It`s a wonderful life: Wataru-kun

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.

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.

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?"!!