A Fish Out of Water

Bear hat

Here's an outfit from back in May, when Shuma was just eight months old and still couldn't really pull off a collared shirt, due to having no neck. But we know of a way to overcome that:

Ears on a hat. Guaranteed to make any baby 25% cuter.

LUCKY!

Here's a sweet little romper featuring a basket full of desserts with happy smiley faces. I guess if you were in possession of such a basket you'd be lucky. Four delicious goodies to eat! And/or four new friends to play with! Or maybe you'd be unlucky, because you'd have to choose between friendship and tasty snacks. How could you possibly eat something with a cute happy face? On the other hand, how could you resist such delicous baked goods?

Oh what a sweet dilemna!

Sleeping bag

Here Shuma models his new Ikea sleeping bag. When I was buying it last week I noticed that his old ones, which he was still using, were only meant for up to six months. Oops.

I do love footed pajamas, but sleeping bags keep him just a little warmer. When it's cold enough he can wear jammies AND a the bag, but until he's old enough not to kick off/get tangled in blankets we're sticking with a regular long-sleeved onsie and a sleeping bag. And of course his trusty mittens, which keep those little razor-sharp nails from messing up his pretty face while he scratches in his sleep.

This is the sleeping bag in use, with Shuma peacefully asleep. Little does he know that he's about to be rudely awakened with a camera in his face. Poor little guy.

Here's a better view of the giraffe on the bottom of the bag (it's a hedgehog up top).

And here is Shuma's morning stretch routine, showing the range of movement possible in the bag.

And I might as well keep showing pictures, because I got some nice ones.

Those teeth! Seven so far, and not a new one in months. Note the chip in his front tooth- no idea how it happened, I just noticed it one day. And ouch- was it ever sharp at first!

That hair!

This is a particularly spectacular example of his morning bedhead.

I know, it looks like he spent hours getting it just right.

I guess he's just naturally perfect.

Stepping in style

And now for a very special episode of Fashion Show, documenting a major milestone in Shuma's development. And he did it in style, wearing brand-new duds sent from his grandma for his birthday.

This was the first time for him to wear long sleeves and long pants since our trip to Canada, so as cool as he looked I was a little sad. I've always hated saying good-bye to summer, but this year was especially hard because most of those summery things we never get around to doing, or never do enough of, are really fun for babies too.

Let's get a closer look at the dinosaur. It's saying "RAAW-WWHHH!", as dinosaurs do. Shuma doesn't know that yet though, so when a playmate's Mom read his shirt to him he looked a little nervous. That's OK, he'll learn about dinosaurs and the sounds they make soon enough. He's going to have to, seeing as how he's going to be a paleontologist when he grows up.

So back to this milestone. We were at the jidoukan (public children's hall) after our weekly playgroup, and he started off by going through his usual repertoire: crawling, walking while pushing (is there an official baby milestone term for that?) and cruising (walking while holding on to stationary objects).

And then he just started walking! Just like that!

I'd actually seen him take a step the day before, but figured it was just a fluke. I assumed that since he was such a late crawler he'd be a late walker too. Actually "hoped" is a better word than "assumed", since people keep telling me how hard things get once babies start walking. Apparently now I'm never going to get to sit down for more than a minute's peace and quiet. Also the chubby thighs are going to melt away (his, I mean, but all the better if mine do too). I quite like my peace and quiet and really like his thigh rolls, so this all makes me a bit sad.

But also, proud. Because look at him! But sad. Because he's growing up way too fast. This all happened a week after his first birthday, and it still feels like he was just born. Hell, I still feel like I'm 23 most of the time. Slow down, life!

Please, just a little. You're making our heads spin!

Circus Jumper

This sweet little romper features circus monkeys and elephants. I have several similar rompers and love them all, and am a bit sad that it is now too cool for them. It's so easy dressing Shuma in a single garment, I hate having to pull two or three pieces onto a squirming baby. Please come back, summer!

Jimbei Romper

Here's a piece that is going in to retirement after being worn all summer. It's a one-piece that has a jimbei (a summery short robe and shorts set for men) thing going on on top but snaps up like a romper on the bottom. A genious design, and I'm sad to see it go.

It's got a froggy and lilypad print, and along with the colour further identify it as a summer design. He has another with a kabutomushi (rhino beetle) and kuwagata (stag beetle) print, which screams "summer" and "boys" even more.

It's perfect for a day at the park, or for playing on the beach.

It works well as a pair look (when two people wear the same outfit).

It's also great for just hanging out.

On Safari

Another oldie from May. I'm glad we got a lot of wear out of this hat and t-shirt (both from Joe Fresh), because they no longer fit. Quit growing so much, kid!

Eye of the Tiger

Here's  little taste of history: a outfit worn way back in May. Let's call it the Eye of the Tiger.

Crazy eye of the tiger, that is.

Look at those crazy eyes! If they ever do a baby version of Nosferitu (not impossible, the only thing Hollywood seems to love more than baby movies is remakes) I think Shuma will be first pick for leading actor.

But enough about my baby's crazy eyes- check out the duds. This is a bigger version of an earlier tiger romper (look how small he is! was Shuma ever really that little?).

Here is the back, with a bamboo branch decorated wishes for Tanabata, the Star Festival. The kanji is 笹 (sasa), which is the particular type of bamboo used; the front of the romper has 虎 (tora, the kanji for tiger) but it can't really be seen in these pictures.

ENJOY MUSIC

 

Today we have a number of poses showing off this romper, which features a dinosaur rock band.

 

ENJOY MUSIC!

GO! GO!

COME TO OUR CONCERT!

Sailor Boy

Here are a couple of rare pictures of Shuma consenting to wear both hat and shoes. I LOVE his sailor hat and would have him wearing it all day, every day if he'd let me.