Catching Up...

It's been a while since the last post for many good reasons... There have been many changes this year. Jack started going to pre-school for the first time this year at the Early Learning Center (Annandale United Methodist Church), same place where Marin went when she first began schooling, though different class. Jack is in the 'Apples class' with 4 teachers. Marin also began going to her new school, Montessori School of Northern Virginia (MSNV), upon the last minute notice (1 week before school began)! We had been applying to this school for 2 years, but no space was available until now. Lastly, the one change that affected us all so greatly was moving away from everyone!! We have now moved in to our new home sweet home (also referred to as "McMansion, Mansion, Compound".. you get the gist). It is a big home, but we've made good attempts to make it warm and cozy for us and the kids. We miss living next door to Co Loan & Chu Dzung and across the street from Aidan, Abby, Chu Kim and Co Hoa. We missed being able to run over to Co Loan's house through the adjoining back decks or running across the street for playdates with Aidan and Abby at the spur of the moment. Marin missed her playing and riding bikes in front of the house with Aidan or going to the neighborhood park in the evenings after school. So, you can say everyone has gone and is still going through a HUGE adjustment!

It was tough in the first few weeks. We tried to have Jack sleeping in his own room, but it just ended up with Me. and Marin joining him. Mama would sleep by herself. This lasted for 3 days. Since then the kids have been sleeping with us in our bedroom, with the king- and full-sized beds pushed together. I'm sure they're in heaven. We're hoping once the cameras are installed, we can start getting them to sleep on their own... we'll see...


Since Jack started school, we've seen how much he's matured. He's social and gentle with the children at school. He's speaking a little more: " hi, hello, bye bye, this, cai nay, no, yellow, me., mama, chi. ("older sister".. Marin), look, be^', cu, dau dau (head hurts), thank you, OK, wow, me, see, shoe, ddi, so' (milk), more, mine!, mo'~ (open), my ball, baby ... "He signs some.. mostly to please and more, milk or drink, .. His main teacher, Mrs. Kerri, received her masters in Signed Language. So, when speaks to the kids she signs along with talking. Jack understands a lot. He follows directions well. Just like Marin, his expressive language is delayed. And, like Marin his gross and fine motor skills are above average. He's quite strong (and I'm not just saying this 'cause I'm his mother.. others have expressed the same thing) and coordinated. He jumps off high couches and the stage in their playroom from the top... He walks up and down the stairs with ease and has a nice grasp of pencils and crayons. At the moment, he's addicted to any writing tool.. he wants to color and write WHEREVER he can... yes, even on the wall.. which he's already done! In general, his temperament is good and pretty easy going, except when you take things away from him, when he's tired or when he's fighting with his sister over toys or Me. He's a sweet kid... When you yell at him, he tries to laugh and get you to laugh with him. He still drinks Alimentum formula in a bottle at night before sleep and in the morning. He eats fine. He can feed himself with spoon/fork easily; but people who take care of him tend to want to feed him. He's aware when he has pooped and pats at his diaper and says poo poo. He knows how to say dda'i (pee). He's not drawn to any particular toy; though he has a need to hold onto something in his hand at all times.. a little toy or the like... (persistence of primitive grasp reflex?)

Changing school was the best thing ever for Marin! At the Springs Montessori, we felt she wasn't progressing like we had hoped. She was beginning to use a lot of 'bathroom language', which the school has been known, out of its control, to perpetuate from past years. She was STILL crying at drop off in the mornings... which was very troublesome to us.. especially if other Mothers from the class are expressing the same thing about their kids, who have been there for years. Despite, with as much excitement as sadness for us and Marin, we had to say goodbye to the Springs.. and especially to Mrs. 'B'. Marin missed her very much! We were glad to have the opportunity to invite Mrs. 'B' to Marin's 4th bday. Marin was very surprised and happy to see her show up.


At MSNV, Marin is in the Primary class with Mrs. Laura Portch (which Marin kept calling her "Mrs. Porridge") and Mrs. Heidi Bishop. After a week, Marin was noticeably more verbal. She expressed her thoughts and wants so much more than before. She met a friend, Zara, who she talked a lot about. Marin was telling me about the conversations they would have... like Zara's mom is very sick and has to be in bed (After meeting and speaking with Zara's dad at Marin's 4th bday party, I found out Zara's mom is pregnant and has severe GERD and was getting supplemental feeds through a PICC line. She's too weak and sick to be out of bed; so Zara has a nanny who helps the family out).

There's a huge developmental change going from 3 to 4 in all different aspects. She's very verbal and tells us her thoughts and what she wants. We absolutely love this age! Socially, she's more cooperative and patient with her friends. Even though she's strong-willed, she still wants to please them at times. It's important she knows everything that goes on around her.. she's very aware of her environment, not typical for this age. According to Betsy Mitchell, head of MSNV, you usually see this in older kids 6 - 10 years old.

She loves to draw, paint, sing, and help Mama around the house. She's incredibly good at PUZZLES!!! Her ability to see different shapes and know where they belong really impress me! She's beginning to learn how to sound out letters. Her favorite TV show is 'Super Why'. She also likes Clifford, Curious George and Dragon Tales. She still watches Barney and Sesame Street.. not as much as before. Yes, she watches a lot of TV.. especially in the evenings when she's just chilling on the 'Lovesac'. One thing that is prominent with Marin.. she loves languages. She learns by auditory pretty well... as evident by her knowing the words to songs. Her class has Spanish every Monday with Senor~a Ingrid.. Marin absolutely loves her and has asked us to invite her to Marin's next bday party. We learned from our parent-teacher conference that Marin liked the Spanish class so much that she participates in both sessions, when the kids are supposed to attend either one session or the other. But, that's the great thing about the Montessori program.. they allow kids to do/learn what they naturally want to at that moment.

Last evening, Me. was yelling at Marin quite a bit for his misbehaviors.. I guess Marin felt angry inside and couldn't express it overtly.. So, she expressed it by telling us what she learned in Spanish.. she was saying "this is angry...enfadado.. " and had an angry look on her face.. and continued to say and show expression on her face according to the words.. "this is sad.. triste'.. and this is happy.. feliz..." We were so delighted to see this.. that Marin showed passion in something she liked.. language..

She loves spending time with Co Loan.. so far she's gone with Co Loan and her cousins to see one of the Cirque du Soleil show.. "Kooza".. and the other day went on a "Girls day out".. she really loves spending time with Co Loan. Also, Co Loan is finally pregnant.. she's due May 16th, 2009. We get to find out the baby's gender next week!

Marin really loves "em" (Jack).. she's sooo gentle and sweet with him! We really love their relationship. Em loves playing with "chi." and gets so excited to see her in the evenings after she gets home from school. Of course, sometimes they fight over toys..