Baby... and unagi

'You are 2cm dilated.' I was told.  The contractions came on slow and mild, and so I wasn't quite convinced that the baby is arriving.  I requested for discharge, because I needed to have my last fill of unagi, my favorite Japanese food.  It had better be the top course on the menu for the delivery would demand all the stamina I guess. 

We left at 4p.m. and shortly after I regretted leaving because the contractions started to hurt.  But I put up with it, as Bear would be very mad at me. ' I told you not to leave! ' he would say. :(  More importantly, I wanted my last decent meal for God knows when would I get to eat out without a care again.  Besides, did I mention that unagi provides stamina?

By 10p.m., the frequency was like every 10 minutes and hurt like real.  I started filming my tummy, how the baby would extend a fist or foot or elbow, wherever.  I urged Bear to sleep cos I would need his full support the next day, the contractions were too disturbing so I lied about a program I didn't want to miss.

By this hour at 12.48a.m. , I was already breaking out in cold sweat.  That night was chilly like how it is now.   I was still hanging on stubbornly, so that Bear wouldn't have a chance to lecture me on risking lives for unagi.

About 2a.m., Bear woke up to find me looking pale and limbs cold.  So he decided it's time.  It was a very foggy night, the drive felt like an eternity as Bear wasn't speeding.  For the first time on expressway, he didn't.

We reached at 3a.m.  Not knowing that the contractions would escalate a hundredfold hours later, I asked Bear if he could fetch me an unagi lunchbox by takeout.  Then the nurse came in to put me on a disappointing drip.

I have the baby to thank actually.  I had unagi almost every week once the morning sickness subsided.   After delivery, we were gifted with unagi from relatives.   Bear bought them several times to help my nutrition.  The family clan's celebration was held with an elaborated unagi course cuisine.  I have probably had the amount of unagi some Japanese had their entire lifetime, in a matter of months.

I'm glad that I've had enough of unagi before its price has shot up painfully high starting months ago.  Do you know how much an unagi meal would cost you these days?  Almost tripled the price I last had it!  A word of advice to anyone traveling Japan, please give unagi a try if you haven't.  Cos if you don't, you may never will in another few years to come.

百日祝い

.




On 30th September, it was when the cub turned a 100 days old and we held the お食い初め ( Okuizome ) for him.　











Lifted from the internet : The Okuizome is performed in hopes that the child would never have to worry about food. Although this may differ slightly by region, the Okuizome usually occurs 100 days after birth when the child starts to eat baby food. Some regions may do this on the 110th ~ 120th day. The baby only pretends to eat the food in this ceremony.





Bear got the cub his very own set of cutlery especially for the ceremony. It's surely way practical than the traditional lacquered ware as the latter isn't designed for durability.














Most of the dishes laid on the table signify a blessing for the child. I don't remember having worked so hard in the kitchen since his arrival, but I'll go miles if it's for my precious cos He. Is. Special! :D



Ok, I cheated on this Bream though as we had it ordered. :P


And I didn't make the red bean rice, the sushi, and the tart too. Grin.


Umm, you see... my wrists really hurt, and they still are. :/










But I can't explain myself anymore when I forgot about the stone that means strong teeth for the boy! In desperation, I brought out the stone his dad used for proposal.



Ok darling, mama promises to try harder for the next big thing. I'm just so glad that life offers so many celebrations for second chances. ;)

And the challenges continue...

The cub is a happy baby at home.


I mean, at home.


When the main door is closed behind us, he starts getting antsy. Then mom gets antsy, and dad joins in.


It isn't too hard to understand what tremendous stress the outdoor imposes on a baby out from the womb for mere weeks. Everything at once is just too much!


Do you know, even the mom isn't the most outdoor person in the world and fidgets at meeting new people!


But we can't stay at home forever. :/ This weekend is going to be especially challenging.



Baby Bear will be formally introduced to the family clan on the 27th. We have relativesssss travelling from different parts of Japan just to meet and bless the child. All these people I don't know, but I must pretend that I still do because I've met them once years ago. There'll be endless exchange of formalities, bowing, and cordial conversation from one cluster to another, I just hope I won't forget which one I'm done with. It will be a very mentally exhausting experience and if I'm not careful, I may end up embarrassing my husband. I don't wish for tongues wagging at his behind, ' This is how things will be like when you get yourself a foreign wife.'


I can only imagine the clanking of glasses, loud excited folks who want to tell how much they are happy for us, karaoke and merry-making... and how uncomfortable Baby Bear will be.


Then on the 28th, he'll be making his debut at church for a baby dedication. I'm excited on this one! And I'm hoping that the cub doesn't cry his lungs out on what's meant to be a very dear memory of my lifetime. The child at the previous dedication obviously didn't like the microphone.



Darling, I know you must be trying so much harder than I do and I better not buckle under nothing yet! Come what may, we'll ride it out. Just try not to turn into a dipped nugget on these days ok?

Beautiful May

Counting down to the last minutes of May 2011, but hmm... it's not happening - the arrival of Breadcrumbs.


The fella is due a month later alright but you know how some first-timers and older moms have their present arrived earlier! So whenever spasms of Braxton Hicks contractions or subtle cramps happen, my heart is sent racing mad fast!! Is it the real thing? Now??


But nope. Looks like Breadcrumbs is still having a good time incubating snug within mommy.


It's alright. May is special enough and I think it's good we don't have all three birthday cakes in same month. :P


Papa Bear says we must fly the fella fishes in the air to celebrate Boy's Day ( or Children's Day ) next May.









I hope it'll put a big smile on Breadcrumbs.



Take your time darling, take your time. And I'm sure God will put you in my arms at the perfect timing. :) Meanwhile, mommy is cherishing every single moment having you so close within me.


This May has been one of the most beautiful.

Blooming this year

Inside, we have Rowndy my most faithful friend, which I've let down a little during winter due to morning sickness, but it bloomed ungrudingly anyway. Can't ask for more! :D






Outdoor, the tulips are inviting butterflies and bees like I've hoped. Gee I never knew that they are such lasting flowers. At the eastern wing, I have a surplus planted for vase decor so the florists won't be seeing me for quite a while.









Catch my new addition of Lavender shrubs from the bird's eye view!




We chose a Japanese Maple and a Benthemidia Florida from the council, gifted to us this March, and bro D helped with the planting before he left for Singapore.　Benthemidia Florida has such beautiful flowers!




And the Japanese snowbell is blooming soon in June.





Now everyone is doing fine except my fav Hydrangeas. CRY! I'm utterly ashamed cos Hydrangeas ARE hardy plants so something must be wrong with my handling!




On a lighter note I'm definitely feeling spirited now compared weeks ago, when the hospital matter sorta shook me bad... But a miracle is happening, I've transferred to this excellent hospital that meets my every single need!! Now you oughta know things are rock rigid in Japan, like it's impossible to recall the plane taken off, but YES, I am hopping onto the flight of hope, by the grace of my mighty God.


It's like seeing a rainbow after a rain of desperation. :) I'm sure I'll be empowered for what may come. For God is in control.

April free and easy

.
April is a busy month for most Japanese for it's when a new fiscal year begins. As Bear channels his spring-like vitality in the office and burns Sats, April is mine free and easy. I'm literally taking time to have home spring-cleaned, so that I'll have less to battle later. Being focused on what's within, I've lost sight of what's without until Bear reminds me how the greenery is getting exciting. Oh yes, and pictures demanded as the guy doesn't get to appreciate the blooms slow.



A tree（檀香梅）at home is done with flowering. Another 2 coming up in late Spring. :)







The welcoming Narcissus are blooming along the walkway.





Tulips are budding, picture taken on a misty morning.






I'm rewarding myself to sweet treats available only in Spring. Bear has his share too after working overtime.







My place is accessible to every neighbourhood facility by foot so I have a 101 chance for slow walks.





Slow walks in April would mean admiring sakura up close or have the trees towering tall over me.







About this slow walk thing I'm having, it has the effect of rocking Breadcrumbs to sleep. So is it good or bad you think? I thought it's time I start some excercise. But what if the fella wouldn't sleep without me walking him in future? :/

Year of Rabbit

.




Do you know that it's the year of 'Rabbit' according to the oriental zodiac, yup it works for the Japs too. But it's a 'Boar' for the Jap's version while the Chinese are having theirs as 'Pig'.






Year after year like many other homes, we've been celebrating the Japanese new year in a totally busy and exciting fashion. Definitely not this year though.


Less is more - been trying to convince myself that minimalism is a virtue this time. Can only afford to do this much with this little I'm consuming, how much can you wring out of a hard dried towel really? I'm forgiven for not being able to give home a total clean. Forgiven for preparing nothing for celebration meals and forgiven over miscellaneous obgliations. I. am. forgiven.


It's my year ( ok, the rabbit is let out of the bag ). I call the shots - Bear slaves.






He got this gorgeous new year ornament to honor the rabbit highness at home. In Japan, all pretty things come pricey, but we've decided that only the relevant zodiac years need exaltation. Besides, I deserve it. :P


Correction. We deserve it, me and the little one within. ;)

日光 Nikko

Am hoping that anyone else is doing better, while much is happening here these days, zapping energy fast. zzz...





Which explains why I'm blogging a lil behind, even for the trip to 日光 ( Nikko ) in early November when Bear had a week break.










I've heard so much about Nikko - which encompasses one the World Heritage Sites belonging to Japan, and many renown hot springs. Am taunted from time to time, 'How could you live in Japan and not gone to Nikko?' So Bear decided to check one down in my bucket list, and drove all those loathsome 12 hours - to and fro.


Well, to each his own. Turns out Nikko isn't our kind of nirvana. The scale and finesse are hardly superlative compared to others I've seen, and I've concluded that pictures in books and magazines can be deceiving. Structures are ancient alright but heavy with repaint - I'm the kind who appreciates good pictures, rather than images cleverly photoshoped, get my drift?





　
The red lacquered 神橋 ( Shinkyo : Sacred Bridge ) that arches over the Daiya River. It could only be used by the emperor during feudal times.






Famous 5 storied pagoda, around 36 meters high, an anti-earthquake construction.






Shrines and temples, constructed in glittering gold, but not good enough to awe the visitors. Here in the assuming 'holy ground', the Japanese visitors were endlessly bad mouthing about the visitors of mainland China, the opposite didn't relent either. Imagine me comprehending both sides. I'm just baffled. If these visitors are buddhists and believers, how do they bring themselves to utter slander so openly before their gods and deities?













The three wise monkeys that embody the proverbial principle - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.





View from 'that famous window'.





Lotsa national treasures within, but no pictures allowed.





Endless towering cedar trees, and gravelled paths. Heed my word, NEVER go in heels like me, wear a pair of steady flats.





This Maple tree is the oldest within the premise.






And off we went to catch some Nikko's falls and fall.













To sum it all... I'm hardly impressed with the reknown sites. People were generally unfriendly. We were prepared to spend liberally but the souveniers weren't attractive, in fact, I bought nothing. I've figured that we've spent more on parking. The accomodation paid with a fat fee didn't fetch a memorable stay. I'm not craving any local delicacy after the trip. This is Nikko, if you ask me. Well at least I've been there once, and for good.


I guess what's memorable is Bear's sweet personality, despite those awful driving, lack of parking lots, and disappointing outcomes. He's a joy to travel with even on a mediocre trip. :)