Burl & Ivo: Ears

Burl and Ivo both have ear infections. Burl also had tonsilitis.

And, though we've been to the dr every day this week, it's not as bad as it sounds.

It's no picnic either...

Burl is really leaping and bounding cognitively and communicatively. He is so smart and funny. Hanging out with Burl is such a pleasure and thrill.

• Burl instigates back and forth "talk." He likes to be asked "where is your/Burl's nose/mouth/belly?" and "where is mama/papa's nose/mouth?" He points to the body part by way of answer.


• When we're getting ready to eat, I can give Burl plastic stuff, napkins, or ketchup etc and ask him to put it on the table - and he does. He waddles out to the table and stretches his arms as high as he can to deposit the thing on the table. Often, he applauds his success!


• I can ask Burl if he wants to take a bath and, dependinf on how badly he wants to, he'll either go to or look at the bathroom. If I ask him if he wants to go for a walk or get in the car, he walks over as quickly as he can to the door.


• When Burl hears the garbage truck, he tells me "Da!"


• When Burl wants to go out (often), he makes for the door, and if he can get his hands on his shoes he tries putting them on.


• Burl likes to wear big-peoples' inside-the-house slippers.


• While standing on the couch, Burl points at/touches pics of himself, says "Da!?" asking to hear his name. When I tell him he grins. I can ask him to point to pics of Burl and he does, he can also do this for pics of Ivo. And as much as he loves Ivo, he really seems to enjoy pics of himself just a little bit more:)


• When nursing, Burl points to my breast and waits for me to say "booby" then he gives me the cutest smile/giggle.
• Burl still loves to play hide and seek.
• Burl stands on the rocking horse, small bamboo stools, kitchen chairs- which can lead to standing on the kitchen ("chicken" according to Ivo) table.
• Burl likes to play in the water at the bathroom sink (imitating Ivo washing his hands) - a lot of imitating...

Pics from Sarurday 5 April. We went for a late afternoon/early evening walk, ending up at Papa's Pizza for a slice and a coke:)

Many Sides of Pointing Burl

Burl points and says "DA" when he's excited about something. He likes us to say the name of the thing he's pinting at; lots of times it's Papa or Ivo. Burl does it to pictures in books too. He must be filing these names away for future language use.

Lately, he loves dogs. When we're out walking, he goes nuts, pointing and panting "DA...DA!" at the sight of a dog. He's curious and excited by animals.

Burl was super excited by the animals at the zoo! Constantly pointing them out and calling!

More Zoo Pics

Burl was so excited he wanted to climb in!
Ivo Overheard:

• Ivo to a man walking a black puppy: "No, I don't have any animals. Only toy animals. I like bees - you ever seen bees?" Yes, they can fly. "Yes, have wings on their backs."


• Ryan said a lit-up building looked like a castle. Ivo answered, "That doesn't look like a castle! It look like a building! You gotta understand me- understand???"


• One of Ivo's common constructions is "I'm sorry you_____" ie, "I'm sorry you turn off da tv, I can't watch da movie." "I sorry mama put me in time out." It's pretty funny... I don't know how he came up with it. He means, "I'm sad..."


• I've been saying "No big whoop" a lot - trying to keep things in perspective and calm. Ivo says "No big woof" at similar situations.


• "MRP" for MRT - on this matter he could not be swayed.
  

HSR Taichung to Taipei: Target Z00

We all went up to Taipei on Friday, tomb sweeping holiday, to visit the zoo.

Fun fun fun!!! And we've been busy since - but I don'tknow if I cansay busier than usual... I'm not sure what's happened to my blogging ethic... boo hoo.

More pics etc coming soon.

Here are some pics on the train. Ivo often points to his mouth to inform us that he can't engage in pleasantries, he's chewing.

It had rained a lot this past week so the grounds were wet - it was nice for us but kinda sad for the animals who sought relief on the small patches of cement in their swampy habitats.

Ivo got a bubble gun outside the zoo gate while Ryan was buying tickets. He LOVED it - to distraction. He held onto it while eating a blueberry ice cream cone. We were only able to pry it fromhis grasp when it ran out of bubbles. But - if yr at the zoo - resist! It's a piece of junk the liquid cannot be kept away from the batteries/mechanism and it self-destructs when not held upright.

Ivo & Burl Early April

Like I said on Tuesday, Ivo, Burl and I went to CarreFour with Rayne and Olivia. I took a lot of picsand still have to go thru them.

Wednesday was a big day at school - no pics yet, but Ivo came home with a green construction paper crown with different shapes glued to it like jewels. Very cute.

Today the boys and I went to the HSR Station to play and get tickets for tomorrow. It's Tomb Sweeping weekend, Spring Scream down in Kenting, and we're heading up to Taipei to go to the zoo. With the high speed train, we can comfortably do the trip in a day.

Here are pics from the train station today.

Ivo & Burl on the Last Days of March

These pics are from Sunday and Monday, just hanging around the house.


Today we has a great day playing with Rayne and Olivia. Pics soon.

I've been playing scrabble on fcbook... It's addictive... Now, my brain is broken but I will try to write about what's going on... All I can say now is that, the weather is superb - yes, rainy - but nice and cool. People in Taiwan can either blame or thank us because the weather is obviously connected to our having sent our cool-cold weather clothes to Canada!!!