More toys!

We went to Johnsonville today, and went to the salvation army and Mummy and Daddy got lots of toys for me! Then we went to the Family centre and talked about what i should be eating and my daily routine. I'm allowed to have dairy food from now, which I'm excited about trying. Daddy gave me some baby yoghurt when we got home, which I really liked. He only gave me half the pot so I was quite unhappy when i saw him eat the rest of the pot himself!

Portrait photos

We went to Porirua today to get the second set of my portrait photos. This set look better than the last ones, that were taken when I was about 6 months old.

First Steps

While Daddy was at work, Mummy gave me a nice hot bath. I felt really excited when Daddy came home, and I was walking around holding on to the table, wall etc. as usual. Then I wanted to get to where Mummy was sitting but there was nothing to hold on to to help me get there and I figured, there's no point sitting down and crawling the short distance to her, so I just kinda took a few steps without holding on to anything and I didn't fall over!! I managed to walk these few steps until I reached Mummy. Well, I must say Mummy and Daddy were very very pleased and looked happy. The next time I did it, Daddy was ready and took a video of it, which you can see below.

Daddy did something funny to the kitchen door with a tool called a drill and some metal things called hooks, and now I can't open it! Well, sometimes I can, but sometimes I can't! There are also funny things stuck in the powerpoints so I can't jam any knives in there, and the glass cabinet doors don't open anymore for some reason. I'll have to find some other way of making mischief ..

A cold

It seems that this thing happening with my nose, making all this clear stuff come out of it, and making it itchy, is called a cold, and Mummy and Daddy are certain that I have this now. I feel a bit grouchy, but don't feel like I need any extra sleep.

Daddy's interview

daddy has been quite busy since we got back, going to university every day so far. He went to university again today, for an interview with a company called BERL for a scholarship. When he left home he was wearing very fancy clothes! After he came home, we went to the doctor so she could look at the skin on my face, which seems to be a bit bumpy and pimply. there also seems to be something wrong with my nose because all this stuff keeps coming out of it. The doctor said nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on it Same thing for my skin. My throat looked a bit red to the doctor, which i guess is a sign that it's sore. I could've told them that, if I could talk! Anyway, after that we went to a cafe in Tawa and then shopping in Porirua.

We had a good flight ... I wasn't quite as happy being in the bassinet seat ... it was almost too small for me! But I managed to have some sleep and I think Mummy and Daddy did too. We got off the plane in Auckland and I was surprised to meet Grandma and Auntie Rachel and Auntie Susan and Uncle Ezekiel there! We had a quick talk there and we gave them our gifts before we had to go to get on the plane to return to Wellington. We were all glad to see them, even for such a short time. Our favourite taxi-man met us at Wellington airport and we had a quick ride home. We all went straight to bed as soon as we got in the door, even though it was only early afternoon.

Return to NZ

Today we all went to the airport and Mummy and Daddy and I got on a plane to return to NZ. Everyone seemed sad, but it sounds like it won't be long before we can meet again.

Daddy met Nao-chan for lunch in Funabashi and I ended up going with everyone else to Funabashi for lunch too which makes it kinda stupid that I couldn't go with Daddy to meet Nao-chan again.

Girl's Day / Doll Festival

Mummy went out today so I stayed at home with Daddy and Obaachan. Auntie Akemi had to go back to work today so it wasn't much fun. I slept most of the day. Daddy is doing some packing now.Obaachan is making some chirashi-zushi to celebrate Girl's Day but I'm feeling sleepy ...

Shirako

Daddy went early today to Tsukiji fish market with Nao-chan and her friend Yumi. Once I woke up, I went with Mummy & Akemi & Obaachan to the Shirako beach house. Daddy is coming back late again today.

One year old!

Today is my BIRTHDAY! So I'm one year old now. We went to LaLaPort and I had some portrait photos taken. That was really fun because the photographer ladies were really nice and funny. I got to dress in costumes and have lots of different themed shots. The costumes were a Japanese kimono, a cute blue dress, and a pretty pink dress. While Obaachan, Auntie Akemi, Mummy & Daddy were choosing the best photos, I fell asleep. I woke just before we went back to Funabashi to get my CAKE!! We went to have a look at the Hima Matsuri dolls because Mummy and Dsaddy were going to buy me one, but the shop were already putting them away and getting out the dolls for the Boy's Day. The service was terrible too so Mummy and Daddy decided to pass this time and they think I'll probably enjoy the dolls more when I'm a bit older anyway (which is true - all I wanted to do with them was bash them together).

We returned home (late because of the heavy traffic) to find Ojiichan standing outside the door looking glum (he didn't have his key so he had been waiting outside for about an hour). Once we got inside, Ojiichan tried to get me to carry 2kg of mochi (rice cakes) because this is a special first birthday ceremony. I found the bag REALLY heavy!!! I managed to move around a bit carrying it, but not really striding around confidently like I'm supposed to. But apparently most babies aren't able to carry it anyway.

Then came time for my cake!!

They lit the single candle and Mummy helped me blow it out (I still don't know how to blow air out of my mouth like that). When the lights were turned on, I got excited about the cake and hit it! I managed to send a strawberry flying, but didn't damage the cake too much. I got to have a piece of cake, but actually not the main cake because that had alcohol in it. So everyone else enjoyed the main cake and I had a special seperate piece for myself.

Then it was time for the presents! I recieved "oiwai" from Ojiichan and a warm Disney hat from Mummy and Daddy. Auntie Akemi gave me, in conjuntion with Mummy and Daddy, a aquamarine pendant set in white gold. This is partly a birthday present and partly a present to commemorate my birth (since aquamarine is my birthstone). Mummy will keep the pendant until I'm 20 or some such age that they think it is appropriate to give it to me. So this was the thing they bought for me at Ikspiari! Its been a very long, but exciting day!