There is a new addition to the Gates-Derousseau household. Simon and I were buying some wine for a dinner one evening at a shop next to the local motorcycle shop. I just happened to pass in front of the display window and I just happened to notice that there was a 50cc scooter for sale at only USD250. I just couldn't resist. It's provided savings in gas, been a huge hit with Simon and most importantly, whoopee it's so fun to ride!!!!
She was a second-hand scooter which had been part of the store's original rental fleet. She's definitely seen some action, but runs just fine. I've had a lot of fun going to work on it during sunny days, and it's fun to weave and dodge between potholes. I bought Simon a little helmet and we go at a snail's pace around our block with him standing at the front, holding on to the inside of the handle bars. He's in heaven.
In other news, Fred and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary this past week. It was a public holiday here in Vanuatu, so we organised for Josephine to stay with Simon for the day and we headed to the north of the island to a four-star resort that doesn't allow kids. We had a few glasses of wine and a lovely lunch. It was a perfect day sandwiched in between rainy stretches - an omen of good things to come. It was nice to spend a full day just focussing on ourselves.
The weather in Vanuatu has been changing - one of the things that I've always loved about this country. Despite being relatively close to the Equator, there are two clear seasons. April generally brings cooling rains that have us putting sweaters on in the evening and turning down the fans. This year has been no exception, with wild winds whipping the island. We've been lucky once again to miss being hit by a major cyclone and our gardens have survived in tact. The following photo was taken at The Summit, a new-ish garden/restaurant in the heights behind Mele village that has a wonderful view of the town.
Both Fred and I have been uber-busy at work lately - so much so that it's about all either of us can do to spend some quality time with Simon. Speaking of Simon, he has hit his verbal stride and repeats everything we say in every language. Both French and English seem to be on a par with each other now and developing at an equal rate. He's been a lot of fun, but we can definitely see the terrible twos coming on with his sudden behavioural swings and penchant for hitting. A big breakthrough from this weekend is that he's suddenly started telling us when he needs to use the potty and uses it about once out of every three times. Slowly slowy, but we definitely see a light at the end of the diaper tunnel!
We're looking forward to a vist from Fred's sister, Charlotte, towards the middle of this month! We can't wait for Simon to spend some time with ChaCha (and we're looking forward to it too!).
I am working on a longer post for publication this weekend about our adventures on the island of Epi during the long Easter weekend. Suffice it to say that it was lovely though wet, sticky and we got stranded for an extra day and finally had to call (and pay!) for an airtaxi to pick us up. Simon lived out his fantasies of flying in planes, taking boat trips and riding in large trucks almost everyday!
Boat Boy
The Eye of the Fisherman
"Hello? Hello Ernie?"
Simon's first big boy haircut! Mom cut it - not too shabby!!
And so it begins... or "The Thinker"
"Father and Son" (Fred doesn't see the resemblance!)
"Chocolate Grimace"
At the Australian High Commission Easter Party
"What the heck... bunny ears?! How old do you think I am?!"
Simon at 20 months is a joy... and a mystery. He has officially entered toddlerhood and with it comes rapid language acquisition, avid exploration, almost daily bangs and bruises and... his first tantrum! Yeah!
Simon now understands a large range of both French and English commands, requests and general vocabulary. However, he voluntarily uses French words more often than English words. This has come as a bit of a surprise for me given that English is generally considered to be an easier language to acquire. For example, Simon understands "dog" but when you point to a dog and ask him what it is, he responds with a resounding "chien." He also spends half his day dragging chairs around the house and singing "assi" "assi" "assi" (sit, sit, sit). He chooses to say "manion" (camion) rather than "truck" despite responding "groom groom" when you ask him what a truck says. He also seems to have more of a knack for pronouncing French words as well. He says "oui" and "non" like a little Parisian but says "say" for "yes" (though he does seem to have the NO down pat).
Simon is also constantly on the move. He runs, jumps, swims and throws himself head-first into any physical activity. He has not learned yet to look where he's walking, though, and falls victim to head-bangs and knee-scapes on a seemingly daily basis. He most recent attempt to get us to take him to the Emergency Room was only two days ago when he ran to meet me at the door of a friend's house when I came to pick him up. He leaned on a chair by the door that went sliding across the tiled floor, catapulting him face-first onto the floor where he subsequently put his front tooth THROUGH his lip. Yes. It came out the other side. There was lots of blood, lots of tears but he's recovered remarkably well (notice fat lip in photo below - this is three days after the fact).
At 20 months, Simon is capable of high highs and low lows. Welcome to toddlerhood!! Last weekend, he threw his very first tantrum ever in the local hardware store on a busy Saturday morning. I wouldn't let him push the cart (which incidentally he asks for in Bislama - "Sisi pusem" he chooses to say) because he kept bumping into people and overpriced merchandise. When he realised that his desires were thwarted, he turned red in the face and ran away stomping and screaming. Went I went to pick him up and bring him back, he bit me! Well. I can tell you that that didn't last long. I marched him to a quiet back corner of the store and stood him in a corner until he calmed down and apologised. He'll quickly learn that mama don't play that.
On the plus side, Simon is a lot more independent and loves playing with other children. I take him to a baby French class every Wednesday morning and he's the only child that doesn't run for the door. He voluntarily dances around, sits for story time and draws on the wall board. Fred and I find ourselves able to sit for longer than 30 seconds at kava while Simon plays around us. Simon can ask for much of what he wants now which reduces significant conflict. He goes to bed easily and can tell us when he's ready to lie down.
We're in the process of switching him from formula to milk and from the bottle to a cup. He's given up (but not without a fight) his daytime nap bottle. We'll cut his morning bottle out after Easter and his night bottle by his second birthday. He'll be fully on milk by then so BYE BYE expensive formula!!!! Potty training is still a no-go. He has the vocab, he has the concept, but he still doesn't care if he sits in his own poo for hours on end. Until he begins to get uncomfortable with that, we're not going to try too hard to put him on the potty.
All in all, he's a real joy.
I came home yesterday afternoon to find Simon dressed in an infant hat, underpants, socks and clogs. When I asked Jojo what in the world he was wearing, she said he picked it out himself and insisted on wearing every item. Ha!
Our Christmas package from the States finally arrived! Thanks, Grandma and Colonel!
PS longest package ever! usually takes only ten day to get here!
PPS sorry for the red eyes... we don't have a photo editor on our new computer yet
PPS long live posed photos! Simon now knows how to "stand over there and smile."
Before the storm:
A night out with the ladies... and a long recovery the day after.
A cool cucumber
Coffee with friends
After the storm:
Photos of downtown Port Vila 14/2/12
