I am so slack with the blogging lately!
I have 2 months of letters to finish writing and posting for Noah (7 months and 8 months) and I am late on doing my 101 things in 1001 days updates also.
Maybe I should try to blog everyday in September in order to make up for my recent slackness?
I have less than 4 months to go on my 101 things in 1001 days list and I am kind of over it- in the beginning it was great! A fantastic motivator for getting things ready for the wedding, and experiencing Australia with Shun and other things too but now as I near the deadline knowing I won`t get everything crossed off I am a little disappointed in myself. I know I shouldn`t be because I have crossed the majority of things off already but I am one of those people that doesn`t like to do things half baked (well at least not usually!) but have lacked the motivation in recent months to get things done…
78. Do a monthly update for 101 things on blog (29/33)
Crossing off another 2 months here!
96. Go camping with Shun
Done! We went camping last month (although seems like so long ago) with friends in Gunma. It was in cabin type things but that is still camping in my book PLUS we got to take Noah along!
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Have finally uploaded photos from Australia trip here! Most are from Australia anyway since we were there for most of the month of August. There are even more on facebook for those who are friends with me there.
A couple of favourites though…. (will embed more when I write Noah`s letters!)
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Books read recently
Finally finished “The girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and started the second book. Have also read “The Better Woman” by Ber Carroll (Nay you will like this so I will keep it for you! While you are in Australia if you see any books by her check her out- this is the second or third book I have read by her in the last couple of years and I enjoy her writing style and the books are always at least half set in Australia) and a V.C Andrews book which was part of a series too.
Also read the relevant parts (for us) of “How to raise an amazing child- the montessori way” about using the montessori methods in your own home.
Let`s not forget I have probably read at least 30 different pictures books to Noah in the last couple of months too!
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Noah will turn one in December and we will be in Australia. He is getting christened on December 26th so friends and family will be joining us for that ( I wanted it to be while Shun was in Australia and he is only there from 24th to Jan 3rd) so I think I will just have some cake and stuff and a little party back at my mum`s house after that so that Shun will also be there for his “1st birthday celebrations”.
Noah`s friends are all in Japan though and so I am wondering if I should have a little something when we come back to Japan in January too. We have so far missed 2 different 1st birthday parties due to illness (Noah`s first fever) and then been in Australia (Sorry Sakura and Missha 
) but I think we will be able to make Misora`s later in this year (assuming we get an invite- Melanie, we are invited right? haha) Earlier this year we also made it to Nanami`s 2nd birthday party and I am sure Noah would enjoy having friends over to play with and of course MORE cake.
I will be in my 3rd trimester by then with edamame-chan (about 33 weeks along I think?) and am not sure if I would be up for planning it especially since we will be in Australia for the time leading up to it! Something to think about anyway! Noah might be too little to remember the festivities but I want him to know we celebrated his birthday when he gets older (and sees the pictures!)
It would be pretty cold around then too but I think I would probably hold it at our place or at the local oyako cafe (about 500m away)!
I have to look into dairy free cake! (and then real cake for those that can eat dairy- because really who wants to eat cake made with soy butter and soy milk. yuk!)…..
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Noah officially is a baby that sleeps through the night. He has continued the good sleeping since we have been back in Japan and it is amazing how nice it is to wake up at 6 or 7am and think “Wow, I got 6-8 hours SOLID sleep” – that said, still pregnant and running after a child though so still pretty damn tired!
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I have my baby doctor`s appointment tomorrow for edamame-chan. I hope he/she is growing well!
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I am just a twenty something Aussie girl living in Chiba, Japan with my Japanese husband trying to make sense of the crazy Japanese world we live in! We welcomed our first son in December 2009 (Noah) and a second son in January 2011, 2 months premature (Shion). I am working hard at raising them to be confident, bilingual, happy kids!
Of course you will be invited to Misora`s birthday party! Still not sure where it will be held though. really need to look into some local jidokans. Although it is quite possible the weather will still be nice enough to have it outside (it was last year when she was born and since its the fall-no bugs to contend with!)
Oh I read somewhere about some of the substitutes for eggs in cakes, bananas, apple sauce, and a few other things.
Melanie- I probably won`t worry so much about eggs (since he will be a year plus, and hopefully will have no allergy to them) but he will probably still have dairy issues! Soy milk in cake sounds a bit gross?! The soy butter is actually not too bad tasting and I could use oil (but would prefer not to)
I think I will make a merange for Noah to eat (if he can do eggs!)
I am REALLY looking forward to Misora`s birthday party- praying nothing goes wrong (on our end!) like sickness or sudden travel! I have an Aussie themed gift for her (appropriate I think because of the theme you are going for!)- What date are you thinking?
I say go for an outside party! You are right, the weather will still be lovely and you have the river close by! It definitely won`t be too cold yet!
I was thinking the weekend after her birthday as the sunday before is Halloween and others might have plans to try to do something. I suppose that would make it the 7th. Her birthday is a national holiday but I don`t think Taka will have the day off and he has to go to a wedding that day for a co-worker. Plus I can use the Saturday before to prepare stuff.
who wants to eat cake made with soy butter and soy milk. yuk!)
i beg to differ- dairy-free/vegan baked goods are the best! i make dairy-free things all the time, mainly because i don’t buy milk because drinking it straight upsets my stomach, so i just use my almond milk or soy milk, and my dairy-free margarine. You really can’t tell the difference. i’ve made vegan cakes and breads for friends too and they were always surprised that there was no dairy in it!
You’ve had a lot going on, I’m impressed that you’ve managed to get to blogging at all!
Hope that all is well at your appointment today and edamame-chan is genki and growing well!
Glad things are going well. Can’t wait to see you and Noah again, he’s getting so handsome! MY GOD! I think you need to have him a party here too, how else will we get to spoil him?!
Just pick a day and time and we can all meet at a cafe or something and eat cake (Dunno if you’re supposed to do that, but I bought my friend a bday cake and we cut and ate it at Starbucks lol) That way you don’t have to worry about hosting and planning during such a busy and pregnant time, that’ll be sure to just increase your stress load.
Is he lactose intolerant???
My friend Moira (you’ve prolly seen her on my FB) is a baker and actually working on her own gluten free vegan cookbook. I’m sure she could give you some ideas for wonderful tasting dairy free cake. Let me know and I’ll ask her!
Yay for Noah sleeping through the night – that is great!! Leilah has done it a handful of times now and I have to admit now that I know she can do it, it is so much harder to get up to her through the night, lol!
I looked for some books written by the author you recommend but I wasn’t able to find any… don’t have enough room in my suitcase to hold anymore books, lol, so I will have another look in Nov/Dec. I did buy a couple of books that I will pass onto you once I’m done
Hey Lulu!
While I was researching for an upcoming trip to Japan and a (hopeful) future JET placement I found your blog!
It’s awesome!
So uplifting and honest and interesting
Thanks for sharing so much, and when you must be so busy! It’s so great to read about such a lovely family.
All the best to you and your loved ones
Thanks everyone!
Jess- Thanks for stopping by! There are links to many other Japan based blogs on my blog roll and many more out there.
I hope you enjoy your upcoming trip to Japan!