Presento Arigoto Namo Bachan, Jichan

We received a wonderful package of Christmas goodies from Japan, and Maia was thrilled. Thank you so much Bachan and Jichan! Maia loves the dresses, the hair accessories, the markers, and her little mini doll. Yoshi and I appreciate all the delicious food.

Maia's fashion show! She is modeling one of the outfits she received for Christmas.

Maia's first interview. She is modeling another outfit from her grandparents. This is too cute!

More Belly Shots (less than 3 weeks to go!)

I think our baby boy is ready to come out! I keep telling him not yet, because I still haven't "nested." Well, I washed some outfits and blankets and things... I guess if he came now it wouldn't be too disasterous. My prediction is that he will be one day late. January 11th, 2009 sounds good. Maia came on her due date, but what are the chances of that happening again?

I'm very obviously pregnant now, though people still act surprised when I tell them how close I am to my due date.

Maia is enthralled with her baby brother and talks about him as if he were already outside my belly. She has even attempted to blame things on him! I hope she retains her enthusiasm after he is born!

Overall, I feel good, though I've had a headache every day for the last week. I can't complain too much! Lots of women have terrible symptoms during pregnancy. I'm a little sad that this is likely my last baby, and I won't experience the wonders of pregnancy again.

On Materialism

Since Maia has entered my life, every action I take and every decision I make has taken on broader implications than it ever has before. Always in the back of my mind is the nagging question, "Is this the lesson I want to teach my child?" This is the case for both simple things and those that are truly moral conundrums. I think this is the natural growing up that happens when you are responsible for another human being. Suddenly, everything takes on a more profound meaning.

One thing I have giving much thought to this holiday season is the notion of Santa Claus and presents. Yoshi and I agreed a while ago that we would follow the American Christmas customs, so Maia believes in Santa. Neither of us were raised that way, but we don't want to deprive Maia of the excitement and joy that believing in Santa brings. Unfortunately, as she gets older, it's very hard to separate the notion of Santa Claus from the idea of an overly materialistic culture. Were it not for the Santa myth, we would probably buy her a present or two for Christmas and that would be the end of it. Instead, I find myself asking, "Did I buy her too much/little?" and "Will she be spoiled/disappointed?" There seems to be no middle ground.

The truth is that I know Maia will be elated when she opens her Christmas presents. We did not go overboard this year, but we got her two big presents and some smaller things she will enjoy. My worry is what will happen when she compares stories with her friends. Some parents go crazy this time of year and spend hundreds of dollars on their children. Will she wonder why she didn't receive as many presents and feel that she is not as good as the other kids? This thought bothers me, but the thought that she will grow up feeling entitled to anything she wishes for is even more disturbing. I don't want her to be spoiled, yet the idea that she may feel deprived in any way makes me shudder. When I was growing up my family was on the poor side. I didn't get much of what I wanted until I got a job at 16 and started buying it for myself. The odd thing is, I don't remember feeling bad about this or wanting things I couldn't have. The exception was clothing, which is why I got a job and started shopping for myself! Being dressed funny when you are over the age of 10 makes life hard.

While writing this, I've been thinking about something that Maia's preschool teacher said that resonated with me. One day as I was dropping her off, we chatted for a second, and she said "Maia always has a good time and is so enthusiastic about everything." This made me smile as I was much the same way as a kid (and even now.) I have always adored school. But I digress... The other thing she said was, "Maia is very comfortable with herself and knows who she is, which for a child her age is extremely rare." This comment brought tears to my eyes, because as a parent, I can't think of anything I would like to hear more. It means that she will be okay even if she doesn't get as many presents as the neighbors, and that she will not define herself by her possessions. In writing this reflective post, I seem to have answered my own question.

Dilemma over. I'm off to bed! Happy Holidays to everyone if I don't post again before Christmas!

Quick Update

My gift dilemna for Boots and Greg seems to have been solved. I have decided to go in on the gift card that my neighbors are planning. I wanted to be more creative, but have conceded that this is not the time in my life to focus on that. Maybe next year! I'm all for being a part of the group right now.

For the last 3 days or so, I have been experiencing a pretty bad head-ache. My friend thought it might be pregnancy induced hypertension, and that worried me a bit, but I visited my doctor this morning, and my blood pressure is really good. Thank goodness for that! Had it been high blood pressure, it would have been a nightmare of bed rest and I would not have been able to deliver in the low-risk birthing section of the hospital. The head-ache is lingering, but it subsides with Tylenol, so it's not too horrible. I hope it goes away soon!

My doctor said that everything looks good with the baby. I am not showing signs of going into lablor early or anything, and I am very happy about that. The baby needs to wait until at least after Christmas! I didn't gain any weight this week, but it's no big deal because I've gained a lot overall from this pregnancy. I have already surpassed what I weighed when Maia was born, but I guess that is pretty typical, because most women don't lose all the weight they gain from the first pregnancy. I was carrying around an extra 10 pounds, so as a result, I'm now 10 pounds heavier than at the same point with Maia. I'm so glad to be healthy; I'll lose the weight somehow afterwards. Bring on the Christmas cookies!

Christmas Ramblings

We are having a tough time getting our Christmas pictures together this year. Our favorite place to go for portraits is booked until after Christmas, and Yoshi, the family photographer, is working feverishly in the basement trying to get everything completed in the next couple of weeks. Since we have no pictures, we haven't really sent cards yet either. It all seems so overwhelming all of a sudden!

Luckily, we are planning to go to an outdoor lighting extravaganza on Saturday, so that should provide lots of material for pictures. This year, rather than send out one to everyone on our list, I think I'm going to send them only to people who have sent us one, and family. That will lessen the stress a bit. I always feel like I send out way more than I receive, but usually don't mind. This year is a little different, though! I have to conserve energy.

I thought that I was all done with Christmas shopping, but I forgot to buy Maia's teachers a present. Then I remembered the mail man and garbage man too! Some neighbors are going in on a gift certificate, but I'd like to give them my own present this year. They are both so kind and go above and beyond the call of duty. Particularly, Greg, our garbage collector. In our city, you leave the cans in the driveway, and they drive up in a little cart-type thing and then transfer it to the big truck. If a car is left parked in the driveway, they aren't allowed to drive around it to pick up your trash. They just leave it until the next week, or if you call, they'll come back later and get it. I guess it's all about liability; the city doesn't want to pay for scratching your car.

I hate to confess, but I have been terrible about moving my car in time for the past few months. I have the best of intentions, but somehow end up forgetting until I hear the noise of the little cart. Then I grab a robe and run out trying to get the car out of the driveway in time. The last few times, I have run out only to find that the garbage collector has already dragged all of my garbage cans behind my car and emptied them. This is not common practice, but I think the guy feels sorry for me. He's usually a couple of houses down, so I'll wave to him and say sorry. He's always very kind about it, so I think he deserves a nice Christmas present this year for having to deal with my forgetfulness.

Our mailman, Boots, is straight out of Sesame Street. He is a kind older man who knows all of our names and asks how we are every day. He has followed my pregnancy news, my work or stay-home dilemna, and any other drama I have experienced over the last 5 years. It's amazing how a 2 minute conversation can brighten your day. If we see him coming, Maia will run out and get the mail. All of the neighborhood kids adore him. Sometimes the older ones even follow him on his route for a few houses. Since Maia was one, he has come to all of her birthday parties and the last couple of years he's even brought his wife along. They are good people who we are lucky to know. So does anyone have any ideas about a Christmas present?

We are planning on shopping tomorrow after Maia's gymnastics class. Christmas is right around the corner now! Thank goodness I've already bought and wrapped all of Maia's presents!

Visting Santa Claus

Yoshi's company has a children's party every year where they invite all the employees' children who are under sixteen to visit Santa and receive a small gift. They also provide lunch and activities. This year the event took place at the Boonshoft Museum, which is the chilren's museum here in Dayton. I think it is a very nice gesture, and the kids get very excited. Maia still has all the presents she has ever received from Daddy's Kaisha-no Santa (Company Santa), though she is always a bit scared of him.

Yoshi and Maia hang out right before it is time to visit Santa. She doesn't seem nervous.

Maia was willing to sit on Santa's lap, but she was petrified. I think she was shaking at one point. He asked her questions and she just sat there with a "I know I have to do this to get a present, but it's not enjoyable in any way" look.

I like the way she is grasping Santa's finger. Is that a keep your hands off me kind of gesture? Hopefully she will begin to enjoy visiting Santa more as she gets older.

Trimming the Tree

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! We had a lot of fun, and yes, Maia is wearing a ballet costume. Thank goodness for a good heating system!

Lofty Goals

This morning, Maia and I were chatting before pre-school. She proudly told me that she had been helper of the week twice! Of course, I was thrilled for her, and suggested that she might like to be a teacher when she grows up because she enjoys school so much. She vehemently shook her head no, so I brought up some other occupations...nurse, doctor, bus driver, etc. She refused all of these as well.

What would she like to do with her life? She wants to be a Disney princess! Not just any princess, but a Disney princess. I am trying to take it in stride, but I'm really worried. Not that I don't think she would be a fabulous Disney princess, but because she identifies so much with the girly-girl things in life. I have always been the type of parent that didn't want to gender-stereotype, but I admit defeat in this department. My white flag is dangling; I have lost this war.

I guess she has plenty of time to change her mind! For a long time, when I would ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would answer, "you." This always made me tear up and pray that I was being the best me possible for my little girl. I guess I'm ready to let go of that pressure and let her move on to new role-models.

Burning Questions

Every once in a while I get the scary yet proud feeling that Maia is pretty smart. She has an amazing capacity to remember things, and she often asks questions about topics that I think most three year olds wouldn't normally be interested in.

Just today, after reading a book about new babies that had a picture of a nursing baby, she asked, "Mommy, how does the milk get into your breasts to feed the baby?" I tried to explain that your body knows you are having a baby and produces the milk, but I'm not sure she was satisfied with my explanation.

Of course, there is the dreaded, "How is the baby going to get out of your belly?" conversation she has been bringing up again and again. My neighbor told me that when her kids asked her that question, she just said, "A special hole," and that was the end of it. They never questioned her further. I tried that on Maia, and it failed hopelessly. She ended up pulling up my shirt while gleefully shouting, "Where, Mama? Where's the hole?" Luckily, my belly button side-tracked her. I let her go on believing that the "special hole" was the belly button, but after a couple of days, she asked again. I decided to be honest and pointed down. Thank goodness, she seemed satisfied and did not do any further prodding. Until today that is... Out of the blue she asked me, "Mommy, when is the baby going to come out?" I told her after Christmas, and she repeated, "Oh, after Christmas the baby is going to come out of your o-shiri (o-shiri is the Japanese word for butt.) I couldn't stop laughing, but didn't correct her. I know I"ll have to eventually tell her the truth, but I am still confused about how much detail I should go into.

She is a very precocious little girl, and she understands a lot, but I don't want to give her more information than what is developmentally appropriate for her age. Also, I am very conscious of the fact that I am developing her attitudes about what is normal and healthy. I don't want her to grow up feeling ashamed of her anatomy or misinformed about how things work. For example, my mom lied to me about how babies were made and came out. She told me that when a husband and wife were married, God would put a baby in the mommy's belly. The baby would be taken out by c-section. The mommy would go to the doctor and have him cut the baby out of her stomach. To my mom's credit, I was born that way, so she was not completley lying, just withholding very important information. Later on, I learned that information on the school bus from other kids, and was incredulous! I was sure what my mom had told me was accurate, and I remember arguing with them that they were wrong. It doesn't feel good to know that your parents lied to you. I want to avoid having Maia experience that feeling, yet I don't want to inundate her too much information either. What is a parent to do?

Cosi in Columbus

A couple of weekends ago, Maia and I went to Cosi Science Center in Columbus with some friends. It was an amazing place for kids, and made me lament not living in a larger city where we could have access to places like this any time. Then again, when I think about how much more expensive it is to live in more culturally rich places, I don't mind making the hour-long drive every once in a while!

Ginger Bread House Experiment

A Christmas tradition that I never had as a child was making a ginger-bread house. They seem as integral to an American Christmas as pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving, so we decided to make one this year. I purchased a kit from the store, and quickly turned the project over to Yoshi when it wasn't as easy as it looked. Yoshi and Maia had a blast building and decorating the house. I enjoyed my role as the photographer.

I just realized that yet again, I have failed to take a picture of the completed project. I'm going to blame my short attention span on the "brain-fog" so often associated with pregnancy. Anyway, it's more about the process of making it than the end-result, right?

Thanksgiving Day Pumpkin Pie

We tried making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving this year. It was a lot of fun, though no one in our family really likes it. I guess since we couldn't go to Cleveland for our traditional holiday feast, I wanted to recreate it as closely as I could. The result: A delicious pumpkin pie that we all ate a bit of, and then remembered we were not really pumpkin pie fans! Maybe next year we will make a less tradional dessert that we will enjoy a bit more! Not to mention, making the pie provided plenty of photo opportunities for Maia.

Getting ready to make our pie.

Maia loves helping out in the kitchen. Too bad she can't chop yet!


She has been very efficient at blending/mixing things. Pretty soon, she won't even need my help in the kitchen.

Sorry, no pictures of the finished product! I suppose I could pull what is left out of the fridge and photograph it, but it probably won't look as appetizing a week later!