Nine Months

Lottie just went for her nine month appointment. She's now 18 pounds, 5 ounces, and 28 inches (approximately). She's getting longer, but not much heavier. The techs here have no idea how to measure babies. For instance, he actually asked me if Lottie could stand up, so he could get her height. Well, she's working on it! She's pulling up on everything in sight, including the walls. The hallway is very fun.

She also likes eating baby finger food (puffs, wagon wheels). Nani likes hovering around her, waiting for the crumbs to fall.

She's still grunting away, and is really good at imitating noises, from barking dogs to crying babies. Mama is still her favorite word.

The closer she is to walking, the happier she is getting!

Thanks?

Adam is playing with his trains and calls me over.

"Mom?"
"Yes, Adam."
"I'm sad and proud of you."
"Thanks?"

Ryogoku

On Saturday, we headed to Ryogoku Station to meet up with Amy and Sebastian (on layover from Vietnam back to Houston). Ryogoku is the home of the sumo stadium and many of the sumo stables (where the sumo wrestlers train). They even have giant pictures of famous sumo wrestlers in the station!

We met up with Amy and Sebastian to give them their sumo tickets. We had lunch together, then they headed to the match.

We decided the kids wouldn't be interested in the wrestling, so we checked out the Tokyo-Edo Museum right next door. Here's Adam waiting in front of the museum while Chris was buying tickets.

The view of the sumo stadium from the museum.

The museum covers the history of Tokyo (from the Edo period around 1600 to today). This is a reconstruction of what childbirth would've looked like in the Edo period, something I was very interested in! The midwife is bathing the baby (with the head on her knees), paying particular attention to the baby's back, which is the most vulnerable spot for demons to enter. The mother is sitting up in bed behind the midwife. After giving birth, the mother was required to SIT UP for a week straight before she could either get up or lie down. This, not surprisingly, led to health complications for many mothers. Ugh.

Chris and Adam posing in front the Edo period boat. Adam thinks it's a pirate ship!

Amy, Lottie, and Adam talking on the Meiji Era (mid-1800s to WWII) phone.

There were a lot of things to climb and touch - perfect for little ones. Adam riding a bike rickshaw.

Chris, Adam, and Lottie in a one-person rickshaw (which is why you can't even see it behind Chris).

Amy and Adam on an old timey bicycle.

After visiting the museum, we checked out a nearby park that had been the site of the largest number of deaths in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. This is a memorial to the children killed in the earthquake. Most people were not killed in the actual quake, but in the aftermath, when fire ravaged the city.

The park had an earthquake museum (we didn't go in) with a display of items from the earthquake outside. This is a bunch of nails that melted together in the fire.

The park also had a small but nice playground and a Japanese garden. There were even some narcissus (daffodils) blooming - they are in season here already.

Then we walked back by the sumo stadium. There were loads of people and you could see sumo wrestlers leaving the stadium.

Fun Day

On Friday, we relaxed after Mommy's week of teaching Joy School. Lottie read a library book.

Adam tried on Daddy's uniform. Maybe it'll fit next year.

Lottie also tried on Daddy's beret.

Then they both piled on Daddy.

Be Not Afraid

Adam has decided that he is not (very) afraid of, well, almost all of the stuff he's recently afraid of. This list includes large animals, large statues, and anything in a costume. He did really well with the big Buddha in Kamakura recently, and faced his two other nemeses, large animals and people in costumes this past week. We found the Vinawalk mascot today. From 50 feet away, Adam saw it and screamed, "I'm scared!" Then, when Daddy held him, he decided he wasn't that scared. He smiled, got close...

and even touched him!

Here he is holding a guinea pig, but he also petted the goats, sheep, and the deer. His first time petting all the big animals!

Japanese New Year

I forgot to post about our Japanese New Year. The Japanese celebrate the new year like us, except, because they don't really celebrate Christmas, this is their big holiday. Everyone goes to their local temple or shrine either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. We chose to head out for New Year's Eve. Chris stayed home with the sleeping kids. We heard the bells ringing (100 times) while we walked over and joined the line at the local shrine. Here's the entrance to the shrine. The line was long, but moved quickly. Once you get to the front, you throw in your coin (5 yen is the most lucky), ring the bell (to get the gods' attention), clap your hands, then make your wish/prayer.

Once you say your prayer, you can buy your demon-busting arrows and plaques to write your wishes for the new year.

With all our New Year's stuff.

Britax

Lottie was outgrowing her Graco baby carseat (darn her long torso), so we sprang for a Britax. We even put the two kids next to each other in the van, so now they are facing each other. Lottie seems to love the new carseat. We had been having problems with her crying on any longish car ride, since we don't usually drive anywhere far, and that hasn't been a problem since the switch. Adam and Lottie LOVE being able to see each other and especially being able to touch each other. They've been riding holding hands most of the time. Sweet!

Weekend Eating

On Saturday, Adam was able to con us into eating at McDonald's. We love the upscale Japanese McDonald's at the train station by our house. Adam loves that he can get orange juice and milkshakes. He even drinks them at the same time!

On Sunday night, we tried a tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) place at Sagami Ono station (one stop up from us). Adam posing by a Chinese restaurant.

A giant burger at another restaurant at Sagami Ono. Yes, you can actually buy this burger! It's only $30. Plus the cost of the hospital visit when it gives you an immediate heart attack.

Balancing Act

One baby in front, one baby in back...

Duo

More pictures of Lottie and Adam. They are still doing really well together. She likes him more than just about anyone else, except maybe for Mommy; and he's very protective of his little sister. They are even sharing toys pretty well - there's some complaining, but very little hitting.

Typical - Adam is laughing, and Lottie is trying to eat his face.

Another Trim

Lottie's hair was getting in her eyes, so she got ANOTHER trim (her fourth).

But first, she had to crawl all over her toys.

As much hair as I could get, since she was less than cooperative this time.

Mount Fuji

More pictures of Mount Fuji (these taken from Enoshima Island).

Enoshima Island

After Hase, we rode the train back to Enoshima Island. We walked to the island along with thousands of our new Japanese friends.

More Japanese cuteness. Even the bird sculptures have little hats and coats.

The island was covered with dragons and turtles. Well, not real dragons and turtles. Sculptures and drawings of dragons and turtles. This was the sink in the bathroom.

Everyone in front of the Turtle Stone, which is in front of the famous old ginko tree.

The stairs to one of the temples on the island.

There are natural caves that you can tour. You even get a candle to light your way! Here we are right before we enter the caves. Adam was only moderately scared of the fake dragon (complete with roaring noises) in the second cave.