Over the past month or so we have noticed Nicholas' English has been improving in both pronunciation and expansion of vocabulary. He is not quite able to string sentences together, but he is definitely showing an understanding of concepts and trying to use his new and improved vocabulary to his advantage!
About a month ago, during bath time, Nicholas said a three word combination that really caught us off guard. We are not sure, but we think he has learned the word "beach" from school and from some of his favorite shows on Nick Jr....he also knows what a swimming pool is and that we cannot go swimming until temperatures increase....so out of the blue he says....." Warmer...take you....beach" This of course means when it gets warmer he wants us to take him to the beach. This also means we need to find someone with a beach house near the Gulf Coast. I have not been to a beach since moving to Texas, but hear that Padre Island is very nice...let us know if you have any "connections" near Padre Island....
Along this same concept he has been saying, "Mommy....pool...warmer"
Our boy has also learned several "emotion" words and has been using them a lot lately.
I know this is hard for some of you to understand, but sometimes our sweet little boy can be a bit on the cranky side causing his parents to discipline him. We have been using the "Choices" method. For example, if we are out somewhere and he is screaming or yelling or grabbing items off the shelves we tell him..."Nicholas you have two choices. You can choose to continue to scream and yell or you can choose to play with your machines when we get home. Which do you choose? Usually he will say, "Machines," and the unwanted behavior will stop. Of course he does not always make the "right choice," and when we get home we must put up all of his machines. This usually results in some sort of meltdown involving lots of crying! While he is crying the following conversation takes place:
Nicholas: "Crying"
Parent: "I can see you are crying. Why are you crying?"
Nicholas: "Sad"
Parent: "Why are you sad?"
Nicholas: "Mad"
Parent: "Why are you mad?"
Nicholas: "ALL DONE!"
Parent: "Are you all done crying?"
Nicholas: "NO"
Parent: "Remember you chose to keep screaming and yelling at the store so you lost your machines for the rest of the day."
Nicholas: "Crying"
And so on....Discipline and Grammar all at once!
Finally...we were having dinner last week when Nicholas blurted out, "Billy," a boy in his class at school...here is how the rest of the conversation went:
Parent: "What about Billy?"
Nicholas: "Cry"
Parents: "Was Billy crying at school?"
Nicholas: "Hurt"
Parents: "Did Billy get hurt at school?"
Nicholas: "Hand...Tight"
Parents: "Did Billy hit you?"
Nicholas: "No"
Parents: "Did you hit Billy?"
Nicholas: "No.....Susie" (also in his class)
Parents: "Did Billy hit Susie?"
Nicholas: "No....first Billy...after Susie."
Parents: "Did Billy and Susie hit each other?"
Nicholas: "No"
Well of course this intrigued both of us greatly....
The next day at school, Lisa mentioned this conversation to one of the teachers who works in his class.....Mystery solved!
The day before at school, his main teacher was out, so there was a substitute. The kids Nicholas mentioned were acting up a little during school and he was trying to describe what he had seen...TOTALLY COOL.....
Nicholas continues to amaze us on a daily basis. We love him so much and give thanks to God for such a wonderful blessing.
I promise to post some Zoo photos real soon!
Buh-bye for now....
We decided it was time to let Nicholas drive the whole family to the zoo in his brand new Jeep.
"Hey Buddy, don't you see my blinker??"
Prior to entering the main building Nicholas wanted to take a turtle ride!
Daddy and Nicholas checking out the GIANT BOA.
Moving on to other parts of the zoo...here are two small animals trying to get every leaf possible off of this branch...not sure what they are, but their names are Hyacinth and Murray.
On one side of the glass, two enormous white tigers....on the other side, a small boy and his father who can't believe his son isn't looking at the two giant white tigers. :-)
