Sadly both Cu Dao and Cu Dan inherited by nose blood symptom. They both have their shares of bleeding nose in the past few months. Cu Dan, in particular, is much more severe. Last night he bled quite a bit. I have bleeding nose for almost all my life. I went through many treatments including cauterization, which helped for a while. Now it’s back again every once in a while. I haven’t have it lately, but my kids have. I am hoping that they are not getting any else bad from me like keloids.

Next month Dan will join his brother for the summer camp. I am sure he’ll have a much easier time adjusting to the new environment than Dao. He seems be to be less emotional than his big brother. I still recall the days Dao cried every time I dropped him off to daycare. It took him almost a year to get over that issue. We’ll see how Dan do.

I used to have to fight with Dao every time I brushed his teeth. On the other hand, Dan is a breeze. Each morning he gets up and greets me with a smile. I take him to the bathroom, brush his teeth, change his clothes and diaper and let him go over to his mom and brother’s room while I do my things.

As soon as we go downstairs, he goes to the shoe rack, picks up his shoes, sits on the steps and waits for me to put his shoes on. We go outside and I let him roam around for a bit before putting him into the carseat and go over my sister-in-law’s house. Once we arrive, I take him out if the car and let him walk around enjoying the beautiful morning before taking him into the house. I really enjoy those moments with him. Once I take him inside, his little cousin is very happy to see him. Then I stay with them for a few minutes before heading to work. Dan doesn’t seem to even notice that I am leaving. He’s very closed to his grandma and cousin.

Next month that routine will changed. Sending him to daycare is good for him and for us as well. The only problem is… there goes $2,600 each month for both kids.

We met with Dao’s teachers and counselor to discuss his uncontrollable tantrum. When he doesn’t get what he wants, he loses himself. He does, however, feel remorse when he calms down. He then realizes what he had done wrong and apologizes.

For his fourth birthday, we gave him a really nice train set. He can only play with it when he’s being good. We had been firm; therefore, he wouldn’t get to play it if he misbehaved that day. It worked so far.

The counselor suggested that we continue using that method, but also take a step further. Giving him stickers when he’a good and use a calendar to keep track of how many days he’s being good. Be more specific with him. Tell him what had he done well. When he’s not behaving, tell him that we love him, but we don’t love what he did.

When playing with Dan, he often takes toys away from his little brother. Dan now can defends himself; therefore, he doesn’t easily let go of what he has on his hands. His teacher suggestion is to assign ownership to each boy. Write their name on the toys and they have to share if one wants to play with the other’s toy.

The teachers and counselor gave us many advices to help Dao controls himself. We are very grateful and deeply appreciate their love and support for Dao.

Thấy trên report nói Đạo không ăn snack nên hỏi Đạo sau không ăn, Đạo trả lời, “Đạo giận nên Đạo không ăn snack.” Mà ai làm Đạo giận? “Cô Chantel and cô Lauren làm Đạo giận.” Cô làm gì mà Đạo giận? “Đạo không muốn wake up.”

Thằng con trai cả này khó tánh quá. Trưa nay có hẹn với mấy cô để làm cách nào giúp cho nó tự kiềm chế bản thân mỗi khi nó không được như ý muốn. Tuy nó lằm dữ lúc đó như rồi một lúc sau nó biết và xin lỗi.

We were at a festival in Delaware last weekend and spotted a vendor from Pampers. The truck displayed nothing but diapers. Then they had a long table with several changing mattresses. Parents could use them to change their kids. They provide diapers, wipes, sheets and sanitizer all free. What a great way for Pampers to promote its products. I loved that concept.

Speaking of diapers, Đán uses at least three a night. He sleeps on his tummy and he pees quite a lot. I have to remember to change him or else he would pee all over his clothes and the bed. I rather change his diaper than clean him up, change his clothes and wash the sheets. Though he sleeps well at night I have to get up to change him.

One night, I must had been quite sleepy when I change him; therefore, his thing was not tucked inside. About half an hour or so, he suddenly got up really fast and rested on my tummy. Then I noticed that he was completely wet. I had to clean him up, changed his cloths, threw the towel where he left his urine and went back to bed.

The nice thing about Đán is that he never wakes up when I change his diaper.

Hôm nọ sau khi thay đồ cho hai thằng nhóc, tôi đùa với mẹ nó, “Mommy ơi, cu Đạo bay giờ nhỏ hơn cu Đán.” Đạo trả lời, “No, cu Đạo không có nhỏ. Cu Đạo medium.” Thằng Đạo nhà ta là thế. Nói đến nó cái gì nó đều có câu trả lời cả. Cái thằng con này vừa thông minh lại vừa lì nên thật rất mệt với nó. Nói cái gì nó cũng cãi lại được. Nhiều lúc giận vô cùng nhưng giận thì giận thương thì vẫn thương. Dù sao cũng là ruột thịt. Con ruột đã thấy khó rồi. Con ghẻ chắc càng khó hơn nhiều. Tôi chắc không thể nào làm cha ghẻ được vì làm cha ruột còn không xong. Rất khâm phục những ai làm được cha mẹ ghẻ tốt.

Cu Đán thì dễ hơn một tí. Nói chung là nó không kháng cự lại nhiều như thằng anh của nó. Ăn uống cũng dễ hơn. Chỉ cần dumpling với chả lụa là nói ok rồi. Tuy nhiên cu Đán thì quậy hơn thằng anh nó nhiều. Bây giờ cũng sắp bước vào giai đoạn “terrible two” rồi nên cũng khá phá phách. Nó mà thức giấc thì chạy theo canh chừng nó cũng mệt. Hôm kia trong hotel, thấy nó cầm cục nước đá làm rơi xuống đất. Khi nó lượm lên lại bỏ miệng tôi vội chạy đến móc ra. Lấy ra không thấy cục nước đá mà là viên thuốc người khách trước để rơi. Không biết là viên thuốc gì. Vì viên thuốc màu cam và cái thảm cũng màu cam, nên nhìn không ra. Vậy mà nó lại nhìn ra. Cũng mai là lấy ra kịp. Nó mà Nuốt vô là chuyện lớn rồi.

Our little guy turns four today. Unbelievable how time has flown by. Four years of challenges and fun. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Dao is a very special kid. He’s a quick learner and very sharp. He makes me laugh all the time. The other day, he invented his own vocabulary: “badiculious.” I asked him, what does that mean and he said, “It means not listening.” He went on, “You are badiculious, daddy.”

Last weekend, his mom told him, “Don’t run.” He responded, “I am not running mommy. I am just hopping.” He basically has a counter for everything. Sometimes it’s fun. Sometimes it’s quite exasperating, specially when he threw a tantrum to get what he wanted.

While his development escalating, his behavior is improving slowly. We’re doing our best to give him the freedom to grow, but also keep his attitude under control. Now that the terrible three is behind us, I am looking forward to his fantastic four.

Dad: Were you being a good boy at school today?
Dao: Yes, I was a good boy. I didn’t hit anyone.
Dad: You’re not supposed to hit anyone.

Dao said to his mom: “Daddy pee pee standing up. Dao pee pee standing up. Can you pee pee standing up mommy?

Our lil Dan is starting to show his effection for others. Every morning I dropped him off at my sister-in-law’s house, he would give his cousin Khoi and hug and a kiss and sometimes a few slaps on the head as well. If I ask him for a kiss, he would do it as well. He’s also starting to copy his brother. He wants the same food Dao eats and the same toys Dao plays.

Yesterday Dao pooped and pointed me to the toilet, “Daddy, daddy, look! They are floating just like boats. Sailing boats in the deep far sea.” I was like, “Wow son. That’s some really poetic description of your poop.”

We were at my sister-in-law’s house and Dao wanted to watch TV. I told him, “You have to ask bac (uncle) Ky because it’s his house.” He responded, “No, it’s not bac Ky’s house. It’s bac (aunt) Tram’s house.” I couldn’t agree more.

Lil Dan started baby talk as well. The other day he was playing with my iPhone 5. He kept pushing the home button and activated Siri. Then he said something that made Siri responded, “I don’t know what you mean.” Can’t blame Siri though.

One of the nice things about have kids is that I would never run out of blogging materials. A conversation with them would spark a blog post. I wish I have more time to write down all the hilarious things they do and say.

Mới bước chân vô nhà thì thằng anh mách, “Daddy daddy, em cắn cu Đạo.”

Em Đán hai bữa nay sốt rất cao nên tôi nghỉ làm ở nhà với nó. Hôm nay thấy nó không còn sốt nữa nên dắt nó ra mall chơi. Dạo này tiền đi xe lửa lên đến $8 cho hai người. Lúc trước đi với thằng Đạo chỉ có $5.

Thấy thằng Đán nó cũng thích nên cũng đi. Nhưng rồi nó cứ muốn đi mãi. Thấy xe lửa chạy nó từ trong playground chạy theo sau chân không. Thấy cũng tội nghiệp. Nhờ vậy nên lúc trưa chơi hơn nữa bát chicken noodle soup rồi một bình sữa lớn.

Khoái nhất thằng Đán là cái háo ăn của nó nhưng ngại đi buffet là gì mấy em waitress cứ địa nó hoài. Mấy em nóng ruộc vì cu Đán ăn hơi bị cẩu thả. Con nít mà làm sao tránh được.