Merry Christmas and Happy 2010!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Healthy New Year!! We had a very busy winter vacation filled with parties, food, food and more food. Had a million things to get finished over the holidays but as usual time ran away and not much work was done. But we did spend some wonderful times with friends and family sharing lots of food and laughter (and a few drinks too).

It was a wonderful first Christmas for our little girl. She had an awesome time Christmas morning eating the wrapping paper and waving ribbons around. Can`t wait until next year when she hopefully prefers the presents to the boxes they are wrapped in. BUT at the same time, I want things to slow down......she will be 1 year old in no time flat so this holiday I spent enjoying just being at home with her everyday. Amarachi is sooooooo happy, active and noisy.....always "talking" or "singing" or laughing away. She has moved on from crawling and prefers to "cruise" (holding on to things for support and walking) around the house. She loves loves LOVES to dance and listen to her favorite music.....which is almost anything we play although she does have her favorites. Her face absolutely lights up with laughter and smiles the minute we play "Battu" or "Ito maki maki" or "If You`re Happy" or "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

She is also developing quite the "temper". She grunts and pounds her hands on the sofa or table or ground if you turn off the music too soon or take away something she is playing with. She has no problem communicating her disapproval or dislike for anything at this stage.....food is now being thrown around and her bib ripped off as a sign that meal time is O-V-E-R! On the other hand, she rarely cries, loves giving eskimo and butterfly kisses to Mummy and rest her sleepy head on Daddy, and LOVES to play and talk with other kids. She practically tackles any kid that comes within reaching distance simply because she is so excited to play! She has been talking a little but just ma-ma-mama or ga-ga randomly. She is either trying to tell me that I am just so-so (ma-ma means so-so in Japanese) or that she prefers uncle Gaga (my Uncle Garry has been called Gaga ever since I could speak) to anyone else. However, the other day as Auntie Tay-Tay (K.K) came onto the computer screen via skype, Amarachi said "tay-tay"! Because she is a baby of incredible genius (wink, wink) and she loves her Auntie very much, this is no coincidenc. So her first word is officially "tay-tay"!

Well, I`m sure there are a million more little things that I could go on about but there are only about 4 other people in the world who would care so I will end here for now. Big hugs and baby kisses from Hiroshima. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prospersou year of the Tiger!! Grrr.....xxooxxoo

a helping hand.....

This Christmas Amarachi did her best to help me wrap presents for Peter. Unfortunately, when she wasn`t ripping up the wrapping paper she was eating the presents.........it took twice as long to wrap them with the scissors and tape having to be hidden up high where she couldn`t reach them, BUT it was twice as fun too!

BEAR bottomed.....

Bear bottom tights......another thing that is only cute when you are zero years old:)

POLKADOTTED.....

PINK dots, RED dots, POLKADOTS!!!!
Just cuz this is about the only time in life when polka-dots and red tights are considered "fashionable" and sooooooo kawaii (cute)!

baby`s first snowday!

Brrrrrrrr.........it`s cold outside!!!!

Amara & Esme: ichiban chibichans!!

In just a few weeks, our very good friends the Wells-Watson family will be moving to America and we are just heartbroken to be losing them. I will write a bit more later after more memories are captured in the coming weeks (and also cuz I just can`t cry anymore this week about them leaving). So for now I am trying to focus on the happy memories Amara will (maybe?) have of her very first best best friend! They have just recently begun to discover each other and kinda-sorta play with one another and it is seriously the cutest thing ever! We love you miss Esme!! xoxoxo

Early Xmas present from Hawaii!!

It was a few weeks early for Christmas, but Gramma and Grampa came for a short but sweet visit in early December. It was such a nice surprise (they told us about a week beforehand) and it was so wonderful having them here. Although it took Miss Amarachi a few days to warm up to them, by the end of the trip she was back to playing with Grampa and cuddling with Gramma. Oh, how we would love to be closer (fingers crossed, fingers crossed that will happen sooner rather than later). Gramma of course was busy cooking, cleaning and daily trips to Fresta (our local supermarket) and filling our freezer with bags and bags of ice-cubed homemade baby food. What would we do without Gramma?! It was way too short a visit but we had a lovely time just hanging at home and spending time altogether. Even though we skype almost everyday and Amarachi runs to the computer when she hears the skype "ring", nothing beats REAL Gramma and Grampa hugs and kisses. Missing you guys everyday! ALOHA!!