Celebrated his 3 years birthday. Time doesn't pass that fast, I really feel we lived these 3 full years and enjoyed every minute of it. Thierry can do so much more and when he is not working against us (like going to bed) it is delightful how he participates, helps and reacts. He wants to be part in everytime, cleaning, cooking, talking. He is also rather easy to live. Vida's mother said candidly: he agrees to everything. Buts when he doesn't want something, he says it out loud. That said I still remember his birth like yesterday. Life is so much easier now that he is older.

Thierry's new activity is to learn cars logo: Ford, Opel, Volkswagen, Renault, Mazda. We walk often home in stead of biking. He loves walking and touching the parked cars (Don't Thierry!) and looking at the fish or butterflies and running in the grass. Great time to learn all those cars logos too. In the morning we watch Sesame Street but the other day Thierry wanted to watch something else on TV. I showed him that there was nothing better at that early time of the day until he saw a show about road traffic infrastructure with LOTS OF CARS. Guess what? Good bye Sesame Street!! He is so happy with all his presents (thank you again so much!!) especially the blue-station-car-like-Daddy with a caravan, 2 Disney Cars, power shovel truck, huge airplane, bath wheel boat, a do it yourself work table (like Bob The Builder) and book. His party was fantastic with a beautiful and delicious american cake. A road with gras and 3 cars each holding a candle and his friends staying for dinner with kroket and fries. Miam Miam

Now I focus on taming his habit of touching everything in the shops. It is difficult to find a way to make him avoid doing that. Threatening not to go on one of the kiddie rides money machine by the supermarket didn't work. In the supermarket I have an easy currency: if he touches too many things he sits in the caddy, no freedom walking around. But when he touches the baskets or switches the prices to other breads at the bakkery I have no currency to make him avoid doing that. Of course I like that he is interested, but sometimes his actions hurt other clients... With all your performances will you be a stuntman when you grow up??

Some days you just want a child who stays beside you and does not touch anything. For example the key of the shed when you are still inside THE shed while he is discovering how a key works when closing the door…. locking you in!! Aaaah watch out, Mothers! Keep your keys safe and most important: your mobile phone at hand! Fortunately I could call someone to deliver me. Thierry did not manage to turn the key and open the lock.

More improvements this month: Thierry climbs down the stairs on his own. Of course you stay just in front of him in case he gets distracted and falls. Never know, he is still so young. He can put his feet in his shoes. The sole under his feet, that is. Sounds peanuts, but it is not. We are still waiting for a miracle sign that Thierry would start using the toilets or the pot. Hmmm…

The other day we went to the shop to buy him a sunglass. Boy it was difficult to choose between the blue one and the red one. He finally he choose for the blue one. I was still looking around in that shop when Thierry said he wanted the red one. Again trying on his head, looking through it, weighting it, going to the mirror to check himself out and yes, he made up his mind for the red one. He was so happy he asked everyone in the shop (and the next shops as well) if they had seen his beautiful red sunglass. You never go anywhere discreetly with him!

Thierry speaks Dutch so well he hardly mixes French words anymore. His French is good as well, but he still keeps saying common words in Dutch so there is a mix of both languages when speaking with me. He can count in Dutch to 10. Most of the time he count on his own while playing and he often misses some numbers. But when we count with him seriously he get it right.

All studies show that boys and girls have different interests. Well, we notice it here at home as well: Thierry loves Formula 1 car racing. No need to say that Marco finally has a buddy to watch races with him. And I can go out shopping!!

Great improvements this month: no dummy anymore! We are so happy about it! Now Thierry doesn’t wake up at night crying for his dummy he cannot find. I must say I lost a great intensive to get him to bed, but it is absolutely worth it. It happened one night that Thierry got lots of nightmares or pain we couldn’t figure out actually. After going many times to his room to comfort him he complained his dummy was dirty. But it laid in his bed! Up to a point I told him: “Yes, it is yerk. Dummy is yerk!”. Since that moment he hasn’t had one in his mouth! Victory! Now let’s wait for the “Last Nappy Day”!

Thierry talks a lot. He says out loud everything that he thinks. He would give you a complete and detailed report of his day should you give him enough time to do so. He still doesn’t use articles, like “the” and his style is still telegraphic. Still doesn’t use “I” but he knows what is his is “mine”. It is very easy to teach him correct words and he is very interested in learning the exact word for each item. Funnily, he would not say “yes” he says “of course I do” why make it plain and simple when you can make it more fun? He loves making us laugh and we have to be very conscious about how we react. Some of his actions can be very funny but what ever it caused it he would repeat it zillion times before you beg him to stop. He might be a comedian when he grows up. There was a kind of stage at the DYI store, he jumped on it and started dancing and playing the fool. Please don’t stop make us laugh!!

Thierry loves to help! In the kitchen, adding herbs and stirring food; dressing the table; putting clothes in the washing machine and still vacuuming. We need to take into account that he wants to help and involve him more in our activities. Anyway he comes often shouting: "Thierry helpen!" Yes, he has this habbit of shouting, maybe he is so sure of himself? :-) The other day I managed to make him understand not to hit, or to hit very gently (little hit), that is another big step in his education. Also I face some tantrums sometimes, wild negative reactions to my refusal to let him do something. I find strange that Marco and Erika don't have this problem. I need to dig what I do wrong. I realised that Thierry doesn't say neatly "yes" (oui) but "yeah" (ouais), that will take sometime to change as I need to change too! But we are already both working on it.

On the funny note: Thierry loves to watch himself in the mirror. This is not new, but it just doesn't stop!! Not even one year old at the time he already enjoyed it. He also loves to see himself on pictures. Only where he sees himself he watches long, else he passes the photo very quick.

I also started to let him play on the computer. I have this game called Gcompris where kids start using mouse and keyboard to play games, very easy. After max 10 minutes Thierry has enough and we do something else... watching pictures again! He uses the keyboard to go to the next pictures, that is also computer learning...

Thierry starts testing us, Marco and me. He asks the same question to both of us and sees if we give the same answer. Gosh, we need to be consistent already! We have let down potty training as we think he is not yet ready. He doesn't mind having a dirty diaper and he just doesn't want to sit on the potty of toilet with adaptor. We are ready whenever you are!

The biggest jump this month was that he can climb on ladders, especially those to go on the slide. I find it still risky and dangerous but hey, you gotta let it go! Climb Climb mini Marco, but not on those rocks yet!

We tried new things lately: cutting with scissors, potty training, giving bigger pieces of bread. His clothes are getting much smaller, and Thierry bangs often against chairs and tables like if he is suddendly taller. He also falls often like if he doesn't lift up his feet that much anymore or he is off balance.

Thierry speaks still in telegraphic style: Thierry drives car Papa. Hmmm, he AGAIN wants to drive Papa's car!! It is funny how he still can manage telling you what he did the day before or what he liked doing that day. It is a guessing and asking game, but there really is a dialogue. So cool. However, after we had to punish him (in the corner or on the naughty chair), we ask him if he knows why he was punished, he would say that he did what he was asked to do. But he did not and he was punished for it. Is he trying to change the past?

We are teaching good manners (thanks to Erika as well): Saying thanks and pardon when he burps.

But the major news is the continuous question: WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS DAT?
To everything he sees. I so enjoy telling him what the world is and what there is to see. Don't take anything for granted, little man! The worse is yet still to come: in a few years time it's going to be: WHY? WHY?? WHY??? hehehe

Yep, Thierry loves mayonaise and ketchup. With tosti, with french fries, and today he wanted to have it with a quiche! No, there are limits!!

It is really cute how Thierry speaks, we still need to help him pronounce words better so that everybody can understand him. Like Coni - Macaroni or Caval - Carnaval. Try to understand a 2 and a half year old kid saying: Squash! S and SH are still difficult at this age. So cute to hear tho.
I also have to quit baby talking. I would say: Mama is going to finish this and then we will do that. I want to go back to normal talking with You and I and Me and You. It is such a bad habit I took, but I think all mothers do that. We are still exercising the Yours and Mine, Thierry doesn't get it all the time. Of course, what is Mine makes his Yours. More complicated than repeating!

He starts imitating dancing steps or gestures he sees on TV. If Marco reads a French text out loud for his prononciation, you hear Thierry in the background telling a few of the words.

At the swimming pool last Sunday Thierry had the time of his life! In the 40cm bath we were holding him so that he would not drown. But all he wanted was to let go of him, walk and play with water on his own. It took us 10 minutes to feel more confident, he might not been aware of the danger. Anyway, he played with other kids and their balls, greeted all other parents, laid on the swimming float. At a certain point, we saw him bending his knees and diving in the water until his head was under water! The last 10 minutes after that I put him on the side of the pool land asked him to jump in my arms while I still was in the water. He had so much fun! We will definitely not wait 6 months again to back to a swimming pool!

Our holiday week in Geneva was rough. Thierry was ill and he ate very little: delicious fresh bread and Swiss cheese are so different to what we eat in Holland. That was a turn off! I go to Geneva to eat all sort of food we don't find here and Thierry was miserable only looking at it!! Fortunately, we had lasagna in a restaurant, then it was all ok again. But later meals were also not exactly like at home, even the soup, so it was slowly or painfully going in his mouth. He lost some weight... Also he was in the "No!" mode. Everything was no. No! No! Don't want this, don't want that! No! As soon as we said: "say bye-bye to Geneva" in the plane, he was al exited. At Schiphol, Opa picked us up and Thierry was all happy, smily, and telling all what happend in Geneva. That was what I call: home sick! Well, we definitely need to broader his food type.

Thierry tries to sing. He often asks me to sing for the last 3 weeks. Now he starts singing but it still sounds like talking weird, hahaha

He is also very interested in the time/clock. I explained him each hand how fast it turns and how many minutes it is. We stayed once 15 minutes studying it while we were waiting for Vida to come. How many minutes it passed already and how many minutes still need to come. It was very intense learning! Every time he plays with an alarm clock he manages to set the alarm. And a few hours later (mostely at night of course!!) it goes off. The weatherstation, the runningwatch, his own alarm clock, they all ring once he has played with them. And we always forget to check if the alarm is off after he played with it :-P

Thierry likes touching make up stuff in the shops, he likes playing with dolls and prams, cleaning with his broom and making tea with his tea set. Fortunately, he loves playing with his cars. Finally he can play on his own!!! That was not too soon, I am telling you! Why we didn't give him that garage before?? What I also enjoy a lot is having a conversation with friends while Thierry can play on his own. This is heaven!! Keeping an eye on him, and still chatting with friends. I am living again!

This is the time when Sinterklaas is in a lot of conversations. Thierry can put his shoe in front of the fireplace (and get chocolate or maspain), music CDs playing in shops and at school, chocolate and stories. It is a very well running tradition in this country. One day we told Thierry that he could ask Sinterklaas for a broom of his own in stead of stealing ours. The next day he told me while looking at my ring: "Sinterklaas Give Ring". That is clear, he got the message that he can get presents from Sinterklaas "Mr-Presents-Man"!

Thierry got his first vaccin H1N1 and will get the second half december. We all have been ill with flue and cold, who knows maybe we got that swine flue already...

Lunch and dinner are times when Thierry tells stories. What he saw on TV or what he liked earlier that day or what we are going to do later. Of course it is "words put together" discussion, without any grammar so it makes it not very clear to understand right away. For example: Windmills swim sea, or Pretty teddybear sing wheel. Yep, it takes also a whole conversation to get what is playing in his little head.

Thierry is busy understanding "you" and "me" (toi, moi). Yep, when I say it, it is reverse than what he says, pretty confusing, he! Also very busy "writing" he loves me to write some letters, and he tries to write them too... Not easy! Thierry starts counting as well, 2,4,5,18 :-)

Thielly doen! Yes, he wants to do a lot himself. We cannot encourage him enough!! He fills his bath with water, he cleans the table after eating and he vacuum cleans. Now I understand how big families work. The olders do the cleaning, the youngest the tidying up and the parents the management. hehe

Mr Monkey: he imitates you all the time. You cannot hide!! You're eating? he wants to eat the same thing. What you're drinking looks very tasty: give it to me too! Your shoes: they are MINE! You are scratching your feet? I feel like scratching my feet too. You are playing with that toy? I want to play exactly with that toy right now. He hears "again, again" in a song? He is singing it too. He overhears in your conversation the word "respect"? He makes the sign "respect".

More and more 2 words sentences. That makes him clearer in what he is saying. Funny to realise soon it will not be necessary to complete or guess what he means... Sometimes he asks me something in French and if he doesn't get the answer he wants he turns to his father and asks the same but in Dutch. Here we go, he gets it, yeeehaaaa!

So difficult to take pictures or movies: he only wants to see the pictures taken. But we even haven't had time to take any that he is crying he wants to see the pictures. What a nightmare!
Other painful moments: the last quiet moment time before going to bed, a DVD. He wants Mimi (Maisy Mouse) and 2 minutes later he wants Oui-Oui! (Noody) or vice-versa of course! Make up your mind and hup go bed!

Yes, he says his name, how cute! Rs and Ss are not masterized yet, but he's doing his best. Thierry speaks more and more words. He uses almost no signs anymore, and the baby words he invented are little by little replaced by their real words. For example, moto was kiim, xylophone was koukass, windmill was goula, bird is still goh, vacuum cleaner is also go, a tractor was go as well, dadou-dadou is still truck, gramina is still not clear to us! And chocolat is still koolaa. We eat often chocolate at home, actually all our deserts are chocolate vla or pudding. And at breakfast we have hagelslag :-)

Thierry is the kind to touch everything. Bit annoying while shopping, but at least he is interested in what is around him. The other day a little girl his age was also waiting in line at the bakker, he went to her and hugged her! Now that was a first! I prefer this than when sometimes he doesn't want to play and pushes a little boy away.

What he likes these last weeks is to put on our shoes and walk with them. Is he that in a hurry to grow up? hehe

He starts making the difference between French words to mama and Dutch words to Papa. The best way to realise that is to ask him: "and how does papa say?" "and mama says?" Then he uses the correct language. We often hear the same word in both languages when he communicates, so he definitely knows they both mean the same thing. His vocabulary is exploding. He still loves books with items drawned and we tell him what they are called or ask him how they are called.

I finally found a recipe to keep Thierry quiet while brushing his teeth: I sing him a song with improved text on the melody of Noddy's adventures. After a lot of experiments and strenght and despair I can now get Thierry's teeth cleaned without hassle :-) It was about time!!

Thierry is now more found of Oui-Oui (Noddy) than Mimi (Maisy Mouse). It is also more elaborate in drawings and dialogues. There are still so many cartoons to discover, little fellow!

Where does that come from? A 2-year old begging for chocolate at 7:45 AM?? And yesterday afternoon, and yesterday before lunch... he comes to the kitchen asking for "koolaa". Do we eat so much chocolate with him? I did not realise that.

Thierry's got a cold again. Wow that was a long time, maybe 3-4 months ago? We did not miss it! I remember I was told kids have never ending colds until 2 year old, or from 2 to 4 years old. I hope the next one will be at 4 years old! *fingers crossed*

It was difficult going to bed before his cold this week. He would even ask to have his diaper changed or to drink something. I make it as uncomfortable possible so that he doesn't enjoy the time his bedtime is postponed.

Some words are not easy to understand: fiets (bike), schoen (shoe). In fact you understand it when he says it and points it with his little finger!! haha

Some words he says both in Dutch and French, for example: running or flowers. He would say them one after the other, or use one language at random. Mostly he would repeat in the language you would say back to him at that moment. So he still does not make specifically the difference French to Mama, Dutch to Papa.

We are facing a problem: how can we make him stop shouting, or run in shops? He would run to the far other end of the shop and play with the curtains in fitting rooms?? Any tips, advices, experiences are welcome. Thanks!

We are still amazed how much Thierry has changed since he is born. Okay it is now 2 years ago and we should get over it, but still! We were used to carry him so often, and now: almost not anymore! He even goes up and down the stairs (I hold his hand and focus on him). He used to ask for his pacifier while shopping or in the car, and now: barely! He even names it: " 'peen " He speaks so many words. You hear him repeat your swearing! Oh this is so embarrassing in shops! He sometimes say: " Oh no " or " Oh yes " so cute!

He really is a good boy. He doesn't fight or argue. He even asks you if something is allowed before he would do it (" mag? "). Should he say no when you ask him to do something, without insisting but firmly confirming he needs to do it and just waiting for a minute, he comes and do it anyway. I am sure patience is the key to lots of hassle at this age. Oh yeah, with a lot of praising too. I so deeply hope it stays that easy!

He helps taking clothes out of the wasching machine or hanging them, or he would put chairs back to their place. But his toys? Naaaa, they are left in the middle of the living room, or better: in our small kitchen. And it is not easy to get him put all his lego back in their box. Unless you tell him that once his toys are tidy up we'll go to the Kermis or to the Beach... you see him speeding like mad!

We started putting Thierry on the potty. He has one that plays music when he pees. Very rewarding! But no success yet. I guess it is too early, he doesn't go the stairs standing on his own anyway.

What a language explosion: everyday Thierry says new words! Unbelievable how fast it goes. When Thierry really doesn't want something and "nee" still doesn't make you understand, he will throw a loud: "non!" Marco learns some French words from Thierry, yep son's already outpasted his father!

Bad times falling, lots of cries. Thierry bit his lip bad several times already. And it bleeds a lot!! Everytime I am in total panic because I don't know what to do. Is there anything to do beside wet cold cloth on it?? After a few minutes I calmed down I comfort him by saying: "I know it is very painful, but soon it will not hurt anymore". Poor kiddo!

Thierry loves making music: for his birthday he got lots of instruments: a drum, maracas, harmonica, tambourin.

We were very surprised to see Thierry removing his trousers on his own. Of course we helped with his zip and button. Now we are working on the putting trousers mode.

A second year went by and we enjoyed every minute! What a better year than the first one. Not only because we sleep better at night, but Thierry is so much more active, responsive and happy. Actually, these weeks/months are the best ever! As we were told, it only gets better. I must say it is much better than I could ever imagine.

At this age, we sometimes let Thierry choose what he wants on his bread, or if he prefers his jeans over what I wanted him to wear he gets that too. He loves potato chips but can eat them only at parties.

He often repeats some words you've just say, so sweet! He often says the last syllable of words, for example "tunnel" is "nel". Such a lazy attitude, he? :-) Because of me he says Dutch words with a French accent, for example "emmer" (a la French: emmeuuur!) I am so ashamed!

Thierry starts looking to you from under (hereby picture). He is not even doing anything bad, he is just playing and want to make you laugh. We are having lots of laughs in da house! Much less when he spills his drink on the floor, why does it make him laugh so much when we have to clean his mess??

Do all kids love reading books? Thierry loves it and often sits down looking at the pictures quietly on his own. Some other times he would take the book to you to read it together. He's got lots of books and also want to read while I change his diaper. Wanna be a writer or a book critic when you grow up?