Animal Rites

The first thing Denis sees when he wakes up each morning - or after his nap - is his pillow. He loves his pillow. He especially loves the animals on his pillow. He loves them so much he wants to stay in bed long after he's woken up so he can look at them all.

Of all the animals on his pillow, the porcupine is his favorite. Don't see the porcupine? Here, let Denis point it out for you. (Please picture a stubby little finger tapping three times on the porcupine, tap, tap, tap, to the tune of "oooh, oooh, oooh!")

That stubby little finger then points to the books on a nearby shelf, and a pair of eyes begs you to find the right book. The right book, of course, is this one:

Ten stubby fingers then flip through this book...

...until they find THIS porcupine. This porcupine also gets three little taps of a finger, tap, tap, tap, but this time the tune sounds something like "a-na-na". Which means "another one".

We go through a similar process before going to bed at night. But now the animals of choice are found in this book:

A green frog and a red bird. "Oooh, oooh, oooh!" Guess who has a green frog and a red bird? And guess who wants to show them to you every single time you read this book? 

Tap, tap, tap. "A-na-na!"

Happy Mother's Day!

My first Mother's Day. It started with a snuggle in bed with my three favorite boys - Denis, Jon, and Pisco. There were hugs and kisses and purrrrs aplenty - a wonderful way to start the day. Denis and Jon then treated me to Sunday brunch at the Sheraton Hotel and a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers - my favorites. The rest of the day included a swim at the River Mall and a home-cooked dinner for three. I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate the day. 

***Sap & Sentiment Alert: the rest of this post contains sap and sentiment. You've been warned. 

It feels good to have joined the ranks of mothers around the world and in my life. In my short three months' experience, I can honestly say that motherhood is the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done. There I things I know I do well when it comes to being D's mom, and things I'm hoping to do better. I hope I always feel this way. 

I'd like to wish a well-deserved Happy Mother's Day to some special mothers. Especially:

• My own mother. I lucked out in life being one of your brood! For as long as I can remember you've told me that your kids were the best thing that ever happened to you - and hearing that still makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. You're the one who made being a mom look so appealing, so satisfying that I had to see for myself.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you. Please go back and read this post. 

• Margaret, my mother-in-law. I'm so glad I like you! ;) You always make me feel like one of the family, and have done so since the first time I met you at Christmas 2000. You're the kind of M-i-L that a girl can enjoy having an afternoon cup of Earl Grey with and playing a good game of Scrabble with (no matter who wins!). Your little Jonathan grew up to be a good man, a great husband, and a wonderful father. And for that I am ever so thankful. Happy Mother's Day, Mar!

• All my friends and family members who are mothers. You are far too many to list, but you know who you are. Please know that I've learned something from each and every one of you. You've all been wonderful role models - and I've been watching for years! For those I get to see daily, thank you for making every ordinary day extraordinary for Denis - playing with your kids is often the highlight of his day. For those I only see once a year or once in a blue moon, thanks for raising your kids to be kids I want Denis to know. I can't wait for him to meet them all - cousins and friends and neighbors galore! 

• D's first mother - his birth mother. Unfortunately, I'll never get the chance to meet you, so I'd like to honor you here. I wish I could tell you how thankful I am that you brought Denis into this world. I give you my word that I'll always help guide him through it. In the short time D was with you, I know in my heart that he learned how to be loved. That is the greatest gift you could have ever given him, and I am incredibly thankful for that. To you, M.V., wherever you may be, Happy Mother's Day.

• The caregivers at the orphanage in Kaliningrad. You all saw to D's needs after his first mother could no longer do so and before I was given the privilege. Each of you played the role of 'mother' to the healthy, happy, handsome little boy who is now my son. I will never know all that you did for him, but I know it was enough to keep him thriving and keep him growing. It was obvious that each of you loved him dearly, and I cannot thank you enough for that. Happy Mother's Day to each of you.

***Notice: sap and sentiment ends here. 

I'll leave you with a laugh. This is a song someone sent to me not long ago. Oh, the phases (and phrases!) of motherhood I have yet to experience!

First Swim of the Season

We went for our first 'swim' of the season this weekend. The weather has been beautiful and the 'river' just started flowing... So it was high time we got our feet wet! The Rokko Island River Mall is a perfect place for young ones to cool off and gain a little confidence in the water, as it isn't very deep. And for the big ones it's a great place for, say, a bottle of yuzu-flavored sake, a bag of wasabi-covered almonds, and some adult chit-chat. (Maximo is going to love it, Julie! Hope these pictures give you an idea of what to expect.)

A Rocket and Nose Story

I have a funny story to share. A story involving a rocket and a nose. Yes, that's right. A rocket and a nose. Wondering how those two things fit together? Let's take a peek inside D's mind. Here's the story.

Once upon a time, a couple of weekends ago, Denis attended a birthday party for three friends. At the end of the party he was given a goody bag. In the goody bag, he found this great toy rocket. I'm sure you can picture how this works. You put the rocket on the gray pump thing and squeeze as hard as you can. Even a two-year-old can squeeze the dickens out of this and send the rocket flying. It's a great toy. Even I love it. 

The cats love it too, as you can see from this poor rocket that escaped neither feline teeth nor claws. And you can imagine how that (the cats chasing the rockets around the room) sends Denis into a tailspin. But that's another story for another post.

Let's continue with the original story, shall we? For the past couple of weeks, Denis has had this nasty runny, stuffy, snotty, crusty nose. Poor kid can hardly breathe at night. So, being the good parents that we are, we employ the use of this handy thing. 

I call it the snot-sucker-outer, but I'm sure there's an official name for it. Nose syringe, perhaps? Anyway, as I was saying, we've been using this thing a lot lately. Especially just before bedtime. After each suck of the snot-sucker-outer, I say "oooooh..." and Denis says "aaaaah..." It's cute and gross all at the same time.

Well, the other day, I was changing D's diaper before his nap. As I was taking care of business down there, he was playing with his rocket - shooting the ships all over the bedroom - stopping every so often to wipe the snot from his nose all over his sleeve. (You can see where this is going, can't you?) As I was finishing up the diaper, all rocket activity came to a halt. I glanced up to see why the sudden stillness, and guess what sight I beheld? Yes, Denis was using the rocket pump as a snot-suck nose syringe. Again, cute and gross all at the same time! But pretty darn ingenious. And possibly a bit dangerous. (Don't worry, grandparents, D and I had a little chat about which one goes in the nose - the white one; and who the only people are that can put it in the nose - Mama and Papa.) Anyway, you can see how the similarity caused the confusion...

Moral of the story? Partners in crime are partners in slime.

The end.

Denis Meets Peter Pan

In March, we enrolled Denis in Peter Pan, an international pre-school here on Rokko Island. He attends the morning session (9:00-1:00) once a week, usually on Wednesdays. Our thinking behind this was two-fold: (1) it would help set the stage for when he goes to Peter Pan full-time starting in August when I go back to work, and (2) it would give me a few hours "off" during the week. Granted, going to pre-school full-time (vs. once per week) will still be a tough transition, but at least Denis will be familiar with the routines at Peter Pan by the time August rolls around. And as much as I'm enjoying being a stay-at-home-mom, I do cherish these four free hours each week! I can read, sleep, hibachi hunt - whatever I want! - for four uninterrupted hours. Ahhh...

But here's the thing. I'd been feeling rather guilty about this for the past several weeks. Not the part about having time to myself, but the part where I was sending my new son off to pre-school at the ripe old age of not-quite-two. The first time I took him to Peter Pan, he loved it. He went right in and got busy playing with blocks. I don't think he understood, on that first visit, that I was leaving and that he'd be there without me.  Because the second (and third, and fourth, and fifth...) time I dropped him off, he cried and cried and looked at me with this desperate "please don't leave me!" look that about broke my heart. Each Wednesday, as I walked him to Peter Pan, I found that I had this nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I could only imagine how he was feeling. 

Well, lo and behold! A couple of weeks ago when I dropped him off he put on this super brave face, took a deep breath, and walked through the door without me. He didn't cry until he turned around and waved good-bye to me. His little lips were quivering ever so slightly and I could see him trying to control his tears (how sad is that?). Last week, when I told him that it was Peter Pan Day, he practiced saying good-bye to me before we left the apartment and the whole way there - "bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye". And when I finally dropped him off ... no tears! Today, as we were saying "bye-bye" just outside the front door, he went up to a girl who was having a hard time saying good-bye to her mom and who clearly didn't want to go in.  He told her, "come" and gestured for her to walk in with him. It was so sweet, I about cried! I guess he's over the fear of going to Peter Pan.

Even on those days when he cried as I left, I know he loved being there because he's always all smiles when I pick him up in the afternoon. I keep reminding myself that separation is a good thing - it teaches him to trust that I'll come back. I'm glad it's only taken him a short time to learn that I will keep coming back. I'm here for good, D!

March 11, 2009

May 7, 2009

Mayday! May Day!

Ok, so after I wrote that last line of my last post about who would go to the trouble of making a May Day basket... I decided that Denis and I would. Shame on me for being so Bah-Humbug! Why not go to the trouble of making a little something that would brighten someone's day? Why not give D the chance to make some of his own May Day memories?

Granted, we didn't make the actual basket (next year - all homemade!), but we did pick the flowers and pack the basket full of love. Love in the form of a framed picture of Denis (for Papa's desk) and a few Hershey's Kisses. We delivered it to school, hung it on his office door, and ran away. May Day lives!

Memory Lane via Sesame Street

Having a toddler provides one with a great opportunity to take a walk on the wild side down memory lane. Recently, D and I have been meandering along Sesame Street. To my delight, I've rediscovered some of my favorite Sesame Street songs from childhood. My Martian Cutie has to be my all-time favorite, with The Ladybugs' Picnic coming in a close second. (Have you ever heard better lyrics?!) Won't you join me in my walk - to where the air is sweet - and rediscover your own SS favorites? You know you want to!

   

   

As long as we're walking down memory lane... I fondly remember making many a cone-shaped, construction-papered May Day basket (or were they made from brown paper bags...or old paper plates?) on this day - May 1st - and feeling giddy from setting them on neighbors' doorsteps and quickly running away. Did anyone ever catch and kiss me?! Does anyone celebrate May Day anymore? Happy May Day, everyone! Go catch and kiss someone you love. Because, really, who's going to go to the trouble of making a basket?

Locks and Crocs

We broke down and did it. We went for a haircut! What a difference losing a few locks can make! Poor D was starting to look a bit shaggy...

I don't remember getting to sit in a cool car when I was a kid getting a haircut. Do you?

And just because they're so darn cute (and because they gave me a clever rhyme for this post), here are a few pics of D in his new Crocs - which he absolutely loves. 

What a Face!

What's up with this face?! Ham it up much, Denis?

We tried to take a semi spur-of-the-moment family photo this weekend, but someone refused to sit still. Maybe next time.

Istanbul It Is!

This may be the craziest thing I've ever done. Are you ready for it? I'm going to Istanbul for the weekend! Not this weekend but a weekend. A weekend in June - the second weekend in June, to be exact. Haven't you always wanted to fly away to some exotic place for the weekend? Well, I have. And now I'm doing it! For. The. Weekend. Crazy, right? 

Let me tell you why, in my mind, it isn't so crazy:

1.  I've always wanted to see Istanbul.

2. I've got good friends who are living there in an apartment overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. They've promised me G&Ts on the balcony! These are friends I've been dying to see for 8 years, since I left Lithuania.

3.  I'm using frequent flyer miles and partner airlines to get there. (When does that ever happen - that you can use your miles on the exact dates you wish to fly?) All I'm paying for my flight is $91 in taxes. And my concert ticket (I'm getting to that!) was only 94 Turkish Lira, about $58. Bargain prices!

4.  Loreena McKennitt will be in concert on the Saturday night of that weekend. If ever there was a concert I wanted to see, a concert I would fly thousands of miles to go to, this is it. Her music is wonderful when listened to digitally, and I can already tell you that it will be a million times better when heard live. Her music has been described as Celtic, World, Folk... But she herself describes her work as "musical travel writing". Whatever it is, it's the best I've ever heard. Listen for yourself: 

I don't know about you, but listening to this is like traveling to another world. An exotic world! Her voice is ethereal. The number of musicians and instruments is simply staggering. And how about the Alhambra as a venue? I hope the Cemil Topuzlu Harbiye Amphitheatre in Istanbul will measure up!

Now, let me concede that this trip might be a bit crazy for these reasons:

1. Jet lag. I won't be completely over my jet lag before I'll be turing around and heading back to Japan. This might not be so bad if we weren't flying to Hawaii 4 days after I get back. And then 5 days later, we'll be flying to Nebraska. I'm not sure which time zone my body will feel like it's in by then... At least I'll have the summer to recuperate!

2.  Denis. I'm not sure how Denis will react to me being gone for a few days. Let me say that if we were having any attachment issues I wouldn't be going on this trip. Jon and I both feel that Denis is attaching to us very well and knows we are his Mama and Papa. That's not to say that my absence will be easy for him, but we plan to Skype (what would we do without Skype?!) while I'm gone so that D can 'see' me every day. No, it's not the same, but we'll survive.

Istanbul, here I come!

New Treasures

A couple of beautiful objets d'art have come into my possession recently. The first is this lovely Japanese ceramic hibachi. It's about 70-80 years old, according to Fuji-san, my favorite antique dealer from Nishinomiya. I'd been hoping to procure one of these for a while now, so the other day I jumped on the train and went hibachi hunting. This one was hiding under a table, covered in dirt and grime. But something about it jumped out at me (the crane, perhaps?). So, Fuji-san and I dumped out all the ashes and gave it a quick scrub, to reveal this underneath! Isn't it a beauty? I think it'll make a great wine chiller. 

The second is this gorgeous bracelet made by my friend Gail. If ever I get a compliment on a piece of jewelry I'm wearing, this is almost always my reply: "Thank you. My friend Gail made it for me." She has given me some lovely pieces in the past, but nothing quite as sentimental as this one. In case you can't see the beads in the middle, they say DENIS. Thanks, g,  I love it! 

Itchin' to Travel

I'm not sure who's to blame for the wanderlust that courses through my veins. But I'm itchin' to travel! Jon and I stayed home over our last big breaks from school - fall break, Christmas break, spring break (woe is me, I know!) - and it's catching up to me. I feel antsy. Of course, we did make two trips to Russia recently, and I certainly haven't forgotten those. They were special trips, to be sure. Experiences of a lifetime. But still... 

Nor have I forgotten that we're stopping in Hawaii for a few days on our way back to the States/Canada for our summer vacation. But the main reason for that trip is to get Denis his passport and certificate of citizenship - a business trip, if you will - so we'll be busy at different immigration offices. However, don't feel too badly for me! There's bound to be some down time spent on the beach and at the pool, and maybe I'll even be able to sip a tropical cocktail or two as I watch the Hawaiian sun go down. But still...

And then there are our trips home to see friends and family over the summer. I can't tell you how important those trips are to us. The familiarity, the sense of rootedness, the sights and sounds and smells from childhood - these things sustain us in a way that's hard to describe. These trips allow us to keep living so far away.  But still...

What I'm missing is a real holiday. Some of that ever elusive R&R. A few carefree days to do whatever I please. Some Celia Time, if you will. I've got something up my sleeve, but I'll wait until the last few pieces fall into place before I say any more. Intrigued, aren't you? 

What Can He Do Now That He's Two?

Wondering what Denis is like as a two-year-old? Read on!

Knows how to:

Blow kisses

Give real kisses

Hug

Wave bye-bye

Give a high-five

Splash in puddles

Take off his socks

Put on his shoes... and sometimes his socks

Brush his teeth (not thoroughly, but he can do it!)

Unpeel a tangerine

Use a spoon

Clink glasses together for “cheers!”

Brush himself off after he's taken a spill

Cough into his arm (still working on this for the sneezing!)

Look for airplanes in the sky

Point to himself when you ask "Where's Denis?"

Get his bib and put it on

Buckle himself into his booster seat

Point to different body parts (nose, eyes, ears, mouth)

Match pictures in a lotto game

Make a butterfly out of his hands

Tidy up his toys (sometimes!)

Can say:

I love you (“I lo lyu”)

Bye-bye

Up

Down

Mama

Papa

Open

Help please (“hep pzzz”)

Socks and shoes (“cos” and “choos”)

Hello

Hi

Juice

Banana (“manana”)

Choo-choo

Poo-poo (when he pats his butt as he says this you know you’re in for a doozie of a diaper!)

Coo-coo (at a pigeon)

Caw-caw (at a crow)

Yeah (when he does something well!)

Uh-oh and Oh no!

Ooopsie

Nooooo! (complete with shaking of head)

Likes to:

Make connections (between books and toys; my shoes and his; photos and people...)

Do the motions for Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes; The Wheels on the Bus; and Itsy Bitsy Spider as you sing the song

Clean the bathtub

Wipe up spills

Vacuum

Use up all our Kleenexes

Scold the cats (especially Pisco!)

Pet the cats

Talk on the cell phone

Listen to music

Blow bubbles

Look at books

Skype!

Open and close doors (he’d do this all day if we let him!)

Point out all the dogs and birds on our walks

Watch Baby Einstein videos

Put his teddy bear and Knuffle Bunny to bed under blankets

Dance

Wear my red slip-on shoes around the apartment

Eats:

Just about anything! Maybe we should make a list of food he won’t eat as it would be a much shorter list. Green beans and bell peppers would be on that list. Kiwi and egg salad might be on that list. The jury's still out on those.

Favorite toys:

Motorized shinkansen/bullet train (he runs this all over the apartment, and NOT on its tracks, oddly enough)

Musical instruments

Any toy that makes music... or noise

Puzzles

Play-Doh

Blocks

Stacking cups

Pull-along dog that barks

Ball that lights up

Stuffed animals

Puppets

Magnetic sketch pad

Leap Frog Word Whammer (although he doesn't get the word part!)

Favorite books:

The Wheels on the Bus

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Goodnight Gorilla

A Tale of Tails

Barnyard Dance

Harry the Dirty Dog

Time for Bed

Hush Little Baby

One Day in the Jungle (Achoo!)

Higher! Higher!

Denis Turns Two!

Today is D's birthday. He's two! We celebrated with some friends yesterday with a combined birthday/Easter party here at our place. A brunch, an egg hunt, and some beautiful weather made for a great morning. Denis isn't quite sure what it means to be two, but if it means spending the day outside with friends and then getting a Radio Flyer trike, he'd gladly turn two every day!

Making a wish...

Preparing for the hunt...

Trying out his new set of wheels...

Happy birthday, Denis! We love you!

Proud To Be Russian

Denis was the Russian contingent in the Parade of Nations at CA's Food & Fun Fair on Saturday. The FFF is an annual event hosted by our school, and hundreds of people turn out for it each year. It's a great way to celebrate the many cultures that make up our school community...and a delicious way to eat lunch! Of course, D had no idea what the parade - or the fair - was all about, but he loved waving his flag around for all to see.

A Grand Visit

Jon's parents left yesterday after spending a couple of weeks in Japan - a week with us and a week on their own. We had a great visit with them, and Denis loved meeting and getting to know Granny and Grandpa Tom. They played in the park, went for walks, blew bubbles, made shadows on the ceiling, and sang countless songs. He turned on the charm and hammed it up for most of their visit, and threw in some typical two-year-old tantrum behavior for good measure! Thanks, G&G, for making the long trip here and for putting up with our cramped quarters. Thanks, too, for all the babysitting and the early birthday party for D. We'll see you in Ottawa in July and on Skype long before that!

Here are some photos of our visit. Enjoy!

Here's a great series of photos Grandpa Tom took of Denis at the park one afternoon.

And here's a clip from Denis's early birthday party. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the cake, the candles... But he loves watching this video clip - he laughs and claps at himself and wants to see it over and over again!

Rice Is Nice

Perhaps I spoke too soon about the rice. Apparently, it tastes much better when using chopsticks!

The Kid Can EAT!

For those of you who've met Denis and have been around him at snack time, dinner time, anytime really, you know what I mean when I say this kid will eat anything. And here's proof for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting our little garbage disposal.

Denis eating at our favorite Indian restaurant - Indo Mura - on Rokko Island. He loves chicken tikka, palak paneer, dal makhani, and nan. Believe it or not, plain rice is the thing we had to convince him to eat!

Denis devouring a plate Granny Mar's plate of okonomiyaki - one of my favorite Japanese meals - at a tiny restaurant in Arashiyama. I think Granny may have gotten a couple of bites of her own lunch, if she was lucky!

Had we taken him to Ko-chan's, our favorite place for Kobe beef, I know Denis would have eaten his fair share. But really, we have to draw the line somewhere. And apparently, the line between Japanese Yen/gram of Kobe beef is where we draw ours!

And the Other Winner Is...

Terie! She's the only one who guessed that our little guy's first name would be Denis (except for Linda, who guessed after the fact!), and I decided that that should trump all other answers in Round Two. I realize I'm a bit late on this, but I've finally gotten some "prizes" in the mail (one for you, too, Danielle!). Better late than never, right?

Granny and Grandpa Tom Have Arrived!

Granny and Grandpa Tom arrived from Canada via New Zealand on Wednesday evening, and Denis 'took' to them immediately. We've been exploring Rokko Island and Arashiyama since their arrival and have been having a good time together. I'll put together a slideshow once I get some of Grandpa Tom's photos - he's taken some great pictures.

Showered with Love

Last Friday, the school hosted a shower for the newest members of the Canadian Academy community - the recently-born Ali and the newly-arrived Denis. Plenty of food and drink for the adults and a playroom for the kids, it was a well planned party, indeed! It was great to see so many people drop by and meet the new additions, and we feel fortunate to belong to such a supportive community. Below are a few pictures from the party and of Denis opening some of his gifts. He loved each and every one of them!

And On That Farm There Was...

...a sheep

...a goat

...a duck.

The spring-like weather we've been having on the weekends has allowed for some great excursions. A couple of weeks ago, we visited a bird and flower ark on Port Island; and this past weekend, we drove up the mountain to the Mount Rokko pasture. Animals were fed, pet, and "oooohed" over on both trips. D has little fear of animals - which is both a good thing and a bad thing, I'm learning. I'm glad he's interested, but there will come a day when some creature decides to stand its ground. I just hope no fingers will be lost!

Pisco Ponders Puppets

Anyone else have a cat that watches TV? Pisco has recently discovered Baby Einstein and he can't get enough! How does a cat develop an addiction to television, you might wonder. It was innocent enough. In the beginning. He happened to be sitting on the Apple TV one day (the warmest spot in the apartment) when we started one of the videos. We could see him glancing over from time to time - ears pricked up and head cocked to one side - and within minutes, he was hooked. Now he comes running and takes his post whenever he hears the squeaky little voices of the Baby Einstein puppets.

The boys think it's sort of cute and endearing if Pisco keeps his post on the Apple TV and watches from the sidelines. But the moment he steps off and stands directly in front of the TV to get a better look, all hell breaks loose. Denis hollers at him in his best English-Russian baby babble to get out of the way and stop blocking his view. And Jon swears at him (Pisco, not Denis) to get down and not touch the TV - usually just in time. One of these days, Pisco will pounce on one of those poor unsuspecting puppets.

Me, I think it's cute and endearing all of the time.