Engrish

007 was checking out his cell phone bill online and asked me 

"What is the past tense of log-in?"

moi: "Logged in, why?"

007: "That's what I thought, check this out..."

Gotta love this country....oh and I did fuzz out his name, not like anyone could read it, but whatever.

DV lottery

Remember : Only a few more days left to email/comment your baby birthday guess.  It has to be an UNTAKEN day.  Look at the calendar on the left to see what's still open.

Now onto what I'm really going to talk about...the Diversity Visa Lottery.  We enter 007 in it every year(we forgot last year though), and every time we need a recent passport/mugshot for both 007 and me.  They aren't very becoming, but since the camera was out 007 did grab a belly shot...so for Pam...Happy Belated Birthday Present.

Me at 35 weeks.  If you don't know what that means, it basically means the end of month 8.  I turn 9 months next week.

..hope everyone had a fun and thankful Turkey glut.  Enjoy your black Friday.  Good night!

Scaaary

Ok, so I'm not a breastfeeding nazi or anything like that, formula has it's place, but this articles sure makes me glad Edamame was a mama's milk only boy.  Hope all the parts work again so that I don't have to worry about Brass Knuckles.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

So I'm not sure if she'll even read this on her birthday, but just to let her and the world know how cool I think she is....happy birthday Pam!

One of  the hardest things about being over here is being away from her.  She's always been a great example to me(yeah, I know, the younger sister leading the way), and super forgiving, loving and fun.

We love you!  Have an awesome day!

Environmental Wrapping

I'm a dork, I took apart our Rand McNally map book that Edamame had ripped the cover off of and started to use it to wrap presents.  It looks cool, but not very Christmassy.  Oh, and I know it is super early, but I have no idea where I'll be on Christmas Eve, so it is prep work.  Some people make meals and freeze them before they have a kid, I wrap presents.

I wrapped some stuff we got a week and a half ago from Grandma, and Edamame discovered the world's softest socks, and LOVES them.  Then we added the new hat that Obaachan knit for him.  I am so glad she did it again this year, in addition to babysitting, cleaning and just being a rad MIL.  We are spoiled with an awesome Grandma and an awesome Obaachan!

Dr update: Baby is healthy, moving and is estimated at 5.3 lbs.  Once again, an estimate that gets more and more inaccurate as the kid gets bigger.  I just like the idea that the ultrasound calculated due date is like two weeks before the original one.  Either way, who knows when this kid will come or how big he'll be, but it is fun to get the info.

Thanksgiving

Already had turkey!  Woo hoo!  It was a lot of fun, though I was feeling pretty yucky by the end of the day.  I'm still recovering from being sick.  Edamame has had some fun recovery days too.  We had to wake him up on Sunday morning at 9am!!  yeah, insane, he was complaining about it being too bright and he wanted his sun glasses.  Poor little guy, looked like he had a hangover.

We did take our Christmas photos that day too, here is one of the rejects, if you want a real one in your mailbox let me know ASAP.

Oh and back to Thanksgiving.  I just have to say the sweet potato recipe from Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook was TO DIE FOR!  I also whipped up some pretty good stuffing with wheat bread, mushrooms, shiitake, apples, walnuts, onions and leeks.  Here is a nice picture of the whole crew this year.  We kept it small for OBVIOUS reasons.

What would Thanksgiving be without pie?  Well Edamame really dug the whipped cream part of the pie equation.  This is for you Amy.

Personality

My friend QS took this test, and I thought I'd share.  It is a blogging personality test.  Here are my results

ESTP - The Doers

The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

Too true, and now I have to get back to Thanksgiving prep...or at least cleaning up from our trip to Costco today.  Anyone want me to post the menu for Monday's Thanksgiving party?

A matter of semantics and dynamics

Two things for todays Japan Cool before I get to making Edamame's fish jeans.

1. I am 9 months pregnant....if you count it Japanese style.  It is always a month ahead of the European gestational counting system.  Why is this cool?  I feel like I've accomplished more and don't have as far to go for some odd reason.  Yeah for using a lunar calendar(which Japan used to use in the past I believe).

2.  Our baby monitor broke a few months ago.  Edamame is old enough that we don't NEED one, but with the colder weather(closing the doors in the house to keep warmth in specific rooms, but it also muffles sound), and Brass Knuckles coming, we need to get a new set.  Here is what I want!

In case you don't follow the link or can't read it, the cool thing about these bad boys is that they give you temperature readings for the room that the baby is in.  Yeah there are cool ones that give have a video, blah blah, I'm not that anal, but it does get REALLY cold in this house, and the upstairs can get REALLY hot in the summer.  I'm not sure what is available in other countries, I just thought this was a rad idea.

photo phun

Remember: Leave a comment somewhere for a baby guess.  You only have 10 days left!

007 got some photos of the picnic from some of his coworkers/other attendees, I thought it'd be fun to share some of them.  Oh and a sickness update, I don't think I'll get much worse, but Edamame feels really yucky.  We watched Curious George ALL DAY LONG(nap time was Pride and Prejudice at least). Oy!

Ok, now for some pictures.

Our arrival picture...kinda, it took Edamame about 10 minutes to feel comfortable enough to sit down to eat.

007 helping Edamame do a plank down to get some rice balls.

Ah, full and comfortable.

Boy was that a good thigh workout!  Feel the burn, baby!

These two had a lot of fun playing catch, though we had to keep reminding them to throw it to each other.  Especially Edamame liked to hold onto the ball and just run around.

Same thing, but for anyone looking to see how pregnant I am, it's an OK belly shot.

...and of course, what day would be complete without a little upside down time!

Random facts: Finished my MIL's apron, Edamame's stocking, a necktime for him, and tandoori chicken today.  I'll have to try the chicken again, it was good, but I was missing coriander.  Thank goodness that craving was fulfilled, now if only I can find some split peas and appease that pea soup craving.

Sick day

We're both sick today. We'll be watching too much tv today. Oh, and
yes, that is our heretical pre-Thanksgiving Christmas tree.

Good Day

Reminder: Look at the calendar under the rotating baby and this post, then leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Thank you to those who've already guessed.

Oh, and 1 person for each calendar day, if your day is taken, guess another one!

Yeah for online Christmas shopping!

including a sale on legos at amazon.jp for Edamame

Boo for Amazon.com sending me an email about all the sweet Dansko shoes available.   Can't buy them....grrrrr

Woo hoo for getting the belated Birthday present for my FIL *geometrically* measured and cut out!

Boo for a husband in a different time zone.

Three cheers for my wonderful friend inviting me to play tomorrow morning!  She always comes at the perfect time, she must totally listen to the spirit!

Boo for tomorrow being cold and overcast.

Hallelujah for a decorated Christmas Tree and a Thanksgiving feast in a week

We get Monday the 24th off for some other reason, so that is when we celebrate.

Boo for ...umm...something else I'm sure.

Oh and yeah for a phone call with my AWESOME sister today.

Boo for being tired...good night everyone

Reminder: Look at the calendar under the rotating baby and this post, then leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Thank you to those who've already guessed.

Oh, and 1 person for each calendar day, if your day is taken, guess another one!

We've had a fun, silly and tiring week.  It all started kind of last week when I went to the Temple and bough Edamame his own Book of Mormon.  He started reading it right away, and he took the phrase "Feast upon the words of Christ" very seriously.

Then on Tuesday, as you already know I went to the Dr. and Obaachan and Michikobachan stayed here to play.  Michikobachan(Aunt) also bought us an origami book.  So far I've had to make some weird things.  I've tried an Angel Fish, a crane, a rabbit, and a frog.  I made the frog, went downstairs to get a camera, and right before I was back I hear a giant ripping noise.  Doh!  So I had to make another one.  

What you may not have known, but will realize upon seeing the picture below, I have French ancestry.

Thursday, we got a package from grandma!  Woo hoo!  besides cookies, and some Christmas presents, Edamame also got some very warm pajamas.  He LOVES them, and even though it is a crappy picture taken with my iPhone you can see him looking out the window to look at the moon and compare it to the ones on his PJs.

What Saturday would be complete without an adventure.  This time we had a picnic with some of 007's co-workers and got to play in the grass.  Oh, and some delicious krispy kreme donuts, from the 4th store to open in Japan.  Ohhhhh yeah!  The rest of the food was sparse, so it helped a lot, but we did eat much more substantially at home.  Here are the picnic highlights, throwing balls and playing on rocks.

Of course, it isn't really the end of the week, but it feels like it.  Sunday, the day we get gussied up and learn at church.  Remember, I spoke of a dress I'd made.  Well I finally got a picture.  I've run into some problems with the buttons, they were sewn on pre-bump/body-milk-prep so they are starting to pop off.  I'll have to move them an inch or so to the right to get it to work.

Not much else.  Edamame has begun putting things behind his back and saying "It's gone!" if he doesn't want us to take something away.  He's also begun requesting various languages for communicating.  We've had 'nihongo' time at lunch for a few days, or at other times, 'no nihongo'.  Tonight for bed he requested an 'English book'.

Ok, enough bragging...time for bed!

HALLELUJAH!

Reminder: Look at this post, and leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Thank you to those who've already guessed.

Oh, and 1 person for each calendar day, if your day is taken, guess another one!

Check this out! What knowledge come from wasting time reading the news.  We're soooooooooo excited!  With two kids it may be worth the price to save the sanity.  Hey, if Californians start boycotting Utah, the Japanese will pick up the slack.


Oh and for another, much more spiritual, pick me up....read this!

In The News

Reminder: Look at this post, and leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Thank you to those who've already guessed.

Oh, and 1 person for each calendar day, if your day is taken, guess another one!

Today was a hospital day, and though we have no pictures, I thought I'd give an update for those who are interested, mainly family, but read along if you like.  We'll go youngest to oldest.

Brass Knuckles: Kicking, growing and doing well.  The ultrasound estimates put him around 4.5 lbs.  He's been head down for the last two appointments, and digging that head into my hip, so no worries about a breech baby.  Go go magic baby growing machine!

Edamame: Sleeping, thank goodness!  His lip is almost 100% healed.  His favorite new thing to say is "I need it, NOW!" especially when it comes to things we don't want him to have/eat.  He is also becoming a big fan of "I do it myself".  On the neat side of things he can sing I am a child of God in English and Japanese, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC, Oh Christmas Tree, and we're now working on Angels we have Heard on High.

Soybeanlover(me): Getting uncomfortable, but fortunately can't over stuff myself because my stomach is too squished now.  My plans for this week are sewing projects, and being a lazy butt.  My MIL and her sister were over today, and did all the dishes while I put Edamame down for the aforementioned nap, so I am in heaven!  Oh and I'm excited for Thanksgiving!  I've been researching recipes online.

007:  Big news!  A Business trip to Taipei, Taiwan next week.  We are also going to a picnic thrown by one of his co-workers this weekend.

Everyone else: In case you haven't heard, or don't know, my sister finally broke the silence about #3.  The world now knows, and no we don't plan it, but dang am I excited to have cousins close together again!

Lingua Franca

So just a quick thing, but I thought it was cool.  There is a family in our ward from Peru, their kids were born here, but their first language was Spanish.  They are starting to learn Japanese at school, but it is still pretty new.  Edamame, who's English is much stronger than his Japanese now, and the 4 year old were drawing together during Sacrament and it was so cute to see them communicating in Japanese.  Who'd have thought a Peruvian and American would be using Japanese as their Lingua Franca?  What a world we live in!

Oh, and kindergarden starts when you're three or four here(three year or two year kindergarden)

Good Evening Tag

Reminder: Look at this post, and leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Thank you to those who've already guessed.

I got tagged by the lovely Queen Scarlet and it looked like a lot of fun.  I am doing it in the evening, so it'll be a bit different.

1. My kitchen sink - I just did the dishes, not because of the post, but because the boys were in the bath, and that is when I wash dishes.  Notice the milk carton, I have to wash it before we recycle it.

2. My favorite room - I like the color 007 painted it, it stays warm in the winter, it is where we play, fold laundry, get dressed, etc.  I just moved Edamame's books to the bedroom a month ago, but before that, all of those were in here too.  This was our bedroom when we were newlyweds.

3. Me right now - dunno what to say, just me blogging.

4. My closet - look at ALL the space I have.  Now don't you feel blessed?  For some reason 007 gets two closets and I get one.

5. The fridge - Lots of stuff on it, Edamame usually pulls all the magnets off.

6. The Laundry Room - It looks messy 'cause the boys threw their clothes off for bath time.  This is also where we brush our teeth and stuff.

7. My favorite shoes - they are comfy, but a bit cold for winter.  I'm so glad San Diego introduced me to these.

8. What my kids are doing right now - Edamame is taking a bath with 007.  In Japan dads almost always take a bath with their kids if they are home in time.  It is our weekend tradition.

Brass Knuckles is gestating, and making life generally uncomfortable for me.

9. My bathroom - brand new!  I love this toilet.  It has a bidet feature...sweeeeeet.

10. My dream vacation - Sorry no pics, I want to take my new family to Europe and tour them around!

I shall tag

kim & co.

hatsuho

michelle of Life with J and S

mom(if you are up for it)

katie

Mrs. Emily

anyone else who wants to, 'cause this one is fun!  comment so that others may view it too...if you want them to.

Zoorasia..again!

Reminder: Look at this post, and leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Thank you to those who've already guessed.

With our friend Mrs. Emily(to distinguish between her and other Emilys) in town we had the chance to go to Zoorasia again.  It is always a big hit with Edamame and yesterday was no exception.  He loved the animals, unfortunately there is no Koala there, but the Kangaroos distracted him from that fact.

We started out the day riding the train, and since it was soooooo cold I taught Edamame how to put his hands in his pockets.  This was great, but he refused to take them out.


 After seeing some cool monkeys,




the lions which ran away,


and taking some pictures,


it seemed high time to get a "souvenir".  


He tripped over the sidewalk and wasn't able to put his hands(remember, pocket obsession) out for the impact, and so has a very red, swollen lip with a big gash on the inside of his mouth too.  Luckily there was another mommy there that had some bacitracin and an anpanman bandaid for the side of his head.  Once he caught his breath he kept asking to see the otters as he cried.  I'm impressed with his persistence even in the face of such great pain.  It looks pretty bad today still, I'll try to snap another shot, so you can see how yucky it is.

Oh and I gave the wound a salt water bath this morning to kill bacteria, it hurt a lot, but he ate better for lunch, so I think it helped a bit.

Back to the zoo....we had fun, and hoped Mrs. Emily did too!

Oh, and just 'cause I think these pictures are sooo stinkin' cute.  Gap totally lost out last year when they didn't choose Edamame for the model contest.

Busy Builder

Reminder: Look at the post two below this one, and leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

The days are getting colder, which means we are going to be spending less time downstairs in the cold sunless rooms, and more time upstairs where it is warmer and brighter. Edamame loves his blocks, and today he was quite the busy builder.
I'm impressed with the structures he is building all by himself!

He is very attached to them though, and even though we tried a 5 min clean up before bed, we had to leave the houses standing tonight. This is a day pic, but still you can see the joy in his eyes.

Also some pride from a job well done!



As always he's his fun self, and we've been dinosaurs, cows, snakes, monkeys and cats today. He also broke down into tears when he saw that I'd made our bed. He likes looking at the squares on the mattress pad. We're definitely going through a 'shapes' period.

Halloweening

REMEMBER: Look at the post below this one, and leave comments for your baby birthday guess!

Our Primary Halloween Party went off with many smiles, lots of candy and some good missionary work.  Unfortunately, I was busing being in charge and 007 was keeping Edamame happy and helping out A LOT, so we have NO pictures at the party.  We did get 2 before the party and a few afterwards once we were at Obaachan and Ojiichan's house.  Edamame loved the costume, and danced in it until we left the house.  


He thought he was a dinosaur though, and pretended to be one of the rest of the day.  

Come night time though he switched to being a cat, and we've been cats ever since.  

We've had a nice time here so far, as always.  Edamame has been a bit sleep deprived, but is napping like a champ, so he's catching up.  We even took Ojiichan out to dinner and ice cream two nights ago because his birthday is next Saturday. As always, lots of fun to be had, ad I got to go shopping by myself!

Ok, so I'm sure this is normal for a two year old, but I get a total kick out of two things he's been doing lately.  First, he pretends to be someone or something else ALL DAY LONG.  Last week it was his cousins, Friday we were 'puppy', 'frog' and 'lion'(he'll even use this names when we wake up and say 'good morning frog', etc.), yesterday was dinosaurs and today we are all cats.  The second thing is snoring.  He has discovered, probably from playing with me or observing 007 sleep, that snoring = sleeping.  Last night as we were putting him to bed, with his eyes wide open he starts going making fake snoring sounds with the funniest face.  We were laughing so hard.  Once daddy left though, he turned back into a cat, nyeowing(it's a cross between English meow and Japanese nyan) until he fell asleep.