Omiyamairi – お宮参り

I was scouring the internet trying to find a few sites that I could link to for information, but no such luck. It looks like I’m in charge of explaining what we put Noa through.

Here goes.

In Japan, 32/33 days after the baby is born (depending on whether it is a boy or a girl), the child is taken to a shrine where an “ujigami” lives. An ujigami is a god that lives in a shrine and has the role of protecticing babies. (I made that last part up… but I think it’s true.)

So anyways, you dress the baby up in a a little white dress, slap on a baby kimono, and you are set. The child is taken to the shrine where a Priest waves a magic tree branch over him and he is blessed. It’s kind of like a christening without the water and with lots of magic. The shinto priest recites a prayer for the health of your baby and then -poof- it’s done.

Noa slept through most of it. The ceremony was only about 10 minutes long, and followed by family pictures. They were professionaly shot so when they are done I will send them up.

In the meantime, have a look at Noa in his hot baby dress.

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Merry Christmas … from the future

Merry  Christmas!

I have finally figured out how to upload some pictures from here on Tanegashima, so expect some new pictures of us and what we have been up to over here.

Our Christmas is pretty much done over here. We are 14 hours ahead of Toronto remember? Not only that, but we had our Christmas on the Christmas eve as opposed to Christmas day, which made it that much more futurey.

Here are some pictures of our first Christmas on Tanegashima, and Noa’s first Christmas ever.

We have tried to send out Christmas cards this year, but with the baby and the traveling and the baby, it didn’t work as well as we would have liked. Everyone who is visiting the site, family, friends, and the occasional people we don’t know, MERRY CHRISTMAS! emoticon
We miss you tons and will do our best to keep in better touch in the New Year (except for the people who we don’t know. um…. hi?) Please keep visiting the site to find out what we are up to and to keep in touch. Expect some changes in the New Year.

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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. The baby Noa will keep crying until he gets more presents. The baby Noa also wants me to let you know he accepts paypal.

love, David, Kiko, and Noa.

Where does Noa sleep?

Everyone asks where Noa sleeps.

He sleeps on the floor. On a futon. Like a good Japanese boy.

But it is a cute, Miffy futon. Look? See for yourselves where we sleep.

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Look at how cute his bed is!! That and it also costs almost 4 times as much as our bed cost. Crazy Japanese baby futons.

And this is how he sleeps:

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He is very talented. And heres some cute pictures for good measure.

 

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Look how sweet they look. emoticon  I said that because I am sweet.

Noa Extravaganza

Apparently no one cared about my Ipod. (Noa’s ipod?) In fact, everyone cared not enough so that they implied this site should be dedicated to Noa. This site is dedicated to me. and then kiko. and then Noa. In that order. possibly.

This post however… this post is dedicated to Noa. Enjoy.

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Noa’s favourite pose. His only pose?

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He likes his milk.

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He is very attractive.

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See? (My Mom made that blanket!)

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Look at his kick ass shoes. That are bigger than his head! (THANK YOU TORU!!!!) emoticon

 

 

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He also likes doing this.

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He can touch his nose.

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and he can have bad camera days.

That’s all I got. 

Noa is open for business.

It’s official. Noa is open for business.

I was going to rant about how ridiculously busy I am. Busy enough not to be able to finish davidandkiko 4.0, to not start a huge translation due this week, to not write christmas cards (but I did make a nice looking christmas card!), so instead I will give you a short update.

We are off to Tanegashima this Saturday! For the first year in a very long time we will not be spending christmas in Canada, but rather Christmas and New Years on Kiko’s island. I will be updating the website, but I don’t think I will be able to do any big updates.

Recently Noa has had some visitors. Our good friends Ayano-san and Jim have been here to visit (and help bathe!) Noa. Here are some pictures… he’s getting bigger. 

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and Jim… (who helped us film Noa’s bath. Which was exciting….)

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The business that is my life

So everyone says you get really busy when you have a baby… they weren’t joking. Funny thing is, its not just the baby. It seems like a billion things are all happening at once.

  1. A baby. Lots of crying. Lots of staying awake. Lots of throwing up. (its gross.)
  2. JET Program PR Video

This is a little bit more interesting. I have been selected as one of 6 people to be in the JET program introduction video. This video will be sent around Japan and around the world to show people what the JET program is about and to encourage new recruits.

Basically this means that I have a video crew of about 7 people following me wherever I go. Here in Chunan 7 people is more than I get for most of my classes/activities/events. It makes for some exciting times…. When the video is done I will try and get some clips up.

It also doesn’t help that my house is like 5 degrees. emoticonMy computer room doesn’t have a heater so that plays a big role in me not updating the website. I have a ton of pictures/videos (mostly Noa related) to put up… hopefuly I will get it up soon. davidandkiko 4.0 is also being redone after a few problems appeared in the picture album… but it should be good.

Ok, here are some new pictures. I will get off my ass and get some more albums/photos and some videos up soon! We will be ordering our new camera soon, so expect even better pictures in the next few weeks.

Here are some pictures of Noa and I, and Noa and Kiko’s Mom.

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david & kiko & noa update

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Now that I have your attention… emoticon I thought I would give you a little update on how everyone is doing.
First off, as you can imagine, things have been really busy. Kiko came home from the hospital last Wednesday. After a few more days under supervision, Noa was able to come home on Monday. I was at a conference in Tokyo for Mon, Tue, and Wed, but when I got back everyone was settled in at home.
Things have been crazy since then.

Noa’s Schedule
  1. Cry.
  2. Poo.
  3. Cry.
  4. Throw up.
  5. Throw up.
  6. Throw up.
  7. Poo.
  8. Cry.
  9. Sleep. Sort of.
  10. Also important to note that Noa works on Canada time. emoticon

He has also developed a retarded sort of cry that involves him sucking in all the air that he can, and keeping it safe in his stomach until he is ready to use it in his throwing up activities.

As for us, we are both not getting much sleep (Kiko more so than me.)
Worse than that, my monitor broke. Ug. I am currently writing this on the MAC which is the reason for the lack of pictures. I am going to try and pick one up today.
I also had a little video of Noa’s first 12 hours that was going to go up, but unfortunately that will have to wait until I can see what the computer is doing… I know it’s doing something…

I think that’s it for now. Expect a proper album, movies, & more pictures soon. As well as stuff about us.
Thank you again for everyone who has sent cards/gifts/e-mails/support… it has meant a lot.

Noa’s status: pooing.

On my way to Tokyo

Well… unfortunately I have to go to Tokyo for a 3 day conference. It actually sucks a lot, because I won’t be here when Noa gets home from the hospital (which looks like it will be tomorrow! emoticon)

 I will however have a funny story about a Camera that I am being forced to buy … apparently my logic wasn’t good enough, but after Noa was born he was cute enough to warrant a camera. After being told by the people (being you!) that we don’t need one, I had given up. Now I have to start all of my camera purchasing planning again… arg…. woeth me.

At any rate, after Noa is home I should be able to sort out a photo album where you guys can go get your Noa fix (and for those of you who don’t need Noa pictures, I will continue to supply you with my meaningless photos/entries.)

IN THE MEANTIME… here are some very very up-to-date Noa pictures. 10/11 days old and counting. 

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That is all. 

Noa’s First Week – Part #2

Happy 1 week!!! (Don’t worry, this won’t be a regular thing!) emoticon 

As promised… here are some pictures of Noa from his 1st week in Japan (or anywhere!) from Kiko’s cellphone. I will begin with one of our favourite pictures so far…

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Look… he’s sleeping. Because he is cute. And that’s what cute babies do…

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That is all. 

Noa’s First Week – Part #1

Still haven’t had a chance to go home for more than 2 seconds. Work is on hold, house is on hold.. everything is on hold until Noa and Kiko get sorted out! 🙂 So since I have been lax in updating the website, here are some pictures of Noa’s first 4 days that were taken at various times with my cell phone. (Part #2 will be from Kiko’s cell phone… she has some really good ones! emoticon)

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By the way… don’t worry about the tube. He had a little stomach trouble. He actually really likes it… he thinks it’s a soother… crazy babies.