And So It Begins

Last night was the first night we slept away from our house. 4026 SE Boise is no longer our home. It’s a house we own. Yesterday when I was cleaning the mostly empty house I really felt that this place is just a set of walls, floors and ceilings. It was our first house together and we made many memories. All three of you came home from the hospital and grew here (Kiri just a little). Lots of laughter, tears...all the sounds a family of five make. It’s not easy to leave.

But we’ll take the best part of our home with us to Japan.

Oxbow 49, apt 517 is our home for the next two months. It’s a practice space for the much smaller living conditions we’ll have in Tokyo. We have a lot of stuff. But the most important things we take with us are precious memories and excitement for the next part of our lives in Japan.

I think it will be a great adventure for us.

Leaps & Bounds & Dinosaurs

Genki my little boy we are so proud of you. Every day, every week, and month that goes by you make progress. Learning new things and growing into yourself. Sometimes those steps are small, sometimes bigger. This week you took a giant leap forward.

See, potty training has been tough for you. It is not easy for you to tell us how you feel yet. Of course that means you haven’t been able to let us know when nature is calling. With help from Building Bridges, we started many months ago trying to establish a pattern, routine and comfort level with the toilet. In those first days we were so surprised because we got some early success. We thought we were right around the corner from diaper independence for you. But it has really been up and down for months. You don’t hate the toilet, it’s just that you also didn’t hate diapers. So progress on the potty has been slow.

Then there was this week.

Little man you’ve made us so happy and proud this week as you seem to have gone #1 and #2 more on the toilet than off. We bring you into the bathroom and voila! You go! Just like that. We’re not 100% out of the woods on this of course, but this week was better than the last 6 months combined. A few times you have even told us you want to go. So great!

It’s things like this that make us believe you are learning and growing and little by little, task by task, poop by poop knocking out the goals we set for you. Keep it up my man!

In other news…

So while I don’t have a picture of you taking a poop, I do have a couple from what we did last weekend. Lately you are crazy about dinosaurs. You love the toys, pictures and cartoons about dinosaurs. So we were pretty lucky to find a traveling dinosaur show that was in town (Vancouver) last weekend showcasing so super big dinosaurs. You had a lot of fun.

October 2017 Catch Up

It’s October, and the weather is starting to turn. Your sister is really coming into her personality, your brother’s debut is less than 2 months away, and you baby bear continue to grow and learn and improve. We’ve seen a lot of great changes in the last 6 months. We’ve also seen some strong protest from you at certain times. I’m sure that’s a mix of you not being able to fully communicate yet and you just being a regular 4 year old boy. Sometimes you just don’t want to do something.

We’re really trying to get you and Kiko to play and share together. It’s tough because she really wants to play with your toys and well, you don’t like that. But I think little by little you understand and you will have fun playing together.

We also went to Hawaii and wow did you love the pool. In fact, every time we tried to leave the pool you would get upset. In the beginning you would only hold on to me, and preferred to stay in the shallow end. But by the last day you were kicking your legs and swimming by yourself. It was great I can’t wait to go back as a family of 5!

Independent little by little each other

When you start the school, I missed you first few days. 

Well, it's only 3 hours actually. So I got used to it quickly. 

You have new schedule form today. 

You have a lunch without me 3 times a week. 

I was planning to go shopping but I felt empty my something? Somewhere? 

I didn't do anything, just was thinking about you until picking you up. 

I couldn't wait the time. I missed you so much. 

When I picked you up, you looked ok, not like me, just normal Genki as usual. 

You may got tired. You fall asleep in the car. 

We used to walk to go shopping to Safeway EVERYDAY. 

Only you and me. No kiko. 

You listened to me well. You followed me well when I call you even I don't hold your hand. 

Just before getting the Safeway, you ride the stroller and we do shopping. 

Then back to home, I watch you play at the backyard for an hour. 

I loved the routine. I miss that days. 

But I know we cant keep it forever. You are growing. 

Because of school, you can speak a lot now. Still not enough to play with same age kids.

But I'm so happy when I'm listening you sing. 

We are changing and growing little by little each other. 

Catching Up With Genki

Quite awhile since our last post for you. You've been a busy boy and lots and lots going on for you. School, summer, visit from Grandpa, trying to be a big brother. The last few months have been a lot of ups, a few downs...but also a lot of learning and change for you.

You really know your animals. You can recognize and name almost the whole zoo! And it seems like everyday another animal name is coming to your vocabulary. You're saying iguana now! Wow.

It has been super hot the last several days. Not easy to sleep. One night we all tried to sleep in the same room to stay cool, but it was not comfortable for you. But thankfully the weather will start to cool off soon. Maybe we'll even see rain. Until then, we're spending a lot of time with the sprinkler.

And of course your birthday is coming soon. Wow, 4 years old in a week. We still don't know how we will celebrate, but I am sure there will be cake!

And a nice surprise for you: we're going to Hawaii and there is a super cool pool at the hotel. I know you'll be super excited and it will be difficult to get you out of the water!

And then a few months after Hawaii an even bigger surprise. You'll be a big brother again!

Long Time, No Blog

It’s been such a long time since the last post for you little bear. 190 days actually. But many many things have happened. Let’s list a few:

• we went to Japan!
• you really started to go to school every day
• you started eating chicken! What?!
• you’re pointing, making eye contact, communicating more and having group sessions

So many good things in just those 190 days. We’re so proud of you and know that the next 190 days will see even more good things. You are also thinking about Kiko. We see you try to put her pacifier back into her mouth if she drops it. Maybe you want her to be quiet? We also see you get upset a little if she is crying. We know yo want her to be happy. But you also like to keep your toys…and keep her toys! We need to practice sharing more. 

The weather is starting to get good, so we will spend a lot more time outside…your favorite place. This summer we will also take some bike rides and maybe some small hikes. Lots of fun for the four of us.

Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

So a funny thing happened last week. Something I have never seen, most people alive have never seen. And something most people assumed they would never see:

The Chicago Cubs became World Series champions.

What’s this got to do with me, you might be asking? Well, nothing, and a lot of things. In no particular order, here are the ways you have been affected.

1. While you won’t remember it in your adult lives, October of 2016 was a month that was probably not too pleasant to be around papa and was definitely not pleasant for mama. The emotional ups and downs made for a sometimes tense house. This is something (I hope) you will never understand. Already in your lifetime, the Cubs have won the World Series. So let’s assume you become massive, irrational Cubs fans like your father, at least you won’t be 41 years old watching your favorite team compete for the trophy for the first time. Yes, you were too young to see this one, but you were alive. It happened. There will be a DVD, or whatever media is popular for you. It wasn’t in your 41st year of life. Let’s hope you have a much more measured approach to being a fan.

2. You both wore a lot of Cubbie blue this year. For some strange reason when you both were born, I thought to myself I would not transfer my sports fandom to you. You were not born and raised in Chicagoland. I believe in being loyal to the team you grew up with and undoubtedly that will not be a group of Chicago teams. Thankfully though, Portland does not have an MLB, NHL or NFL franchise..so at least the Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks and Bears are in the running. I’ll be happy if you cheer for the Timbers and won’t be disappointed if you like the Blazers. Just please, no Seattle teams…ok?

3. Not a whole lot of cartoons playing on the TV at night during the month of October.

4. Again, assuming you become Cubs fans (no guarantee of that), there is an identity you won’t have. I am not sure if this is good or bad. Loving something that never quite loves you back is character building. Loyalty is learned. Patience is learned. There’s a payoff at the end, or at least possibility of a payoff that is bigger and better than any lottery win. It’s like moving to heaven after living in hell.

5. It’s not all bad, for the next several months, I’ll be flying high..maybe there’s a few more things you can get away with (Genki, I’m looking at you, just don’t go overboard).

In the end, it’s a good time to say thank you to you both and most importantly your mama who not only put up with me during the month of October, but genuinely got into it. I am happy I could share this happiness with you .

Almost 3

Lots of bubbles. 

Wow, hard to believe but you are approaching birthday number 3. And what a big year for you. You became a big brother and so far you have been kind of nice to little Kiko. Sometimes you come over to her and touch her head. It’s cute.

This is bed time, but sometimes we need to take photos!

You've had nice visits from Grandpa Ray and Grandma Peggy (Aunt Theresa too). You're getting bigger and stronger and having lots of fun hanging out with Keita and sometimes Shokei. You are sleeping by yourself sometimes. You are being a great little boy.

There are still some things we need to work on. Talking of course and maybe eating a few more new things. But I know those things will come with time. Every day you give us joy, so we couldn't be happier.

Mr. Cool guy.

Taking photos with Grandma's phone.

Our Boy

Mama wrote you a note about her feelings after “officially” hearing the word autism as connected to you. I’ve taken a bit more time to say essentially the same thing. But not because I needed more time to accept this diagnosis as a definition of you.

It’s more because I’m lazy.

These last 9 months have been an exciting time in our family, and very shortly here, things are going to get even more exciting for you, in just about every way.

First, you’re about to be a big brother. I mean, really about to be. Mama is ready to go and Kiko-chan seems almost ready too. No matter what, in less than 2 weeks you’ll be big brother Genki. More on that later.

Second, I didn’t feel the need to write anything specific about this diagnosis. Maybe that is a bit of naiveté or denial on my part. But really, this news in no way changes one bit of how I feel about you. Of course it wouldn’t. All this means to me is that we need to find the right places for you to learn as you need to. In the big picture, that’s just a small thing for us.

Here’s what’s big..you’re our boy and always will be. We want you to be happy and healthy, however that shakes out. There’s not one thing about you that we would change if we could.

Which is your real?

When you lay down, you can't think the distance between other person and you.

So you often lay down on my face. It REALLY hurts...

I thought I got broken bone so many times.

One time your head hit on my cheek bone. After that I couldn't open mouth well, teeth hurt, felt pain every time when I eat something. I thought I got bad teeth first. It took few weeks to heal.

But on the progress to heal, you hit again!!

I shout and cried seriously. I couldn't breathe well and almost passed out. 

After I calm down, I was thinking about my old schoolmate who is a boxer now. 

I can't believe he gets this pain every time...

Now I cover my face perfectly always when I lay down with you. 

The other way. I don't know if you understand or not but my belly is huge because of your sister.

Sometimes my shirts comes up and show my belly.

Then you care about my belly and fix my shirts to cover it for me everytime. 

I really love it. How sweet!

(And you kiss me softly. haha)

So which is the real you?!

My Lovely Little Boy

Today I got the result that you are diagnosed with autism. It is really tough to think what I can do for you. Especially since I'm not good at English like other Japanese mamas who work somewhere.

So I feel like I'm out of control of it in America. I have no power.

If it's in Japan, I could search where I can get the best service that I want for you or what is good for you or something, by myself. But here, I have no idea. From the beginning I don't know what is different culture for any of autism or what is same. What they have, what they don't have...

For example, there is YAMAHA music lesson in Japan, everywhere. I feel like it's good education for your character.

I know I need my driver's license here too. This also one of difficult thing.

I was sad when I heard the result this morning.

But when I saw your face after that, nothing changed. There was my sweet sweet baby in front of me, looking at me, hugging me.

You cheer me up.

This Gets Me Every Time

I look at this photo and every single time I just smile, laugh a little bit and just have this great feeling in the center of my chest.

Every single time. Same reaction.

And not just this photo.

So many pictures of you do this to me. Your look, the innocent eyes, the beautiful simple joy expressed. It does it to me every time.

Week of Firsts

A couple more first for little bear this week.

Now, usually, parents wouldn’t be too happy about a toddler eating pizza, but given that you won’t try ANYTHING new, we were both pretty happy when you decided to take a bite of pizza. And then another bite. And another. You ate a whole piece Of course it was Chicago style (not deep dish) square cut pizza. We gotta get you eating more stuff!

The next day was another first…your first time painting. You made a lot of nice pictures.

You also had your first double stroller ride with Keita-kun on the way to the park.

Slippers

Recently you started using mama's slippers. Why? 

Puppy

Ok, so a lot of the time I call you "puppy." You are our little pup, so I've called you puppy a lot. I also call you super pooper. That's another easy nickname. But puppy....yeah, I use that one a lot. 

It's not because you're our little dog. But sometimes, wow, you do definitely have the boundless energy and enthusiasm of a little puppy.

You also fall asleep like one. 

Recently, since you moved into your own room, your mom and I take turns laying down with you and pretending to be asleep. Sometimes you fall asleep quickly, sometimes not so much. But I do notice, that in the few minutes before you fall asleep, you circle and circle and circle until you find just the right position.

Tonight was like that. It made me laugh, but you just did your thing and found a comfortable position and fell asleep.

And why do you always take off your socks?

Something new what you could do as a big brother!

It's my first posting for 2016. This year will be a big year for you. You will be a brother for our new family member. Maybe some part of that makes you unhappy (like jealous?) a little but I'm sure you guys can be a good friends to each other.

Still you can't speak any words at all. I worry to think about many "Ifs" more than your papa. You make a noise a lot. Well, sometimes too much. But I really really hope to hear you say "papa" soon.
Maybe this word is something that your papa wants to hear the most. Because you are our first child.
You say "mama" kind of...

Last week we built your new room by the kitchen. You like it, but you don't get used to sleeping alone there yet. Last weekend we pretended like we were sleeping next to you, then finally you fell asleep next to us until morning. But still about 22:30-7:00. It's too short for you to feel enough.

Your bed.

Where you sleep (sometimes).

Sunday night, we left you alone to sleep by yourself. You could fall asleep but not in the bed. We found you sleeping on the floor in front of the mirror. WHY? And you woke up at 2:30. Even though we tried, you didn't sleep for a long time. Finally we gave up and took you upstairs and I held you until you slept. (until 5:30!)

Where (and how) you like to sleep.

Well, anyways good first try, I think. Good job Genki. We need your old space for the new baby, Bunny-chan.

Today I tried to cut your nails while you were awake. Usually I cut them when you are sleeping, in a DARK room. I hold my phone for the small light in my mouth and cut it. It's really hard and scarey not to cut your finger always.

Of course you cried and didn't want me to do it. I showed my "angry" face to you and you moved crazy still, tried to escape but in the end I could finish one hand. We both sweated a lot, especially our hands were wet. Mama is the winner for today's fight. But also I knew the feet were impossible.  I will do it tonight while you are sleeping. I will try again when you are awake soon.

But I think it's your big change for me.
Are you ready to be a big brother?

Guess Who's Coming?

Brother or sister? You don’t really have a choice, and right now you would't tell us anyway...and we don't know either…but yes, you will soon be the big brother for someone! Right now we are saying “Bunny-chan” because Mama thinks there is a girl in her belly. I saw the picture, I’m not sure.

It’s very exciting for us. We are happy that you will have someone to play with (I hope you will share your toys). Soon we will need to make a new room for you, and that is a big change. Since you came home from the hospital you have been next to us when we sleep (and awake a lot of those nights!). I am not sure if you will like a new room, but we will be sure to put lots of toys and fun things in there for you.

Still, that’s a ways off, so we still have time to share joined rooms. But bunny chan is coming soon…so what do you think Genki? Brother or sister?

Genki in Japan - 3 Weeks In

It’s been three weeks since you and mama went to Japan, two weeks until you come home. I miss you guys like crazy. Your toys are lonely. The house is quiet. It’s a strange place to be when there is no life. Our house is usually alive with noise and smells and flying toys. There’s just none of that now and it makes for a sad, lonely place.

On the other side of the ocean, Grandma’s house is getting all of that. You are having fun with everyone. It’s great to see you with your cousins. We really hope you have a good connection with them. It will be good for your future. It’s also so good to see you laughing and smiling with Grandma and Grandpa (and great grandma!). They love you so much.

You’ve been going out a lot. Mama takes you to the park, to play areas. You even wen to the aquarium (twice?!). Of course when you were looking at the all the fish, you were holding a stick. Of course.

 We have been “talking” over video chat. It makes me happy when you see me and smile. I was a little worried you would forget about me, but every time you see me you smile and put your head against the computer. It’s the best part of my day to see you and mama. In 2 weeks you will be home. Let’s go to the aquarium! 

Proud Moments

Another long gap between posts. Mama and papa have been busy, tired, lazy…. But of course, there are so many things happening with you.

Two weekends ago we went to the BMX jam (SOS). You are almost tall enough to ride your push bike. It’s a happy and proud moment for me, but a little selfish too. I don’t know if you will like BMX. Probably not the same way I do. But it does make me happy just to see you on the start of a bicycle journey.

You’ve also been playing outside a lot, EVERY DAY. Mama is so patient with you. You just love to play in the back yard picking up dirt and throwing it on to the patio (and we have to clean it up of course). Sometimes Mama tries to keep you a little clean, but obviously this day it was just too much. Genki 1, Mama 0. Still, we like that you can play in the dirt, and you don't always need a TV or phone or (soon) a video game. Another proud moment.

And finally, the season is just starting to change. Of course, we still have warm days, but a few days were cool, and you got to wear your favorite owl hat. You’ll be going to Japan for one month soon, maybe it will be cool there too and you can wear a lot of your cool fall clothes.

Happy Birthday Genki - 2 Years!

The summer has been so busy, we have not been posting very much. We had visits from all 4 of your grand parents (plus Aunt Theresa!) between July and August. It's been a very busy time. You also crossed a couple of things off your list of firsts...more on those later.

Most importantly, you're now 2 years old! Time for the terrible twos! But if we are all being honest, we think you started those early. To be able to spend this much time with your grand parents I think will be a great memory, even if the memory is mostly in photos for you. They were all so happy to see you and you received so many great gifts. As for us (mama and papa), we were so happy to show you off to everyone and watch them try to play with you (you're still VERY independent).

Ok, let's look at some of the things we've done during the Summer of Grand Parents.

Let's start off with a few pics with Grandma and Grandpa Narita:

Visit to Multnomah Falls.

New favorite game with Grandpa

To beat the summer heat and look cool, we both wore jinbei.

After American Grandparents came, we went to the coast for your first open air train ride!

The next big first came with your first hair cut. You fought 3 of us, but we managed to get most of that hair off your head.

Grandpa Ray holding the new Genki.

Grandma Peggy doing the same

We had lunch along the Columbia River with the whole family!