2Y3M 30W3D 背筋と握力 Strong back muscle and strong grips

タカラは生まれた時から背中を思いっきり突っ張る事が多かった。背筋が強い赤ちゃん。この1ヶ月の間で、お座りが安定　⇒　座ったまま顔を床につけては元に戻る運動　⇒　座ったまま前の方にあるおもちゃを取ろうとしてひっくり返る　⇒　座った状態からうつぶせになれるようになった。そして握力は強力だ。抱っこすると、髪を引っ張って離さない。毎日何本も抜かれている。アラタの時はそんなことはなかったが、歩行器に乗ったまま、おもちゃ箱のおもちゃを取ろうとすると、歩行器が浮いてしまうから全身の力も強い。

木曜日にJasonママのお友達、Jackieが遊びに来た。Jasonママ同様、子供が英国に住んでいるので、同じ時期にホリデーで来ていて、この間は一緒に一週間スコットランドへ行ってきた。アラタはJasonママの前回の渡英時やニュージーランドへ行った時にも会っているが、覚えてはいないだろう。次に会う時は、記憶になって残っているかな。

Takara has had a strong back muscle since he was born. Even when he was just a new born, he often stretched his back strongly. In the last month, he's developed his muscle gradually as below.

1. He's been able to sit comfortably

2. He's been able to put put his face on the floor from sitting position and pull himself up again

3. He's often fallen trying to reach the toy in front of him

4. He's been able to lie down on his tummy from sitting position

He also has very strong grips. Whenever I hold him, he grabs my hair and never releases it. As a result, he pulls out couple of my hairs every day! In general his body muscle is strong and we might have to put his walker away soon as he is no longer safe in it. He leans over it and may fall.

Jackie, Jason's mum's friend, came to see us. Jackie's 2 children also live in the U.K. and she and Jason's mum are taking holiday at the same time. They has been to Scotland together for a week. Arata met her when we were in NZ and when Jackie and Jason's mum were here in Spring 2005 as well. Of course, he was too small to remember her but probably next time, he will be able to remember her?

2Y3M 29W6D 便秘 Constipation...

ブルーベル

が満開。薄暗い森の底部に敷き詰めたように咲いているブルーベルの、濃青の鈍い光が森の陰の中に浮かび上がって見えた。そんな幻想的な光景に息をのむ。

もう一度あの感動をと思いながら、毎年この短い季節を逃していたが、今年は近所のナショナルトラスト、

ハッチランドパーク(Hatchlands Park)で観賞。私のイメージと、森の薄暗さが違うのか、ブルーベルの色の種類が違うのか（前に見たのはもっと濃かったような）、「幻想的」という程ではなかったけれども、それでも圧倒される。

見事なブルーベルとは対照的に、便秘なのはタカラ。離乳食開始後2週間が過ぎた月曜日、今までの完全液体状から少し硬めになり、火曜日には、「祝」初普通のウンチ！

ところがそれ以来丸4日間便秘。出そうとして苦しそうにしているのに出ない。あれだけ食べるし、おなかが不快なのか、離乳食がおいしいって気づいたのか、おっぱいもあまり飲まない。私の胸はパンパン。便秘に効きそうなマッサージや体操をしてあげて、昨日の夕方やっと開通。寝る前までに2回して、今日は4回も。何日分出たのかしら・・・。タカラにとっては硬いウンチを出すという、新しい経験、試練なのだ。

Bluebell is fully open now. A couple of years ago, I saw a glow of dark blue carpetted on the ground of a dim woodland. It was dazzlingly beautiful. Since then, I've always wanted to see it again. We went to Hatchlands Park this year. My image of bluebell had been more 'secret beauty' and it wasn't like that there. But still amazing.

Contrary to beautiful bluebell, I have to mention about Takara's constipation. On Monday, 2 weeks after he started solid food, his poo started to become no longer liquid. On Tuesday, we celebrated (?) his first solid poo! But since then till Saturday morning, he'd suffered from constipaton. Lots of times, he strains and tries in vain to push it out. He eats a lot. Probably it was so uncomfortable. For a while, he didn't take much breast... I had sore breasts and both of us were so miserable.

We massaged his tummy in in circles in clockwise or we moved his legs in a cycling motion. Yesterday morning, he managed to have one! Then another one later. He's had pooed 4 times today! I wonder how much more he keeps in his tummy. This is another new task Takara should learn...

2Y3M 29W4D 大食い Big eater

久しぶりに Baby Clinic でタカラの体重測定。7.86Kg。1ヶ月で約500g増えた。離乳食は3週間目に突入。まだ一回食だけれども、とにかくよく食べる。アラタの時の3倍ぐらいは食べているんじゃないかな。アラタにはおかゆとか手作りしたのに、全然食べてくれなかった。タカラは日本から大量に買ってきたベビーフードがメインだけれど、もりもり食べる。よく聞く話しだ・・・。

フランスの赤ちゃんは誰でも持っているという、キリンの歯固め、

ソフィー

。アラタがまだ小さい時にゆうこさんに買ってきてもらった。アラタはそれほど執着がなかったが、タカラは、これがないと生きていけない。朝から晩までカミカミしているし、愚図った時に他のおもちゃは全てだめでも、これさえ口に突っ込んでやればハッピーになる。まだ一本も歯が生えてきていないけどね。

Takara weighed 7.86Kg today at baby clinic. He gained 500g in a month. Well, he eats a lot. He started to wean less than 3 weeks ago and he still has one meal a day. But he probably eats 3 times more than Arata did at the same age. I cooked everything from scratch for Arata but he didn't eat much. I mostly use baby food I bought back from Japan to Takara but he eats a lot. I've heard so many similar stories!

Sophie the giraffe.

The teether every single French baby has. Yuko bought one for Arata before. He didn't fancy it that much but Takara loves it! Without Sophie, Takara couldn't survive. When nothing works to calm down Takara, I always put Sophie into his mouth. He stops grizzling immediately! He hasn't got any teeth yet, though.

2Y3M 29W2D おててつないで Holding hands

最近アラタはバギーにのらないで歩くのが好き。そうなると、お友達と手をつないで歩くのが楽しい。この間はまなちゃんと手をつないで歩く歩く。大人の足で10分ちょっとの距離、30分はかかったなあ。道端に何か発見しては寄り道しながらだからね。

まなちゃんが手を離そうとすると、アラタは、「おてて　はなしちゃ　だめ。」日本でお散歩に行く時、おじいちゃんに言われていたセリフだ。

今日はショッピングモールの中でりりちゃんの手を自分からつなぎに行った。りりちゃんも優しいおねえちゃんだから、アラタが大丈夫か気にしながら歩いてくれた。

Arata has started to walk more. If he has a friend, he likes to walk with her/him holding hands. A couple of days ago, he walked holding Mana's hands for such a long distance. It's a little bit more than 10 minutes walk for adults but it took more than half an hour. They kept stopping to observe whatever they found by the road. When Mana tried to leave Arata, he said, "Don't let it go!" This is exactly what he was told when he went for a walk with his granddad when we were in Japan!

Today, Arata went to hold Lili's hand at the shopping mall. She didn't mind and they were holding hands for a while and Arata looked happy.

2Y3M 28W6D トーマスに乗った！ Day out with Thomas

ルーク＆Josieと、

ウオータークレスライン

の

機関車トーマスイベント

へ。Wokingから車で40分程のロプリー（Ropley）駅が拠点。トーマスとディーゼルの競争、トーマスやディーゼルにちょこっと乗車（少し走ってくれる）。車庫には他の仲間の機関車もいて、トップハムハット卿もうろうろしている。私達は、お弁当を持って行ったので、ピクニックエリアでランチをした後、ロプリー・Alton間をDaisy、きちんと調べて蒸気機関車にのるべきだったけど、に乗る。大人13ポンド（約2500円）子供8ポンド（約1500円）。

すばらしい快晴だったのだけれども、暑すぎるのと煙のにおいで私は頭痛になってしまい、偏頭痛に発展して、今日の夕方まで死んでいた。うちの男子3人はとても楽しんだ様子。次回はアラタカラとJasonだけで行ってもらおう。

We went to

Watercress line's


'Day out with Thomas' event

with Josie and Luke. We drove to Ropley station, about 40 minutes drive from Woking. At the station, there were races between Thomas and Diesel and we enjoyed short rides on Thomas. The Fat Controller is wondering around and we could see other Thomas' friends coming and going. We had lunch at the picnic area, I had prepared proper Japanese lunch boxes!, and went on Daisy to Alton station and came back. (Well, we should have gone on to one of the steam engines...)

Weather was beautiful. Too good for me. Because of the heat and smokes from the trains, my headache started. It escalated into migraine and I was suffering until late afternoon today.... My 3 boys seemed to enjoy the event very much. Next time, if weather is as good as yesterday, I will stay at home....

2Y3M 28W3D ジグゾーパズル Jigsaw

アラタがジグゾーパズルにはまっている。他のおもちゃには目もくれず、朝から晩まで。JasonやJasonママが一緒にジグゾーしてあげるってことがなければ、興味を持たなかっただろう。私だけだったら、とてもアラタのジグゾーに付き合って上げようなんて発想はない。まあ、だから、アラタの持っているジグゾーはどれも誰かからのプレゼント。やまやにもらった本型のジグゾーはもう一人で全部できるよ。「これ　どこ」「あ、ここ」「これは　あとで」なーんて独りごと言いながら。

ナーサリーのセトルインセッション。泣いたのは初日だけでもう大丈夫そう。昨日は行く前から、「アラタ　なかない」と言って、ナーサリーに着くと、ママに「バイバーイ。」行くまでの間はうつむきがちで、緊張していたから、アラタなりに頑張っているんだな。

Arata is really hooked on jigsaw. To start with, Jason and Jason mum played with Arata doing jigsaw. I think it helped him to take interest in it and it was lucky for him as I wouldn't have played jigsaw with him. I am not that long tempered! Anyway, he has learnt to do it very quickly and he can now complete a book type jigsaw, 3 pages in total, without any help. He plays talking to himself, "Where is it.... here it is... oh, leave it later..."

Nursery's settle-in sessions. It was only the first day, Arata was so unhappy. Yesterday, before we left home, Arata said, "Arata is not going to cry." When we arrived at nursery he waved to me. Well, on our way, Arata was very quiet and looked a bit nervous, and I reckon he was trying his best to cope with it...

2Y3M 28W1D こうやって Like this

昨日の朝の出来事。寝室にいる私のところにアラタが走ってきて、「こうやって　こぼしちゃった」と一生懸命身振りしながらアラタが言う。何のことかわからない私。アラタの後を付いて行くと、リビングのテーブルの上に置いてあったカップが倒れていて、飲み残しのコーヒーがこぼれていた。「ママが拭くから大丈夫よ」と言うと安心した様子。こうやって報告してくれるのは便利。

アラタは金曜日からまた週一でナーサリーに通う。今日はセトルインセッションが一時間あった。同じ部屋で同じ保母さんたち。でも、予想通り、ナーサリーの入り口まで行くと、「いきたくない」と泣き出してしまった。迎えに行った時、私に気が付くまで少し観察していると、あまり楽しそうにしていない。「我慢」している感じ。そして私を見つけると、顔をくしゃくしゃにして「アラタ　いく～～～」と泣き出した。ちょっと心が痛んだ。

Yesterday morning, Arata came to me and said with lots of gestures, "Like this, I spilt it." I wasn't quite sure what's happening and I followed him to the sitting room. There was a cup lying on the table and some left over coffee was spilt on the table. I said, "Don't worry. Mama will clean it." It's convenient that he can tell me about this sort of incidents.

Arata is going back to nursery on Fridays from this week. After 2 months of absence, he needs a couple of settling-in sessions. He had his first one today. As expected, at the nursery door, he started to cry, "I don't want to go." When I went to pick him up an hour later, he looked a bit unhappy and looked he is suppressing his feelings. As soon as he found me, he started to cry again demanding, "I will go home, I will go home!" I feel a bit guilty...

2Y3M 28W0D アラタもう泣かない "Arata will not cry again"

今日も快晴。Jason、Jasonママ、アラタでウィスリーガーデンへ行った。風邪が長引いている私とタカラはお留守番。

水曜日。アラタは爪切りが大嫌い。泣き喚くアラタをなだめて、押さえて、足の爪をきり終わったところで、一休み。タカラの爪を切る。タカラも爪切りは好きではないけれども、アラタほど騒がない。それを見ていたアラタに、「オリは泣かないよ。」この一言が効いたのかしら。

私の目を見て、一生懸命こう言った。「アラタ　もう　なかない。」そして、手を差し出して、おとなしく爪切りさせてくれた。

金曜日。アラタは歯磨きも嫌いだから、仕上げ磨きは格闘になる。ところが突然、「アラタ　もう　なかない」と言って、じっと私に歯磨きされていた。もうちょっとで泣きそうになるのを頑張っていた。健気な姿に愛おしさを感じる。こうやって子供って成長していくのね。

Jason, Jason's mum and Arata went to Wisley garden. It was a beautiful day. Takara and I were staying at home because Takara's still got a cold.

Arata doesn't like to have his nails cut. I always have to hold him still and carefully cut them as he is trying to get away. On Wednesday, after having cut his toe nails, I gave him a break and I cut Takara's. Takara doesn't like it either but not as bad as Arata. when I finished cutting Takara's nails I said to Arata, "Oli didn't cry." This must have worked on him.

All of sudden, Arata said, "Arata will not cry again", looking into my eyes. Then he held his hands to let me cut his nails.

Arata also hates having his teeth cleaned and we always have to chase and hold him down to have it done. But on Friday, he said, "Arata will not cry again" and let me clean his teeth. It was quite impressive how hard he tried not to cry, which I could really feel. Children grow step by step like this...

2Y3M 27W6D 運河フェスティバル Woking Canal Festival

ハッピーイースター！快晴。Basingstoke　Canal(運河)沿いのバブ、Bridge BarnでWoking Canal Festival。このパブまで、運河沿いを大人の足で20分程だが、アラタは殆んど自分で歩いて行く。パブの敷地内には、ミニコンサート、バウンシーカッスル、出店など、ぎっしり詰まっていて、目の前の運河には細長いカナルボートが何艘も係留。ばったり会ったまなちゃん達とボートライドに参加。30分弱の間、アラタは意外とおとなしくボートの旅を楽しんでいた。（写真はボートの中から。）

Happy Easter! Clear sky. We went to Woking Canal Festival at Bridge Barn pub by Basingstoke Canal. It takes about 20 minutes for adults to get there by foot, along side the canal. Arata nearly walked down all. At the compound of the pub, there were a bouncy castle, stalls, live music and more. About 20 canal boats were moored at the canal in front. We joined a boat ride with Mana, Mayumi and Hugo, who we just ran into. Arata seemed to take interest in it and sat quietly with Mana and Nana.

2Y3M 27W4D イースターホリデー Easter holiday

グッドフライデー。先週の土曜日、Jasonママがニュージーランドから到着。だから今年のホットクロスバンはJママ作。

（去年はJason作。）

半分に切ったホットクロスバンにバターを塗って、チョコレートコーティングしたマシュマロのイースターエッグをはさんで食べる。

午後はみんなでTescoにお買い物。初めてショッピングカートにアラタカラ2人で乗った。・・・のは最初だけで、アラタはママと手をつないで一緒にお買い物。いたずらもするから大変だけど、買うものをカートに入れたり、レジでカートから出したり、お手伝いもたくさんできます。

Good Friday. Jason's mum arrived from New Zealand last Saturday and this year's hot cross buns are her hand made.

(It was Jason last year.)

We went to Tesco this afternoon. Aratakara got on a cart together for the first time! Well, Arata came out soon after and he was mischievous as usual. But he helped us a lot as well. He put stuff we picked up into the cart and at the casher, he helped us to take them out.

2Y3M 27W3D 「自分でお風呂入った」 I had a bath by myself!

今日は理想的な暖かさ。ルークとプレイグラウンドへ行った。おとなしいルークと一緒だとつい、アラタの「猿度」が目立つ。この写真は、アラタが「ふね」と呼ぶ、回る乗り物。動き出すと、両手を上げるアラタ。この後、シーソーでぎったん、ばったんしている最中に手離しした時には思わず「落ちるよ！」って叫んだ私。（意外と落ちない。）そして滑り台を滑る前に必ずこうやってぶら下がってみる。いやー、ママは寿命が縮まるよ。

そして今日はアラタは一人でお風呂に入った。「おふろ　はいらない」と譲らなかったのだけれども、「一人で入ってみる？」と聞いて興味を示した瞬間に速攻でお湯を張ったバスタブに入れてしまった。怖がる様子もなかったので、私が外から体と髪を洗って上げた。

Jasonが帰ってくると走って迎えに行って、「あらた　じぶんで　おふろ　はいった」「あらた　目　つぶった（髪の毛を洗って流す時に）」と嬉しそうに報告したようだ。一人で入ってくれると楽だわ～。

It was a beautiful day and we went to a play ground with Luke. As Luke is a quiet type, Arata looks very 'monkey' when he is with Luke. Today was no exception. When Arata and Luke were on the 'boat', Arata called this round shaped ride as a 'boat', and it started to move, Arata raised his hands. When Arata and Luke were on a see-saw, Arata again stopped holding onto it and put his hands up. I shouted, "You will fall!!" (But he didn't. He was actually quite good.) And each time he slid down the slide, he hung onto the bar above and swung himself first... I am going to have a heart attack!

He had a bath by himself today. He insisted he didn't want to have a bath but when I suggested he should try on his own, he showed a interest. I quickly undressed him and put him into the bath. He looked happy and I washed him from outside.

When Jason came home, Arata ran to the entrance to meet him, and said, "Arata had a bath by myself. I closed my eyes (when mummy washed my hair.)!"

2Y3M 27W2D 替え歌 Making up songs

アラタ。朝食を食べながら、お皿についている星の絵を見て『きらきら星』を歌いだした。「トゥインクル　トゥインクル…」

「レイル　スターーー」

アラタは、爆笑した私を見てケラケラ笑い出した。レイルスターは、アラタが好きな新幹線で、日本にいた時、おもちゃ屋でおじいちゃんの目の前で「言えて」買ってもらっちゃったってやつ。アラタは最近よく歌を歌っているし、替え歌も得意。なによりも、みんなを笑わせるのが好き。

Arata started to sing 'Twinkle twinkle little star' when he found a star on his bowl while eating his breakfast cereal. "Twinkle twinkle...." Then he went "Rail Staaaaar!"

He made up a song using the name of his favourite Shinkansen, "Rail Star".

I burst out laughing. Arata giggled. He sings songs a lot and often makes up them. Above all, he loves to make others laugh!

2Y3M 27W0D 離乳食開始 Start weaning

今日でタカラは6ヶ月。離乳食は先週の金曜日、26W4Dで開始した。だいぶ前から食べたそうにしていたが、イギリスに戻ってからにするつもりだったので、

アラタの時よりも3週間遅い。（アラタはそれでも既に歯が2本生えていたようだ。タカラはまだ0本。）

手作りしても喜んで食べてくれないのは経験済みだから、（というのは言い訳で、いきなり手抜きで悪いけど、）日本で買ってきた粉末状のおもゆをお湯で溶かしたものを上げている。

記念すべき離乳食開始なのに、アラタの時のように、初めてミルク以外を口にしている姿に感激している余裕はない。タカラは困惑する様子もなく、どちらかというと興奮気味。困ったことに、「早く次よこせ」って感じで、自分でスプーンをつかんで口に入れちゃう。もっと落ち着かないのは、「アラタも　たべるー」と、おわんとスプーンを本気で略奪しにくるアラタ。2回目からはアラタの分も作ってあげている。

Takara is 6 months today. He started weaning last Friday at 26W4D. He had long wanted to taste food but I didn't want to start when we were still in Japan.

As a result, his start was 3 weeks later than Arata's. (Nevertheless, Arata had already had 2 teeth. Takara has none at the moment.)

From my previous experience, it's not worth preparing food from scratch. I've given Takara Japanese baby rice, powder type to mix with hot water.

Starting weaning is another mile stone and it could have been a 'memorable' day of Takara. But I didn't have time to appreciate the moment by watching him feeding for the first time in his life. Takara didn't look confused at all. He was rather excited. He grabbed the feeding spoon from my hand and fed himself from the day one! To make the situation worse, Arata seriously fought for Takara's baby rice. Of course, I've also prepared a bowl for Arata since the 2nd day...