Guus Bosman

We let Leo and Adrian roam around and they made a beeline for the plants in the middle of the room. They love plants. Adrian in particular is always looking for opportunities to pick their leaves. Even when he's in my arms and we walk by a plant he'll stick out his hands in the hope to catch something.

When Nora was their age, she did the same thing. Now she is protecting the plants from her little brothers.

I thought it might be a good idea to teach Leo "no", or "nee" in Dutch. Sometimes when I'm feeding him, he spits out his food with great delight. Funny for him but not conducive to a expeditious feeding.

So I thought it would be good to tell him, in a stern voice "nee".

Well... now he thinks that "nee" is a joke, and actually starts making spitting sounds when I tell it to him, even if there's no food.

"Dat betekent 'Africa'", Nora told me yesterday when we were discussing the continents. There's a puzzle at school that teaches her the continents and she's starting to learn their names, in English.

It's one of the first times that she knows a concept in English first -- and then learns it in Dutch or Bulgarian.
I know this will happen much more often in the future but it's a strange thought.

In any case, we'll be practicing those names in Dutch and Bulgarian for the next few weeks.