I like music a lot, and one of the best places to find children’s songs is on children’s TV programs. There are a bunch in the afternoon. They are kind of like what Sesame Street is in America. There is a lot of singing, bright colors and characters, and lessons about how to be a good kid. Don’t worry, I’m not watching too much TV. Most days I don’t watch any. Sometimes we turn on the TV so that I can have some visual input with my songs.
Why is that all the things that I find interesting are not safe for me to play with? Or maybe the question is why do I find things that are not safe for me to play with interesting? Either way, Mommy and Daddy used to keep my lotion in my diaper organizer, but then I figured out where it was and how to open it. So now they put it up on a chest. It is just out of my reach for now, but I’ll get it. Mark my words, I will get it.
All done? Okay, now I’m outta here.
Look at us! We are wearing the same color today. Now that calls for some big happy smiles!
I love eating so much! But it is hard to enjoy the meal when I know that it is going to end. The most upsetting words for me are “All gone” or sometimes “All done”. I do not like it when my meal is over. But Mommy and Daddy have figured out that even though my tummy is probably full, my mouth still needs stimulation. So some tea followed by brushing my teeth usually calms me down.
I tried buri for the first time today. Buri is Japanese amberjack, or yellowtail tuna. I’ve had tuna before but this is a different tuna. It was pretty good. Not much different than the other tuna I had.
I am so strong! I can pull a wagon with a duck, rabbit, pig, sheep, and a big cow in it!
We went to hatsumode today. In Japan, people visit shrines in the new year to pray for good health and happiness in the new year. Also you can get omikuji (fortunes) and omamori (good luck charms). I fell asleep on the way there, but I still got my fortune: middle blessing. Not bad. We also got a good luck charm for the car. Being a baby and asleep, it was not a very exciting tradition for me. I’m sure it will be a lot more interesting when I’m older. There were some food stands just outside the shrine and when I’m older I’m sure I would enjoy the festival food that is often served there. But for this year, I’m content to have just visited the shrine to pray for good health and happiness for me and my family. It is a very nice way to start off the year.
Turn this part, then turn the top, and two turns here…and I’m done! Rubik’s cube solved!
I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I’m so pretty. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I wasn’t really sure “pretty” was the right word until today. My hair is so long that it sometimes gets into my eyes, so Daddy pinned it back with a hair clip. So pretty! Then just for fun he added a plumeria hair clip. So pretty!
My fondness of my mobile has been off and on. Sometimes it is of great interest to me and other times I couldn’t care less about it. But now that it is used as a barrier, I find it to be both a fascination and an obstacle. When you take the time to just look at it, it really is quite mesmerizing.
Ojisan (uncle) and Obasan (aunty, actually grand-aunty) came over to visit me on my own turf. I still cried a little bit at the beginning
But after a while I warmed up to them and I was in a really good mood. Ojisan was able to hold me and play with me without me crying.
It makes a big difference being in my home. I was much more comfortable and could show off all my stuff to them. Also, I didn’t have to travel in the car so I could eat and nap on my schedule.
Obasan has visited several times so not only was I comfortable, she was comfortable too, which put me at ease. She is always so cheerful and talks to me all the time. She turns every moment into a fun opportunity with me.
It was a nice visit, and there were a lot less tears than yesterday. I’m glad Ojisan stopped by. I had more of a chance to connect with him before he goes back to Tokyo later this week.
We had a great family new year celebration! We laughed, I cried, we talked, I napped, we ate, I pooped in my diaper, we played, I impressed everyone. What a great way to start the new year off: with healthy family, happy laughter, and surrounded with love!
Happy new year, everyone!
We hope you have a great 2022!
While trying to entertain me and play with me, my relatives gave me a mandarine orange to hold, since they didn’t have a ball in the house. I impressed them with my hand-eye coordination and grip. I was able to hold the mandarine orange in one hand. Then I started gnawing at it because my gums are always itchy. Nobody thought much about it. Then I made a squinty face. That’s when everyone saw that I had bit through the skin of the mandarine orange with my tiny little, but terribly sharp, teeth. They did not expect me to be able to bite through the skin or even get my mouth around the mandarine orange. But I did. I think they’ll be more care about what is within range of my choppers. Someone might lose a finger.
Ojisan was so happy to see me again! He was quite take with me from his last visit during the summer. But unfortunately, like I mentioned earlier, I’m going through my shy stage, known as hitomishiri (strange anxiety) in Japan. He so desperately wanted to hold me and play with me like he did 4 months ago, but I was not happy with the idea.
I felt bad because I know he meant well, but I only feel comfortable with Mommy and Daddy.
I eventually calmed down and let him carry me. He was so happy!
He is so sweet. I’ll try to stay calm the next time I see him and not cry. It should be fine as long as it is not a lot of time in between our meetings. (Foreshadowing)
Ojiichan and Obaachan bought a new chair for me for my visits to their house. It was a bit on the large side, but I’m sure I’ll grow into it quickly.
The size of it made me feel very regal. I allowed me to look upon my royal subjects with an air of authority.
I liked how big the table was. I could have quite a meal there. Also is also a good place to put my toys.
I got my first otoshidama, which are new year’s cash gifts for kids. I was so happy and thankful. Mommy and Daddy said they will keep them safe for me, which is a good idea because I was about to try to eat them.
When we arrived at Ojiichan and Obaachan’s house, everyone was happy to see me. I was too, but I did not express it in the best way. I cried. A lot! At this age we babies are very shy toward people who we don’t see everyday. So when I say my ojisan (uncle), I cried a lot and loud. I was very clingy to Mommy and Daddy for the first 20 minutes or so of our visit. I eventually calmed down, but I was still very wary of everyone who wasn’t Mommy or Daddy. Later on I had my nap and was in a much better mood and was exploring the room and smiling at my relatives, but it took some time.
We are headed over to Ojiichan and Obaachan’s house for New Year’s Day. It is a Japanese tradition to have a special celebratory meal on New Year’s day for good health and good fortune in the new year.
Even though it is less than a 30-minute drive, I cried a lot in the car the last time we drove there, so this time Mommy sat in the back seat with me to keep me company.