Then we celebrated Jeremy and Carl's birthday together (they are one day apart)! Elizabeth made a delicious pasta and pumpkin side and I made a chocolate pie for dessert - and it was actually good! The birthday boys:
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Jeremy's birthday and Aeris' first crawl
Yesterday was Jeremy's 29th birthday! He will now be 30 in less than a year... he doesn't seem to mind, but I know it'll be big for me when it comes my turn next month! We hardly feel like we've reached another decade. I bought him another game, of course, Le Havre. :-) The day was absolutely gorgeous! Perfect blue sky and temperatures in the mid-60s - I went to the park with Aeris and some friends while Jeremy was working and Aeris experienced grass and dirt for the first time. She loved pulling the grass up and raking her fingers in the dirt, ew. :-) Today was even warmer! No jackets needed! Unfortunately, the weather is supposed to turn sour later tonight with lots of rain the rest of the week. Anyway, I finally got some room on my camera and took this video of Aeris' first "crawl" at church this morning (which she's been doing for a couple of days now): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlY4LUnQX_I It isn't much yet, but at least she can get from point A to point B! And some pictures, of course:
Then we celebrated Jeremy and Carl's birthday together (they are one day apart)! Elizabeth made a delicious pasta and pumpkin side and I made a chocolate pie for dessert - and it was actually good! The birthday boys:
Then we celebrated Jeremy and Carl's birthday together (they are one day apart)! Elizabeth made a delicious pasta and pumpkin side and I made a chocolate pie for dessert - and it was actually good! The birthday boys:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Pictures and Stuff
And 25 wipes later, we have one giddy girl and a big mess - at least it wasn't the whole bag...
Two teeth. (taken a week or so ago)
She's a pro at turning pages, and I need to get a video of her with her favorite books soon. :-) Jeremy and I joke about her "introduction" (we do basic intros with our students every class): "Hello. My name is Aeris. I'm 7 months old. My hobby is turning pages." (or "standing", which she loves more than anything).
In regards to standing, she's taken to walking pretty good (with support). She's even daring enough to take steps while only holding on to us or an object with just one hand, and she's tried to take a step all on her own to go between the table and the couch several times. Often, she'll stand up and stand there just to stand, with no real purpose. She can bend down to sit and grab objects fairly easily, so thankfully, there haven't been too many falls yet. I also need to take a video of her practice "walking". And there's still hope for her to crawl first! The past three days she's been making lots of good attempts to get up on her hands and knees, sort of... she gets up on her hands and feet - but at least she's getting her belly off the ground.
She has also started saying "Mom mom" only when she needs something, usually food. Jeremy and I can't decide if she's trying to say "Mama/Mommy" or if she's trying to say "milk" instead, heh. She talks a LOT and she's still a little socialite. She's eating about 2 meals a day now, or 1 meal and two 1/2 meals. We've just recently started introducing finger foods. She's had broccoli, banana, bread, peaches, and pumpkin "puffs" - the kind that melt in your mouth. She does really well and has a good pincer grasp.
She still has to sleep with something on or near her face, for this reason, we bought her a "blanket friend" to snuggle with, and she loves it. :-)
Here we are yesterday with the Mitsubishi Minica. It was taken away to the trash compact yesterday. It was just old and never serviced properly, but still sad to see it go, so we took a picture with it for memory's sake, both the good and bad (funny).
Two teeth. (taken a week or so ago)
She's a pro at turning pages, and I need to get a video of her with her favorite books soon. :-) Jeremy and I joke about her "introduction" (we do basic intros with our students every class): "Hello. My name is Aeris. I'm 7 months old. My hobby is turning pages." (or "standing", which she loves more than anything).
In regards to standing, she's taken to walking pretty good (with support). She's even daring enough to take steps while only holding on to us or an object with just one hand, and she's tried to take a step all on her own to go between the table and the couch several times. Often, she'll stand up and stand there just to stand, with no real purpose. She can bend down to sit and grab objects fairly easily, so thankfully, there haven't been too many falls yet. I also need to take a video of her practice "walking". And there's still hope for her to crawl first! The past three days she's been making lots of good attempts to get up on her hands and knees, sort of... she gets up on her hands and feet - but at least she's getting her belly off the ground.
She has also started saying "Mom mom" only when she needs something, usually food. Jeremy and I can't decide if she's trying to say "Mama/Mommy" or if she's trying to say "milk" instead, heh. She talks a LOT and she's still a little socialite. She's eating about 2 meals a day now, or 1 meal and two 1/2 meals. We've just recently started introducing finger foods. She's had broccoli, banana, bread, peaches, and pumpkin "puffs" - the kind that melt in your mouth. She does really well and has a good pincer grasp.
She still has to sleep with something on or near her face, for this reason, we bought her a "blanket friend" to snuggle with, and she loves it. :-)
Here we are yesterday with the Mitsubishi Minica. It was taken away to the trash compact yesterday. It was just old and never serviced properly, but still sad to see it go, so we took a picture with it for memory's sake, both the good and bad (funny).
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Eye color
I've been a bit obsessed lately over what color Aeris' eyes will end up. Here are Jeremy's, mine, and Aeris' eyes at 7 months. We both have blue and green eyes in our families, and I believe, only brown on my mom's side. She still has the blue/grey she was born with but also I'm noticing some brown or hazel specks around the center. Any guesses?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Prayer requests
This was taken last night. She was doing her "ya ya ya" face. I couldn't resist NOT posting it, lol. She also has two teeth now, her second just broke through yesterday.
I've been busy making baby food lately. It's nice to have something in the freezer for her when we get a bento at the store for our lunch. So far, I have cooked more for her than I have for us all week! She currently has a chunky carrot/apple mix, banana/avocado pudding, applesauce, and pumpkin/raisin puree. Next up will be a sweet potato/pea or green bean puree. I'm disappointed about not going gung ho on the BLW as I had originally planned, but until I start cooking every day, I'm not sure how that's going to work out. :-( She does probably get more finger foods than most kids her age though, so it's still a mix. Jeremy is at the end of Sankambi week - when parents are invited to come watch their child's class. Next weekend, we have another Open School day, and currently only have 1-3 students signed up to attend this promotion. Pray we get more students to sign up for the new school year! I worry about the fate of Bell School.
Also, please pray for Courtney and her mom (Courtney is the teacher we are hiring to replace Jeremy). We just got word the other day that her mom has been in the hospital for a while with complications related to a relatively minor condition (a hernia?) and Courtney has been there with her. They now think her complications are potentially life threatening, and they have also found a tumor in her uterus. It sounds like Courtney still wants to come teach with us, but we're not sure how this situation will affect her arrival and/or our departure. Please pray for her mom's healing and guidance for all of us. Thank you!
I've been busy making baby food lately. It's nice to have something in the freezer for her when we get a bento at the store for our lunch. So far, I have cooked more for her than I have for us all week! She currently has a chunky carrot/apple mix, banana/avocado pudding, applesauce, and pumpkin/raisin puree. Next up will be a sweet potato/pea or green bean puree. I'm disappointed about not going gung ho on the BLW as I had originally planned, but until I start cooking every day, I'm not sure how that's going to work out. :-( She does probably get more finger foods than most kids her age though, so it's still a mix. Jeremy is at the end of Sankambi week - when parents are invited to come watch their child's class. Next weekend, we have another Open School day, and currently only have 1-3 students signed up to attend this promotion. Pray we get more students to sign up for the new school year! I worry about the fate of Bell School.
Also, please pray for Courtney and her mom (Courtney is the teacher we are hiring to replace Jeremy). We just got word the other day that her mom has been in the hospital for a while with complications related to a relatively minor condition (a hernia?) and Courtney has been there with her. They now think her complications are potentially life threatening, and they have also found a tumor in her uterus. It sounds like Courtney still wants to come teach with us, but we're not sure how this situation will affect her arrival and/or our departure. Please pray for her mom's healing and guidance for all of us. Thank you!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Umm... (ETA)
It's a tooth!! Where on earth did that come from? She IS teething and I didn't even know it. I noticed something white on her lower gum yesterday and began to investigate and it sure looks like there's a tooth trying to break through! The one beside it looks like it'll follow fairly soon after. Say bye-bye to the gummy smiles. :-)
*edit* Geez! A little over two weeks ago I said teeth and crawling seemed a long way off... and today I take that back. Her first tooth broke through this morning and she just half-crawled/scooched ALL the way across our futon and onto the floor. I guess a lot can happen in just 17 days in the life of a baby!! (The "crawl" was SO cute, I wish I had video! She's like a little inch worm! Butt up, push forward with legs, stretch out, and repeat, lol)
*edit* She's 16lbs 2oz and 26" long as of Friday.
*edit* Geez! A little over two weeks ago I said teeth and crawling seemed a long way off... and today I take that back. Her first tooth broke through this morning and she just half-crawled/scooched ALL the way across our futon and onto the floor. I guess a lot can happen in just 17 days in the life of a baby!! (The "crawl" was SO cute, I wish I had video! She's like a little inch worm! Butt up, push forward with legs, stretch out, and repeat, lol)
*edit* She's 16lbs 2oz and 26" long as of Friday.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Update on us
I'll try to give a brief update on us, something other than Aeris. :-)
As most of you know, we're planning on returning to the US this spring, sometime between the end of April and the beginning of May. We'll know more of an exact date once the new teacher is hired and her visa process has begun. Ideally, we'd love to be back for Tom's wedding! :-)
I'm nervous, and excited. We both are. It's a big change, but we've done it before and we'll do it again. I can't believe there are only a few months left! There is SO much to do!! I'm a bit overwhelmed though I know God will provide for us as He always has. I spend all day, every day researching airlines, car seats, cars, insurance, government assistance, jobs, etc, translating between Japanese and American websites, and trying to make every purchase we'll have to make fit into our budget in between taking care of Eri, of course. We still need to get her her visa. Now that she's an American, she needs a visa to be in Japan, however short she'll still be here. We're hoping to do that this weekend. Then there's packing. We're hoping to start sending some boxes home soon. Ideally, we won't have more than two or three, since we're planning on leaving a lot of things here. Once we are home, we'll have to buy more clothing, furniture, baby gear, dinner and cooking ware, linens, entertainment... well, everything. Garage sales here we come!! :-) If anyone happens to be searching Craigslist or Freecycle and sees something we might like, free feel to let me know! Jeremy is interested in applying for a position at the post office. Hopefully, he'll be able to sign up for the test before we arrive home, and hopefully, he'll pass and get a job soon! He's also interested in an entry-level office job - no more warehouses for him! ;-) Again, if anyone else hears of something or knows of another job he might be interested in, please let us know. We're open to anything. We'll be looking around Columbus, Ohio first, and other places second. We would love to stay in Ohio close to family, but realize the Lord may have other plans still. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this change. Also pray for us spiritually. Though we do attend church in Hagi, and we have good Christian friends, our relationships with the Lord certainly haven't been stimulated very much. We know we need to change this now, not later. We would take great joy in raising Aeris to know God, but as things are now, we very rarely pray, read the Scriptures, or even talk about Him. So sad! I struggle more than Jeremy with this. I'm also struggling with being a good homemaker. Some of you know this. :-) It has been wearing on me lately. I'm a mother now, and I'm home all day, I have no excuse, I should be better with this. It should bring me joy to take care of my family and our home. I would love to be a good homemaker; I would love to learn to cook and clean and organize and even sew! But I have a loooong way to go! I feel like returning home will give me the perfect opportunity for a new start. We are ready. Jeremy can't wait to be with his guy friends again, and I'm excited for him! He's looking forward to joining CABS as well, haha. I hope to join Curves again! I'll write again soon with the full list of things we're looking forward to most and the things we'll miss the most. There are a lot on both lists!
And a fun picture to end with: Jeremy taking Aeris for a bath.
As most of you know, we're planning on returning to the US this spring, sometime between the end of April and the beginning of May. We'll know more of an exact date once the new teacher is hired and her visa process has begun. Ideally, we'd love to be back for Tom's wedding! :-)
I'm nervous, and excited. We both are. It's a big change, but we've done it before and we'll do it again. I can't believe there are only a few months left! There is SO much to do!! I'm a bit overwhelmed though I know God will provide for us as He always has. I spend all day, every day researching airlines, car seats, cars, insurance, government assistance, jobs, etc, translating between Japanese and American websites, and trying to make every purchase we'll have to make fit into our budget in between taking care of Eri, of course. We still need to get her her visa. Now that she's an American, she needs a visa to be in Japan, however short she'll still be here. We're hoping to do that this weekend. Then there's packing. We're hoping to start sending some boxes home soon. Ideally, we won't have more than two or three, since we're planning on leaving a lot of things here. Once we are home, we'll have to buy more clothing, furniture, baby gear, dinner and cooking ware, linens, entertainment... well, everything. Garage sales here we come!! :-) If anyone happens to be searching Craigslist or Freecycle and sees something we might like, free feel to let me know! Jeremy is interested in applying for a position at the post office. Hopefully, he'll be able to sign up for the test before we arrive home, and hopefully, he'll pass and get a job soon! He's also interested in an entry-level office job - no more warehouses for him! ;-) Again, if anyone else hears of something or knows of another job he might be interested in, please let us know. We're open to anything. We'll be looking around Columbus, Ohio first, and other places second. We would love to stay in Ohio close to family, but realize the Lord may have other plans still. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this change. Also pray for us spiritually. Though we do attend church in Hagi, and we have good Christian friends, our relationships with the Lord certainly haven't been stimulated very much. We know we need to change this now, not later. We would take great joy in raising Aeris to know God, but as things are now, we very rarely pray, read the Scriptures, or even talk about Him. So sad! I struggle more than Jeremy with this. I'm also struggling with being a good homemaker. Some of you know this. :-) It has been wearing on me lately. I'm a mother now, and I'm home all day, I have no excuse, I should be better with this. It should bring me joy to take care of my family and our home. I would love to be a good homemaker; I would love to learn to cook and clean and organize and even sew! But I have a loooong way to go! I feel like returning home will give me the perfect opportunity for a new start. We are ready. Jeremy can't wait to be with his guy friends again, and I'm excited for him! He's looking forward to joining CABS as well, haha. I hope to join Curves again! I'll write again soon with the full list of things we're looking forward to most and the things we'll miss the most. There are a lot on both lists!
And a fun picture to end with: Jeremy taking Aeris for a bath.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Blog title
I think the blog title should be changed to "Aeris in Japan". Or at least I should have made a baby blog just for her... What do you all think? :-p
Cow duckling.
GroBaby cover w/ prefold.
We FINALLY put the crib in our room on Sunday. The poor girl had been in her baby basket for far too long; her feet stuck out at least an inch over when she'd stretch them out. She's been sleeping in the crib great, and still doesn't budge in her sleep. I thought for sure she'd be all over the crib since she moves so much during her naps on our bed, but she's stayed flat on her back in the same position we left her in every night. She just realized today, five days later, that she can pull up on it, haha. Silly girl.
Cow duckling.
GroBaby cover w/ prefold.
We FINALLY put the crib in our room on Sunday. The poor girl had been in her baby basket for far too long; her feet stuck out at least an inch over when she'd stretch them out. She's been sleeping in the crib great, and still doesn't budge in her sleep. I thought for sure she'd be all over the crib since she moves so much during her naps on our bed, but she's stayed flat on her back in the same position we left her in every night. She just realized today, five days later, that she can pull up on it, haha. Silly girl.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)