Can make comments

I didn't realize I had somehow shut off the ability to make comments on this blog.  It should work now.

Finally able to get to update this blog.  I am finally feeling better as far as pregnancy goes.  Recently visited the clinic and all looks well--baby is 14 cm long!  Tomoki says he has a baby in his tummy too!

Here's Tomoki trying out his training chopsticks.  It didn't go so well.  He prefers his fingers--even over spoon and fork!  It's kinda funny--if he can't do something, he says he is "too big".  Today at the park, he said he was too big to ride on the swing by himself.  He told Charity K. he was too big for her to pick up too!

A picture of those who gathered for fall fellowship meeting.

Christmas was extra special this year as Tomoki could talk about Jesus' birth and play with the little manger set that was my family's.

At the beginning of December we made a trip to China.  We arrived in Beijing one evening and met Li-san and Chi-san and their daughter Jin-Lin for supper (also Li-san's brother).  It was wonderful to see Li-san united with his wife and daughter.  He seems to be doing well in China, though is very busy with business trips.  When asked about what he misses about Japan, he didn't hesitate and said, "the church people".

The next morning we flew to Hong Kong.  We went there because Akihiro's cousin was getting married.  The flights were made more tolerable by some discreet use of the IPad and watching Shimajiro (a Japanese children's learning tiger) and youtube excavator videos!  Really, though, Tomoki was a little trouper with our tight travel schedule.

In addition to the IPad, his trucks got a lot of use.  We weren't able to attend the wedding, but attended a reception dinner the night before.  Tomoki kept our table entertained with his skilled use of his cherry picker, etc.

Here we are with the couple to be married--Masahiro and Eriko Honna.

Back home to Japan the next day.  The next week Tomoki and I took the train out to Yamanshi to meet Akihiro for lunch and visit some friends out there.  I thought Tomoki looked quite dapper in his little hat!

During Christmas break, Koshin (9 years old), from our Shioda church came to spend the week with us.  He is a great kid and we had a nice time with him.  He and Tomoki are best buddies and Tomoki learned so much from him.  His Japanese language skills grew in leaps and bounds.  Some things I wouldn't have cared if he didn't learn....One morning my nose was a little stuffed up and my voice sounded funny.  In Japanese it is called "hana goe" (nose voice, I guess).  Koshin started plugging his nose and saying "hana goe des".  Tomoki followed suit of course.  Well, it was fine for home, but when we joined Marie I. for lunch at a restaurant that day and Tomoki was hollering "hana goe des" in a fairly load nose and plugging his nose, I was a bit embarrassed!  Oh well!  It's interesting to see his language develop.  One day he saw me cutting up some strawberries for our dessert and said to Akihiro, "strawberries".  His pronunciation wasn't the greatest, and Akihiro thought he said cabbage.  He tried again, "no, strawberries!".  Poor Papa still didn't get it, so Tomoki sighed loudly and said, "Papa, ICHIGO!!!"  (That is Japanese for "strawberry".)
     Actually, Koshin ended up coming back one week later for a week because his grandfather in Malaysia passed away and his mother went home for a week.  I put him to work and was able to get some extra things done while he was here.  The below picture was taken at the zoo.  Akihiro took the boys to the zoo one day and I had some blissful hours to myself!

Another day we hiked a nearby mountain.  It was cold, but we had a great view from the top.  Cup of noodle never tastes better than on the top of a mountain on a cold day!

More links to you tube videos of Tomoki--devotions, etc.

http://youtu.be/k8BC_3eFGTI
http://youtu.be/58ZhjzxWylQ
http://youtu.be/IlRHmnK4yU8
http://youtu.be/y4KevehBw2A
http://youtu.be/AHZ-PsagHZw

Tomoki doing devotions

I have uploaded some other videos onto youtube. You can click the following links in the other post from today for videos of other devotions, play, etc.

Some clarification

Congratulations to most of you for figuring out the Japanese--or at least putting two and two together to see that we are expecting another little Ito next summer.  The little accessory for my purse was given to me by the city where we live.  It says, "there is a baby in my tummy".  We get the little accessory when we get our booklet for pregnancy and child development.  In Japanese healthcare, Akihiro feels like this is a very good thing.  Each child has a book that is taken to the doctor from prenatal to school age health information--immunizations, height, weight, etc.  Anyway, back to the accessory--they are all pink, so to those of you who thought it meant we were having a girl.....you'll have to wait a bit longer for that bit of news.  I'm not sure exactly what the purposes of the accessory are, but if you flash it to someone on the train, they will usually give you their seat--kinda handy!
     I am going to the same local OB clinic where Tomoki was born--Shibata Clinic.  The doc speaks English well, the staff is nice, it is close (7 minutes by bike?), and I know basically what to expect there.  That clinic doesn't do VBAC, so we will be scheduling a c-section.  I'll find out more about that on my Monday appointment, I guess.
     As far as how I am feeling....to be honest, pretty crummy.  I have that first trimester fatigue, nagging nausea, excessive saliva, strange dreams, and not the greatest sleep.  Big burps are reasons for rejoicing!  I haven't been a very patient mama for my teething two year old, but I am hanging in there thanks to my good hubby's help and support.
   Next week we are off to Beijing for one night to see Li-san and his wife and daughter and then to Hong Kong for Akihiro's cousin's wedding reception.  I'm hoping and praying that our travels go well.

A new accessory for my purse

We are very thankful to, Lord-willing, be able to wear this little accessory until early July 2012!  Thanks for your prayers and may you all have a blessed Thanksgiving! 

A visit to Hiroshima, etc.

 Here is a view from the top of the ropeway station at Miyajima--we had a beautiful day--and good company, as you can see below.  Akito and Marie, Ed and Jenni Schwartz, and Mark and Bev Bahr and we went by bullet train to Hiroshima for one night.  It was a blessed time--I got a good share of American humor--miss that sometimes!

On other happenings, we attended a wedding of a friend of Akihiro's from middle school.  It was a chapel style wedding which is getting to be more popular here in Japan recently.  I was slightly shocked to see that the person marrying them was American.  He did some of the very short service in English and read some stilted Japanese for their vows.  Well, they got married, anyway.  The harp music was gorgeous, but it seemed quite interesting to be singing the "Christian Home" at a non Christian's wedding.  After the wedding there was quite a reception with lots of speakers.  The bride changed her clothes--a different ballroom style gown.  I guess this is normal--sometimes they might even change clothes twice!  Nevertheless, it didn't make me dissatisfied with my own simple wedding.

Tomoki continues to speak an interesting combination of Japanese and English.  This week he overheard Akihiro ask me (in Japanese) when I was going to cut his hair.  Tomoki said "hair cut" to me in English.  It is amazing to see his little brain process these languages.  (Speaking of hair cuts, I gave Tomoki one and somehow he looks a lot like my dear departed Dad!)  Of course, we think he is terrible smart! :)  He loves doing puzzles recently--his favorite being the power shovel one, which he has done so many times that now he can do it on his own.

I finally got my fall/winter garden planted...daikon, turnips, spinach, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, bok choy, and red radishes.  I hope it does ok as I am kinda late getting it planted.