Our (my) second home is here in Tokyo Japan, where we are currently living a simple and happy family life. As of now, it is our main home. We will live here til our kids grow and can live on their own. We have plans of settling in the Philippines in the future but for now, we're happy and contented of going back home to PI atleast once or twice a year. Next year would be a good start for our lil girl because our planned visit to our dear country this month has been cancelled for some reasons.
We're really looking forward for Azumi's first meeting with the whole family on March. That is for sure. I really miss family and everything about the Philippines
Anyway, sharing some photos of our lil girl at her other favorite part of the house (aside from the kitchen), our front yard.
loves playing (and cluttering) the rocks
Her playmate lol, Taniai Obachan, our loving neighbor and landlady
How was your weekend? Ours was entirely spent in our home sweet home with the apple of our eyes, who else? Azumi of course... We had a lazy and yet a relaxing saturday considering the cold and crazy weather--a sunny morning shifting to a cloudy afternoon --, and then the next day, it was a cold cloudy Sunday. MIL and Maruchan (her lovely toy poodle) came over to have lunch with us.
Anyway, I just wanna share some photos of the Park Garden Cemetery we went last week. Okasan would always ask my hubby to take her in her late daughter's grave which is an hour way from our home.
We've been there many times and Im always amazed how they religiously maintain the beautiful garden. The graves are always clean, they're just like one of the decors in the garden. There's even a coffee shop in the 2nd floor of the building, with a full view of the beautiful park cemtery. Not a typical japanese cemetery which is usually in an elevated location, beside or behind a big temple.
The Lil Girl escorting her great Granny ( i wish she'd also meet her Great Granny in my Dad's side before she goes back to US, makakauwi pa ba kami this month? )
Baby POSE!!!
Nope its not the way to heaven lol but inside the garden cemetery where Okasan's late daughter's grave is...
Ooopsss, baby not there...
Good girl baby... No wonder you're the apple of our eyes
"YOSH! Im done.."
After visiting and cleaning Nobuko's grave, we headed over to our reservation and had a yummy yummy lunch with our loveones here in Japan --Honey Hide, Mom, brother Joji, Aunt Hisayo (mom's SIL), Yokun (Aunt Hisayo's son), and Okasan (mom's MIL)-.. I didn't took pictures, not only because I was shy but also we're too busy eating and chatting (and me feeding Anzu at the same time).
How could I forget? Of course I didn't but I almost forgot it was your 14th month day two days ago. Mommy seem kinda confused with dates lately because she's been thinking alot these past few weeks. Nope, it has nothing to do with me and your dad. Well you know how we have been so happier since you came here.
I'm just thinking about our homecoming to the Philippines. Some things are bothering me and that includes the scary Influenza Outbreak. We're still waiting (in vain) for your scheduled Inlfuenza Vaccine. I really wish we can go home this December even for 2 weeks with worry free. We're trying our best to settle some important things first.
Our family, especially your Lolo are all waiting for our final decision (your dad is pressured..), they just can't wait to see the new princess in the family. Nevertheless, your passport is ready just in case.
Anyways... you just keep on growing up aren't you? Can't believed you're 14 months old already... 14 months of wonderful existence and still counting. We're so blessed. I never thought how much fun and satisfying it would be to be your momma, and I’m glad I’m documenting it all down, from countless photo shots, to blogging my thoughts about being a mom to you. I just think this would gonna be a sort of unconventional baby book for you to look back on someday. You would know how much Mommy has made a lot of good friends here which helped her to become a better person in some ways because of their good blogs that I love to read during idle time and their inspiring messages and support. How can I thank them?
It was quite a year of learning --rolling, sitting, clapping, eating, crawling, communicating, standing, walking, — and a lot more things ahead of us. I can’t wait to see what great adventures are in store for us next year!
Happy 14 months Angela Azumi, and still looking forward for more laughs and woderful memories with you.
Love,
Momma
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your time in reading my baby journal. I keep on saying that your messages inspires me so much because they really are. I have been also visiting your blogs and I must admit, they are more inspirational, and I have learned a lot from most of them.
I'm glad I became a blogger. I never thought that you can really make good friends even online. Thanks to all of you and God bless.
Love,
Bambie
P.S
can you please send me your home addresses
til sunday? I have christmas/new year cards for you.
Im not sure if you can already recognize your baby's talents as early as 12 months or younger but I think this is the best time to encourage your child to explore without overwhelming her. She doesn't need to try everything right now but introducing her to activities she wouldn't otherwise know existed is just great thing to do.
As for our lil girl, oldies around us are encouraging her to be a budding artist. Granny Baba bought her art materials which are designed for babies. Crayons are not made of harmful chemicals so no need to worry if lil ANzu will suck them (for sure she always does before coloring)
Anzu lining up her colors and playing them afterwards
Some of her artworks lol (sketchpad and walls)
Okasan wants her to be musically inclined. Mini grand piano as an advance christmas present.
Daddy encouraging her to be a budding golfer
while Mommy lets her baby explore around the house... lol
Once your baby starts cruising, she'll discover things you never knew existed. SO let them explore but ensure their safety at the same time by getting down at their level and see what they might grab when standing, cruising, or exploring. Anzu clutters most of the time but lately she somehow learned to put them back in their respective places.
I actually didn't know that babies could also wear Kimonos. I was surprised when Okasan told me months ago that she already have a Kimono for Azumi and she would like Anzu to wear it on New Year. I wondered how would a baby wear a Kimono? If you're not familiar with Japanese Kimonos, it is not simple as the Yukatas. People who wants to wear their kimonos usually have someone else help to put them on. It is not that simple again because that person should be either a Kimono Kitsuke (kimono dressing) Teacher or someone has a know-how in kimonos, from obi, ties, undergarments et al.
I got to experience wearing a real Kimono 2 years ago. It was indeed a great experience because not only I felt like a princess when the Kimono Teacher was putting them on to me, but also everybody in my family in Japan especially Okasan was so happy to see me wearing one of her daughter's Kimono which was never worned. She gave this to me as a graduation present ( I wore that Kimono on our graduation ceremony...). ---wish I could share more but we're talking about Azumi's kimono here lol Anyway, the other day, Azumi was fitting her first Kimono. It wasn't like I imagined. It's easier to put on, no need to be assisted by a teacher. No obis, undergarments, etc. Designed for toddlers.
Here Anzu while fitting her first kimono with Taniai Obachan, our neighbor who lives in front of our house and happens to be our Landlady, and Okasan, the loving mother in law of my mom.
The Little Geisha
I have plans of going home to PI this month (still tentative) but I guess we're definitely celebrating our New Year here. My Parents' In Law has been planning a shogatsu celebration in our house.. Okasan including my neighbors are expecting Azumi wearing her kimono... My mom will be sad if we're not here on Christmas and New year... SO WE are compromised lol ( i miss Philippines' New Year)
It's almost Christmas and soon will be a whole New Year. SO MANY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR. One of these is being surrounded by neighbors who adores Azumi so much. Im so thankful also for Okasan. We're not really related in blood but she treats me like her own granddaughter, Azumi as her own greatgrandchild, and my hubby as like his son. If only my stepfather is still alive, I am so sure Azumi will also be the apple of his eye. It's just so sad sometimes to think that he never saw me and my mom being accepted by his whole family.
TAGS: kimono, baby kimono, new year, shougatsu, thankful, first kimono
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I thought I won't be able to join this week's mommy moments but awhile ago, while I was taking a break from cleaning our messy dining room, the lil girl suddenly took the vaccum and started to clean the floor. Of course she was only pretending but the thing is, she was trying to help lol.
I usually don't let her near me when I vaccum not only because of the flying dusts but also she either gets in my way or she plugs off the vacuum's switch. Only when Im done... I was quite surprise awhile ago coz she could finally carry it longer. Gosh my baby is indeed a little girl now...
Its really amazing when kids immitate adults. It's cute. Just like the past week, she has learned to put some of her toys in the basket. Pero syempre, its so early to tell if she's really cleaning or just immitating what she always see.
