Company family day

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Marjorie

Today (or technically yesterday since it’s now past midnight) was our company’s family day – a day in which employees’ kids could get a glimpse of their parent’s workplace. The program is open for those who have kids from 4th to 6th grade in elementary. So for those colleagues who have kids around that age, they had their kids tag along with them for most of the day.

You couldn’t just bring along your kid on an impromptu whim however, your kid has to be registered ahead of time. The program is very well organised, I think, owing primarily to security reasons. The kids even have their own IDs with their photos on it – with the card coloured a pretty pink! whilst employees generally have blue or green – which they can use to open the glass doors for certain floors of the building.

If I were the kid, I’d be really wide eyed the whole day. First they had an orientation which took most part of the morning. One of the assistant area lead of our project had a kid who was part of the program so we all had lunch with him. The early part of the afternoon his Dad took him to meet our Clients who shared that they too have the same program in their country. After which the kid stayed on the vacant desk beside his Dad and “helped” by filing some outputs. Yet even with the simple task, he was very serious with it.

I’m really glad there’s such a program in the office. Sometimes people work so hard the work-life balance is often off-balance, and leaning always on the work side. Excited for our little one’s turn some 9 years from now! Haha.

Børnelund Playworld

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Marjorie

As a treat for enduring yet another round of vaccines, we brought Yui to the newly opened Børnelund Playworld/あそびのせかい (openedlast June 21) located in the likewise newly opened Mark Is. Fees was reasonable as well with 600yen for 30 minutes for parent/guardian, 300yen for babies and kids, and 100yen for the adults for every 10 minute-extension.

It was a wonderland for Yui. We only mostly stayed at the babies section, however.

This one is Yui’s favourite.

There’s also ball pool like those that are popular in the Philippines.

And an area for bigger, more active kids.

Play partners!

Thing is, we were only able to explore the left side of the place. There were more interesting stuff on the right side! Left side was already more than enough for a baby that we just stayed there mostly. I wasn’t even able to take a photo of the right side! But definitely there’s gonna be a next time!

baby diaries: proud and happy

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Marjorie

It’s difficult to leave you behind at the daycare, Yui, when you’re crying. But it’s even more difficult to leave you when you’re all smiles and you’re eagerly showing your new moves. Moves that are quite so varied nowadays albeit it’s mostly trying to stand and sit from tummy down without holding on to something.

And you know what? Even when everything is so new to you, even when you’re just practicing and that it’s understandable to look awkward, you’re far from looking awkward at all. All the movements you make, they’re so fluid and graceful, they even look measured, as if you’re assessing your next move first before you act on it.

Mom remembers, several months ago, that time when your movements were more limited, you were playing on your crib and your toy fell on Mommy’s bed. It was within your arms’ reach albeit lower so you leaned to retrieve it. But when it fell again and rolled somewhere just a bit farther, you looked at it, looked at the elevation distance between your bed and Mommy’s bed, tried to extend your arm but seeing it’s a bit far, decided to ignore your toy. It was amazing to see it as it shows Mommy that at a very young age, you show some critical thinking already.

Your first steps a couple or so months ago, albeit it was assisted by Mom (or Dad), we found it beautiful. Probably all parents feel this towards their babies, no matter how wobbly it was. Yet still baby, you were so graceful. Mom would always remember that first time as a tender, sweet memory.

Before Mom left you off at the daycare today, your feet was firmly on the floor, looking as if any moment now you’d push yourself up and stand, unassisted. But what lingered with Mommy more was your big and happy smile, looking up at Mom beaming with pride at your efforts, your cheeks a pretty blush. That touched Mommy in so many wonderful ways anak and that moment would probably be one of Mommy’s treasured memories.

Grow well anak. We love you.

daycare peep-in day

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Marjorie

Hubs and I had a chance to peep-in at Yui’s daycare today. Parents aren’t usually allowed to stay in the daycare but this week, parents are granted a two-hour period in the morning to observe how our daughter goes about her day at the daycare. We chose today for it.

Through a slit created by the two artworks pasted by the door, we observed Yui and found that indeed, even without us around, she loves to smile and is very curious. Hubs and I had a great time looking in, watching not only our adorable daughter but also her “classmates” who are all older than her (they turned 1 year old last month and one will turn 1 next month). The “peeping-in” was good bonding moment for me and Hubs as well and I’m so happy that even when we were busy at work (hubs especially who’s handling three projects!) we could have this opportunity. Yet another moment to tuck in into our mental family album. 🙂

The artwork that’s a “collaboration” of all the six babies in Yui’s class. We heard about this first artwork in Yui’s renraku note (daycare diary) and we finally saw the output now.

Will update this blog later to show the piece done by Yui alone. ^_^

baby diaries: more hugs and kisses

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Marjorie

Mommy yet again have fever and colds anak. Yet even when the dawn and morning had been pretty “eventful” from having had to change the sheets and your clothes twice, Mommy still have the energy to go on. And Mommy owes it to you. Because despite your very bad cough and your stye, you’re still your cheery self, giving Mommy and everyone else that beautiful big smile of yours. And when Mommy coughs (or even hiccup!) you would look at Mommy inquiringly while murmuring something, with an expression that’s quite akin to concern – yet another proof how empathetic you are.

Your body must be working double time now, adjusting from your new environment, new food whilst learning new motor skills (you try to stand up on your own now!). And you’re teething besides! Yet you didn’t make it all the more harder for Mommy by behaving, by not being fussy – main reasons why your paediatrician is not worried even when you have lost some weight already.

So I thank you.

Mommy sits here in the office during lunch break and all I could think of is how Mommy should have given you two extra hugs and kisses this morning, more than the usual. Albeit your teachers already always say “ii na” (wow that feels good), whenever I kiss and hug you goodbye.

I miss you anak even when we’re just apart for 8 hours. Let’s do our best shall we? 🙂

juggling

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Marjorie

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.

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!! 😀

On Chocolate Hill

A chocolatey journey, with Yui!

Category Archives: parenting