We're back in Tokyo after two aftershock-free weeks with the in-laws in Osaka. We'd already been thinking of a spring visit, so we ended up just going a bit early and for a little longer than planned. Things settled down in Tokyo while we were gone: food shortages, tremors, radiation levels are better and it turns out my area is not even on the blackout schedule.
I've been dreading flying with Shuma and of course originally planned to go by shinkansen (bullet train), but I've become so scared of earthquakes that the thought of being off the ground and up in the air was highly appealing. So Shuma had his first airplane ride. It went far better than I thought it would- it's true what people say about babies being easy to fly with. I hope that's still true when we fly home to Canada this summer.
Other recent firsts include his first visit to a playground (not impressed), first swim (more interested in drinking the pool water than playing), first vaccination (BCG, which resulted in a few seconds of crying and a very ugly scar), and first case of stranger anxiety (an embarrassingly acute hatred of a friend of Hideaki's). More firsts:
This is Shuma's first art project. OK, I did most of the actual work, but those are his hands that I traced to make the duck's tail. This was at Polar Bear Club, our playgroup.
Here is Shuma's first hickey. A few months ago he started sucking on anything he could find, in this case my arm. OK, it barely shows up in this picture but in real life it was very impressive. Hopefully this will be the last hickey he gives for a long, long time.
The biggest first was last week: his first food, totally by accident. Shuma had been showing interest in food for a while and I wanted to start letting him have little tastes of what I ate. So one day when I was about to eat a banana I noticed it was very firm and decided to let him hold it and see if he'd give it a taste. He grabbed it and shoved it in his mouth all right, but instead of a taste he gave it a chomp. I had no idea his gums were so strong!
He looked as surprised as I did for a few seconds, then he started to gum on it. Just like he knew exactly what to do. He'd have a few chomps, then stop and kind of think about it for a while, then chomp a bit more. It was extremely cute and I was sorry it happened in Osaka where Hideaki couldn't see it. Not sorry enough not to try it again the next day (not as successful- he took too big a bite and spit it out immediately), but still pretty sorry. I guess this is his way of telling me he'd like to try Baby Led Weaning.
Firsts coming up this weekend: first proper on-purpose meal, first hanami. Wish us luck!
He looks so pleased with himself 8-) My niece used to give herself the most impressive hickies on her own arms.
Self hickies! How cute. -Amy
Posted by: Donna | 2011.04.03 at 12:17 AM
I'm no mother but BLW certainly makes common sense to me. Good for Shuma for showing the way; he certainly looks well-pleased with himself.
Glad to hear you're back in Tokyo with Hideaki.
Babs
Thanks Baboo! You'll get to see BLW for yourself soon enough. -Amy
Posted by: Baboo | 2011.04.03 at 02:23 AM
Good for Shuma. Hopefully he gets to travel more on airplanes in the future. My daughter took her first shinkansen trip at about a week old, and her first plane ride at 5 months. You're right, babies are a dream to travel with. By the time she was 2, she'd been back and forth to Japan twice and once to California. Never a problem. She liked planes because it meant Grandma and Grandpa to her.
A week old! That must have shocked the pants off of the Japanese relatives. I'm glad your daughter travels well, hope Shuma is as good! -Amy
Posted by: David | 2011.04.03 at 05:23 AM
Adorable banana story!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 2011.04.03 at 07:53 AM
He's so cute! Thank you for continuing to update your blog even though you're certainly very busy lately as a new mom. I love reading your entries.
Posted by: Victoria | 2011.04.03 at 08:00 AM
I liked the Baby Led learning information you posted, and glad everything is ok
Posted by: Lauren Dunn | 2011.04.03 at 09:11 AM
cool firsts!
Posted by: kat | 2011.04.03 at 10:24 AM
Welcome back!! Shuma has grown a bit. His hair is thinning too. But I'm sure it'll all grow back before his 1st birthday.
Oh, his hair! He looks like a balding old man trying to grow a comb-over. -Amy
Posted by: Ria | 2011.04.03 at 11:33 AM
Shuma is so cute ! So happy to read your blog again and glad to hear your family is well.
Posted by: TK | 2011.04.03 at 06:15 PM
Glad to see you blogging again.
You're in for some fun (and busy) times ahead!
Posted by: Julie | 2011.04.03 at 10:57 PM
A lurker no more. So glad to see you blogging again. Missed your pictures :)
Posted by: Sonia Chong | 2011.04.05 at 12:44 AM
The banana face picture pretty much melted my heart.
Glad to see you back and that everyone is doing well.
Posted by: Dasha | 2011.04.05 at 09:24 AM