Happy Birthday Mia!

Whenever we visit Japan we always begin and end our stay with my Aunt Yoko. She lives outside of Tokyo and has seven children (which is extremely rare in Japan). They are close-knit, warm, and cheerful and when they all get together with their kids it is always a big party. This time we had some real celebrating to do - because it was Mia's tenth birthday. Mia is the eldest daughter of my cousin, Megumi. She is really sweet with Mayumi - protective and helpful.

The birthday girl.

Mommy Megumi lighting the candles

the kids getting some cake action

singing along with uncle Tatsuo's guitar jams.

Masami and his daughter, Yua.

Brandon and baby Lucy

Mayumi!

The spread. Their cooking is definitely one of the highlights of visiting Japan.

Festival!

Saturday night Mayumi and I went to a matsuri (street festival) with my cousins. Like a Fourth of July barbecue is to Americans, a matsuri is the epitome of summer to most Japanese. The festive atmosphere combined with lot's of junk food and game booths makes it a hit among the kids. Maya was no exception. She wore a traditional jinbei that my aunt gave to her, and besides her blonde hair and blue eyes, she fit right in.

mmmmm, chocolate-covered banana on a stick.
Japanese mizuame - a sweet sticky candy between two wafers. Also on a stick.

"Catch the rubber balls floating by" game, which was a baffling hit.

My cousin, Izumi's son enjoying some shaved ice.

A blurry image of Mayumi, but I wanted to get the whole octopus in the background. Little doughballs stuffed with chopped octopus - different strokes for different folks!

taiko drumming performance - I love these ladies! When I get back to the States I am so looking for a drumming troupe to join. The bad-A outfis, the yelling, the pounding - I love it!

a safe arrival

Guess where we are?

We arrived in the land of the rising sun yesterday around 5pm. So really, to us it was the land of the setting sun to be more precise. My uncle met us in the terminal - he was also there to pick up his son (my cousin Daisuke) who had just flown in from Hawaii. Good timing.

It had been a long flight, but it could have been so much worse than it was. Mayumi was technically my lap child, and when I checked in at JFK airport I was told that it was a completely full flight. My heart fell when I realized that Maya would literally be my lap child, as well. But then a miracle happened. There were a couple of children who were flying solo and the flight attendants decided to move them up to first class (lucky kids), which freed up a couple of seats in coach. After a bit of seat shuffling, I somehow ended up with an empty seat right next to me.
I don't know how I would have survived the 14 hour flight to Tokyo with Maya on my lap. It was challenging enough with her in her own seat! But I must give the girl props, because she was pretty good considering she was essentially confined to her chair for 14 hours.

Thanks to some portable acupuncture needles in my earlobes, I think I'm adjusting fairly well to the time change. Mayumi and I went to bed at 10pm and woke up around 5am. Not bad. We've already had the most delicious traditional Japanese breakfast of miso soup, rice, salmon and fresh veggies. My cousin, Megumi, is a fabulous cook and I plan to get some of her secrets while I'm here for the next few days. Then it's on to see my mom out in the country.

The only downside to all of this is that Mike can't join us for another week. We miss him already. We're looking forward to a reunion - until then Mike has made me promise that I'll let him be the one to introduce Maya to fish-on-a-stick (see his photo in our anniversary post) and other such Japanese delicacies.

Pictures and more stories to follow shortly.

enjoying it while we can...

kiddie pools, homemade popsicles, playing with friends... this is what summer is all about.

oooh la la!

I treated myself to a few books this past week:

So inspiring! And beautiful. I can hardly put them down, I just want to keep looking at the gorgeous photographs.

But in the spirit of these lovely little books, I went to a swap at church this morning and found a few treasures: a white duvet cover with lace, some pillowcases, sweaters, and random scraps of fabric. They definitely have potential.

I grew up watching my mom sew. She made us dresses (including my wedding dress!), curtains, quilts, toys, etc. Alas, I never picked up her skill. But a few years ago I invested in a sewing machine from Sears and every now and then I dabble in little projects. Now, I've found that being a mother has ignited this desire to be creative and (gasp!) domestic. This nouveau wave of thrifty, crafty homemaking is resonating with me right now. So I've got goals to repurpose my swap meet finds into handmade treasures for our home. Stay tuned for some results (but be patient and don't expect too much - I'm just beginning!).

Eleven

Eleven years ago I married this man:

It was the smartest thing I ever did.

You may not be the type of person who believes in soulmates. But then maybe you don't understand how perfectly Michael complements me. I am forgetful; he remembers everything. I am cautious; he is fearless and adventurous. I am a foot-in-my-mouth babbler; he is a patient listener. I am an over-dramatic diva; he is the reliable calm in the center of the storm. I am easily swayed by passing trends and ideas; he is independent, loyal, and intelligent.

He is always making me laugh. He is strong and protective. He is supportive and affectionate. He works hard and is able to provide for out family so that I don't need to work.

He truly is the yin to my yang.

He is my partner in everything.

He's a really good father. (Probably the best in the world, but I only have anecdotal evidence of that.)

Some husbands would raise an eyebrow if their wife suggested practicing elimination communication with their infant child. Some husbands would laugh out loud if their wife insisted on breastfeeding past the age of two. Some husbands would put their foot down if their wife requested a "family bed" for co-sleeping.

But not mine. He's been with me every step of the way, trusting me, encouraging me and supporting me.

I really like him. He's a good guy.

He understands that it is still hard for me to leave Mayumi with other people, so he suggested we play it low key and have Kimberly and Liz watch her while we went to dinner at TenPenh last night. After some outstanding pho and pesto salmon we metroed back home to our almost-two year-old. Only the second time we've ever left her to go out on a date. And he says we are going to make a habit out of this by going out on a date every month without the tyke.

See, isn't he nice?

I must have accumulated some good karma to have this.

Happy Anniversary, to my thank-goodness-he's-good-enough-to-be-true husband.

splash park

There is this little gem of a playground on Highland Street in Alexandria. It has swings, slides, a sandbox, basketball court, tennis courts and... a splash park. And as it has been hot as Hades here in the district, it seemed like heading to this park was the right thing to do today.

the sandbox

the splashy part

no matter how many cool toys or swings there are, these two will have a good time as long as they're together.

Our friend, Connie, who is Chinese-American and has triplets. In the background is her three-car wagon that totes them all around. See her buff arms? She (like Katie) is a triathlete, but I bet she stays toned by lifting three kids all day long.

Katie (with Cora and Alex) and her friend Kate (with Eva).

I pointed out that our little lunch group consisted of the two Kates and the two Asians.

You know how I like labeling everything.

Then Maya and I came home, took a nice cool shower (to get rid of the sand that accumulated everywhere) and took a nap together.

Aah, summer.

hiding

Mayumi is a morning person - at least that is one thing she gets from me! Today I happened to have my camera on hand to capture some antics. A few things:

1. sorry for the "exposure"... I put panties on her for the second video, hoping to recapture the magic of the first, but they are two very different bits.

2. you wil notice that my bedroom closets are still without doors. Don't worry, it's on the to-do list.

3. yes, her favorite book right now is Everybody Poops. We read it multiple times per day and she always gets a kick out of it. Thank you Mimi.

wedding bells in pennsylvania

Bryn and Timothy got married this past weekend!
You know why I adore weddings? Yes, the dresses and the flowers and the food are all wonderful, but I'm always touched by how a couple brings together all the people they love most in the world to publicly declare a life-long commitment to each other. I love the ritual and the celebration aspect of it. I love how two families come together. I love how two people come together and how they have an entire event just to commemorate and celebrate their love. It is a simple thing, really, and it happens to millions of people every day, but (like the birth of a child) it is so incredibly monumental and special. So, needless to say, I was honored to have been invited to Bryn's wedding.

Bryn the bride with her maids of honor: Nicole and Izzie.

Exchanging vows with Timothy as their best friend and fellow actor, Sasha, officiated (he is host on one of those HGTV shows!)

Can you get any sweeter? I'm so happy for them!!!

Attending a wedding with a toddler is another story entirely. The 3.5 hour drive to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was not fun and games - Mayumi truly hates riding in the car for long periods of time (say, any longer than 20 minutes?). And while she was welcome at the wedding, she was a bit of a scene-stealer at times (like during Nicole's toast). And she does like to be in bed around 8:30... so that meant leaving a bit earlier than we would have liked to. But, she was also fun to have around as well. Like when she was the only one on the dance floor getting her groove on. That was pretty cute.

Mike kept Mayumi occupied during the ceremony so that I could sit and enjoy it (and take a billion photos)

Maya and I cutting a rug.

The families of the bride and groom made all the desserts. (As if they didn't have enough to do with everything else!). My favorite were the Icelandic chocolate chip cookies that Bryn made from her grandmother's family recipe. Maya like them too.

The next day we strolled around charming downtown Bethlehem. Enjoyed the Moravian Bookstore and absolutely loved the homemade ice-cream at Heavenly Hedgehog.
You know how every region has their own stores that they take for granted but to an outsider it can sound kind of funny? (Though with all those mega-chains it is becoming less and less common. Sad.) In Methuen our grocery store is Market Basket, when we lived in Amherst there was the Big Y). In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania they have a big department store called the Bon-Ton. Mike forgot to bring a belt for his suit and when we asked at the hotel front desk where we could get one they recommended we stop by the Bon-Ton. I was a bit skeptical - what kind of country-style store would this be? It was almost disappointing to find that it looked just like a Macy's inside.

Okay, enough about the Bon-Ton. Back to Bryn and Timothy.

It was a nice wedding. Beautiful dresses, gorgeous flowers, delicious food... I love weddings.

macaroni necklaces

Upon suggestion from a friend, I got Mayumi started on some pre-sewing activities. Using my giant blunt-tipped needle I had her start string some giant pasta onto yarn to make some customized jewelry. I even let her use markers to decorate. It was a hit. And though she's not even two yet, I've been teaching her how to use scissors in a safe way.

Can you tell I am proud of my little crafter?

celebrating #2

Baby showers are the norm when one is expecting her first child; there seems to be so many things one needs when a new baby comes into the family. There is much celebrating and anticipation - and rightly so. Your first baby is wondrous in so many ways. I, of course, am still reveling in this magical stage.

But many of my friends have moved on to the next stage: more babies! And it doesn't seem quite right to let it just pass by. Afterall, pregnancy, birth, and children are amazing things, regardless of whether it's the first time or the fourteenth time (God bless those mamas!). And perhaps a shower isn't appropriate for baby #2 (or 3 or 4, etc.) but getting together for dinner with the girlfriends (sans kids) sure is!

Nikki had the fabulous idea to round up a few chicks to celebrate the impending arrival of Dana's second: another beautiful girl to add to the family. We gathered at Mezza 8, a relative newcomer to the ever-evolving Barracks Row. We feasted, family style, on some Mediterranean fare. Of course we indulged in dessert: baklava and Turkish-style flan. We drilled Dana on possible names, we hypothesized on life with more than one (she is the first amongst this group), and we caught up on the goings-on of our lives. And as much as we love our little first-borns, I think we were all happy that they were home with their daddies so we could enjoy some lady time. Because part of celebrating mommyhood is acknowledging that, while it the biggest and best role we play, it is only part of who we are. The small part of us that is still sassy, smart, and hip still needs some kid-free time with the girlfriends. Preferably at a tasty little restaurant with 80's style mirrorballs hanging from the ceiling.

So thanks to Dana's #2 for giving us the opportunity to have some lady time.

Learning at Home

Mayumi will be turning two in October, just a few months away. Mike and I have been discussing eduation options for her and we are planning to tour some of the local preschools. There are so many philosophies and methods out there: Montessori, Waldorf, Classical, etc. and it's been quite a project doing the research and talking to people about their experiences and beliefs. Right now I like the idea of putting her in a preschool program (when she turns three, which seems far away,but is probably right around the corner!) that meets for a few hours (9-12) each day, three times a week. Socially, this would hopefully be a great thing for her, but we would also like her to have some experience in a more structured setting with other authority figures. I sort of wish there was an option like this for all 12 years of her compulsory education, but since thre is not, I am leaning more and more towards full-time homeschooling. I was quoted in an article about homeschooling on Capitol Hill in the August Edition of the Hill Rag. I'm hoping I have the patience and motivation to see this through - I think I do and I'm really excited (though frightened!) at the prospect of this venture.

Of course, we've been home learning ever since she was born. Some of her recent academic accomplishments include:

- singing the entire ABC song

- counting to 10

- completing puzzles of various complexities

- learning a few words in both Japanese and Spanish

- recognizing various letters, specifically the ones that make up "Mayumi", "Mama" and "Dada".

- knowing many shapes and colors

We've essentially graduated from board books and are now enjoying "paper" books, like Green Eggs and Ham, various fairytales, and even some books in Japanese. She's been having creative art time every day, which includes play dough, watercolor painting, crayon drawing, and even cutting paper with little kids' scissors. Of course, we have lots of singing and dancing in our home, and she loves to play pretend. We try to have a lot of physical time, like playing at the park, playing chase around the house and yard, helping in the garden, etc. She assists me in household chores, like cleaning, folding laundry, cooking, and vacuuming. She's even pretty tech savvy, knowing her way around cell phones, cameras and the computer. So, I feel like she has a good start on developing key skills and learning about the wonderful world around her.

I feel that if I can keep this up, home schooling won't be too bad.

craftiness

I've finally finished some little crafty bits I've been working on.

I've been sewing some simple drawstring bags from leftover fabric and old shirts. Maya loves to get involved with the sewing machine - flipping the light switch on and off, pressing the reverse button, pulling on the thread. Not all entirely helpful, but she'll be sewing her own projects in no time.
This blankie and hat set was originally intended for Annie's baby, but I've been shamefully slow in completing it, so it looks like Emily's baby will be the recipient. I did, however, make baby Lucy (or Lulu, as Maya calls her) a cute pair of soft-soled shoes that looked like bunnies, as well as a mei tai carrier. But I gave them to her before I took any pictures.
My crowning achievement thus far has been a knit doll for Mayumi. Maya loves "Dolly" and has taken her to church with her, tried to feed her a popsicle, and even put Dolly on the potty. I don't know what she ever did without her very own doll to love and care for.

I've been going through my stash of yard and fabrics and books to organize what my next projects will be... amigurumi birds, baby hats, and hand-sewn toys are all in the works. Though it's hard to be serious about it during the hot summer months. This 90 degree weather does not encourage playing with wool!