An interesting condition

Something strange has been happening to me lately.

It all started with a mysterious urge to go barefoot, especially in the kitchen. Not so strange, perhaps, as here in Japan it's pretty normal to be barefoot indoors.

A little weirder though, was what I was actually doing in the kitchen: despite never having been much of a baker, here I was taking on a miniature baking project.

But somehow the results just didn't satisfy me, and my tastes grew beyond simple carbs. I began to have inexplicable cravings, especially for unusual combinations.

Oddest of all has been the beer belly I've developed. It's especially strange considering I haven't had a single beer in five months.

I'm not sure what's going on here, but it certainly is making life interesting.

Comments

[RK]

Congratulations!!!!

[Vicky]

Hmmmm. I think that looking at that beer belly, you need to go on a diet. With that much weight to lose, it will probably get worse before it gets better, but I predict that if you keep on with it, in about four months you will have a sudden and dramatic weight loss.

Heeeeee!

[Stasia]

Wonderful news! Congratulations!

[Ben]

Congratulations!!

I thought the "bun in the oven" thing was a reference to something... Then I was right!
Maybe that's just British slang?

[Sharon]

Congratulations! What a creative announcement.

[jumpingoverboard]

congrats!

very cute announcement post :)

[K]

Congratulations!

[Jessica]

Congratulations!

[kaleidescaper]

what a great post! congratulations!!

[Sejal]

:-) lovely way of showing off your belly. congratulations

[Michael]

Congratulations!

I am looking forward to your future posts. I can't wait to hear about the trials and tribulations of feeding and nurturing a baby in Japan!

Hopefully, your future insights may help me to get my kids to have a more adventurous palette.

[Jen]

Wow, congratulations!!!

[Sally]

Congratulations on the beer belly! I hear it only gets bigger even with the lack of beer...

[Violet]

You call that a beer belly? You should see mine! But I have a feeling yours is going to get bigger....

[Laerwen]

おめでとうございます！Congratulations! I'm a longtime lurker of this blog - I love this place, and I am so happy for you! :D

[Hayley]

Yay! Congratulations to both of you!
Are there any Japanese combinations equivalent to pickles and icecream for you to try? :)

[Piegirl]

Yep, I think that bun in the oven gave it away. You're too funny! Congratulations! You're looking great, btw!

[sayuris-exile]

terrific news - and a really fun way of telling it :)
have a great time - i'm new to your blog but i really like it and will pass by more often now ... i'm already excited of all baby-news you share.

[xuan-er]

congrats!
been following your blog for some time cant help but comment on this wonderful news ^_^

[Joshuasmom]

Wow-Congratulations
I am a Canadian ex-pat foodie living in America. I have been following this blog forever (even with the infrequent blog posts of late). Congratulations to you and your hubby!! My hubby and I have a 3 year old and all I can say is, "hold on for the ride of your life!"

[Francoise]

Very cute belly. Congrats!
:-)

[Caroline]

Congratulations!!! A couple of weeks ago, you wrote that there were some big news you didn't want to share at that time and I thought right away 'oh she is pregnant!' :)
Wonderful news and you look great! (of course, being quite the selfish one, I also thought 'I hope she will not stop posting after the birth' :)

[I Need Money Desperately]

Pickles and Ice cream? woah. That's pretty unusual.. :) Congratulations!! I really wish you all the best in your the new journey that you will go through! :)

[Melanie]

Ha! I knew it as soon as I saw the barefeet ;) Congratulations!!! :)

[YSC]

That is so great! I'm sure your baby will be an adventurous and curious eater and traveler. Btw, I'm curious as to whether you are still eating sashimi during your pregnancy. I lived in Japan during my childhood and never heard that raw fish was taboo during pregnancy. It was only till I moved to the US (and had my kids) that I found out that most people consider here consider it a pregnancy no-no (but I still sneaked in the occasional piece - ha!) What have you decided to do?

[kat]

exciting! congratulations!

[Paul]

Now, how many times have I said you are a remarkable writer?... but usually I was talking about food and such. Very gracefully done.

[Sherleen]

Just stumbled upon your blog... have a pair of 20 month old twins and they're taking up Japanese from a native speaker. Love Japanese food and culture although I've never been there. So congrats and trust me, you'll have alot of "fun" in time to come!
http://thebabycove.blogspot.com

[coral-seas]

Congratulations! This truely was the best Christmas pressie you could have had. You look 'blooming'. :-D

[illahee]

congratulations!!

[AC]

Oh Amy, this is so wonderful. I'm very happy for you and your husband. Congratulations!

[Heather Ricco]

Hee! Great post, congratulations to you and your husband!

[Elsie Zhang]

Congratulations!

I discovered your blog last year, and spent a while "stalked" them all

the way to the first one. LOVE !!!

It seems to me you are having a boy !

Let's see...

[Sarah]

Congratulations!!! I've read your blog for a while (and love it) and I am so excited for you!

[geekmom]

My first comment ever, but how could I not pop in to say CONGRATULATIONS!! You're in for a wonderful time.

[Linnea]

Congratulations to you and Hideaki!

[Louana]

Wow!!! Great news!!! Congratulations! Love this post!

[Meaghan]

What an adorable post!
I guessed you might be expecting when you wrote that you had some news but weren't ready to share yet...
Congratulations!!

[Sara]

Congratulations Amy!!!!!! Please keep us posted on your pregnant, and what does a Canadian mom eat in Japan when she is pregnant?? Best,
-Sara

[Milosh]

Congratulations!!!

[Quiana]

Omedeto!!!

I've so enjoyed reading your blog and the memories it brings back from my time in Tokyo.

Thank you so much, and congratulations!

[Janice]

Your post just made my day. Congratulations!

- Janice

[Alan]

Congratulations!

Sound like this has been and will be an interesting year! Can't wait for the new perspective to the posts!

Alan from Makiki

[Donna]

ahaha, I needed to get to the pickles and ice cream before I got it, completely missed the bun in the oven reference. Congratulations!

[lisamzim]

Merry Christmas! Finally the last Christmas present is revealed. Congratulations! You're going to make an awesome Mama! :-)

[Neko]

I have been following your blog (which is excellent visually and content-wise) for a few years and this time, I really wanted to say something. Congratulations!! You look great.

[Jocelyn]

Awesome! Enjoy being pregnant. If you pay just 1/10th of care, attention and love to the baby as you do your writing and photography, you, baby and husband are going to THRIVE!

[lilian]

Congrats Amy and Hideaki!

[M. Matsumoto]

Congratulations! I'll come out of lurking to say "Omedetou Gozaimasu!"

[bee]

wow wow!!!
for a minute I thought since when I missed the good news, then i started to look back all your older post to check which one that you mention about this cutie bun in the oven(without reading your post first because I was like 'what since when when she's pregnant'). hehehe congratulation. I am a big fan of your blog I started to just come in and look at those food pictures when I was pregnant with my son as I love japanese food so much and now I can't get enough. once again congratulation!!

[Shannon Parker]

Congratulations and I love the pictures you used/composed.

I'm all smiles.

[Nina]

Adorable announcement! Congrats! (:

[lil]

I've been reading your blog for a few years now, I'm also pregnant at 6 months. Congratulations!! must be an exciting time! Looking forward to your food adventures with wee one.

[Drh]

Congratulations!!!! You look fabulous.

[A.]

As a long, long time fan of your Japan blog, as soon as I read the title I had a feeling what it was about!!! Congratulations. Everything in its right time. I think it's so beautiful :)

[Wendy]

OMG CONGRATULATIONS AMY!!!!!

[Piggy]

Congratulations! :-)

[TK]

Exciting news! Congratulations!

[chocaddict]

I've been following you on this blog for years now, however this is my first comment.
I just couldn't pass up the fantastic news!
Congratulations to you two (soon three ^_^ awwww)!

[moshi mooch]

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! :)

[Nigromontanus]

congratulations!

[Kaba]

Congratulations!

Love the ice cream pic!

[Sandra Khoo]

Oh my, Congratulations,Ma!!!
So very happy for you! WOO!
Have been an avid follower of your blog for so long. Cheers!

[Cindy]

Congratulations! Also a longtime lurker here.

I kinda guessed that when you said you had a surprise you didn't want to share yet back in the Christmas posts. Can't wait to hear more about your pregnacy and baby!

[Noro]

Congratulations for both of you!

[Andrea]

Congratulations!!!!!! and Thanks for blogging!!!1

[Anna]

ooooooo ! Congratulations !! I've been reading your blog for several years now and have always loved your posts and pics :) Can't wait to see baby pics!

[Locohama]

that's wonderful news...congratulations! and keep baking baby (-; nothing frees the soul like it, and your passenger will thank you
Loco

[Miss Tish]

Wow...wonder what this could be? LOL! Congrats on you new lil bun in the oven! Babies are a blessing and you will be a great mom!

[Trish]

Congratulations! Been reading for years but never spoke much... Your good news actually brightened my night! You and your husband will be wonderful parents. :-)

[Daina Jauntirans]

I've never really commented, but love Japanese food & your blog & and read it often. *Congratulations* on your new addition!! Can't wait to see what Japanese baby food is like.

[QC]

Congrats, I've been reading your blog for a while now, never commented. I almost missed all your clues!!! Anyways, look forward to more of your food posts =)

[Mark Bolton]

Congratulations!

Normally read you in feed form on Google Reader, but a post like this definitely warrants a comment :)

[Valerie]

Congrats Amy and Hideaki!!:)

[Widelawns]

Yay! Congratulations! I love how you announced it with pictures and you look so pretty.