Heater in the bathroom!

I arranged to get a heater in the bathroom at my parents house. I also arranged to get a new gas pipe to use a gas fan heater at living room. Our little princess will stay at my parents house from December so now she can get a warm bathroom and a warm bedroom! and my husband also can get warm room too! They install that today from 9am to 7pm! it took all day. My parents also use this opportunity to got a new water heater.

Lunch with Auntie

I've arrived in Del Mar on a business trip and had a bit of time during the afternoon so I managed to meet up with my Auntie who lives near by and have some sushi. The weather here is absolutely terrific and we had a lovely snack with an Ocean view in beautiful Del Mar. I wanted to get a shot of the ocean behind us, but the sun was facing the wrong direction...this is one thing you learn in lighting school - Don't compete with God! So we're facing the ocean in this picture...trust me, it was beautiful!

Chicken Little

Sorry I haven't updated the blog lately, Hiromi's been really busy as have I. I went to NY on Wed and I'm flying to the west coast on Sunday.

Halloween is coming and at my office here in MA, we have an annual tradition called the "Spooky Trail". Employees create a kind of haunted house and kids of employees are invited to come and enjoy the spooky trail and get some candy. This cute little kid belongs to my next door neighbor in the office. I love this costume - she's a little cutie! We are only a month and a half away from our little one, I can't wait!!!!

Sophrology

I took a class about Sophrology at NAKA ladies clinic today. Sophrology's concept is that we should relax when we give birth. Of course giving birth is painful, but If you can relax then baby can get out more easily. If you feel tense or be nervous, birth canal will be just tight and it will be difficult to give oxygen to your baby. We learn '' Of course giving birth is painful, but we should relax and we should think about baby when we give birth. If you can think about your baby you will think I have to relax for baby then baby can come out more smooth and easily.'' We watched a video that pregnant ladies are giving birth with Sophrology style. They seem really relaxed and not scream at all. The delivering is totally different from TV or drama.
We have to have image training and training for breathing.



I can not explain well, so please check this website for more info.

http://www.infobears.ne.jp/sophrojm/

* Introduction to Sophrologic Delivery
* Terphos-Logos for Image-Training

They gave us this CD. I have to listen and I have to training about Sophrology.
Side A : A Lecture of Dr. Akira Matsunaga
General Information of the Delivery
Importance of Relaxation in the Process of Childbirth
Relaxation for an Easy Delivery
Effect of Sophrologic Image Training
Side B : Relaxation for an Easy Delivery
Sophrologic Image-Training in the Sophro-liminalState of Mind

BCG Vaccine for Tetta

I went to public health center with my sister today because Tetta become 3months old and he had to take BCG vaccination. It seems to not hurt but I felt so sorry to Tetta... He just cried a little because I think he was just surprised??? I might be so worried and hurt when our little princess get any injection or she get sick... I think I can not see that.... I'm not sure but I think I would feel very hurt to see that happening or situation to her.

Hello, EVO

I bought a car and everyone was asking what kind of car. Every time I explain it, nobody has heard of this car. While it's not a rare car, it is not a mainstream vehicle. In fact, Mitsubishi decided not to make a 2007 model and actually stopped selling this car and will reintroduce a newly designed model in 2008. That is why I picked up a 2006. This is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - also known for short as the EVO.

This is not just any 4 dour sedan...It's got 385hp, twin scroll turbo, full-time all wheel drive with settings for Tarmac, Gravel, and Snow, Brembo brakes, Bilstein shocks, BBS Mag rims, Vortex air vents, Carbon fibre super-wing, and Recaro racing seats. This is all without any upgrades, this is stock out of the factory! This car is so fast, it's scary - but fun...gotta keep is safe. Now, I need to find a Recaro baby seat to go in the back.....

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our anniversary! It's amazing how fast the past 5 years have flown by, but it's been great and we are looking forward to the next stage of our life with Jr.! Since I couldn't be with Hiromi, I sent her a flower bouquet. She said that she was quite surprised as it was so big! She mentioned that it reminded her of those large bouquets that are in Hotel lobbies. We decided that instead of buying presents for each other, we'll take a trip to Europe once we are reunited in the US. We've been meaning to take a trip to London or Paris for some time, but never put it together. Since it's such a short flight from Boston, now seems like a good time. Especially while Jr. flies for free!

Haggy Pillow

My stomach is getting more big. It is difficult to sleep face up...Jr. is getting heavy too. So I have to lie on my side, but I'm worried about Jr. because I feel I will crush her??? Now I'm uncomfortable to sleep any position. I think I need to buy a haggy pillow (body pillow). It is very popular among pregnant ladies. I might get multi pillow(cushion). I can use it as a haggy pillow when I'm pregnant and I can use it as nursing cushion when it is lactation period. Baby can use it as sitting cushion too later.

Shopping for Jr.

My sister and I went to "Diamond City" again today and I bought some goods for Jr. I still search and consider carefully about baby goods, but I picked some goods.
I enjoy shopping with my sister but it is punishing shopping. (^_^;) It takes long time because we have two kids. We have to take Kanta to play room first and we also have to go to the nursing room to feed Tetta. I can not run and catch Kanta so I usually carry baby stroller. If I'm not 7 months pregnant then I might be OK, but it is hard for me to walk around all day with 2 kids now. I know she was looking forward to going shopping with me and I have to move to USA next year so it is really nice chance to spend time with my sister, her kids and my parents. Of course Jr. is precious child for us. So I will take it easy and I will take care of Jr. too.

Update from the East.....coast

I haven't posted for a while since Hiromi has provided some good pics and posting info, but I figured I'd give her a day or two to relax...she's been a busy girl! Her sister has had a lot of free time of late and has been taking Hiromi out shopping almost daily.

As for me, I had a very productive weekend. I think I may have lined up both housing and a car for myself. I was going to post a picture of both, but I don't want to jinx myself until everything is final....

In the end I decided to rent an apartment until this wacky real-estate market settles out. I was fortunate enough to find a townhouse that is new construction from the ground up in Lexington - very rare. We will be the first to live in the unit if everything goes according to plan. We have been fortunate so far - this will be the third consecutive apartment where we were the first to live in the unit. Also, since it's brand new, no need to worry about lead paint for Jr.

As for the car - they didn't manufacture a new version of my car in 2007...so, I scoured the Internet and found a 2006 in mint condition with super low miles. I'm buying it from a private party, so I have to be especially cautious but so far everything seems to check out. I'm going to pick it up after it passes an inspection at the dealer on Wed. - wish me luck. Once I bring it home - I'll post some pics.

Lucky it's a girl...

I have to give the Robman credit for this one - he sent me this video - funny stuff.

Dad vs. Baby

Enjoy the movie!

Boshi techo

Today my sister and I cleaned house because my mom wants us to organize and get rid of some our old books or our stuff. While we were cleaning up our stuff, We found our ''Boshi (Kenko) techo'' which is the Health Handbook for Mother and Children.
Once your doctor gives you a pregnancy examination, you can receive the ''Boshi techo''(Health Handbook for Mother and Children) at the Health Center. We can also get a lot of information about having baby. When we go to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to get pregnancy check-up, we have to bring this handbook every time. The ''Boshi techo'' is the health report for mother and children recording their health conditions, child's development and vaccinations. The doctors will update all information relating to the pregnancy and birth in this booklet.

We are so happy to see our ''Boshi techo'' because we have our baby's ''Boshi techo'' now.
This picture is Jr.'s and my ''Boshi techo''

Hiromi was born on March 8th 1975 at 2:05pm. My weight was 3190g and my high was 52cm.

Yakisoba

My sister and I went to Takashimaya department store in Sakai Higashi and some furniture shop called NITORI because my sister wanted to buy some dishes. We enjoyed to have Okonomiyaki for lunch today. The Okonomiyaki staff draw ''Anpan man'' on top the okonomiyaki for Kanta by mayonnaise. ''Anpan man'' is very popular animation(cartoon) in Japan for kids. Kanta has a lot of this character goods too. You can see the character from our blog on July 24, 2007 ''Inu no hi (Dog Day) at the Nakayama Shrine'', Kanta is wearing this character's T-shirt.
By the way, I got stuff which we sent to Osaka from Tokyo this evening. We had to go back to home by 4pm today, so we couldn't do shopping not much today.

Recently Jr. is kicking very hard and a lot! She also hiccup again today. This time is the 4th time I notice she hiccup. She might hiccup more but I just don't notice...?? When I noticed she is hiccup first time on 24th September 2007. Straker was at home and we really enjoyed and happy to feel she hiccup. anyway, we already love her very much.

Latest pics

I went to NAKA Ladies clinic today. This is first time for me to get a pregnancy check-up at Naka. This Dr. looks kind, but he was angry at me because I already gain 10kg (22lbs) at 7months pregnant (today). I was supposed to gain wight about 10kg (22lbs) at the 9month point!

Jr. will gain weight about 1500g (3.3lbs) more from today over the next 2 months.... I had heard Dr. Naka is really strict about weight gain from my friend's sister who gave birth at this clinic. Some people doesn't like his style but some people like his style. Anyway, I hope he is nice and good doctor for me. I couldn't get nice picture of her today. this is her head and leg bone.

Jr.'s current stats
30weeks 5days
weight 1658g
BPD(diametrical head) 7.8cm
FTA(cross section for body) 52.42㎡
FL(femoral length) 5.7cm

31 Flavors for 45 minutes

My sister and I was going to go to Toys 'r' us with her kids today. When we were driving to go there, we could hear some strange sound like we are dragging something under our car... This is my mom's car and she had just had changed tires or brake's, etc yesterday. We were worried about that sound so we decided to park immediately. There was 31 Flavors Ice Cream parking, so we parked there. We called our dad and he said it should be fine... but my sister decided to call "JAF" which is like AAA in USA. We had to wait for 40-50min for them to arrive, so we waited at 31 Ice Cream shop. JAF staff checked everything but said that nothing is wrong..... so we went back to house to see if it happened again and JAF staff followed us just in case - but it was fine... we could not hear that strange sound anymore....
My dad said car shop changed brake stuff so it might be that one...
Anyway, we spend wasting time today.
After we came back to the house, we went to Toysrus. Kanta really enjoyed to check their toys.

First week in MA

Well, I made it through the first week of living on the east coast and the weather has been absolutely terrific! In fact, this weekend it's supposed to be warmer here (in the 80s) than the west coast! I managed to get myself a temporary apartment for the next 2 months while I seek out more permanent accommodation. I read on some websites that returning expats usually have a difficult time readjusting - I thought it was all hogwash, but actually I am finding it difficult to readjust. The politics and culture is so different overseas - even other foreigners overseas are different because they have also had to make the adjustment to living in a new place. It took me about a year to get adjusted and to enjoy life in Japan - I wonder if it will take that long to get into the groove here....I hope not.
I spoke to Hiromi this morning, no news to report other than one comment that made me smile. she mentioned that when I started talking on the phone, Jr. started to kick as if she knew I was around! I really miss them....

Kanta and Teta

Today, my sister went back to her house for about 2hours to pick up some stuff today. and Tetta and I were at home. Tetta is usually a really good boy. He doesn't cry so much (Of course he cry a lot but it not so often) and he always give us some smile. However, today I think he was hungry when my sister went back to her house. He didn't stop crying.... If I hold him, he stop cry, but If I put him down to bed, he start crying again.... My sister said I can sometimes just let him cry. It is good excises for him. After a good cry, he can get good deep sleep or he get hungry. We( Japanese) say '' Crying baby will grow well'' My sister is really good mom. She has skill to raise her kids. She takes it easy and enjoy it. I have to learn about her style.
I can not wait to see my baby in Dec.... Tetta make me feel that more and more.

Shopping in Osaka

posted by Hiromi:

I went to shopping with my sister and her kids to "diamond city". This department store is a heaven for pre-mama, moms, babies and kids. They have good service for baby or kids. Baby strollers provided by the mall are very convenient. It easy to carry around a baby when we are shopping. In all my shopping today, I couldn't find any maternity cloths for Autumn and winter. It's starting to get cold, although this week is not bad. It will be around 25degrees (77 F). so i have a little more time. I am getting really fat...