Squashed Tomatoes and Stew

One year old! What a big boy!

We had a really nice day - a lunch party to celebrate, eat and open presents. Chiyo made a spectacular meal. Alex's Japanese was tested in the morning when he went to the cake shop and realised that the order was for a day later! A mixture of elementary phrases, Jazz Dance and crying got the message across and everything worked out fine.

Hiro would like to say a very big and heartfelt "GAS" to everyone (see the Oarai post). Thankyou also from Mum and Dad to everyone for your cards and presents. We really appreciate it.

Hiro is now tired but happily sitting down, eating some Lego. Bon appetit!

A Year in Cell Phone Pictures

Pretty much every day this year, Chiyo has mailed me a photo from her phone so I could see Hiro while I was at work. Here are afew of them. My new family is the reason why I rush home every day...

Finding Hiro

Today, we went up to Oarai Aquarium in Ibaraki Prefecture. We started with a dolphin show and then spent a happy couple of hours walking around looking at all the fish, sharks and other weird and wonderful marine life they have there.
Not sure if Hiro really understood much, but he liked the colours and the exciting atmosphere - there were lots of fish and kids to whoop at.
On the drive home, Chiyo and I were talking about petrol and how Americans say 'gas'. We must have repeated ourselves a bit because during a pause, we heard a small voice say "GAS" and then laugh. Clever boy!! We only got him to say it again another ten million times before we got home. Shame he has no idea what he is saying. But then, who does?

Sleepy Boy. Night night. You'll be 1 soon...

GAS!!!!!!!!!

"Within a year, a walker"

Well, he did it! Hiro has learned to walk!! He now spends every waking minute charging up and down the length of the apartment with a BIG grin on his features. He walks everywhere. Crawling is not an option. It's so last month, m'dear.
Last night he spent an hour before bed just belting up and down in straight lines and circles. He has even managed to choreograph a rather balletic mid-stride turn to evade parental capture when it is time to go to bed and give Mummy and Daddy a break.

Duel of the Fat(ti)es

Thankyou, Jake

I am always happy when Hiro and I can share something we both like.
Recently I have found that the voice of one of my newfound musical heroes, the late, great Jake Thackray has an astonishingly calming influence on Hiro. His deep voice helps to send him off to sleep when all else fails. I even try and effect an approximation of his voice when the CD player is out of reach and I am trying to rock him to sleep.

Enjoy this clip. Jake is a genius.