Deep in the belly of the beast

Having only been out of my reach for a few days, Taiyo has found his way into the underground live music houses of Shinjuku. Although slightly concerned, I can't help but be proud that he's getting the true Tokyo experience and hanging with some wonderful people.

Taiyo in Japan

Taiyo had a great flight over with his Momma. He's been extremely popular wherever he's gone (dinner parties, picnics, neighborhood sweeps, back-stage at punk-ska concerts, the usual).

The picture above pretty sums up how Taiyo spent 10 hours in the air (when not sleeping).

5 months

Taiyo hit 5 months this week. He's grown to be extremely tactile, reaching out and feeling the texture of anything he can get his hands on. One of his favorite items to grab for is a steaming cup of coffee.

We celebrated with a trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival. I recommend it for those of you with free time in the bay area next weekend.

We won't be going because Taiyo and Yoshiko have left for Japan. I hope to have a few updates of their adventures but it will be slimmer pickings than usual while I try to find a reason to live until they come back.

Slowly changing shape

This picture gives off a good hint at how Taiyo is slowly lengthening out and losing some of that early baby fat. By no means would I call him skinny just yet, but you can see where he's headed.

タイトル：ゆっくりと変化しつつある体型

この写真は、タイヨの体についていた赤ちゃん特有のお肉が少しずつ落ち、その分身長が伸びつつあるということをよく示しています。
まだまだ「痩せている」と呼ぶには程遠いですが、タイヨウがこれからどんなふうに成長していくかがきっとわかるでしょう。

Easter

No comment needed I believe.

タイトル：イースター

ま、この写真だけでコメントはいらないかと思いますが・・・

First Train Ride

This week Taiyo took his first train ride. He rode up to San Francisco and loved every second of it. We're still working on finding things he doesn't like (besides the obvious like pouring cold water on him).

タイトル：初めての電車

今週、タイヨウは初めて電車に乗りました。電車でサンフランシスコに向かっている間、本当によく楽しんでいるようでした。パパとママは、タイヨウがいったい何が嫌いなのかを、探しているところです。（冷たいお水を体にかけられることに加えて）

マ マ記：パパが言いたいのは、タイヨウは何をしても嬉しそうなので、いったい嫌なものがあるかどうかを探しているということです。あと「冷たいお水事件」 というのは、タイヨウをお風呂に入れているときに、パパが間違えておけに入ったたっぷりの冷たいお水をタイヨウにかけて大泣きされたっていうのが、パパに はトラウマになっているようです。

Out with family

I had a good night at dinner with the whole family. We got it done out at Suppenkuche. You can check out my full review here.

I went shopping with mama and got some slick 6-12 month summer items, which should be making an appearance in the rotation before long.

I was also over hanging with great grandpa earlier this week while my papa was out of town. We had a great time.

タイトル：家族でお出かけ

今日は、家族全員で出かけて楽しく過ごしました。Suppenkucheという、ドイツ料理のレストランに行きました。僕の書いたお店の感想はここにありますので参考にどうぞ。

先日は、ママと買い物に出かけてオシャレな６ヶ月～１２ヶ月用の夏服を買ってきました。きっとパパがもうすぐこのブログに載せると思いますよ。

今週半ばにはパパが出張で家にいなかったので、ひい爺ちゃんとつるんでいました。僕らは楽しく過ごしました。

Rollin'

That's me...And that's my sweet ride.

タイトル：ローリン

これは、僕。そして後ろに見えるのが僕の愛車だよ。

Captain Taiyo

The Captain returns to the docks after a long morning catching crab. We are prepping Taiyo for the day he can join the Captain Santa crew.

朝から蟹をたくさん捕まえて、船長は波止場に戻ってきました。
パパとママは、タイヨウがキャプテンサンタの仲間に入れるように準備しているところです。

ママ記：パパ的冗談なので、通じる人にしか通じないです・・・。

New Friends, Peninsula Life

Taiyo is not yet to the point where he actively plays by himself or really imagines characters. He's still dealing with getting to understand the concept of the self and the external. This takes the form of him gazing as his own hand, gently rubbing my arm to explore texture, looking away with a shy expression when someone smiles at him.

But we are encouraging him to conceptualize other things, and he's started to take an interest in both his bear, and his blanket. This is surely just the start of a long relationship with inanimate objects, which he will breathe life into.

We finally didn't spend the whole weekend packing or unpacking. Instead we spent it outside in the sunshine of the Peninsula.

First was a great hike up around the Stanford Dish on Saturday morning.I've been doing this walk for a few years now but had never taken Yoshiko (or Taiyo) before. We had a great time on the 5 mile loop, catching up with a friend. Taiyo strapped into the backpack and off we went.

Sunday we got together with some fellow parents in San Mateo's Central Park. It is too bad that the Japanese Gardens are closed during Cherry Blossom season but we look forward to their re-opening later in the year. Although Taiyo is still a little young for swings and slides, I like getting out there and anticipating the adventures to come.

Happy 4 months!

４ヶ月おめでとう！

Taiyo just hit four moths this past week. He's grabbing and holding things around, and we are adjusting our habits, such as keeping food out of reach at the dinner table.

He lives for direct human interaction and loves making eye contact with everyone around him. He plays shy now and then and likes to pretend he won't look at you if you hold him.

He really enjoys trying to stand up when you hold him over a surface he can put his feet on.

We're working on "tummy time" to encourage him to try rolling over or starting crawling movements but we haven't done enough with him there yet.

New Home

We're still in the process of putting life back together again but we have moved. Please drop us an email for the new address and we'll be sending out an update to everyone.

Taiyo is looking forward to climbing these stairs and Yoshiko is looking forward to locking them down.

Time flies

We've been away a while. I'm very sorry about that. A few things have been happening that has kept me away from posting updates. One is that we are preparing to move. That is consuming a big chunk of our free time and I'm wiped out when the next piece is complete each evening. Second is that I've taken a few business trips (and another this coming week) so I've been away from Taiyo.

Two main points to drive home here as Taiyo hits 3 1/2 months and keeps on trucking. The first is that he's finally and fully discovered his thumb for sucking. We've held back on a pacifier for a number of reasons, but we always knew that it would mean less satisfaction. Luckily he's completely got the concept down on how he can deliver on that need without anyone else and we're very happy to see the idea taking root in his mind.

The second is that he's really enjoying trying to stand up. We often pull him up by his hands and his legs kick into a new gear. He takes little baby steps and pounds the floor with his feet. His expression is one of determination and cueriosity and he tries very hard to do....whatever this new thing is.

He's now tipping the scales at 16 1/2 pounds, which means he is not long for his current car seat or sets of clothes. We know he'll slide back into the average weight class at some point but for the moment he continues to grow.

Happy 3 months!!!

The 4th trimester is complete for Taiyo and he's officially a social creature. We've celebrated his 3rd month with several get togethers with friends, both here at the house and out on the town. He is LOVING the human to human interaction and starting to really interact with everyone and anyone.

This marks the beginning of an exciting time because I anticipate a continued increase in outdoor activities and social interaction. Taiyo is really establishing his presence in our family and connecting with all of you! We would love to see everyone who we haven't yet caught up with so drop us a line when you can.

Happy three months to my beautiful son.

Party!

Taiyo is making the rounds. He was last spotted by an amateur photographer at some late night gallery opening. Several interviewed reported he spent a portion of the evening texting from his lounge chair.

In all seriousness, at 90 days (today!) he has taken a keen interest in the world and seems to really be gravitating towards the unknown. He loves to look at things and really investigate an intriguing visual or audio stimulus.

My role as someone who helps him experience this wide world is firmly taking shape and I enjoy the surprise and joy he gets at something new. He seems to expect this and I notice he doesn't want to remain still with me, despite being comfortable when others sit down and hold him.

Makin' Friends

Taiyo is out and about now. Our self imposed exile from humanity has come to an end and we find ourselves shuttling him around from one party to the next.

Early in the week he was hob nobbing with his friend, Niko chan. She's just a few weeks older than him and they've been hangin' since the early days.

Playing in the park

Taiyo meet stroller. Stroller meet Taiyo.

Thanks to a friend of ours with an older baby, we've realized that stroller we got is ready for prime time! Although Taiyo hasn't exactly been engaging his environment when we go outside, the stroller has allowed him to experience a bit more than before.

This week we've taken several big walks around different neighborhoods of San Francisco and Taiyo has split his time either sleeping away or staring wide eyed at the passing world above him.

Before long he'll be hanging out the side catching the breeze and chatting with everyone we pass by.

タイトル：公園で遊ぶ

太陽はベビーカーに出会い、そしてベビーカーも太陽に出会いました。

太陽より少し年上の赤ちゃん友達のおかげで、私たちの持っているベビーカーがもう使えることがわかりました。太陽は、まだ外に出て回りの見て楽しむには、まだ少し早いかもしれませんが、ベビーカーのおかげで、もう少し広い世界を経験しているんじゃないかと思います。

今週は、サンフランシスコのいろいろな近所によく散歩に出てますが、太陽は寝過ごすこともあれば、目をまんまると大きく開いて周りの世界をじっくりと見つめたりすることもあります。

太陽が回りにもっと気付くようになり、通り過ぎる人全員に話しかけ始めるのもそれほど遠くの未来の話ではないようです。

The games get more complex

Taiyo is starting to react to cause and effect games like "peekaboo". He likes to watch environments change, be it from a changing vantage point as he rocks in the swing to enjoying dad's face vanish, only to re-appear to the accompaniment of vocal fanfare.

It seems clear to me that just in the past few days this breakthrough has taken hold as he has really gotten the idea about how things are not always the same.

Tonight I returned home from work and I could hear him crying a bit as I came up the steps from the garage. I was hit like a ton of bricks with unbelievable joy at the anticipation of knowing in a few more moments I'd be with him, holding him, and replacing his crying with laughter (or at least contented gazing around the kitchen).

The feeling of coming back to family each night pulls at me with a great intensity. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be half a world away and not able to come home.

Growing Quickly

Two pictures today and one message - Taiyo is really really changing as he grows.

At 9 weeks, you can see that physically he has taken on a completely different character than he had at birth. Its not simply a matter of getting bigger, his features have evolved now to a point where you really notice. It seems like there are just SOME days where big jumps are made, or more to the point, changes get noticed.

The second picture demonstrates how he is developing. He is now beginning to see dividends paid on his stomach sessions as his neck gets stronger and stronger. I believe grabbing is not too far.

Although not pictured, the second major element of his development is that he has begun to stare at his fist. At first he began to make the connection that he had such a thing by sucking on his knuckles. Now he is visually connecting by holding his hand up high and gazing fiercely at it.

Happy 2 months birthday!!!

60 days never felt so densely packed. Each day is a joy with you, Taiyo. You fill us with happiness. Watching you smile and laughter and noticing you interact more makes me sad for your sleepy newborn days of past and excited for the fun we will share in the month ahead.

Today you are two months.

タイトル：2ヶ月の誕生日おめでとう！！！

この60日間は決して詰め込まれたようには思いません。一日一日が、君との喜びの日々でした。
君は私たちを喜びに包んでくれました。
笑ってる君も、新生児で眠っていてばかりいた頃の君も、見ていてとても心躍るものだったよ。
これからの成長がとても楽しみだよ。

今日で、君は2ヶ月になりました。