It`s a wonderful life: Blog

Kiyoshi

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:43:17 GMT

Kiyoshi was born yesterday at 4.25 in the afternoon. It was very exciting, I saw him come out. He was 3390grams and 51cm long - exactly the same as Wataru!

和尊の成長

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:25:28 GMT

Japanese

和尊も今日で１歳５ヶ月を迎えました。毎日元気に走り回っています。

最近はいろいろな事ができるようになり、「ご飯よー」　と言うと自分でいすとテーブルを準備したり、食べたお皿もキッチンの所まで持ってきてくれます。今日は自分が残したご飯を生ゴミのBOXに捨てて私にお皿を渡してくれました。掃除も大好きでいつも手伝ってくれます。和尊が床やテーブルを汚したりした際もタオルを渡すと拭いてくれます。野菜とハーブを育てているのですが、水やりも毎朝和尊がしてくれます。言葉も私たちが言う事はほとんど理解しているようです。スーパーに行くと　りんごを見て　「APPLE！！！」　と言ったり、バナナを見て　「バー」　と言ったりしています。本を見せて、羊は？　アイスクリームは？　と言うとそれらをちゃんと指さします。夜は８時に電気を消すと自分でベッドに行って私かベンちゃんの頭を抱くか、腕枕を和尊が私達にしてくれ寝ます。歯は今６本生えていて、新たに４本生えてきているので１日置きくらいにものすごく大泣きしますが（たぶん１分くらい）すぐ自分で寝ることに集中し、寝てくれます。

何でも自分でやりたいという気持ちが芽生えているので、何でもさせています。本人もできる事を楽しんでいるので和尊がしたいことは時間がかかってもやらせるようにしています。和尊も来年の２月にはお兄ちゃんになりますし、きっと弟の面倒も良く見てくれるだろうと思っています。とても頼もしいです。

赤ちゃんは順調に育っています。今妊娠２４週です。赤ちゃんは毎日一日中ほとんど動いています。いつ寝ているのか不思議に思って何度もお腹に語りかけています。和尊より動き回っていると思います。また和尊とは違う個性を持った子だと思うので楽しみにしています。今週からヨガにも通い始めました。始めた次の日から朝から体も軽く、出産してからもずっと続けていけたらと思っています。

今日メルボルンに行って来ます。新鮮なお魚があったらなますを作ってみようと思っています。べんちゃんが呪文のように　ばあちゃんのなますが食べたい　と言っているので。

Latest news

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:16:25 GMT

It's been a long time since I wrote anything here.

We're living in Nyah West now, and I'm working about 50 k's up the road for McGuigan Simeon Wines, driving tractors and other stuff. Kaori's pregnant again, and we're going to have another boy in February.

We're all very healthy and happy, but also very tired. We miss Japan, and we need to get a car, and probably better accommodation, but we're confident it will all pan out. I'll write some more detailed stuff when I have the time.

In Australia

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:54:25 GMT

So we made it back to Australia. We have no time, and no internet access, so it"s going to be a while before we can get more pictures and detailed stuff here

Going back to Australia

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:12:56 GMT

We have tickets booked to go back to Australia on the 27th of this month. That's 11 days from now. We're both very excited. Kaori's family are very sad, though. We all knew this time would come, but it just seemed like a dream that wouldn't stop.

We're going to have a "Sayonara Party" to say goodbye to everybody. Mostly it's for Kaori's family's community, but it's also for us, as we have friendships with many of them. We won't invite any of our friends though. We'll visit them and say our goodbyes. All told there will probably be around 30 people comimg. We'll prepare foods ourself, except for the sashimi which we will buy. We were also thinking to buy oudoburu (which is like a pre-made platter) but have decided to make them ourselves. I'll make potato salad and maybe pasta, Kaori will probably make chiken nanban, and Kaori's mum will probably make tamago yaki and prawn things, as well as some other stuff. We had a family meeting last night to get the bare bones of a plan. Later this week Kaori and I will go to her mothers house for an "oudoburu meeting".

Koi no bori 2

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:02:02 GMT

Now Wataru has 7 koi no bori. We started with 2 that Kiguchi-san gave us money for. Then Emi-san and Akagi-san gave us 2 more. Then Baachan's sister, Mitsuko-san and Kesayuki san also gave him one each. It looks really good with all those carp flying above the rice paddy. It's too bad there's been no rain so we haven't been able to plant the rice yet.

Kaori's visa

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:48:43 GMT

Kaori got an email from the embassy yesterday to say that her visa has been approved. We're very excited, now we can go back to Australia and start establishing our life together. It's been hard here, because we haven't been able to do anything for our future, things like buying a car and furniture and getting permanent work. We hope to go back before the end of this month. We'll be staying with my mum for a bit, until I can get work anyway. From there we'll look for somewhere to live. We'll stay in Victoria, but there's so many beautiful places we'll do a bit of searching, and everything's so close that it doesn't really matter where we live and work. I think we`ll stay away from the western half of the state, though. It's too dry and very depressing. Of course, if I find work in the city we'll probably have to live there.

Walking

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:08:16 GMT

Well, it's not really walking yet. But he can climb a chair (or a leg, or just about anything) and stand up. He's also moving around when he's standing, from one end of a table to the other, or around chairs. Sometimes he's pushing a chair along in front of himself so it's a bit like an old lady with a walker.

We can't sleep in at all after he's woken up now. Before it was OK for 10 minutes or so, because there wasn't anything he could hurt himself on. Now he's waking up and going straight for something to climb. He's going to be a real terror.

We've let him go twice when he's been standing. Once he stood for probably 5 seconds, and another time was much shorter but he took a step. Then he stamped the same foot again, so we can't actually say he took two steps.

Today he was standing at his walker and let go. Probably only half a second later he grabbed on again, but it was the first time he's stood unassisted by himself. We think he'll be walking in the next couple of weeks.

Teething

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 01:36:21 GMT

A few weeks ago we noticed the first 2 teeth coming at the top front. He's now got 4 teeth coming, top and bottom. He grinds them together and is always feeling them with his tongue. Recently his tongue has been very active, like a lizard. He doesn't seem to be in much pain. Actually, it doesn't seem to bother him at all. He's a really strong boy.

Koi no bori

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:16:08 GMT

Today we bought Koi no bori. Kiguchi-san, a friend of ours, gave us money to buy it. We thought we wouldn't get koi no bori for Wataru, as we are saving for when we go back to Australia. It's a traditional Japanese thing, usually done in late April, but we hope to go back to Australia before then, so we put the flags up now.

First hospital visit

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:12:46 GMT

On Friday Wataru had his first visit to the hospital. He cut his head on the step in the entranceway. Otopu had left him for a second to grab his cigarettes, and Wataru managed to tip over the baby car. Kaori and I were spreading manure on the farm. Everybody was very shocked, and Kaori and I took him to the hospital. They strapped him into "the blue thing", so that he couldn't move. Then they sewed five stitches. He cried and cried, and they asked me to leave the room, and I cried and Kaori cried and cried and cried and had to leave because she couldn't watch. But after it was all over he was very fine. I think he forgot about it. Now he is taking medicine to prevent infection after every meal, and he really likes it a lot.

We don't have pictures of his stitches yet, as our batteries are all flat. We'll put some here later.

Obi Castle/ Udo Shrine

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:01:18 GMT

Yesterday we went to Nichinan and the castle at Obi. It's a re-constructed castle, but it was fantastic anyway. 30 odd years ago they rebuilt everything, trying to keep with the original designs. It was heaven for me. There was the entrance, main building (which now houses a museum) and two hills with the residence on one and on the other an archery range. Well, it was where they used to practice archery by releasing dogs and trying to shoot them. This was the castle the Shimazu clan from Satsuma captured in the 16th century. It was given to the Ito by Hideyoshi for helping in his Kyushu campaign. I love Japanese history.

We also went to Udo Shrine, which is a little closer to Miyazaki. It's built inside a cave, and is dedicated to many gods including Emperor Jimmu's mother.

Fukuoka

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 10:54:16 GMT

On Monday we went to Fukuoka to apply for Wataru's Australian passport. We decided to get the train, as driving would be too tiring and take longer. Wataru was very good, he loves travelling. Everywhere we go he is an idol. Random people stop to talk to him and say how cute he is. Of course we already know that, but it's nice to be told!

The guy who did the interview said there should be no problems, so we should get his passport in about 2 more weeks.

Zoo(04/11/2006)

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:45:20 GMT

We went to the Zoo with my friend Hiromi chan`s family.

She had a baby in June.

His name Renri kun. Renri kun is also a peaceful boy and cute!!

Today was very cheep day - 300yen($3.50), so we could go!!

We were lucky.

We could see many animals.

Wataru was more interested in people than animals.

I was very happy to go to the Zoo with my family.

Turning over

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:36:11 GMT

Wataru can turn over sleep on his side by himself very well.

He can find many comfortable styles and do that.

He is trying move now, looks like swimming!!!

Wataru is over 9kg and 70cm now.

Wataru is very big , healthy and beautiful boy.

He is always giving us peace.

Please enjoy his pictures.

Saito Hanami with Kana

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:28:45 GMT

The 14th of October Kana (my sister) came back from Kyoto for Miho chan wedding.

We went to Aeon a big shopping center in miyazaki, and then we went to Saito to see Cosmos.

When I was pregnant i went to there with Ben and my father.

We could see Cherry brossom in there last time.

Ben and my father are interested in Japanese history. Saito has many Kofun (burial mound) and it is one of their favourite places.

The Cosmos were beautiful. Pink, white and red. I was very happy to go back there with Wataru.

When Wataru is older I want to go there and show him Kofun and beautiful flowers. Then Ben can explain about it instead of me.

Mihochan`s wedding

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:08:14 GMT

The 15th of October was my cousin`s wedding party.

She is a pregnant and will have a baby next March.

We are also exited about it !!!

Ben has been to wedding party twice in Japan.

Miho chan and Ryou kun`s(her husband) friends were preparing many things for them.

They made a video,dancing,singing,comedy.......They made us laugh all the time.

We could enjoy their wedding and we do hope Miho chan, Ryou kun and baby are always happy.

Not getting any

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:32:32 GMT

It`s a little bit tight at the moment. I`ve been on holiday for over a week now, and I don`t go back to work until Thursday. Even then I`m only sure about Thursday and Friday. Last month was supposed to be very busy, with overtime and all. I ended up with 15 and a half days. At around $9 per hour that doesn`t add up to much of a paycheck.

Kaori`s looking for night work so we can save a bit more. We have the money for the visa, and about 4 months to save for the airfares. But we`re going to need money for when we come back. And then there`s the living expenses while we`re here.

Luckily I could receive my tax refund today, and supposedly Kaori can get a partial refund on her unused return ticket.

Probably OK

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:01:51 GMT

Haven`t written about Kaori`s visa here, except for our trip to Kagoshima. We think we`ve got everything we need now, except for the $1300 odd application fee. We`ll apply for Wataru`s citizenship by descent at the same time. It`s been so stressful. Anyway now we`re planning to go back to Australia in March next year. With a little bit of luck I`ll be able to get on to a vineyard before too long.

Moving

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:58:31 GMT

Wataru`s 4 months now. He loves moving! He`ll kick his legs and rotate, moving himself off his futon. Sometimes we`re quite surprised at where he`ll end up. He`s also turning over on his own now. He`s been waking us up around 4 in the morning by thumping his feet on the floor. He`s still sleeping when he does it. Also he`s constantly making noises, even blowing raspberries!

okuizome

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:52:28 GMT

It was a while ago now, but we did the 100 day okuizome ceremony for Wataru-kun. The idea is to hope a child will never go hungry. Quite simple, really. We have a whole snapper and pretend to feed Wataru. Also we sit a stone on the table for strong teeth and bones. Kaori and I couldn`t really see the point, as we hope for good things every day, but it was important for her family so we had no reason not to do it.

It comes from the fact that food used to be scarce in Japan and many babies died in their first year. There`s many ceremonies for children, the first temple visit at 30 days, okuizome, and the 3, 5 and 7 year old celebrations. Not important, I guess, but good for us to do so we can explain a bit about his culture when he gets old enough to understand.

The Kiddies-Pool

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 04:02:22 GMT

Yesterday we bought a kiddies-pool. It`s hot here, and the beach isn`t too safe and the rivers far enough to make it inconvenient with Wataru-kun. Also the river isn`t safe for a baby. We wanted to introduce water for fun to him, it`s never too early. So, today he got his first go. I think he enjoyed it. We used an umbrella because the sun is very strong. But we`ve moved the pool under the plum tree now. We`ll have to wait for the water to heat up a bit before he can have another go, but we`ll probably get him in the water again today.

Talking

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:51:35 GMT

Wataru-kun is happiest in the mornings, aroud 6.45. He just lies there and "goo, goo"s like crazy, smiling his little head off. We`ve been saying "hello, hello" pretty much constantly, and now he`s imitating us with "uuu-ooo, uuu-ooo". Sometimes I think I can hear a h or an l, but that`s probably me being too proud of my boy.

Anyway we`re both pretty sure that his first word will be English - unless he picks up Baachan`s "nan desu ka?"!!

Typhoon #10

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:05:09 GMT

Last night I experienced my first typhoon - we thought it would go south of Kyushu, but it started heading NW and pretty much passed right over us. The wind was terrific, and at times the rain got very heavy. I got called in to work today because a lot of the vinyl sheeting that protects the grapes from the rain was ripped off. Still very windy today. Apparently Typhoon #14 last year in September ripped all the leaves and fruit from the vines, so we were lucky that this one wasn`t so strong. It was scary anyway.

Our Second Wedding

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 06:29:29 GMT

Today Kaori`s brother and sister, Kouhei and Kanako came back to Miyazaki from Tokyo and Kyoto. When Kaori and I got married it was at the town hall, and we didn`t even have rings. Kana made us wedding rings, and when we picked Kouhei and Kana up from the train station in Hyuga they asked to go to Kurusu no umi, a popular place for newlyweds to ring the bell and hope for a good life together. Kana said `here is a chapel`, and gave us our rings. It was beautiful, like a real wedding.

Too hot...

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:16:17 GMT

Usually I work at Tsuno Winery, but this week I`ve been on holidy for the Tsuno Festival. Today Otousan harvested his rice. I was really keen to help, being a new farm-type experience. We started around 10am, and it was soo hot. Not as hot as some days I`ve worked in Australia, but you combine that with the humidity and it`s incredible. After about an hour I had to stop. My vision was blurring, my head was spinning and I was freezing cold. (Something had to be wrong). So I had a cold bath for about 30 minutes and then laid down, and I`ve been lazing around all day since. Otousan and Baachan are still out there now. I`m really ashamed of myself, but I know I can`t handle the work.

Kagoshima

Sat, 29 Jul 2006 01:50:42 GMT

yesterday we went to Kagoshima for Kaori`s medical check. We`ll go back to Australia in November, and have to apply for Kaori`s visa.

We left at 4.45am, and arrived 9.00. Wataru was excellent. He really likes to travel. We got the expressway, which cost us 3670yen (AU$48). Very surprised! On the way home we took National road 10, the same road we live on. Left Kagoshima 2pm and after quite a few stops got home at 9. Took us 3 hours longer, but we saved 50 dollars. And we could see Sakurajima very well. I took some pictures from the car, we didn`t stop as we were quite keen to get home.