Ella at 20 months

Ella is now 20 months old. Don't worry, I don't plan to document every single month of my children's lives. But, I have a minute, and I'm learning to seize them. Besides, Ella is really taking off is so many ways recently.

Teeth: Not to be outdone by her younger cousin Jackson, Ella kicked the teething process up a notch or two in the past month or so. Ella had just two teeth for about four months. Then cut her four top teeth in less than three weeks. We hadn't seen a new tooth since July last year. Teeth #7 and #8 are through and a molar is on its way. Its been a reasonably pleasant process so far but Ella won't let us anywhere near her mouth to check these new teeth out.

Potty Training: Not really into it. We have a potty, some underwear (currently worn as hats or purses) and a favorite book to read while on the potty. Its a start. I might have to pull out our infamous Japanese potty training book, "Hitori de unchi dekiru" to get her a little more inspired. I figure it will happen when it happens and I am certainly not about to lose sleep over it!

Words: WOW! More and more words and expressions by the hour, literally. The most recent is "no" and to date is used in the sweetest manner. :) "Wassat?" "Whosat?" "Yep" and "k" are some other cute ones. "Huuuuh?" . . . not as cute. Can't imagine where she picks these things up. She can say her first and middle name and is working on how to spell "Ella". It sure is a lot of fun to see her language skills develop. It brings out her personality even more.

Play: Ella has always loved being outside. Now that we're into full blown toddlerhood, we spend a lot of time at the park. Wollongong has some awesome parks. Ella loves to slide, swing and climb. The climbing isn't just at the park though. Ella climbs on everything. Jason thinks she'll be ready for the climbing gym in no time and nothing would surprise me.



Climbing up to the table . . .



Ella LOVES to sing. Her grandparents gave her a praise DVD that she can't get enough of. She asks for it by saying "dance" and wiggling her hips and raising her hands. Hysterical. Its so neat to watch her do the actions to words like "pray" "Christian" "love" and so on.

Another favourite play activity is drawing and so far we've managed to preserve the white walls of our rental house. Ella holds her pencils perfectly and draws with so much care. Her favourite things to draw are "stars" and she always wants us to draw a lizard, a whale and a face (with a hat). I so wish you could see her making these requests. She is a character and knows EXACTLY what she wants at all times.

And of course, play time with her brother. She does so well with him . . .]



I keep telling myself that a growing child is something to be very thankful for. I just can't get my mind around how she went from being a baby to being this walking-talking little girl.

Mischevious . . .


But beautiful . . .

Noah Kai is 5 months old

. . . you know what that means? Time to have another baby. Do I have your attention yet? Good. But I am JUST KIDDING. Soooo kidding! Promise. Noah is simply five months old today. And like all good modern mums, I wanted to record Noah at five months in his baby book (aka "the blog"). Please tell me I'm not the only mamma that has a virtual baby book?



Noah is doing great. He eats well, sleeps well and plays hard. He is an extremely vocal baby. Lots of squeals and long coo-ing stories. The biggest developmental milestone is getting up on all fours, rocking and then face planting. Since Ella didn't crawl until she was 9 months and one week old, (thank you blog archives for this trivia), its a little shocking for me to see Noah so keen and able on all fours. Of course it could be some time before he officially crawls, but still . . . wow! He's probably decided its in his best interest to become mobile asap and keep up with his big sister.







While very content and happy during the day, Noah tends to get a little angry each night when we put him to bed. I'm not sure what that's all about and have tried a number of different tactics to avoid the scream show. Rocking, singing, more nursing don't seem to have an effect on him. It seems to be his way of "winding down" (though its more like winding up than down). I guess as he grows we'll just help him channel that fire and will he has in a good direction.

He is sleeping through the night bar the past couple of nights. Noah has been waking anywhere between 2am and 4am. The strange thing is he's happy when he wakes. Not mad. Not hungry. He just starts talking and laughing away. Is he really mine??? He usually rolls on to his back so I go flip him back on to his belly and he will put himself back to sleep.

I'm so thankful to God for a healthy and happy boy. I am absolutely loving being being mum to this little guy.

Noah being loved on by his big sister




And for your viewing pleasure . . . (won't work through facebook - you'll have to visit our website - see link on profile page)
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About this time last year I was a little, what shall I say, panicked, (possible understatement) at the thought of having another baby so soon. But I'm more happy than I have words for to have this little guy in our family. And hair pulling aside, his sister is, too.

Highlights

March, already! How did that happen? We're currently hosting Jason's Mom, Dad and sister for the week. They flew all the way here for a week of fun with the two sweetest kids on the block. Ella is in her element. The first night she ran back and forth from the living room to the kitchen, yelling "weeeeeee". With three extra people to read her stories, hold her, sing to her and ask "how high" when she says, "jump!" . . . what more could a 19 month old ask for? Noah doesn't have a whole lot to complain about this week, either. And us? We went to the chiropractor and the grocery store sans kids. We're the happiest parents on the block! Pictures soon to come.

And, some updates . . .

Ella: is now 19 months old. I've been more emotional about her recent growth and development the past couple of months than I was during her first year. What's not to be emotional about a daughter's first pigtails and her first attempt at saying "love you"? New words, two new teeth and new things to love every single day! Ella loves to sing "This little light of mine", any song about a cockatoo, and loves to hold hands while we pray. Instead of saying "amen", she says "more! more! more!" She is busy, helpful and de-ter-mined! Where oh where does that come from??? Love this girl.



Love the pigtails, dig the smile . . .




Potty training gets off to a slow start . . . :)


Noah: is 4 months old, a healthy 6.26 kilos (approx 13lbs) and thriving. He is sleeping through the night (bless him!) and well during the day. He finally mastered the sucking of two fingers on his right hand and now sports a blister on his middle finger because of this. He has the cutest laugh, beautiful eyes and boy does he talk. He can roll back-to-front and front-to-back. Noah loves his sister. He is just plain adorable. And on top of being adorable and sweet, he is now the laid-back-second-child that everyone talks about when you're with child and trying to envision life with two.







February Highlight: A visit from my two sisters, their families and our friend Kylie. We took in a musical, a day in Sydney including Manly Beach and Luna Park, and relaxed at home. I so enjoyed sharing our home with them for the first time in our married life. Its great to see the six cousins together. Their names are still written on our front steps with sidewalk chalk which makes me smile each time I go out the door.

Ella loves on her cousin Jack . . .


My sisters, Melissa (with Jack) and Michelle . . .


Ministry Highlights: I'm journeying through the book of Esther with two other women. I'm enjoying learning, growth and time with other women. Jason continues working with the Pt. Kembla Men's group. This month he served the community with them at the North Wollongong Food Swap and Clean Up Australia Day. We're prayerfully waiting on a response from an advertisement offering FriendSpeak classes. We have enjoyed several visitors who have joined us for worship on Sunday evenings. And we were greatly encouraged by spending a day with Christians out at Cataract River Ranch on their annual retreat. A great day of fellowship and creative activities focusing on Praising God.

Sharing with each other how "our cup overflows" . . .


I still have news from January, including our fun visit with Kari from Memphis (the post is still in my drafts file. . . ) That's all for now.

No pictures, Just thoughts: RE-ENTRY

January marked the end of our first year in Australia. The end of a year of endless "firsts". Its so nice to now be doing some things for the second time! I did it! I survived the first year of this process they call re-entry. Re-entry wasn't something I was completely unfamiliar with. I had returned to Australia after a year in Canada. I returned with a weird accent and had grown so much spiritually during that year. I also re-entered western culture after 3.5 years in Japan. So, I bowed when crossing the road and said "sumimasen" when I was sorry. Yet I wasn't "home" in the US, either. I was "the Aussie" who took a job at the Outback hoping for extra tips. I was fairly familiar with feeling like a square peg being pounded into a round hole. I'd looked in the mirror many times realizing I'd become some strange cultural hybrid. But this return to Australia after 10 years abroad was a big one. "You must be excited to be going home" were words that quite honestly made me wince.

Many of the changes and emotional process that have come with re-entry so far, aren't all that different from the ones I've faced when moving from city to city. Others have been so very different, have had a much deeper impact, or required more adjustment. Others probably haven't even surfaced yet.

We were blessed that most of the logistical aspects of our move were very smooth. I'm so thankful because this certainly lessened the waves of re-entry. For example, we found a rental home that suited our needs and though we didn't have quite everything on the realtor's list, we were approved within an hour of handing in our application. Our shipment from the US arrived and was delivered promptly, so we could quickly set about making our house our home (minus the ill-fated wooden snowman . . . but really what place does a snowman have in an Australian Christmas anyhow?)

Some changes were fun and exciting. Like easy access to a huge variety of Arnotts and Cadbury's for example! Shallow, I know! But comfort food is comfort food! The "lolly" and "biscuit" aisles were my place of rest after at least an hour of puzzling over metric conversions and new brands. Grocery shopping was an area where re-entry could easily rear its ugly head. One minute I'd be feeling lost and frustrated. I'd say to myself, "just accept that this is ALL new and unfamiliar..." Yet, the next minute, I'd see a product name that would trigger some marketing jingle I knew from growing up here. It was as though when I tried to disconnect myself to make it easier, something familiar would reel me back in. I had to always stop and think "ok coriander or cilantro.... Where am I??? What do they call it here?" Trivial examples. My point is, I felt like I had each leg in a different world and it was exhausting to say the least.

I'm amazed at the difference a year can make. I can grocery shop in 45 minutes or less and don't feel the need to cry in the process. I've found substitutes for most things I was used to using but can't find here (and was recently blessed by a care package that filled many of those gaps! Thank you Park Avenue church of Christ!) I no longer fear there are funnel webs lurking under my bed. I don't groan as much about hanging clothes out to dry. In fact I almost enjoy it! I usually get in the right side of the car. I can estimate my kids weight in kilos so that I can buy the correct size nappies. I know when to expect bills, the best way to claim on Medicare, and a good place for a haircut. You get the picture. Day to day life requires much less mental energy than it did 12 months ago and I am so thankful.

The more difficult transitions have been relational. Trying to connect with people and enter already existing, tightly knit social circles. For me this was made more difficult by having a 6 month old and finding out at the end of February that I was pregnant. The very thing that I envisioned connecting me (children) kept me more housebound than I anticipated. Everywhere I had lived prior to Wollongong, I had enjoyed a thriving social network. A good balance of people-time and me-time, whenever I needed it. The loss of connection and social network has been hands down my most difficult aspect of re-entry.

There is always two sides to a coin though. This past year I've enjoyed reconnecting with my parents, grandfather, siblings, nieces and nephews. With church, high school and university friends. I'm merging the old Nicole and the "now" Nicole with the experiences of the past ten years. A Brisbane born girl who speaks Japanese with Ibaraki-ben, English with an odd accent, a "yank" for a husband (not really but...), a Texan for a daughter and a Wollongong born son. Who uses nappy and diaper/dummy and pacifier in the same sentence because I forget where I am.

In 2010 I'm going to open my arms, mind and heart a little wider so that I can better embrace Year Two back in Australia. To quit stuttering when I'm asked where I'm from, and to not launch into an apology for my accent! To try to remember that my tendency to vacillate between cultures is probably more irritating to others than their generalizations about Australia or America are irritating to me. I'm also going to accept that I might well feel like a global nomad for the rest of my life. I'll find a way to be ok with that. To cherish the past, embrace the present and look forward to the future. And, I can thank God because He has been with me during Year One! He's blessed me with people who've walked a similar road (and survived!) and with a family who has loved me and picked me up too many times to count. "O sewa ni narimashita" for the past, and "Yoroshiku" to them for your help this coming year.

Hello 2010

Christmas 2009 was our first Christmas in Australia since 2001, right before our wedding. Since it was our first year back, and we have a new addition to our family, we decided to travel north to Brisbane to be with my family. The road trip was uneventful. Sadly, Noah is not a huge fan of riding in the car.

We enjoyed the week with my family and friends. (wish I had pictures of everyone...sorry!) Michelle hosted a great Christmas morning breakfast, and Mum pulled off a great Christmas lunch (complete with prawns...mmmmm!) Its a joy to see our kids interact with their four cousins as well as aunts, uncles and grandparents on this side of the world. The kids got quite a bounty of gifts! Sleepless nights and diapers aside, we officially feel like we have kids now with all the toys in the house!

Aussie Christmas with hats from the bonbons




A Daddy's girl for sure



We tried (and failed) to get a picture of all the cousins together (aged 8 weeks 13 years) This was the final trick - bubbles.


Blankets from Clara Mae and her sister


Love my university friends. Catching up with a couple


We left Brisbane on Boxing Day and headed for Camp Challenge in Western Sydney. The drive south was a little tougher. More crying, wrong turns onto expensive toll roads and a royal puke from Noah (all over me). Needless to say we were thankful to arrive and spend the week in one place. We enjoyed some great classes and fellowship with Christians from different parts of Australia.

Jason leading a kids song at Camp (12 young men . . . )


Ella likes Wayne!


Bible class friends


On New Years day we drove back home to Wollongong. Home. The sentiment surprised me, but I am thankful for it. This beautiful beaches and mountains, the friends we have here, our little rental home and even our familiar local Woolworths supermarket all combine to help make this place feel more and more like home. We sure miss our friends and family who live elsewhere, but that will always be the case no matter where we live.

And for those of you wondering what the kids are up to these days, here's a rundown on them (and a little on us):

Ella: is almost 18 months old. She's basically running, loves being outside and loves to climb. This makes her dad super proud. They'll be at the rock climbing gym before I know it. Ella LOVES to go to the park and play on the slides (the "weeeeee" as she calls it), and loves hats of any kind! She is a wonderful communicator with a combination of baby signing, words, pointing and facial expressions. She is also a great helper and can take cloth diapers down the hall to their pails, trash to the trash cans, and hand me burp rags. We're also learning to put toys and books away. The most wonderful part is that she does all of the above JOYFULLY! She also does other things that she shouldn't and does them with GREAT joy and glee. Like pulling Coke cans out of the recycle bin and drinking the last drops of coke. Sigh. She is even pretty good at laughing herself out of the mini temper tantrums she tries to throw at times.



The first thing she does when she wakes up is ask after her brother and the other parent. She adores her brother still and showers him with kisses throughout the day. When he cries in the car, she often reaches her arm into his carseat to hold his hand. She will "gift" Noah with things throughout the day. I find all sorts of things in the pack-n-play where he sleeps, and resting on his belly while he plays under the baby gym (like puzzle pieces and books). Ella begins most days perched on her pink sofa with a cup from her tea set. She holds it by the tiny handle, so daintily and sips it while saying "hot". She still has just six teeth (soon to be outdone by her 10 month old cousin!) but ladies and gentlemen she has hair! Soft, fine and blonde though it may be. Thankfully her mullet survived her aunts in Brisbane!

All this to say Ella is such a joy and continues to amaze us.







Noah: I've lost count of how many weeks he is . . . 11 or 12. He will be three months on the 27th of this month. THREE MONTHS? How is this possible? Once the newborn we hardly knew we had, boy do we know we're alive now. The poor little guy seems to suffer from colic. We're praying that he will outgrow it sooner than later. Very soon would be good. The best money spent recently has been on chiropractic care for the colic, and a baby wrap where he spends large parts of his day. In spite of the colic he is chunking up quite nicely (anyone remember how chunky Ella was?!), feeding great, and delivers some heart melting smiles and coo-ing sounds. He is beginning to enjoy more time playing under the baby gym or swinging in his swing. Thankfully when all else fails, he is always happy to be carried around in the wrap (where he has been for more than four hours today). He won't take a pacifier and is trying his hardest to be a thumbsucker. May that day come quickly also! Oh and he's quite the royal baby. Noah starred TWICE as baby Jesus in two separate Nativity plays/scenes this holiday season. And he was a very quiet, calm and peaceful baby Jesus. Phew.





Performance #1


Performance #2




What a blessing to have two beautiful kids. (And a loving, handsome husband!)





Us: We're alive!!! Our days are busy and by night we're often exhausted. We have joy in each day though. We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary (our first in Australia) on January 5th and enjoyed a meal at the only Japanese restaurant in Wollongong. This is the best we could do for an anniversary picture.



Jason is enjoying experimenting with some permaculture gardening in our backyard and continues to be involved in Bushcare and a men's group here in town. Not to mention all he does with the kids and here at home. I'm doing my best to keep the home fires burning! I'm looking forward to getting back to working out at Contours, and also to when MOPS starts up again in February. We're enjoying simple things together like tea and Monk/Heroes or Seinfeld once or twice a week. We both have plans to be involved in some new ministry related events in the first half of this year. More on that to come. All in all we're doing well. Its an intense time in our life but God sustains us and there isn't a day that goes by that I'm not aware of and thankful for this promise in Lamentations 3:22-24:

"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

He forgives, sustains and renews! Thank you, God!

Happy New Year!