Traveling

We are all going to be away for a few weeks. Updates will resume after returning.

First Cabin Trip

Taiyo has made his first trip to our cabin. I looked forward to this day for a long time and was happy that it happened about the first time I experienced the cabin as a child. We got into so many important elements of what makes the cabin special.

It is important to me that Taiyo get a lot of exposure to the outdoors. It seems like there are many traps to fall into that would deprive him of a connection and relationship to nature. I don't want to let that happen. I want Taiyo to understand what it means to be part of the system of life around him and I want him to grow feel at ease and hopefully love the beauty and excitement of the natural world. Our cabin is a fantastic outlet for that - one I cherish and look forward to sharing with him during our entire life together.

Summer in the Pool

I will say this for San Mateo - having it be warm enough in the summer to go swimming outdoors is pretty nice.

We started Taiyo in a swim class recently. The first couple of days, he was not very happy. Whenever he got splashed or when we dunked him under the water, he gasped and sputtered and cried. But give a baby a couple days of something new and they adjust.

Since the first few trials, it has been smooth sailing and now he kicks and splashes and laughs and has a great time.

Someone told me that you better get your kid in the water and learning to swim sooner rather than later because if you don't, they won't know what to do when the required "falling into the water" goes down.

Life Continues

As we mourn a passing of a life, we can't help but feel joy at the bright new one right in front of us.

Taiyo has been a great light, banishing away all shadows that might keep me down. This isn't to say he's stopped me from feeling the loss of my Grandfather - not at all. Instead, he's simply helped me see things through a more positive prism.

I'm ready to continue here now.

I've been meaning to point out just how amazing baby clothes are in Japan. We have routinely found things we love for less than 5 dollars. The best part has been how easy it is to find good quality creative clothes. This has really contrasted with the the frustrating experience of having to really dig for creative and interesting clothes here in the states.

Here he is wearing one of my current favorites.

Richard Lee 1917-2007

Today's post is dedicated to Taiyo's great grandfather, Richard Lee. Being able to spend seven months of life together filled both them, and us, with incredible joy.

He lives on in our hearts forever.

Flowing with the current

A great example of the brilliance with which my wife lives each day was just recently exposed.

For almost a month now, Taiyo has been eating real foods. As with many babies I'm sure, he is apt to grab at just about anything, especially colorful spoons filled with colorful liquids.

Some might think to fight the baby for control of the spoon, trying to instill reason or forcing baby's hands down.

Yoshiko on the other hand has simply adapted to the situation, adding spoons as required.

Cycles

This is the very same pillow case I used when I was a child. How many of us have a few things from our childhood stashed away somewhere? I have a few things that still get use, and as Taiyo gets older there will be others still that I pull from storage.

Although generally I don't think of myself as being very item attached - I really enjoy things that connect me to a similar time to what Taiyo is now experiencing.

Personality

Someone told me that once your child reaches a year, the personality really takes off. I can say that as Taiyo has crossed the six month line, that process is well underway.

During the first six months, I grew used to observing and being affected by this being who was purely existing rather than consciously projecting. I experienced his straight existence as a great source of joy and the foundation of our interactions.

But now he is projecting - relating and reaching out to the world and to me in an entirely new way. I see it not only in how he interacts with other objects, but little signs in how he touches my shoulder when I hold him or how he asks to be picked up.

I know that this next sixth months will be a true awakening of that external projection as he comes into his personality and begins to amplify it out into his world. Exciting stuff.

Graduation

Taiyo and I spent the weekend cheering on Yoshiko as she graduated from San Francisco State. In the fleeting moments of the chaos, Taiyo was spirited off to Yoshiko in the stands, allowing her to walk with him across the stage as she received her diploma.

Congratulations on four hard years of work to earn your degree, Yoshiko!!!

Starting in on solids

Taiyo is officially no longer living on a strict diet of breast milk. He's now expanded to...breast milk and rice.

Sitting around

Every day Taiyo is getting better and better at sitting up. At first he needed a hand to balance against his two feet. But his stomach and back muscles are strengthening with practice and he's now more stable. Balance is still not perfected however...

A walk by the sea

Weather has been great lately and we've been getting out and enjoying the good vibes.

Yesterday Taiyo turned 6 months old!

We're just winding down the festivities now but it has been a joyous occasion and a great chance to look back on perhaps the most amazing 6 months of my life.

Congratulations on a healthy and happy first 6 months and may the next 6 be even better.

Out around town

Over the weekend, we hit up the Burlingame farmer's market. Taiyo was taking in the views from the comfort of his Night Rider and I noticed that every few minutes he'd let out a wild shout and wave his arms wildly in delight. He was really enjoying all the hustle around him.

It turns out he's been enjoying the great outdoors to that effect for a short while now. Here he is taking in the mean streets of Japan.

Playing

Since Taiyo's return, we've been playing up a storm. He loves to jump and roll and physically interact much more than before. Climbing the papa mountain and standing triumphant over his conquest is always a big hit.

Boy Returns

Changes:

He now understands that there is a world beyond what he can see. He is reaching and grabbing for things that move behind him. Before it was out of sight, out of mind.

His legs have gotten much longer.

Mobility is dawning - when displeased, he will now thrash his arms and body back and forth as if about to roll over, trying to move to a different space.

After failing to be impressed by my Peak-a-boo for months, he now holds a blanket over his own eyes while you say "Where's Taiyo!? " He then drops the blanket and laughs and laughs.

He is actively grabbing for everything and anything he can get his hands on.

He has new laughs and new ways to smile.

His hair is much longer.

He holds your shoulders when you carry him.

He can sit up mostly on his own.

He engages you and tries to get you to gaze back at him for long minutes.

He's not sucking his thumb very often anymore.

I love him more than ever.

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。