Allan is slowly learning more and more English. I'm sure he understands almost all I say to him. I once asked a friend of mine who was an esl teacher if I were to have Emily watch Spanish Sesame street every day, would she eventually learn Spanish. She said she probably would be able to understand what they were saying, but not be able to speak it since she didn't have anyone to pratice with. I think that's how it is with Allan. He was put in front of a tv his whole life watching American cartoons, so he can understand English pretty well, but not speak it.
Some of the phrases he has been saying in English lately are:
Oh, Man!
Come here, buddy.
Good Job.
and my favorite, I love you Mommy.
I think he is learning more from Emily and Isaac than from me.
I just found out yesterday that our library offers free Tagalog courses online! They just have the basic program, like if you wanted to vacation there. But I'm hoping to be able to learn a little from it. I just really need to learn grammer. Vocabulary is easy if you have a dictionary, but I have no idea how to put sentences together most of the time. And even though Allan is learning English and I will soon no longer have to speak in Tagalog to him at all, I don't want him to loose his first language, so I want to do every thing I can to keep it alive in our house.
I've been translating the boys' AWANA verses into Tagalog for them. I think it's important for them to learn the scriptures in their native language, and not just be repeating meanlingless words. This has turned out to be quite. We only have a Tagalog New Testament, since I didn't want to splurge for the whole Bible. They have a lot of verses in the Old Testament so I have to go online and try to find the verses there, which is not easy. And so many times with Allan's verses, they take out several words to make it easier for the child to learn, so I have to figure out which part of the verse to have him learn. If anyone knows of a good site online that has the whole Tagalog Old Testament, I would love to hear from you.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Finally a post!
I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted on here, over a month! It seems like every time I have a few minutes when I could be doing this, my brain is just fried and I can't possibly think of something to say.
It's amazing how far the boys have come in the two months since they have come home. Allan especially. I keep telling people that it's hard to believe he is the same boy we brought home. He was so out of control and such a naughty, incredibly lazy boy. To think that this is the same boy who would throw a 2 hour temper tantrum if he was made to walk somewhere instead of being carried. Now I would say he may be the most well behaved of all our children. He learns so quickly what is expected of him and is very eager to please. He is still struggling intellictually, we just learned this week that he doesn't even know yes and no in his own language. We ask him questions and he often answers them wrong. It's hard to imagine a child that old that still doesn't have that basic concept down. I am really hoping that we can get him into preschool soon. It would really help to have someone who knows what they are doing teaching him.
And our feelings for the boys have certainly grown. I feel much stronger emotions for Allan than for Luigi, but that's to be expected because of their age and because Luigi isn't home much. But Luigi also doesn't seem as eager to grow closer to us. He is still enjoying causing strife in the home, to an extent, though not near as bad as he used to.
The boys are realy emjoying the holiday season, as this is their first real Christmas besides what they saw in the store windows. I hope to write more about their Christmas experiences soon, but now I have much too much to do.
It's amazing how far the boys have come in the two months since they have come home. Allan especially. I keep telling people that it's hard to believe he is the same boy we brought home. He was so out of control and such a naughty, incredibly lazy boy. To think that this is the same boy who would throw a 2 hour temper tantrum if he was made to walk somewhere instead of being carried. Now I would say he may be the most well behaved of all our children. He learns so quickly what is expected of him and is very eager to please. He is still struggling intellictually, we just learned this week that he doesn't even know yes and no in his own language. We ask him questions and he often answers them wrong. It's hard to imagine a child that old that still doesn't have that basic concept down. I am really hoping that we can get him into preschool soon. It would really help to have someone who knows what they are doing teaching him.
And our feelings for the boys have certainly grown. I feel much stronger emotions for Allan than for Luigi, but that's to be expected because of their age and because Luigi isn't home much. But Luigi also doesn't seem as eager to grow closer to us. He is still enjoying causing strife in the home, to an extent, though not near as bad as he used to.
The boys are realy emjoying the holiday season, as this is their first real Christmas besides what they saw in the store windows. I hope to write more about their Christmas experiences soon, but now I have much too much to do.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Let it Snow!
Allan's new bike
Making snow angels
Allan was so excited when he got outside in the snow. And I think he really loves being in his snow pants, he can fall over and not get hurt.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I've not been very good at posting very often. I just don't have the energy to think of what to say lately. So I may not be doing this very often anymore.
The kids are really doing alot better all the time. While Luigi is in school the other three get along so great. When he comes home it's a bit chaotic around here. Mostly because he likes to cause trouble, and because when he's here he gets Allan more riled up. We've really been trying to work on Emily and Luigi's relationship. I think Emily does try to get along with him, but then when he keeps on being mean to her all the time she kind of just gives up. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get him to be nicer to her I would really apprectiate that.
We are going to be starting the boys in AWANA next week to give the other two a break from them and give them some special mommy and daddy time. And they could certainly use some more Bible teaching. Emily is really looking forward to this.
The kids just made themselves some maracas from yogurt cups and sea shells, so it's getting a little too noisy in here to think. That's all for now.
The kids are really doing alot better all the time. While Luigi is in school the other three get along so great. When he comes home it's a bit chaotic around here. Mostly because he likes to cause trouble, and because when he's here he gets Allan more riled up. We've really been trying to work on Emily and Luigi's relationship. I think Emily does try to get along with him, but then when he keeps on being mean to her all the time she kind of just gives up. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get him to be nicer to her I would really apprectiate that.
We are going to be starting the boys in AWANA next week to give the other two a break from them and give them some special mommy and daddy time. And they could certainly use some more Bible teaching. Emily is really looking forward to this.
The kids just made themselves some maracas from yogurt cups and sea shells, so it's getting a little too noisy in here to think. That's all for now.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
2 Weeks Home
Today was Luigi's 2nd day of school. It's hard to really talk to him well, but it seems like he had a good day yesterday. The teacher said she didn't give him much work to do. I was worried that he wouldn't eat much for lunch, since they had chili. I've never served that yet, and he can be such a picky eater. But he came home telling me his tummy was very full. He also said that all the other kids thought the chili was spicy and had to put crackers in theirs to tame it down. He told me, "not spicy. No crackers in my soup, mom". So I guess he liked it. He also went through his classmates pictures at home and showed me his "best friends". I'm so glad that he is enjoying spending time with other kids. This morning I had such a hard time keeping him inside until it was time to go. He was so impatient to get to school. At 8:05 he saw some boys walk by and told me he HAD to go NOW. So he was off. School is out at 11:30 on Friday for homecoming so he has a very easy week this week.
And it is so nice and peaceful when he is at school. The kids just get along so much better when he's not around. Not that we don't enjoy having him here. But as a big brother he really likes to antagonize his younger siblings. During Isaac's nap time, Emily and Allan watch TV quietly and it is so peaceful here. I've started baking more and it feels so good to get back into that.
There are a few things that have surprised me about the boys, with them bring filipino. First of all, I had assumed that they would only want white rice, nothing in it. So many people from other countried are real sticklers on that. But actually, white rice is now their least favorite. They absolutely love yellow mexican rice and wild rice. Basically, as long as it is made with rice, they'll eat it.
I also thought that since they were so used to a warm climate that they would really hate the cold here. But now that it's really been cooling off here, they are the ones that mind it the least. They love going outside and will often take off their jackets while the rest of us are freezing.
Well, I have plenty of things to do, so this is all for now.
And it is so nice and peaceful when he is at school. The kids just get along so much better when he's not around. Not that we don't enjoy having him here. But as a big brother he really likes to antagonize his younger siblings. During Isaac's nap time, Emily and Allan watch TV quietly and it is so peaceful here. I've started baking more and it feels so good to get back into that.
There are a few things that have surprised me about the boys, with them bring filipino. First of all, I had assumed that they would only want white rice, nothing in it. So many people from other countried are real sticklers on that. But actually, white rice is now their least favorite. They absolutely love yellow mexican rice and wild rice. Basically, as long as it is made with rice, they'll eat it.
I also thought that since they were so used to a warm climate that they would really hate the cold here. But now that it's really been cooling off here, they are the ones that mind it the least. They love going outside and will often take off their jackets while the rest of us are freezing.
Well, I have plenty of things to do, so this is all for now.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
"What's Yup, Mom?"
Yesterday Luigi asked me a question and I responded with "yup". He asked me, "what's yup, mom?" I really need to work on not using slang. I also have to be careful not to use German phrases around them. Growing up with all German family members, and my parents having lived in Switzerland as missionaries, I picked up a lot of phrases that I use with the kids. Gotta kick that, or the boys will really be confused.
Things are going much better here as far as the boys' behavior issues. We have gotten some really great adoptive parenting tips lately from a woman who has adopted 4 of her 11 children. We also started watching some videos online from Dr. Karen Purvis, who wrote The Connected Child. They are so, so helpful, and we finally feel a peace about us. The videos are free, since they're online, and I dont really have time to read books right now. Here is the link, for those of you who could benefit. http://www.irvingbible.org/index.php?id=1662
Today we went to the orchard near Yankton and had such a great time as a family. I know so many people say you should not go out at all with the kids for the first two months. But we go crazy when we're all couped up here all the time. And the boys do great on outings. It seems like when we are home, all we do is discipline and deal with behavior issues. That doesn't help at all with our relationship with them if that's all we do. When we go out we all have fun and the boys are well behaved. It's really great. Then we went to the new Mongolian grill. The boys had a blast eating all the kinds of food they love, especially all you can eat rice, and ice cream.
Allan is in the bath now so I need to keep this short so I can scrub him down.
Luigi and I went to Walmart this morning. It was a great opportunity to spend some one on one time with him. And it was really fun to see what kinds of things he was interested in at the store. I let him pick out the ice cream. Of all the kinds that they have available, he wanted Neopolitin. He was totally amazed to see 3 flavors in one tub.
Things are going much better here as far as the boys' behavior issues. We have gotten some really great adoptive parenting tips lately from a woman who has adopted 4 of her 11 children. We also started watching some videos online from Dr. Karen Purvis, who wrote The Connected Child. They are so, so helpful, and we finally feel a peace about us. The videos are free, since they're online, and I dont really have time to read books right now. Here is the link, for those of you who could benefit. http://www.irvingbible.org/index.php?id=1662
Today we went to the orchard near Yankton and had such a great time as a family. I know so many people say you should not go out at all with the kids for the first two months. But we go crazy when we're all couped up here all the time. And the boys do great on outings. It seems like when we are home, all we do is discipline and deal with behavior issues. That doesn't help at all with our relationship with them if that's all we do. When we go out we all have fun and the boys are well behaved. It's really great. Then we went to the new Mongolian grill. The boys had a blast eating all the kinds of food they love, especially all you can eat rice, and ice cream.
Allan is in the bath now so I need to keep this short so I can scrub him down.
Luigi and I went to Walmart this morning. It was a great opportunity to spend some one on one time with him. And it was really fun to see what kinds of things he was interested in at the store. I let him pick out the ice cream. Of all the kinds that they have available, he wanted Neopolitin. He was totally amazed to see 3 flavors in one tub.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
4th Day Home
We went to church this morning. When we first walked in the door, Allan was clinging to me so tightly and was very afraid to even move. During Sunday school I took all 3 boys into the nursery to play (we wouldn't have gone to Sunday school but Aaron has to teach). By the time church started Allan was feeling much more comfortable and was even dancing to the music. It really helps that our church has a great playground outside that they love to play on. They'll even go out there by themselves to play.
We've been having a few behavior problems, that we can hopefully deal with soon. Luigi tends to wander off on his own quite a bit. Sometimes he'll just leave the house and take off somewhere on his bike. We keep telling him he can't go places by himself, but it doesn't sink in. He also has a problem with obeying. It usually takes several times of me telling him to do something before he finally gives in.
Allan still does not accept being told no. Any time he isn't allowed to do whatever he pleases he gets real upset. He'll usually start to throw a tantrum, but we just let him know that that is not acceptable behavior and we still love him, but we won't allow him to act this way.
Overall they are very well behaved boys, but there are certain behaviors that have never been corrected in the past. I know alot of people say it's just because they are adopted and we should allow them to work through their feelings however they like. But if we allow bad behavior we won't be doing them any favors.
Allan told Aaron "love you" this morning. That feels like such a breakthrough! He is such a tender boy and is so great with affection.
We've been having a few behavior problems, that we can hopefully deal with soon. Luigi tends to wander off on his own quite a bit. Sometimes he'll just leave the house and take off somewhere on his bike. We keep telling him he can't go places by himself, but it doesn't sink in. He also has a problem with obeying. It usually takes several times of me telling him to do something before he finally gives in.
Allan still does not accept being told no. Any time he isn't allowed to do whatever he pleases he gets real upset. He'll usually start to throw a tantrum, but we just let him know that that is not acceptable behavior and we still love him, but we won't allow him to act this way.
Overall they are very well behaved boys, but there are certain behaviors that have never been corrected in the past. I know alot of people say it's just because they are adopted and we should allow them to work through their feelings however they like. But if we allow bad behavior we won't be doing them any favors.
Allan told Aaron "love you" this morning. That feels like such a breakthrough! He is such a tender boy and is so great with affection.
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