体調管理が難しい it's too hard to keep up.

もー、いい加減にしてほしい！

ここワシントンDCでは気温が毎日のようにコロコロ変わっています。この季節、三寒四温とは言うけれど、こんなに気温差が激しいと体調管理がキツい。今週の月曜日は雪がしっかり降り積もったと思ったら、週末には１４度まで気温が上がるらしいです。でも、残念ながら桜の満開時期は遅くなってしまい、４月の第二週目あたりに伸びたとか…

こんな気候なので、体調を崩さない方がおかしいくらい。案の定、ちび姉がどこらから風邪の菌を貰ってきて数日夜中に咳き込んでいたと思ったら、木曜日にちび介までもが…幸い悪化せず（チビ介は微熱とゼーゼーの悪化のため診察）に数日で治りました。

と、思ったら子供たちのために加湿器つけて同じ部屋で寝ていたら、今度は私が鼻炎に…月曜日はティッシュが手放せず、鼻のかみ過ぎで頭がボーっ。最近どうも鼻炎にすぐなるような気がするなぁ。アレルギーも悪化する一方だし、なにか良い方法はないものですかね…

Oh please, please stop this crazy weather, someone!! It was snowing on Monday, but now the forecast says the temperature on the weekend will be in 60ºF?! This roller-coaster like weather definitely messing us up....

Kids got sick last week. Akari picked up something over the weekend, and started coughing at night. It got so bad that she kept waking up too. Poor thing... Then it got passed onto Ken who ended up having a slight fever, and top of laryngomalacia he has, the congestion got really bad. So I had to take him to get checked just in case. Luckily, both kids got better after a few days. 

However, then I got sinus infection, ironically because of the humidifier we were using to treat kids' cough! Ugh!!! It seems like I get sinus infection so frequently. It's a little ridiculous...

ママが体調悪くて、育児を半分放棄すると子供たちはこんな感じに…　ごめんね。良くないとはわかっていながらも、テレビをつけてその間に私は休養。泣き虫チビ介は抱っこしてもらえなくてビェ〜。

Unfortunately, that was how kids were while their mom was being nonfunctional due to sinus pressure. In order to get some rest, I had to get some help from TV for A, and hold Ken so he won't cry... 

 

バレンタインデー Valentine's day

 アメリカのバレンタインデーの良い点は、基本男性が女性に何かプレゼントすることですね。まぁ、うちはお互いにプレゼントするよりも、一緒にデザートかお菓子を食べることの方が多いですが。あ、あと１５日にセールになったチョコレートを沢山買いだめ（苦笑）花より団子の夫婦です・・・今年は珍しく（？）ギフトカードをプレゼントしてくれました☆　私はチョコレートものじゃなくってスフレチーズケーキ。だって、食べたかったんだもん。私がね（瀑）

あまりにも、バレンタインデーの雰囲気が欠けていたので、ちび姉に取りあえず折り紙でハートを作ってあげたんだけど、見事にグチャグチャのビリビリにされてしまいました・・・（涙）クスン・・・

We typically don't do anything too special on Valentine's day, but we tends to treat ourselves for some type of sweets or desserts. Sometimes, we just treat ourselves with lots of chocolates that goes on sale day after. ha! This year, B gave me a gift card, and it was a nice surprise! Well, what I had for him? Cheesecake! It wasn't anything chocolate because I was craving cheesecake instead. Oh, and B loves it too!!

Because it was turning into just another typical day, I created origami hearts for Akari and gave to her. Only she destroyed and gave it back to me right away... I guess she broke my heart. ::sigh::

記念日 anniversary

 今日はバレンタインデー。この日は私の渡米記念日。

ダラス空港についたあの日。ごちゃごちゃした首都圏で育った私は、あまりの空の広さにビックリし、一体なんてトコに来てしまったのかと途方にくれたことは、今も忘れられない…英語が出来なくて、友達がいなくて、学校に行くのが辛くて、恋しい日本にいつか帰る日を夢見ていた１５の私。辛くて毎日泣いていたのに。

あんなに帰りたかったのに、なぜか私はまだココにいる。家族が帰って独りになり、結婚して二人になり、娘が生まれて三人になり、今では四人家族。

人生どうなるか分からないから不思議。

Today is Valentine's day, but it's also my anniversary of coming to the States.

When I arrived to the States from Japan for the first time, I clearly remember how I was bewildered that everything looked so unfamiliar, even the vast sky seemed foreign to me. Everyday was torture to me for a little while... I hardly spoke English. I didn't have any friends. I hated going to school, and I cried almost everyday missing everything about Japan...

Funny thing is that I'm still here despite my desire of moving back. After my family moved back, I was here alone. Then I got married, then there were three of us after Akari arrived. Now there are four of us, my own happy family of four.

You can never expect how the life turns out...

謹賀新年 Happy New Year 2013

明けましておめでとうございます★

日本と違いカウントダウンと花火のみのアメリカでの年明けでしたが、大晦日にはちゃんと日本人らしく年越しソバを食べました。アカリにはうどんだったけどね。でも、うどんより、天ぷらのサツマイモのほうが気に入っていたみたい。

よりによって、大晦日に体調を崩して寝込んだ旦那くん。元旦の今日も、明日からの仕事のために大人しく寝ていました…そう言えば、去年は私が珍しく新年早々３８度の熱で寝込んでいたような。この季節は油断するとダメですね…

Happy New Year!!! Here in the States, 2013 finally came around 14 hours later than in Japan along with some fireworks in the sky and the countdown. Following the Japanese New Year's Eve tradition, I prepared Toshikoshi Soba (eating soba noodles for good luck) with shrimp tempra and udon for Akari (just be on the safe side if she has soba allergy, many people wait until kids are around 3 yo.) But Miss I-love-carb seemed to be enjoying eating tempra sweet potatoes better than udon noodle...(shown below).

Out of all other days of the year, the hubby got some kind of stomach bug on NYE. He tried to sleep it off for two days before returning to work today (1/2)... One year ago, I think I got sick with high fever, and was in bed for three days. Yikes... It wasn't fun!

旦那のクリスマス休暇も終わり、また明日からドタバタ育児の開始だ〜　気合い入れてがんばろう！ おてんばアカリはベッドから落ちて、真っ赤なお鼻に…クリスマス終わったのにねぇ。 泣き虫ケンスケも昨日はかなりご機嫌だった。よい兆しかな？？

The holidays seemed to come to an end a lot faster than all of us wished. Now B is back to work, and I'm back to taking care of these crazy two alone during the day. Oh boy!

Tomboy Akari fell from the guest bed, and turned into Rudolf the red-nose reindeer. uhn, Christmas is already over for that, silly... On the other hand, Crybaby Ken was a happy baby on NYE. Perhaps, it's a sign that 2013 will be a good year?!

ちなみに、夜の授乳間隔がやっと空いて来て、先日は新記録の６時間！睡眠万歳！！
Finally, Ken has started to sleep a little longer during the night. Other night was the new record of 6 hours straight!! Woohoo. I hope this will continue and not just a fluke...  ;)

誕生日の週末 birthday weekend

週末は誕生日関係で、ドタバタしてたよ。善くも悪くも４日違いの私と旦那。子供が出来る前はプレゼント交換しないかわりに旅行してたせいか、最近お互いのプレゼントを考えるのが難しい…　

The birthday weekend was pretty hectic, but fun.  Good or bad, my hubby's and mine are 4 days apart, so we used to go somewhere instead of buying gifts for each other before the kid. Perhaps because of that, now it seems like we both have hard time figuring out what to get for birthday...

日本からの小包 package from Japan

 昨日、日本から小包が届き、私は速攻上機嫌♪　いくつになっても贈り物は嬉しいね

 Yesterday, a small package arrived from Japan. It's always nice to receive a gift package.

母の日の予想外ハプニング unexpected event on Mother's Day

チビがデイケアで母の日に作ってプレゼントしてくれた手形カード（？）♥ 

母の日は急に具合が悪くなり、一日中何も食べられずにベッド…かなり辛かった。なにかに当たったのか、急性のウィルスだったのか原因は不明だけど、取りあえず翌日には良くなって来たからよかった〜

A's gift for Mother's Day which she made at daycare.  

On Mother's Day, I barely got out the bed being sick all of the sudden. It was either because of something I ate or a type of stomach bug. It was pretty bad, but I'm glad it didn't last for a few days... 

  

母の日ではないけれど、土曜日にずっと気になっていた当たり前の様で、アメリカでは当たり前でない、有機栽培の牧草を食べて育った牛さんのハンバーグ @Elevation Burger。アメリカで一般的にスーパーで売っている牛は、トウモロコシで育った多量生産されたもので、まあいろいろと話題化しているね〜　確かに、牧草飼育された方が断然美味しい… 日曜日には何も出来なかったけど、土曜日にヘアカットして、目の検査受けたりと、忙しくも充実した週末（？）でした。

On Saturday, we had finally had a chance to eat organic glass-fed beef burger at Elevation Burger. I got long-due haircut, got my eye exams done. So at least to say, despite the Sunday, it was very productive weekend ;)

桜 cherry blossoms

日本の桜ももう終わりかな？２ヶ月も前だけど、今年のDCの桜は昨年よりもピンクが濃くてとてもきれいだったよ。アメリカに住みながらも、こうやって満開の桜を見られるのって、ちょっと贅沢♪

Cherry blossoms in Japan are probably done already by now. It was 2 months ago, but cherry blossoms in DC was beautiful and pink was darker than last year. I feel very fortunate to get to enjoy them even though I live in the U.S.!!

公園日和 park-day weather

 

まだ２月だというのに、まるで春の様な陽気が数日続いてますが、アレルギーの酷い私には悲しい季節です。でも、どうにか一日はチビを連れて、友達とRiver Farmという公園に行ってきました。ここは子供が遊べる庭園があって、春になるときっと奇麗なはず。

チビは芝生の上をハイハイしてみたり、落ち葉を食べてみたり（汗）と、結構満喫していたご様子。こんなによい天気なのだから、もっと外遊びさせて上げたいけれど、現在ママはティッシュ箱を抱えて、ボーっとする頭で窓も開けられず、籠っています…　ｺﾞﾒﾝ…

It's been unusually warm for February... It's just like spring already! 

As much as I wish I could enjoy this weather, the allergy is killing me... So I only got to take Akari out to a park once. We went to check out the Children's Garden at River Farm. Akari seemed to enjoy being outside, sitting on the glass... and eating dead leaves... But unfortunately since then I've been hugging a box of Kleenex pretty much all day, and staying inside...  

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明けましておめでとうございます♪ Happy New Year!

明けましておめでとうございます(｡-_-｡) 今年もよろしくね♪

さて、新年早々熱を出してしまい、3日も熱にうなされる出だしとなりました… 母乳なので、タイラノール(バッファリンみたいな痛み止め)しか飲めず、まさかの寝正月ﾐ(-ｪ-)｡o○Zzz…

もともとチビが12月中旬に初風邪を引いて以来、家族揃って風邪気味のまま、クリスマスと年末年始に突入。車での行ったり来たりの移動がいけなかったよう…(´Д` ) 話を聞くと、周りのみんなも風邪だし～ 可哀想にチビの咳はなぜかまだ治まらない… 小児科に連れていくと、咳は他の症状もないし、このまま様子をみるが、軽い中耳炎になっているとのこと(⊙＿⊙)！抗生物質が処方されたのでした…

さすがアメリカではとでも言いたくなるようなド★ピンク。これ多分バブルガム味… ウゲッΣ（ﾟдﾟlll）

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I got sick and had fever for three straight days the first week of Jan. I didn't realize how hard things would be without taking any strong cold med and having a 8 month-old around when you are sick. Luckily my mom came over to help...

Akari is still coughing since the mid Dec. At the Doctor's office, she got antibiotic for the ear infection, but nothing for the cough :-/

I hope the rest of the year is better than how it started.

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まとめて近状報告 lately... In summary

育児、家事、仕事に追われ、独りでマッタリする時間もないまま気がつけば師走。今年もあと僅か！オマケに全然更新出来ていないこのブログ... (-｡-; 一体時間はいつの間に経ってしまっていたのだろう…　

さてさて、アカリももうすぐ８ヶ月。話には聞いていたものの、成長が早く、嬉しいやら寂しいやら。今フニャフニャせず、かといって幼児でもないこの時期が一番好きかも♡ アカリは7ヶ月になったとたん、いろいろな事ができるようになった。お座り、つかまり立ち、いないないばぁ、ハイハイ、バイバイと大忙し。おまけ一日だけの 人見知りをよりによってサンクスギビングデーに。親戚大勢に注目されて、ビックリしたのか、私、旦那、私の実母以外に抱っこされようものなら、顔を皺く ちゃにして大泣きヽ(´o｀；

Juggling parenting, house chores, and work has been keeping me super busy. I almost didn't realize the year 2012 is almost over! Top of that late realization of how fast time has gone, the blog has been put on the back burner... Where did time go!?

Well, Akari is almost 8 mo. and growing really fast. Within the past month, she managed to sit by herself, stand by holding on to something, do peek a-boos, crawling, and waving her hand (bye-bye)! She doesn't shy away from unfamiliar people, but on the Thanksgiving day, she didn't want to be held by anybody. If someone else other than her mommy, daddy and grandma, would hold her, she started to cry furiously... hahaha but luckily, it was only one day deal...

 

相変わらず離乳食は難航中。食べる事に対する興味がないらしく、すぐ気が散る。（↑ハイチェアの上でご飯を食べるよりも、下で紐を食べる方がいいらしい…）離乳食の時はいつも根気比べ。自分で 言うのも何だけど、随分辛抱強くなったよ、私... 唯一パクパク食べてくれるのはバナナ。トマトと玉ねぎは嫌いみたい。乳製品はお腹に合わないのか粉ミルクに引き続き、ヨーグルトをちょっとあげただけなの に、吐いちゃった (´Д` ) 母乳は平気だからアレルギーとかではないらしいんだけど... うーん

She rather wants to play than eating food. So feeding her has been such a struggle and least favorite things to do for me and her. As the photo shows, she rater eat the belt of the high chair than food... But She loves banana, but hates onion and tomatoes, and do not do well with dairy product. When she had one small bite of yogurt, she ended up throwing up, just like when I gave her formula. Makes me a little concerened...

発する喃語も増え、おしゃべりしているように聞こえるから不思議。先日もランチの時にそばの テーブルにいた1歳くらいの子と一生懸命コミュニケーションをとっていた。一体誰に似たのかおしゃべりな子になりそうな気がするぞ～ ♪( ´▽｀) ダダダやパパパと連発し、旦那が帰宅すると歩行器で旦那に向かってダッシュして行くので、旦那はメロメロ \(//∇//)\

She also started to babble a lot. Other day at Panera, she was busy "talking" to other baby near by. I wonder where she picked up this talkativeness? I have a feeling that she will be a talker. She says "dadada" and "papapa" a lot which makes hubby grins all ear to ear. Other day, she literally ran to him in a walker when he got home from work. Surely she knows how to make his happy!!

6ヶ月健診で言われたスリープトレーニング (要するに授乳拒否する事で最終的に諦めさせ、夜の授乳をなくすことで、夜起きなくなるらしい。アメリカでは結構当たり前かな？) は...全然出来てない、というかしてないので、夜中数回起きて授乳。だって眠いのに泣くアカリを一時間以上あやして寝かしつけつける気力なんてないよ～ オッパイ挙げればスグ寝てくれるのわかっているから特にね...(｡-_-｡) モノグサなのさ。そのうちね・・・

As for me, I am still suffering from the lack of sleep. Well, it's the result of not doing the sleep training as Dr. told me to do at her 6 months check up. I haven't had energy to put her back to sleep by spending hours, when she goes right back to sleep if I feed her. Yes, probably I am just being lazy. But I don't think I can do cry it out neither... well, maybe one day, I will get to sleep train her... maybe....

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1st Halloween 初めてのハローウィン

チビの初めてのハロウィーンに、（アメリカ生活長いのに）初めてパンプキンのランタンを作ったぞ！かなり固くって、彫るのにかなり疲れた…（娘のためにエンヤコラ〜♪）可愛いからと、小さい物を買ったら経験者の旦那（手伝ってはくれなかったよ…　涙）もビックリするくらい固かったのです。彫るのに向き不向きがあるんだね〜Σ(ﾟдﾟ；)　トホホ. 疲れたよ〜!!!　

Yesterday was Akari's 1st Halloween as well as the first time I ever carved out a pumpkin (I have done the oranges... ;))!! However, I made a mistake of picking a small pumpkin which turned out really hard as a rock to carve out... I broke in sweat and had to take breaks before I was able to finish it up (thanks to my hubby who didn't help...). Who new there is a certain kind of pumpkin for a Jack-O-lantern!! A lesson learned. :/

ピンクの骸骨ちゃんとジャックランタン（茎が長過ぎ？）
My pink skeleton and the Jack-O-lantern (with a too-long stem)

なんか、かぼちゃと違って糸ように固くって引張っても切れない繊維が、沢山！パンプキンの脳みそだぁ〜
Pumpkin's brain!! It was pretty yucky, and I didn't enjoy scooping it out...

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またね☆ see you soon.

明佳梨ちゃんの初めてのお友達のKちゃんとママのCちゃんが日本に帰っちゃったよ…　折角知り合えたのにお互い妊娠、出産とドタバタしてたのであまり一緒に遊べなかったのが残念。約束通りに明佳梨ちゃんとKちゃんが３歳になったら日本で一緒に七五三できるといいなぁ。

Akari's very first friend Kent went back to Japan today... I met his mom right after I moved to DC, but both of us were dealing with pregnancy and arrival of the babies, we didn't get to hang out enough. Hoping Akari and Kent will celebrate "Shichi-Go-San" in Japan when they are three years old as we promised.

生後２ヶ月弱で飛行機に乗って太平洋を横断したKちゃん。機内ではちゃんとパパママのためにちゃんと寝ていたかな？明佳梨ちゃんも生後５ヶ月になる９月に初めての日本に行くよ〜♪　Kちゃんと再開出来るといいね☆

I wonder how 2 month-old Kent did in the plane to Japan. Hope he was being good and slept through for the most part... I wonder how Akari will behave when we go back to Japan in September. She will be 5 month old then... Hopefully we get to meet up with Kent then.

Farmers Market 朝市

ワシントンDCは今日も暑いです。午後には雷雨らしく蒸している。朝早起きしてOld Townの朝市に行くはずが、チビさんの都合により閉まる３０分前にどうにか辿りついた。

お目当てはスーパーでは買えない熟して美味しいトマト。ついでに奇麗なお花も。売れ残りだったので、５０％オフにしてくれたよ。なんてラッキー。早速家に帰って飾って、写真をパッシャリ。

Today is also hot in Washington DC... It's pretty humid and nasty... We were supposed to get up early to go to the farmer's market in Old Town this morning. Well, they were about to close by the time we got there. The little one wasn't cooperating with us this morning... :(

I love getting riped tomatoes from there. Also I got these beautiful pink flowers! Since they were about close, I got them at 50% off. Yay!

ワシントンDCの桜 cherry blossom in DC

すっかり春ですね。

しかし更新に相変わらず波が〜　忙しかったり、後期に入ってやたらと眠かったりといろいろ理由（言い訳？）もあるけれど…元気です。

私的にはもう妊娠生活に飽きているんだけ、ラビットは心地よいのか全然出て来る気配無し。あと残りイヨイヨ２週間を切ったぞ！出来れば予定日までに出てきて〜（焦）

Finally spring is here!

Once again, blog updates have been irregular but I am doing okay. I have been somewhat busy and sleepy lately.

Personally I am done with being pregnant (too heavy and uncomfortable). However Rabbit seems to be too comfortable inside and there is no signs of labor being closer. Only less than 2 weeks until the due date. Please come out by then!

thoughs 今の気持ち

震災から早くも２週間。状況が多少なりに良くなっていると信じたいけれど、毎日ニュースを見るたびに心が痛む。特に不安なのが原発の状況。どうなっちゃうんだろうと常に不安がよぎる。早く問題が収まって、復興に１００％エネルギーを注ぐ事が出来るようになるといいんだけど…

悲しいニュースも多い反面、日本人で良かった。日本人ってすごい、と嬉しくなるようなニュースも。友達に「よく他の国では災害時に暴動とかおきるけど、日本ではそんなことなくお互い助け合っててすごいね。」と言われたよ。嬉しかったし、誇らしかった… 日本のみんなはもちろんの事、海外にいる日本人も一丸になって、しっかり現実を受け止め少ない中にも出来る事を見つけて前進しようとしている姿勢がすごい。

さらに世界中の人々が募金したりして応援している姿を見ると、嬉しくなる。なんでも赤十字に集まった義援金は記録的とか…?　感謝の気持ちを忘れずに、こうしてみんなが助け合って前進するしかないんだよね。

Two weeks have past since the 9.0 M quake and tsunami hit and wiped out East side of Japan. It is still hard to digest what happened and what's still going on over here. I am still nervous to see news, especially about the unstable condition of the nuclear plant in Sendai, Japan.

What's going to happen? I really hope that the radiation will be soon under control, so everyone can focus 100% of rebuilding.

While there are overwhelming amount of sad news pours in, there are some good news which make me be proud and happy to be Japanese. A friend told me that he was impressed that there was no looting unlike some other countries, but instead everyone seems to help each others and trying to rebuild Japan together. Not only people in Japan, but people all over the world are trying to help those survivors and affected ones by doing something they can do and it's such an awesome thing to see.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Now all we can do is to move forward by helping each others, even a small step forward is more important and meaningful while being thankful to others and what you have.

ヒッチハイカー hitchhikers

Happy Friday!!

先週イベントで頂いて来た奇麗なお花の写真を撮っていると…
When I was busy taking photos of these beautiful flowers I got the last week...

ヒッチハイカーが二名も！お花と全く同じ色なんで今まで全く気がつかなかったよ〜　ちょっと嬉しい発見。みなさん良い週末を〜♪

There were two hitchhikers on the flowers!! Since they blended very well with the flowers, I did not notice them until now... It was nice surprise... Have a nice weekend, everyone ♪