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!

Being sweet Mama - 1year and 10 months

今日は初めて日本語で。

最近元気君に怒ってばっかりで、自分が嫌になる。

たまに元気は何もしてないのに、勘違いして注意してしまったり。

ごめんね。

ずっと優しいママでいるのは本当に難しい。

元気はもうすぐ二歳になるけど、まだ何にもお喋りできなくて、ジェスチャーもいくら教えてもできない。

ご飯は、一歳の時からほぼ変わらないものしか食べたくない。

新しいものは前以上に、一口もトライせず、無理矢理口に入れても舌を手で拭き取る位嫌がる。

むしろ今まで食べてたものも食べたがらなくて、ベェってだして床にまき散らかしたり。

体は大きいけど、最近お昼寝させるときは、３０分以上抱っこしてる。こんなときしか普段長く抱っこしてあげないから。

お風呂は自分は急いで入って、元気君を入れる。嫌がらない様に慎重に。

本当は毎日入れてあげたいんだけど、これが限界。

爪を切るのも嫌がるから、夜中に暗い部屋で慎重に、起きないように。

歯ブラシも嫌がる。

何度も何度も何度も何度も注意しても、

飲み物をひっくり返して、そこら中を水浸しにする。DVDを出してまき散らす。本をやぶる。

外遊びは毎日たっぷり２〜３時間。

これが毎日毎日繰り返されると、少しずつママの心が狭くなってくるのかな。

元気の将来が心配だし、今こうなってるのは私がなんかやり方を間違えたんじゃないかって考えたり。

ずっとイライラしてる気分。

最近はそのイライラがコントロールできんくて、パパにまであたってる気がするねん。

ママわかってるよ。ほんまは元気は優しい子で、いつもママにビッグスマイルくれるしハグしてくれる。

ママがイライラしたらあかんよな。元気はまだ生まれてこの世界に来てたった２年。勉強中だよね。

いつも怒ってばっかりのママでごめんね。

Strawberry Kiss! - 19 Months

You are almost 20 months old. But still you don't speak any Japanese or English.
We went to some early intervention counseling to check about you.
They told us you can't do something that you should already be doing.

It made me sad..well not sad, but I don't know how to say...some negative feeling.

I felt that I'm not being good. I'm not a good mama, like other people are. I know I shouldn't feel like this and it is not 100% my fault. But when I see other kids who are younger than you do something you can't do yet, I feel sad.

On Saturday,  We went shopping downtown. After shopping, we tried some new spot to have a couple of beers.Your body is big. So you always get the kids menu. That day also they gave us a kids menu for you Usual you don't draw with the crayons, even if we try to teach. You just pick the crayons up and put them on the table one by one. Or try to eat them.

But that day you did it! You even drew on the table. But we were really happy.

I don't know about your papa. But I'm a painter (kind of) so that moment was a super big thing for me. I was really really happy.

You used red, blue, and yellow crayons and drew the line and knocked the crayons on the paper to make the dot.

The next afternoon, we went to Lucky Lab to meet Joe. You had your early dinner and started eating strawberries as usual. Suddenly I though to ask you to give me some.

You love strawberries. So usually you don't give us any. But that day you gave me! You were not full yet. But you kept giving me until I said enough and gave you back it.
Thank you Genki. I could eat 4 strawberries. (but you didn't give papa any strawberries!)

When I see like this, I feel like "Fuck off. I don't care whatever others says. My baby is growing well and healthy. He is always friendly. He is the sweetest kid in the world."