Cherry Blossom Adventures

No, not me! Shumpei`s university friend Sasa and his lovely wife Sachi are expecting their first baby this month! They got married mid 2007 and were so excited when they found out they were pregnant at the beggining of the year- in fact Sasa mailed all the boys from uni to tell them even though Sachi was only 4 weeks pregnant at the time (From what I can tell, literally as soon as he found out!)

I saw them both just before I left in May and Sachi had a tiny little baby bump (I know when I am pregnant there will be nothing tiny about my baby bump but that is Japanese women for you!) and they already knew they were expecting a girl. We are now waiting for the news from Sasa sometime this month to tell us their little girl has arrived!

Sachi has gone back to Tokyo for now to be close to her parents even though her and Sasa now live in Nagoya where Sasa works. This seems to be the norm in Japan- going back home to be with your mum when you are about to give birth, especially with your first. I know Shumpei`s mum went back to Tochigi for when his brother was born but stayed in Chiba when he was born!  So Sasa might not be there for the birth of his daughter if he is working at the time, or if it is quick labor but my understanding is that he will head to Tokyo has soon as he gets the news and take a little time off work.

Anyway, the point of this post, apart from to share the good news of our friends impending arrival, is that I knit her a hat. The baby I mean! It is my first time knitting something other than a scarf and though while it is a little holey on top I am so proud of it!  I am going to try to make booties to go with it too!!! ALthough that may be a little ambitious!!! Thanks to Suzy who sent me the pattern for the umbilical cord hat featured! It is from one of the Stich and Bitch books which I have in Tokyo but unfortunately couldn`t bring with me so she kindly sent it to me cos she is tops!

Shumpei and his friends (and me!) are very excited about the new baby arrival as Sasa was the first in their little uni soccer group to get married and the first to have a baby and so they are all very excited to become “uncles”. It is a shame we won`t be back in Japan til next year to meet the little apple blossom child!

Due to the excitement of the new babies arrival and wanting to send something from Australia to Sasa, Sachi and their new family member we went a little nuts in the shopping! I am still yet to buy some Australian stuff to go in there also (Koala socks? Aussie animals book or stuffed baby toy? Some kind of nice handcream or something or Sachi? Any ideas?) Here is the other stuff we have bought to send the little munchkin when she arrives!

Buying and looking at baby clothes and seeing Shun even getting quite excited about it has made me more than a little clucky! While I am not ready to start a family just yet I look forward to the day when we are ready! It is all so exciting! Best of luck to Sachi- and lucky she doesn`t read this blog so she will still be surprised when she, Sasa and the new baby get the package!

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