I wasn't sure what to say. What is he worried about. Where did he pick up that phrase.
"Andre isn't in the green room anymore, he will never be in the green room again," he said.
"Well, Andre is a five now and he will be in the kindergarden room now. Next year you'll be, too," I tried explaining why Andre who's a year older than Ivan wasn't in the green room for summer camp nor will be in the green room this upcoming school year.
"Andre isn't in the green room anymore. I worry about him," Ivan concluded.
I wasn't sure what to say. What is he worried about. Where did he pick up that phrase.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Allen: Water, faucets, toilets
Like most toddlers, Allen is obsessed with water, faucets, toilet paper and toilet.
He constantly wants to be at a faucet or the garden hose, have the water run at full speed and spash it. Or flush the toilet after dumping paper in it. Or just unroll the toilet paper and play with it. Typical toddler stuff.
He also loves his toothbrush and toothpaste. Every time he sees it, regardless what time of the day it is, he wants it, grabs it and walks around with it. He likes to climb to the sink, turn on the faucet and do a very
complicated pretend teeth brushing session. And we are not allowed to help, or take the toothbrush away.
This week he's started a new thing. When he's naked before bathtime, he positions the stool in front of the toilet, steps on it, grabs his peepee and points it to the toilet. But he doesn't pee. He doesn't know how. He probably doesn't know what he's supposed to do either. He must have seen Andy and Ivan peeing in the toilet, so he's copying the motions without knowing what they're for.
He constantly wants to be at a faucet or the garden hose, have the water run at full speed and spash it. Or flush the toilet after dumping paper in it. Or just unroll the toilet paper and play with it. Typical toddler stuff.
He also loves his toothbrush and toothpaste. Every time he sees it, regardless what time of the day it is, he wants it, grabs it and walks around with it. He likes to climb to the sink, turn on the faucet and do a very
complicated pretend teeth brushing session. And we are not allowed to help, or take the toothbrush away.
This week he's started a new thing. When he's naked before bathtime, he positions the stool in front of the toilet, steps on it, grabs his peepee and points it to the toilet. But he doesn't pee. He doesn't know how. He probably doesn't know what he's supposed to do either. He must have seen Andy and Ivan peeing in the toilet, so he's copying the motions without knowing what they're for.
Allen vocabulary
Allen vocabulary includes the following terms:
Crahcra = cracker
Popo = Posa
Doh = dog
Aba = auto
Mama = mama
Mama = drink
Kaka = chocolate
Bah = Bob, the fish
Gogo = togurt
Dada = everything else
Noh = nose
Ne = no
Da = yes
Didi = didi
Baka = Baka
Crahcra = cracker
Popo = Posa
Doh = dog
Aba = auto
Mama = mama
Mama = drink
Kaka = chocolate
Bah = Bob, the fish
Gogo = togurt
Dada = everything else
Noh = nose
Ne = no
Da = yes
Didi = didi
Baka = Baka
Monday, August 1, 2011
World according to Ivan: hair gel
The latest example of the world according to Ivan:
Only boys and dadas put hairgel in their hair. Mamas don't need it because they have gel in their skin.
Only boys and dadas put hairgel in their hair. Mamas don't need it because they have gel in their skin.
Ivan: Bedtime stories sampling
After two days of "adventurous" bedtime reading, where we read a couple of new stories and which I subsequently heard Ivan recite to himself during play time (such as Madeline), we're back to the old favorites: policeman, sailor dog and Crispin's Crispian.
We've been reading those three stories every night since February, when he got the book for his birthday. He has memorized these stories, and can recite them as I turn the pages. He also calls me out if I forget, omit or mess up a word. And in each story there is a place where he thinks the text says one word where in fact it says something else. But if I read what the text actually says I get corrected that I have to say the other word. For example, in policeman in the dark he's convinced that one sentence ends with holster, where in fact the word is hand, but I always have to remember to say holster, not hand, or else....
But it was only tonight that he asked me, "Mama, what's a burglar? Mama, what's a sheep dog?" which is what the policeman in the dark story is really all about. So have we been reading this story for the last six months without him understanding it?
We've been reading those three stories every night since February, when he got the book for his birthday. He has memorized these stories, and can recite them as I turn the pages. He also calls me out if I forget, omit or mess up a word. And in each story there is a place where he thinks the text says one word where in fact it says something else. But if I read what the text actually says I get corrected that I have to say the other word. For example, in policeman in the dark he's convinced that one sentence ends with holster, where in fact the word is hand, but I always have to remember to say holster, not hand, or else....
But it was only tonight that he asked me, "Mama, what's a burglar? Mama, what's a sheep dog?" which is what the policeman in the dark story is really all about. So have we been reading this story for the last six months without him understanding it?
Ivan: what's jail, superheros, gravity and bunnies
"Mama, what's jail?" was Ivan's first question to me as he came to my bed.
"Aaahhh, it's were bad guys go after police catch them," I tried to answer.
"And in jail they eat disgusting food, yeah," Ivan replied.
"I don't want dada to be a bad guy," he said after some pondering.
"Dada and mama are good guys," I answered.
"What are superheros?"
These are all new concepts for him. He must have heard them last night during the playdate with Andre,
who's really into action heros and superheros and is a year older. Andre has superhero costumes and other paraphernalia.
Ivan really enjoyed playing with him, but I knew that all that pretend play world was new to him. The only pretend game we play at home is "Waterfall Mountain."
If he plays alone, he's always building and constructing something. Lately it's been bridges.
Other questions and statements from today included:
Mama, what's gravity?
Mama, bunnies don't let people eat carrots.
"Aaahhh, it's were bad guys go after police catch them," I tried to answer.
"And in jail they eat disgusting food, yeah," Ivan replied.
"I don't want dada to be a bad guy," he said after some pondering.
"Dada and mama are good guys," I answered.
"What are superheros?"
These are all new concepts for him. He must have heard them last night during the playdate with Andre,
who's really into action heros and superheros and is a year older. Andre has superhero costumes and other paraphernalia.
Ivan really enjoyed playing with him, but I knew that all that pretend play world was new to him. The only pretend game we play at home is "Waterfall Mountain."
If he plays alone, he's always building and constructing something. Lately it's been bridges.
Other questions and statements from today included:
Mama, what's gravity?
Mama, bunnies don't let people eat carrots.
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