You are probably right about Japanese people not having seen many Western babies BUT i guess to me is that they are pointing out that he is DIFFERENT from most which I guess can be a little insulting at times- this might not be a problem in Australia but here I hear a lot of stories about other mixed children who struggle when they enter school because of teasing etc.

Thanks for the comment by the way.

Brenda- It is funny I had an old lady in the bakery today when I lunched with a friend who CONSTANTLY talked to us about the baby- saying how he knew it was me, and how he smiled when I spoke and how he was cute- the first 5 times she made comments I smiled and was polite but after that she was just annoying as she kept interupting our convesation!!!

I get the “yappari haafu ga chigau” comment too…I guess they probably do mean it in a nice way but like you I find it annoying. Plus he is only 2 and a bit months old and I will be getting it for years to come. hehe

Oh and Noah squeals in delight sometimes but no laughter yet- I am waiting!

Mande- Funny the observations you have had about Luka compared to Ailin. Personality wise I am really not sure yet if Noah is like me or like Shun…will have to wait and see!

Katie- I think I would rather Noah watched seasame street or the wiggles over Einstein!

Cassie- Well you were with me that other day when the old lady at the next table spoke English at us and touched his cheeks- I wanted to snatch him away. HAHA

Looking forward to Saturday (and Monday!) – I can pull the entire part of the pram down over Noah and I do that when he is sleeping especially on the train but he doesn`t like it down when he is awake as he starts to cry! I do love your sunshade on your pram though!

Helen- Is “paddy” a word for tantrum? So far nobody has tried to give me something for Noah- not sure what I would do in that circumstance. What person in their right mind tries to give boiled candy to toddlers?

Jen- I carry anti bacterial gel in my purse. haha. So I guess I am one of those mothers too!

Suzy- I think if we were in Australia I would not want Noah watching TV til he was a little bit older but in our case I want to expose him to as much English as possible.

We will be in Australia when Noah turns 12 months and I am thinking that is about when I will want to wean him as well- I figure I will have plenty of helping hands to try and feed him!!!

I wonder if playschool does dvds? Will have to check the ABC shop next time I am in Australia

Oh & I love Ponyo!

Khea-Oh Shun will change diapers no problem, he just doesn`t think to do it himself really. Unless he is watching him and he is crying…although Noah never cries because of a wet diaper- it is ALWAYS something else.

Shun will offer to do it if he sees me getting up to do it- unless it is a poo one! HAha, then he is happy to let me do it.

I agree half babies are super cute Sometimes the attention, especially when it is unwanted is just a bit much!

Sherry- I can`t wait to meet these kids of yours!! hehe

I like the music in baby einstein- it is really just the puppets that are weird. And some of the kids haircuts. haha. I will let Noah watch tv as he grows up if he wants- especially if it menas I can get dinner ready or have a shower- at the moment if I take a shower while Noah is awake and Shun ahs already left for work then Noah just sits in a bouncer outside the door! lol

Achan- Noah does have some gas issues sometimes but I tried cutting coffee a couple days and it made no difference. I am aware that his tummy is sensitive though- so try to limit my intake though. Glad it doesn`t keep him awake though- then I would really be in trouble! hehe!

Nay- you can watch baby einstein this weekend if you want! hehe

Laura A- I have not been asked about “bonyu” yet- I feed in public though. I mean sometimes I go to the babies rooms but othertimes I just use a cover in a cafe or wherever I am at the time- I am not shy hehe

Personally though I dont think it is anyone elses business if bub is bottle fed or breast fed and that would certainly annoy me too!

“waved bye bye like a foreigner” THAT IS CLASSIC!!

Allanah- That is funny! I can just see Kieran as a baby unable to move his arms because of his clothes. CLASSIC!

Karen- How have you found it because peanut is full american? Do you get asked about his dad when it is just you and baby?

Shun copies my english and tells Noah all the time ” You`re stinky- yes, stinky stinky” HAHA

You know, I love Japan soooo much. But I saw a whole other side of it after becoming a parent here. It was bad enough that people snapped pictures of me, but they are all over the baby. They touch his face!!! For God’s sakes, don’t touch him at all, but please not his face! I’ve gotten more used to it now though. I don’t like it still, but I accept it. And the whole stroller issue… ugh. People here do shove right on past you. Then they stand near the stroller looking down on him out of the corner of their eyes. I just try to take it all in stride.

16 months later, I still have to remind my darling husband that the kid freaking stinks. Gotta love our guys!

The pram thing happens anywhere in the world. People think you are going to walk really slowly when you push a pram so they want to get in front of you so they don’t get held up….. stupid rude people!

Steve didn’t change a nappy untill I went back to work and he had no choice!!!! Even then I think he only did it 5 minutes before I was due home. One day I came home and he had to bath Kieran because he was really messy. I made a comment about how oddly he had dressed him ie clothes on back to front, jersey under the stretch and grow that Kieran couldn’t bend his arms. It was really funny!!!!

I have a good laugh every day at something the kids say or do!!!!

I hate the touching thing too! You are not anal for not wanting smelly old ladies to put their grubby hands all over your little baby either. I once told one old lady “don’t touch my baby, please.” It sounds harsh, but she literally FOLLOWED us around the supermarket. I think it is probably just her, because I have since seen her again doing the same thing to other unsuspecting tots.

I had one woman tell me Luka waved bye bye like a foreigner once…

I have heard so much about the baby einstein DVDS but have yet to see one in real life. Can I have a look at yours on the weekend? I still can’t believe that there were people out there that REALLY believed a DVD could make a kid smart… sounds kind of ridiculous to me, lol!!

And I agree with Khea btw, one photo is definitely not enough!! He is just too cute for words!

Anyways, I get the white, and huge eyes comments all the time..but no ones ever tried to touch her… guess I’ve been Lucky so far. To be honest though, 90% of “half” babies ARE cuter than Japanese babies.. they just are! They all seem so much more alert too.. I’m not surprised they get so much attention… and judging by the media and all those “half” models around, most people agree. I don’t see what’s so bad =)

If it’s any consolation, Tetsu did nothing with Missha (change, feed, hold, put to sleep) until she was… 4 months. From 5 months though he plays with her and is constantly asking “think her diaper is full? I should change it!” while I’m busy cooking etc. He even puts her to sleep. It must be a “she’s too small I don’t want to break her, she prolly only wants mommy anyways” faze they start out with. =D

Isn’t it great that coffee doesn’t affect them! I dunno what I’d do if it did! (Prolly drink it anyways and deal with the consequences XD)

You know my strong bias about Asian babies, and your munchkin is more than Japanese enough for me, so don’t listen to other peeps.

I reckon I’d be a nutty mother, I’d carry anti bac wipes to give him a wipe over if someone had been touching him. I carry anti bac gel for myself, so I don’t think I could help but to santize my baby too!

He’s absolutely gorgeous, Lulu. Very good work