Cherry Blossom Adventures

I love looking through old photos and my FIL scanned in a couple of other old photos for me when he did the baby photos. Over the weekend I looked through some other old photos of when Shun & I first met (coming up to 5 years) and from when I was on exchange in Japan in 2004/2005 among others including a couple of highschool shots and during my first year of uni- I can not believe how young I look…

I uploaded some to flickr in an album called “Oldies but Goodies” but thought I would reminisce with a couple here.

My brother & I- I was in year 11 so about 16 years old. He would of been 13 or 14 and we are both in our highschool uniforms.

In Australia we have a formal when we are seniors in highscool (age 17)- here is a photo of me and a friend Claire. A formal is like a prom I guess but because I went to an all girls highschool we were allowed to bring our own partner and I took Jake, my highschool boyfriend.

This is Jake & I- I think this is from his formal though because my hair is shorter and looks different from the photo above but I wore the same dress. I went to another formal that year too, with my friend Duck and I wore a different dress that time but at about $300 or more for a dress and all the money it cost for hair and make-up (and sometimes cars!) it was impossible to buy a different dress for each formal (we also have semi-formals the year before so I had another dress then!)

My first year of uni and the months leading up to when I left for Japan to go on exchange (I spent my second year of uni in Japan on exchange but the year didn`t start til March 2004 meaning I had from beginning of November until I left for Japan on holidays from school)- Here is some photos from those shenanigans.

Em & I- lifesaving in the bath!

Good friends of mine: Nic & Duck. A lot of people in the photos leading up until this point I don`t really have any contact with anymore but Nicole & I are still in touch (she lives in the UK but also did a year in Japan teaching a couple of years back) and Duck I met the same week I met my ex boyfriend Jake in highschool and him & I have stayed friends this entire time and we still catch up whenever I am back in Australia. They were both 18 when this shot was taken (now 24)

All in green to support a friend`s netball team called the ribbits (hence the frog in my top!)- I can`t believe how skinny I look in this photo. It was taken a couple of weeks before I left for Japan the first time so I was just 19.

Next lot of photos were taken the year I was on exchange in Japan- I met Shun at the end of my year here but he is not in any of the first ones.

That is James next to me: he was best man at our wedding. We were the Aussies that came on exchange ( me, James, Erik, Rionne, Gen)

Camping in Chichibu: Hiro, aka Mr Gadget (seriously he pulled that raincoat out of a a pouch the size of a 50 cent piece and also had all sorts of random things attached to his belt including a lighter, ashtray, flashlight & swiss army knife)

Mexican feast night

Osaka: Catherine (maid of honor at wedding) was leaving Japan from Osaka to return to UK to finish her studies so we all went to Osaka to see her off. This photo was taken the day after we arrived- since we caught the local train the whole way to Osaka it took us 10 hours and something like 18 changes!!!

Near Tsukiji: Koki took this photo and he is now a photographer but when I first met him he was studying physics at university (he completed degree but never used it)

This is Koki: We were at Warp, a club in Kichijoji where we went to watch a friend DJ Reggae music. Koki introduced me to Shun originally.

Shun & I: About 2 weeks after we met.

When Shun stayed over he used to have to jump off my 2nd floor balcony onto the bike shed to leave because we were not supposed to have guests stay in our dorm rooms- this is him jumping!

This was the weekend before I went home to Australia- taken in the ferris wheel at Odaiba.

I spent a year back in Australia finishing my degree and Shun came to visit twice, and James came up from Melbourne with his gf at the time Megumi and also my friend Hiro came to stay with us for a couple of months while he went to English school. It was both Shun & Hiro`s first time on Australian soil…

Shun & I: Wello Point: Shun`s first day in Australia, ever

My brother & I with what looks like the same hair (although mine was crazy in colour- that is my brother`s natural colour)

September 2006: Shun, me, James & Megumi heading for Coochimudlo Island

Hiro is at the front on the right- BBQs in the park with his friends from English school

A very drunk Hiro & I – Different BBQ

Lastly, Christmas in Australia 2005- Our family Christmas tree

Definitely fun looking back through these photos and reminiscing about what was happening at the time- funny that it seems like I spent A LOT of my time drinking!!! Especially the year I was on exchange. I can not believe how much things have changed since some of these photos were taken- even in the time since I met Shun. I was 19 when we met and he was 23 and now we are married with a bub due any day (can you say “any day” when you are still more than 2 weeks from your due date?)…. Some of the people in the earlier photos I don`t really have much contact with anymore but most of the people I met while on exchange I still see occasionly and the other foreigners I lived with I see whenever they are in Japan or I am in Australia (for those that were from Oz)- but Hiro and I are still good friends as well as Cat & James (Cat was here last night in fact!). I am sure when I look back on photos from now in 4-5 years time I will be thinking the same thing “Oh my how things have changed” – just think, Goma-chan will be in kindergarten by then!

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I think we are well on the way to getting prepared for Goma-chan`s arrival- in fact pretty much everything is complete in his room and the list of things I had to get has almost everything crossed off minus a couple of last minute things that we will pick up in November (like diapers! I have cloth diapers that mum is bringing from Australia but will need a couple sposies to use as well) – he has a bed, a pram,

I even have all the bath stuff ready (except the bath, gaijinwife is sending me Ryu`s!).

Amanda is giving us her moses basket which we will pick up in a couple of weeks and then pretty much all is done and ready for when he comes home. I have even started making a pile of things to put in my hospital bag when the time comes to pack one… (any hints on what I should put in the pile? Or definitely shouldn`t forget? Also when should one pack a hospital bag- I was thinking 35 or 36 weeks)

Perhaps I am too prepared? Is there such a thing?

I still have some baby clothes to wash- most of them are done but there are some things that I have bought or received recently that I need to wash and dry before he can wear them obviously. I sorted out the piles of things today that still need to be washed and I will do them during the week. Up until now I have just used 1/4 of the amount stated on the detergent but now I have baby detergent without any nasty additives or the like so I can wash freely!

Also went to my first maternity class on Thursday- Shun had taken the day off especially BUT when he booked he actually didn`t realize it was just for the “mama`s” but he came with me to the clinic and then went to have a coffee while I went to the class. It was interesting but most of the other mama`s were a lot less pregnant than me- I am 29 weeks tomorrow and most of the others were at least a month behind me or so, so of course I was the biggest one there also. It was a 2 hour class and the first half was all about weight gain during pregnancy (7-12kg if your BMI was normal before getting pregnant which is pretty much what the Aussie stats are as well) and nutrition. The nutrition part made me feel like I was back in weight watchers- we had to form groups and actually choose from pictures what we usually eat each day and tally up if we are eating enough meat, veggies, fruit, calcium etc. It kind of seemed like a waste of time. Some days I know I eat badly but I almost ALWAYS make up for it the next day- I have to make up for it tomorrow since I ate 5 tim-tams today. HAHA.

We also looked through the maternity book that the hospital had given us and they spoke about the maternity yoga on offer through the clinic and also showed us some positions that can help with back pain etc. I have been trying to do some stretching and yoga each day in the hope that it will help my back pain but so far no luck. I will continue with it though.

The rest of the class was just a Q & A time for the mama`s in case they had any questions- honestly, I didn`t learn anything new from the class really and was disappointed that we didn`t get a tour of the hospital. I still have not seen the other floors of the clinic except for the first floor waiting room area- I have seen pictures but not the real thing. Shun said maybe I will get a tour next time and they will talk more about the labour/birthing options.

I made no “mama” friends either. No-one really talked to me- I spoke with a couple of people but they were not really interested. I really want to find mama friends in my area, and I am fine with them being Japanese, but a lot of the time they are way to scared to talk to me first and while I am not so scared, when I do talk to them they seem shocked that I can speak Japanese and usually can`t get past that.

I am supposed to sign up for another class before I am 34 weeks.

I have written up a birth plan in English and need to take it next time I go to the hospital- there is an English speaking midwife on staff so I think I have to make an appointment with her so that we can write it out in Japanese. I didn`t know what to write in English, let alone Japanese!! Hopefully that will all go fine though when I go for my almost 30 weeks appointment next week.

I updated Goma-chan`s baby book today- up until now it only had post-its stuck in it with important dates and memories but I finally wrote everything up for the “waiting for your arrival” part. Also stuck in some ultrasound pictures for him to look at when he is older.

When we were at the in-laws house earlier in the week MIL spoke about what we would like her to do after the baby comes (first they asked if I wanted to come back to their house a week or so before the baby is due so that I don`t have to worry about cooking/cleaning etc- it is tempting but I know I would rather be around my own house and things and sleep in my own bed so I said probably not- she didn`t try to force me otherwise) – they asked if I wanted to go there after Goma-chan arrives before my mum comes but I said I would rather go home and try to get settled in Funabashi. MIL said that she is happy to come over during the day then and help me until mum comes if I want- at least to do the shopping and some of the cooking. I know she will need to take time off work if she does this though so I will need to give a response soon- she didn`t say so but I know it would be impolite to wait until after the baby arrives to make a decision. She works part time in the mornings/afternoons at a Hoikuen near her house- I suppose she could come in between those hours but I think she meant she would take time off. I am happy for her to come over if she wants to though…

In other news Shun & I sat down and wrote our budget a couple of weeks ago and with pay day yesterday rewrote it to make sure it reflected any changes for this month. This month there was a large credit card payment coming out and another small one next month and then we have no more credit card bills to pay off- YAY! We had a semi-budget done for September as well and we stuck to it and actually came out with money to spare which surprised us both I think. I guess we can stick to budget when we need to which is good to know… Basically from end of November we should be set up so that we can save a little more each month (these next two months we might not be able to save as Shun has a couple of weddings but if we can we will!)- this month (Sept 25-Oct 25) we are also writing down everything we spend each day so that we can see where we can save money. We didn`t write everything down before that but I know we saved a lot on lunches for Shun because I made him bento`s most days…

A package arrived from my dad yesterday with some books and toys for Goma-chan. Dad searched high and low for Australian animal toys that were actually made in AUSTRALIA instead of China and he found some. Goma-chan has a wombat, koala, kangaroo and platypus set up on his dresser. They are very cute. Took a photo but haven`t uploaded it yet.

Had a haircut, cut off 4-5cm or so. Shun went to the same place the other day for a cut since his hair was so long and thick and starting to curl again because the straight perm is wearing off. He has agreed that he will get cuts done here in Funabashi but that when he needs another perm (he is such a girl!) he will go to his usual place all the way in Shinjuku. I was happy with where I went today- sure it is not as good as the place I always went to in Australia but I am happy with the cut and happy to have the extra length gone. Plus it cost only 2500yen because I had an introduction card discount from Shun. The lady that did it was really lovely and I would definitely go back to her and best thing is it is only a 5 minute walk from our house. I will probably try to get another trim before Goma-chan arrives in December since who knows when I will next get a chance after that.

So what is the consensus- am I TOO PREPARED for the arrival of Goma-chan? Maybe I have just gotten all of the nesting over early.

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Conversation with Shun the other night- it was in Japanese but this is the jist of it in English.

me: Maybe once we have kids I could work part-time on a Saturday, teaching, and you could watch them. Especially if I am not working part-time during the week. I think we will need the money.

Shun: Sunday`s would be better don`t you think?

me: No, I figure that should be a family day. What is wrong with Saturday`s? Sunday`s are hard to get teaching gigs with children.

Shun: Well we both like to sleep in on the first day of the weekend….

me: *gobsmacked*………….Shun, you do realize there will be no more sleeping in, ANY TIME, once we have kids right?

Shun: huh? I guess so, but I figured we could sometimes.

me: Nope, pretty sure it will be never.

He was quiet after that…probably rethinking the idea about starting a family I bet. Sometimes I worry about what goes on in his head?!? hehe.

Well nablopomo ends today…I have successfully posted everyday for another month. Will probably need a bit of a break now!

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How do you celebrate Christmas?

What do you do that makes it special and unique?

We will know on Thursdsay for sure, but my dad will be starting cancer treatment this Friday almost definitely, and one of the treatment days will fall on Christmas Day & Boxing Day more than likely. Usually, despite the fact my parents are seperated now (coming up to  3 years) we would usually have breakfast together at mum`s house to open presents and enjoy breakfast. Is it selfish of me to want Christmas breakfast to go ahead as it usually would so that Shunc an see how we do things or because I will need to take Dad to the hospital mid -morning is it cruel of me to be thinking of ways we could go to breakfast, then treatment and then on to my aunties`s place for family lunch.

It is so difficult to choose a way of thinking…

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In an effort to improve on my writing I have decided to sign up for Encyclopedia of me which started over at Bella Dia (and which I found out about by reading Laura`s blog here...)… participating in this hasn`t actually improved my writing at all but I still live in hope…

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Y is for young…

23 is not that young but it isn`t exactly old either. Some people have commented on the fact that I am so young to be getting married but I don`t see it that way….in fact I will be 24 when I get married and I will have known Shun for 4 & a half years by then and we will have lived together for more than 3 years. Getting married at this age was never the plan I had growing up but life moves in mysterious ways and I met my soulmate at 19 instead of say 25. Shun will be almost 28 when we get married in May….and he was 23 when I met him- the age I am now…and he wanted to get married and have kids then and I was like “What? Your 23, are you crazy?” and I turned down his proposal (he asked me to marry him the second time we met- the night of our first real date)

And here I am, at the same age, preparing to get married and thinking about starting a family.

A friend has announced her pregnancy (Hi S!) and another would like to have a baby sometime next year and Shun & I have been talking more and more about when we would like to start a family. If he had his way I would already be pregnant (well actually if he had had his way we`d already have had two kids!) but I never felt I was ready (or that we were financially stable enough to have a child) and I guess I am a bit traditional and would prefer to be married before having kids (although I have absolutely nothing against those who have kids out of marriage) and now that our wedding is coming up, the talk of the future, children and having babies is on our minds and something we have been talking about a lot.

I know that some would think I am too young to start a family and others will say we should wait a couple of years and enjoy been married and time for the two of us(and this post might open myself up to some of these comments) but Shun & I have lived together and had a lot of time for the two of us over the years and I have studied, travelled & done the kinds of things people say you should do before starting a family.

We would like a couple of kids and I think I would like to be a younger mum- In fact I would like to have two kids (most likely) and I think I would like to be done by the time I am 30. I used to worry so much that I would be a crap mother, in fact as a teenager I was so scared of having kids as I was so worried I would screw them up but I know that Shun & I, together, would be able to handle it and I am confident we could raise beautiful well adjusted kids!

With the complications people can have trying to get pregnant these days as well I figure the sooner we start trying then at least if we do have any issues we can go see someone  about them while we are still relatively young.

So we are thinking we will start trying sometime next year, after the wedding and we return to Japan, and if all goes according to plan we would be welcoming a bub sometime in 2010. It`s funny, when I was in China I had my fortune told and they wanted Shun`s name, kanji, date of birth etc to see if we were a good match (we were) and I was also told that the most amazing thing would happen to me in 2010 and that I would become unbelievably happy. I didn`t think much of it at the time but recently when we were talking Shun brought it up and said “maybe the baby is what they meant” and maybe he is right- maybe that is what they meant.

I may be young (to some) but Shun & I know what we want and I don`t think it matters what age we are because it is the kind of thing that you know, deep in your heart, when the time is right. I want to be a mum, and Shun wants to be a papa and we want to have a baby together.

I tossed up whether I should post about something like this on my blog as I know it might open myself up to some critism but honestly I have written about other things in recent months that I never thought I would write about on here, in such a public form, but I have found writing about it and getting it out there has always made things so much better.

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