Mason Shoma

It is so nice that Mommy and Daddy are entrusting me to feed myself more and more. I’m slowly learning how to control the portions of food that I put in my mouth. No choking today.

So relaxed and happy to be home together as a family.

Recently I like clicking and clacking things together. Not only does it show off my dexterity but it makes a cool sound! What else can I click and clack together.

These cabinets are so interesting to me. I haven’t really touched the dishes inside, but it is just a matter of time. I think it is time for Mommy and Daddy to get more cabinet locks.

Slow and steady snack time. I took my time eating, but I took some really big bites.

After my traumatic experience at school yesterday, it was nice to have a relaxing day at home with Mommy and Daddy. Just spending time together as a family was so much fun. We took a walk to the park and found a nice spot to relax. Then I started exploring the area and looking at all the plants and leaves. Then Daddy started to decorate my hair with flowers. I think it looked very pretty. Then for some reason I thought that the dry crispy leaf that I was playing with might taste good. It didn’t.

The park also had a set of swings, but they weren’t baby swings where I could ride by myself. So I had a swing with Daddy.

I tried ham today. It was a little different. The texture was a bit different than the other meats that I’ve had. I think I liked it, but I’ll have to eat more to be sure.

Yes? Did you say something? Oh. I thought I heard something.

When Mommy came home I burst into tears. I was so happy to see her but I think the overflow of emotions from the day was too much for me to handle so I started crying. I eventually calmed down and told her about my day, but first I just had to express to her how much I missed her.

What a long day. Despite all the new things, I still finished off the day as a very loved and happy boy!

Since nursery school for me was only from 9 to 11 today, and because Daddy had to work from 1, Obachan came over to watch me. I didn’t cry at all when I saw her because she’s visited several times and I am used to seeing her. And also after my traumatic experience at nursery school, seeing a familiar face is such a relief.

She and Daddy had lunch when she arrived and I acted as I normally did when Daddy and Mommy ate lunch. I already had my lunch so I just hung around the table to keep them company.

After that it was my nap time. I still cry a bit when I’m put down for my nap, but I eventually calm down and put myself to sleep. I slept for only about 30 minutes, but that is normal for me.

I played with Obachan while Daddy worked, but I started to feel lonely so I kept visiting Daddy. Obachan then took me for a while to keep me distracted and entertained. I was so busy looking at everything around me and so comfortable with Obachan that I fell asleep in her arms. We came back home and Obachan sat down with me in her arms and I slept for over an hour. I guess I was more tired from this morning’s experience than I had initally thought.

When I woke up I had my afternoon snack and I was in a much better mood. I played with Obachan a lot and had a ton of fun! She talks to me a lot and plays different games with me. We like to play hide ‘n’ seek together. I think she is so fun!

How would I sum up my first day of nursery school? I cried… a lot.

Mommy and Daddy have been talking about me going to nursery school for a while now. They were really pushing all the good points like I would meet new friends and teachers, and how much fun it would be. But they did not emphasize the fact that they, Mommy and Daddy, would not be joining me at school.

When Daddy took me to school I was curious about the surroundings. I had been there before for a health check up in preparation for my admittance. Still, I wasn’t sure what was going happen. Once we arrived at the school, before I knew it was being handed off to someone who I found out was one of my teachers and then I didn’t see Daddy again for a couple of hours. It happened that quickly. I cried as I was being whisked away, but it was more from being surprised than anything else. I just did not know what was happening or what to expect.

Even though there were a lot of nice teachers and a lot of kids who looked like they were having fun, I cried. I was surprised, confused, and I missed Mommy and Daddy. There were several other kids who obvious felt the same way as well. We all cried together for the same reasons.

I cried so much that I fell asleep in one of my teacher’s arms. When I woke up I was able to play a bit, but I was still very clingy. I didn’t know these teachers but they were very kind to me and I figured better to be carried and held by them than be all alone.

After what felt like a year, Daddy came to pick me up, when in fact it was only a couple of hours. We are doing narashi hoiku (gradual entry into nursery school). So we are starting off with only a couple of ours the first few days so that I can start getting used to the routine of going to school and the school itself. I was very happy to see Daddy and was happy to be done with school.

We didn’t really have time to take a picture in front of the welcome message posted at the entrance and Daddy tried to take one before we went home. I was not really in the mood. He should have taken it in the morning before I knew what was going on.

Once we were headed home I was feeling much better. I was able to calm down and enjoy the walk home.

Apparently I have to go to school again…and again and again. It seems to be a very long ordeal that lasts years. Oh boy. I hope I don’t cry every day at school. Daddy told me that I did a great job and that I would get used to school and someday really enjoy it. I trust Daddy, but I’ll have to see it to believe it.

I like eating dinner rolls. They have a little more flavor than plain old slices of bread. The only problem is that I like them too much and tend to try to eat too much at a time. Mommy and Daddy have to watch me carefully to makes sure I don’t stuff my mouth and choke. So today I’m taking it slow with smile manageable bites…at first.

I can easily be distracted when I am playing. I don’t know if it is a lack of concentration or more just being aware of my surroundings, always with my antenna up. Either way, I’ll sometimes stop what I’m doing and start something completely different in a very sudden shift.

I’ll be the first to admit that I have a kind of goofy laugh. But that’s okay because Mommy and Daddy love it and find it to be very infectious.

I’m very good at playing on my own nowadays. I don’t need to be entertained. I just find things to play with on my own. Like a strip of tape. Interesting.

Now that I’m older, I’m much more active all the time, including when taking a bath. Instead of just being bathed, I want to play as well. So I get to sit down and play with my bath toys. The problem is that I when I sit down, I am very close to the surface of the water and I try to drink it. I know, ewwww, but how I am I supposed to know? I thought water is for drinking. I don’t the difference between clean water and dirty water.

Not being able to talk, it is hard to express my needs and wants. But I discovered that I can reach and that tells Mommy and Daddy a lot about what I want. They know that I either want to say hi, be carried, or want something. It is still hard to designate which of these things I need or what exactly it is I want, but it is better than nothing.