Monthly Archives: May 2013

juggling

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A day before we herald in a new month! And it’s actually mid 2013 already! Would have wanted to post more this month- there sure were quite a number of blog worthy stuff as its been a packed month! – but I usually find myself forgetting the existence of my phone, where I do most of my blogging, once I’m with Yui at the end of the day.

Work has been pretty exciting. I’m working for only six hours a day (mommy privilege) yet now, my workload is for a nine or ten hour work day. But I’m not complaining! Because it’s been pretty interesting thus far. And to help manage my time, I only read emails during lunch time, including work emails unless a particular email has got to do with my work at hand. I only pray that I’ll continue to have the energy and health to pursue the work I want while attending to the other important part of me – my husband and baby!

Hubs had been away twice this month for business trips overseas. It’s a first for us to be away from each other for more than a day and with the baby at that. It’s the reality of our work, free travel but away from family and we have to cope with it.

As for the baby, like all the other babies who has to go to daycare/kindergarten, she is also having her share in getting sick. It sure is very hectic especially when there’s poop explosion or vomiting at 3am or just when you’re about to go out of the house for daycare/work or when you’re in the middle of your dinner. And we hope and pray that real soon, Yui’s system could already adjust. Real soon please, otherwise these worry lines on my forehead would already become permanent. But really, it’s so heartbreaking to see your baby having a hard time.

For the atsushiandmarjorie.com venture, design works are still in progress. If this be an EPC project, we’re soooo delayed already on our ready-for-start-up target schedule. So please bear with us. 😀

And speaking of blogs, I thought it’d be better for us to start posting “pins” that we’d love to have for our dream house. Not that we plan to build one anytime soon (no 60million yen yet!) but just so we can gather the elements we like and get to have an image of what it is we really like for our house.

Would be posting next time the beautiful interiors I’ve come across recently but for now here’s an element I like that I found in an ad placed on our mailbox. Our current apartment doesn’t have this hence I really see the convenience of this design.

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The shelf right on top of the washing machine would be great to hold our laundry detergents and similar items. But my favourite part here is the topmost movable cabinet that can store our towels. It’s definitely a space saver, maximising the available vertical area and great for the likes of me who’s not gifted with height. 🙂

Dream on!! 😀

daycare bonus

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There’s this little boy (probably around three years old) in Yui’s daycare who usually hangs around us whenever I pick Yui up at the end of the day. Surprisingly though, it’s not Yui whom he gives attention to, but me. He would either show me whatever toy he was playing with at the moment or just wave to say hi. Occupied as I am with my reunion with Yui, I have to give him some attention – it’s just so difficult to ignore his sweet attention.

When I picked Yui up earlier, I was quite occupied because aside from hugging and cooing with Yui and listening to the teacher’s account of the day’s highlight while handing me the daycare diary (renraku note), I’m also working up my Nihongo as I chatted with a little girl who kept on lavishing compliments to Yui. With all these vying for my attention, I was caught totally off guard when suddenly someone hugged me from the back. It was the tightest hug a three year old can give. How tight was it? All the tiredness I felt the whole day practically ebbed out because of the hug. I tilted my head to see who it was and sure enough it was the boy. And before I could even say hi to him, he was gone. I’ll make up to you next time little guy. Thank you for that hug, it indeed is a great bonus of some sort in sending Yui to daycare. And my wish is that as you grow, you’ll keep that sweet nature of yours.

And speaking of showing affections, I still am enraptured whenever Yui kisses me. The joy I always feel at those tender moments and the sweetness of it are incomparable. Thank you anak.

baby diaries: first kiss

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You were such a charmer today Yui. Everyone who coos and looks at you you would lavish with a big cheery smile hence you got quite a lot of compliments today.

During lunch, after one of your recent “explosions”, you were happily playing on my lap. You were moving a lot that you were at one time facing away from Mommy or towards Mommy. You were then facing me when suddenly you extended your arm and HUGGED me and then – the most surprising – kissed me! Well it’s more like “slobbered on my cheeks and chin” but it’s the thought that counts 😀

Hugged and kissed for the first time. Ahh. I don’t think I’m quipped with enough words to fully describe how GOOD that felt. Thank you baby.

Happy (little) feet: Yui’s first Mother’s Day gift

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Her teachers made it. Nevertheless, it’s still heartwarming. Her mark is on it, after all.

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Tugs at the heartstrings alright. Makes my eyes water thinking the owner of this little feet is my daughter. And the words, though very simple and written by the teachers, touched me deep.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY fellow moms!! 🙂

———-
a translation on the note written

Mommy,
I love you.
Thank you.
Yui

Moms are weird

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Moms are weird.

During Yui’s first days at the daycare, my heart weeps as I see Yui bawl with my goings and comings. Her Dad and I worried as her teacher wrote in Yui’s renraku note (the notebook wherein Yui’s teacher writes about Yui’s daily activities & condition & sleeping time and where I put the same for how Yui was at night and in the morning) that Yui didn’t eat much, cried a lot and didn’t sleep much as well. I worry.

And then yesterday, Yui’s teacher said that as usual when I left, Yui cried. But when she showed up (I left Yui to another teacher), Yui smiled at her and actually smiled many times that day. My heart twitches because Yui is now bonding up with one of her caretakers. But of course proud as well because as Hubs puts it, Yui’s friendly character is finally showing through.

And then today when I left my daughter in the daycare, she didn’t cry anymore. She doesn’t look particularly happy, in fact she looks sad. But she wasn’t crying, which is a big improvement. Probably there’ll come a time when the sight of her teachers would elicit a smile on her face. And I think any mother would understand the warring emotions I felt earlier/would feel in the future (for the smiling part) – the heartbreak that your child is becoming more independent from you and the happiness & pride because of her independence.

I chanced upon one of our Japanese wedding Ninong (godfather) earlier in the office elevator hall and told him of the different emotions with Yui’s independence. And with a laugh, he summarised: “if case A, you worry. If it’s case B and the opposite of case A, you still worry. Yes, yes. That’s how mothers are”.

And how right he is indeed.

Yet, there’s the glowing pride in seeing your child is coping well.

Grow well, anak.

a working mom now

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In which today I’m finally a full pledged working mom.

Yui woke up early this morning in that after giving her milk, she drifted back to sleep again. And since I haven’t dressed her up yet for daycare clothes (she had a romper on while sleeping, which is not allowed in the daycare), I had to wait for as long as I can before I really had to wake her up. Even so, I was right on time in the daycare and in the office.

I’ve been on leave for 8 and half months and I sure miss work. It was good to see the people in the office. But it breaks my heart to see yui crying when I leave her in the daycare and when I arrive. I think it pricks my heart more when she cries the moment she sees me while having her arms stretched out towards me. Because it’s like she’s saying “Mommy where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. I missed you”.

My health wasn’t at its prime on my first day. My nasal allergies (and colds/cough!) had a lousy timing, choosing today in making a comeback. Still, am thankful I had the energy and alertness despite my allergies and had the strength to babywear Yui from her daycare to our house. And am thankful that Yui’s empathetic nature understood that Mommy wasn’t feeling well. That instead of asking to be carried around as she always want when it’s not bedtime, she was content (and indeed looked very happy) just snuggling up in bed.

And speaking of baby wearing, for as long as I can, I would baby wear Yui to and fro daycare centre. She’s already very heavy, yes (more than 9kg). But the precious moment of seeing up close how round-eyed happy she is is more than enough payment for the effort.

Haha, I couldn’t see some structure on this blogpost. But one thing for sure. When working, you really also pay attention to how you look. It’s not that you’re just pretending you’re not one harassed mom. But that rather, to show that you’re very happy with your choice and with the blessings that are given you. And yet again it’s not only that. It’s more like asserting your own being. Not only Marjorie the mom nor Marjorie the wife (or daughter or friend und so weiter) but Marjorie per se.