Happy Birthday Ooba-chan (grandma)

12 months check up

Today Yoshi had his 12 months check up. He is now 20LB. Good news- his ear infection has been fully recovered, yeah! He got 2 shots today. Perhaps we have been to the doctor office few times too often lately, Yoshi seems to get little nervous when we stayed in the examination room, he could sense something was not right. The doctor hadn't even touch him, he already started crying...it's ok Yoshi, u are big boy now, be brave!!

(while waiting outside....still in good mood, being curious about other patients..)

This year really went by so fast........felt like it was just a little while ago when we made our first trip to the pediatrician office- Yoshi's 1 week check up.

Future career

Watching this video, can't help to wonder what Yoshi might be when he grows up?!

Orchestra conductor? Cheer leader? (Nori will say NO NO) or Bartender?

Mama, stop dreaming, he just turned 1 only. Let him enjoy the fun for right now......

Nap time (continue)

Someday having Yoshi take a nap was like dealing with a monkey who kept wanting to climb out of the crib (only if he could really do it). Someday, it could be so easy....Today, he was tired, since he woke up way too early (6:30a.m.). Here is what I saw when I returned to his bedside....

Nap time mood

When Yoshi woke up from nap, someday he was happy, someday he was crying, & someday it could be both.....

"huh......mama, u were taking pictures? oh no, my face is now all turning red with tears.."

Snack time

Finally back to normal

Last week was very hectic, with Yoshi being sick most of the time, kept waking up at night, plus preparing the birthday party, it's a bit exhausting. Today, it's such a nice weather, after meeting Nori briefly at lunch time, me and Yoshi had a little picnic at the park. Felt like we are finally back to our normal energy level.......

Party time- Thank You!!

(Party Invitation)

Quack Quack...

Thanks to Uncle Henry & Christa for taking all the photos, we had lots of fun. So glad to spend great time with all of our friends and family. Check this out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/henryoshi/sets/72157605273438222/with/2527080130/

This is the only video we taped, Nori must be too excited with Yoshi's 1st birthday party, it was a bit out of focus..looks more like a hidden camera instead. HAHA.

And also THANK YOU for all the packages we received from overseas...felt like christmas time.

How cute is this from Grandma & cousin Nana & Yuuki....Arigato!!!! Kawaii!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOSHI!!!

Happy birthday to u....happy birthday to u.....happy birthday to Yoshi......HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!! You are 1 yr old now!!!

(we had a great birthday party with friends and family today, but it's a bit exhausting...... so photos and more update to be followed later....thanks everyone for all the support in this past year. He's so lucky to have all the love and care. He's now officially 1!!!!!!)

Short conversations

Short conversation #1:
When: 6:55p.m.
Where: Cell phone call on my way back from grocery trip
Mama: "I'm on my way back home. So is Yoshi awake?" (I left as soon as Yoshi fell asleep 1.5 hrs ago)
Nori: "Yes, he's awake. He's in panic mode, probably hungry."
Mama: "Ok, ok, I'm on my way home now, can he hold on for the milk truck?"
Nori: "Yeah, he's eating baby cookies right now"
Mama: "Good. How many have u been given him so far?"
Nori: "6...he kept crying, so I gave him cookies"
..........normally Yoshi only has 1 or 2.......lucky Yoshi, he probably hope I go out more often....

Short conversation #2:
When: 10:45p.m.
Where: Living room, while Yoshi is sleeping
Mama: "Nori, I hope u don't think I'm leaving u alone watching TV while I'm sitting at the dinning table working on the blog...."
Nori: "?!?!?!"
Mama: "I thought of sitting close to u on the couch, spending quality time. But since u are watching basketball game, even if I sit by u, probably there won't be any romantic conversation anyway. So I think u will not mind me leaving u alone, right?! ^_^"
Nori: "Hahahahaha.....go back to your blog. I'm very fine over here...." there continues his beer & TV after a long day of help around the house.

Poor Yoshi

Yes, Yoshi is sick again......Monday night, he started to have a fever, the first fever ever. Next morning, doctor said he had an ear infection. Perhaps this was caught from previous cold. After taking naps, he seemed to be much better. Luckily the pink color liquid doesn't seem to be bitter, he swallowed each time with slight resistance. He does have little stuffy nose right now, but hopefully he will be fully recovered before his big birthday bash next wk. Sleep well!

After the medicine, I always give him his favorite baby cookie as reward. Just like what grandma used to do when I was little.

Check out these 2 video clips, he is doing much better now, energy is back.

Otoosan!!!

"Otoosan, I'm here, can u see me?!"

(tap, tap, tap on the window with panic motion) ~ taken last wk

What if we switch our job for a day?

Conversation from the other nights:

Mama: "....ah....it was so exhausting trying to paint the kitchen area and trying to stop Yoshi from crawling close by at the same time....."

Otoosan (Nori): "But wasn't that the fun part?"

Mama: "....?!?!no!!! Maybe we can exchange our job for a day and see..."

Otoosan: "I wish" (I know he wished he could enjoy the fun at home rather than at work)

Mama: "hm....but I think if u stay home with Yoshi, u both will do nothing except watching TV, napping, running around, burping, farting......instead of juggling the housework at the same time"

Otoosan: .........(no words came out from his mouth, except couple "hee hee haa haa" laugh)

Mama: "and I think at the end of my office work day, u BOTH will call and wonder when I will be home to cook dinner, and tell me u are starving......"

Otoosan: ........."HAHAHAHA!!"

So this is how many prints I have ordered since Yoshi's birth

The answer to yesterday blog's trivia question is:
Grandpa/ma, next month when u come to visit, we will have something to do after Yoshi goes to bed---inserting all these photos into album. ^_^

Prints

I have not printed out a single photo of Yoshi since he was born, except those for grandparents. So I set a goal to print out the pics before Yoshi's 1st birthday. After many late nights, finally I have picked out the ones we wanted and sent for print. Got those in mail yesterday, GUESS how many there were?! (remember, these are only the ones we have choosen to print). Answer to be revealed tomorrow......
I think grandpa/ma did a much better job. They have even framed the pics on wall, very up-to-date as well. Below is just portion of "Yoshi's wall", u have not seen the other side yet...very soon they will run out of space. Let's call it "Yoshi Museum" for right now.

In house supervisor

Starting from this morning, we are having someone in our backyard building a deck. Yoshi got to check that out of course, he kept starring outside, tapping at the window, perhaps he was telling the guys "don't stop, hurry up, I'm watching u!!"

Zoo adventure

Thanks to my friend Poki & Yoshi's buddy- Ethan, we were able to join them for our first zoo trip. Weather was perfect, we had a great time seeing many animals. There were lots of new sounds & sights for little Yoshi, I bet he was a bit information overload. Though there are times Yoshi wasn't really focus on the animals, but rather what's right in front of him instead - for example: he was looking at the underwater, rather than the penguins above; he was looking at the kids right next to him, instead of the black big bear who was sleeping; he was starring at the little fish rather than the huge manatees that were eating the lettuce....but it doesn't matter, because he did find his favorite thing- the train ride. Thanks Ethan for sharing such a wonderful experience with us. And I'm glad u enjoy the riceball for lunch also. "Cho cho" (train)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Daddy said me & Yoshi are both strange, are we?!

Address change

Are we moving?? NO, not me and Nori, but Yoshi himself. His address has been changed from room #1 (mommy & daddy's room) to room #3 (big boy's room). Finally after almost a yr, we have moved Yoshi to his own room (which has been ready since day 1). It was a bit eomotional for me and Nori, felt like he has moved far away. To our suprise, he adapted to his new room easily. Before the move, we did spend lots of play time in room #3, and Yoshi always seems to be happy when he saw all the Curious George around. Can't believe Yoshi is almost one. Still remembered the first day when he slept in our room, and now, he got his own....have a sweet dream my dear.

Mother's Day

Happy Belated Mother's (& Grandma's) Day! In the past, this was a day that I celebrated with my mom (& Nori's mom also). But this year, it's extra special. For the first time, I have an extra "my own day", besides birthday. With this "hallmark" day, the best part is seeing Nori went out with little Yoshi alone for the first time and did something for me. They went out shopping for card and gift. Wonder someday when Yoshi gets older, will he be able to keep the secret of what the gift is?! or will he keep saying "mom, guess what daddy and I got u? guess, guess, guess...oh well, let me tell u.........." Thank you Otoosan & Yoshi!!

3 mins of our day

One good thing about Yoshi (or most kids at his age)- they can just play with the same toy all day long. Every time when he gets to the play area, all the same old toys seem brand new to him. Thanks to Auntie Yukie, those little cups have performed their magic power & help to keep little Yoshi occupied at least 3 mins of the day, meaning at least I have 3 mins to sit down and rest. This video is edit with double speed!!

Come and click on Yoshi's page.

So what does a stay home mom do when her husband is gone for a wk, and trapped inside the house going nowhere (because Yoshi is sick)...?! check this link out all the time & make sure to click "rated" & "recommend" buttons (allowed to click once per each of the six pics per day). Forward to everyone u know...

http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=159900235

All of u (visitors) can make one recommendation per day during the Contest period for the entry the visitor feels should be featured on the cover of Parents magazine. If your friends "rate" your galleries, your gallery may be featured on the homepage! Similarly, if your friends "recommend" your galleries, you might see your galleries in the “Most Recommended” section!

HOWEVER, the final decision for the magazine cover winner will be decided by the judges of the magazine instead. Contest ends June 24.

ONE more day!

(Video taken after Yoshi woke up from morning nap.....)

Yoshi: "Ah...ah....."

Mama: "Yoshi, u wake up in such a good mood, that's very rare, usually u cry instead"

Yoshi: "Ah..ah...." follow by jumping dance......

Mama: "I know....yes, Otoosan (Nori) is finally coming home tomorrow, he's been gone since Sunday. I know we both miss him....Otoosan, HURRY UP!!!!"

Thirsty

Yoshi is recovering from his cold. But I decided not to take him to music playgroup today, so he won't spread or get more germs. We have been staying home for 5 days already, it's rainy cloudy day here...yikes. Breathing with his mouth open for a while, he is very thirsty & drinks a lot of fluid. It seems like just yesterday that I was teaching him how to drink with the straw, now he has mastered the skill, no longer blowing water or spilling every where....

Dinner time

After a long day tracking Yoshi's every move & patrolling the kitchen area, we (me & him) were both physically tired by the late afternoon. Around 5:20p.m., dinner began..........

(5:20p.m.)
-(I thought to myself) "ok, well Yoshi doesn't seem to be sleepy at all, let's start dinner.
-Mama: "Yoshi, we will have dinner now, u are not sleepy, right?! Don't fall asleep" (microwave heat up began)

(5:22p.m.)
-Yoshi: "Ah ah ah...(meaning food food food with the tone of impatience)"

(5:28p.m.- half way to his dinner)
-Mama: "Oh no, Yoshi, u are slowing down, your eyes are smaller and smaller, your body is leaning sideway against the chair....u are getting sleepy, aren't u?! don't waste the food, I just cook this congee this morning...stay awake!!"
-Yoshi: "Ng...ah....(meaning I'm sleepy, leave me alone)"

(5:29p.m.)
- (I thought to myself) :"Got to do something before he totally fall asleep, then he won't eat the meal"
- (light bulb above my head!!)
- Mama: (holding the spoon next to my ear) "Moshi moshi, hello, yes yes, Yoshi? he is eating dinner, yes yes, he will talk to u later, hold on"
- Yoshi: (his eyes suddenly return to normal size, wondering who am I talking to)
- then feeding continued.......

(5:30-5:37p.m.)
- the "pretend" phone conversation repeated several times, and feeding went well.......sort of...

(5:40p.m.)
..............................................see pics below.
No, he didn't finished his whole meal, but I think he had enough and it's time to take a evening nap.

Happy Children (Boys) Day- Kodomo no hi

Today (5/5) is Children's Day in Japan 子供の日. But it's only for Boys. Girls celebrate on different date. Grandpa & grandma have sent from Japan the "koinobori" (carp-shaped wind socks, see link) and a card that shaped like the traditional doll decorations for boys. Yoshi was so excited so see that for the first time. This video was taped last wk (before he got the cold). Grandpa, grandma- Arigato!!

(We put that inside the house, so it won't be blown away)

Did mommy say "no no"?

Yoshi still has the running nose. But I think he is getting better. Everytime when I tried to wipe his nose, he's like fighting back...but definitely he is much better and has the energy to move around as usual.

In the past, whenever he crossed over to the kitchen wooden floor, I would yell out "No No!", and he would stop and turn around. But lately, the "no no" is more for pausing only, then he will keep on crawling to his target. Sometimes, he thought I couldn't see what he's doing, so he will "peek" thru from the corner and check (or spy) on me. He knows he is up to no good....curious monkey!!

Sneeze.....tissue please

Yoshi got a cold......poor little guy, having running nose since yesterday. Weather here lately is very strange. Cold, hot, cold, hot....I must not have given him enough clothes to wear (can't help to feel certain guilt & helpless when little guy is sick). Luckily he doesn't have any fever. We did give him some baby medicine and lots of fluid to drink. And most importantly, he is still smiling (while breathing with his mouth wide open at the same time)

Since Yoshi was sick, so he had to stay home while I stopped by at my friend- Beth's twins birthday: Mia & Zack. Can't believe they are 3 already. Yoshi did had a great bonding time with Nori- taking naps, lunch together, and I even heard about TV time together too....

(Upper: Zack & Mia, each of them had their own yummy birthday cake, very thoughtful parents)

(Lower: My other friend-Stacy's kids: Jacob (so cute...even let me take pic) & Kayla 3 months old)

PANIC mode....

Mirror mirror, how do I look?