Younger Dek Begins his Education

 

 

Long overdue, these are Dek's pictures from his first days of the weekday program (kinda like pre-pre school), when he was just a 20 month old. Now a full-fledged 2 year old, he loves going to the 1-day a week program where he gets to play, have snack, nap and story time. Those first few months were rough. I'd leave and there would be the "MAAAAAAAAAMAAAAAAA" screams. It was heartbreaking, but after a few weeks, he got used to the routine and was finally happy to go there. I've noticed him now "asking" to go ("Sk-ool! Su-kool Skool, pease!") when we walk by the church.  continued social behavior with him, especially around other kids. He's always been a very untypical toddler and has a huge willingness to share (most of the time), but its nice to see him learn to play with others. Most importantly, he has not bitten anyone at the program so its thus far a success.

Waiting for Thomas

 

 

 

After an intense morning at the office, we checked out the Botanical Garden Train display.

The Daily Grind

 

 

Dek, 24 months, helping me in the office. He was very good at typing up memos. Kidding. He just mostly demanded to watch Thomas and enjoyed banging on the keyboard.

More Cousin Time

 

 

Elliot joins the fold as the cousins get together for a happy time.

Happy Holidays!

 

 

Dek and Mercy in matching plaid saying Merry Christmas during Mai-Ly's one-month celebration. Look at these cheeseballs.

Leaf Me Alone

 

 

 

 

 

Dek and Mercy enjoy a nice pile of leaves. Derek was a bit of a bully and trying to to bury his cousin.

2 Years Old!

 

 

 

Though a month late, here is the 2 year post!

Here are the 2 year stats:

Height: 35.5 inches (70th percentile)
Weight: 26.2 lbs. (50th percentile)
Head (does anyone care about this anymore?): 19.25 inches (50th percentile)

Despite my constant worrying that he's surviving off cheerios and apple sauce imposed an all vegetables moratorium and anything else that's green, he seems to continue growing well on the same growth curve. It seems that it was only yesterday that I was at my 20 week ultrasound at the Doctor's when they told me he was of "average" weight/build/etc. And he really was, even when he was born 7 lbs. 9 oz. = smack what they predicted and right in the 50th percentile. So I guess he knows what he's doing after all, those breastfeed babies/toddlers they know how to regulate.

Speaking of which, I assumed Dek would have weaned by now, but we are still nursing at bedtimes and mornings which has been amazing so that we can reconnect. Sometimes its nice to do that especially when I'm working late or we don't get "quality" time now that he's too busy running around every which way.

Foods Dek Loves:
Eggs, Sardines, Rice, Apples, Noodles, Pho

Words he's speaking (yes, I tried to keep track of most)
English: 75 words
Vietnamese: 67 words
Tagalog: 18 words
Signs: 10 (he's mostly dropped these)

He just recently started stringing together 2 word sentences, his favorite being "An Nuoi" (eat noodle), "Where dada?" and "Derek gioi! (good job Derek). He is starting to count in both languages too and just started identifying more colors (shapes forget it) and animals.

Thanks to everyone for continuing to shower him with love! We're so lucky our little man is growing up in a "the village", well, the modern day equivalent of it. We definitely couldn't do it with out the love, support and care of our fantastic friends and family.

Right Round Baby

 

 

 

Dek has discovered the merry-go-round and enjoys getting close to it (and slowing down the big kids) so that he can push it along too. He really loves being outside and enjoys climbing just about anything. Lately, he's been going up stairs on his own, he can even do a few steps without a rail.  He's also taken a liking to fire trucks, not a huge surprise for a 2-year old, but still fun to point out when one speeds past.

Cox Farms!

 

 

 

 

After all that hard work hitting the trail, we enjoyed cousin time at Cox.

Dek was pretty freaked out by the slides but really enjoyed the tractors.

On the Campaign Trail

 

 

 

We brought Dek along with us earlier in Oct/Nov to do the last push for getting out the vote for the president. He was a very popular little guy with his Kids for Obama shirt. Here he is with dad and Tito Emil at headquarters in Woodbridge before heading out to canvass. He loved the ringing doorbells and knocking on doors part, if we could only get him to talk to people too.

I'm Known to Rock the Microphone

 

 

 

At Grandpa's 70th Birthday - guess who loved to get up close to the mic to say a few things.

Missing Summer Pool Time

 

 

 

On a chilly day like today, its nice to think back to the hot summer days. Dek loves pool time and is even currently taking a winter swim class, well pre-swim, he's mostly just splashing around with one of us and we're paying $10 for 30 minutes of it a week. He used to love using his foot to stop the little fountains of water before getting upset when they'd splash back into his face when he moved his foot.