2Y7M 43W5D ワンガヌイ！ Wanganui!

サマーセットハウスの「フリータイム」という催しに行った。夏休みが始まったばかりの子供向けの音楽、アート、ダンス、工作などが体験できるイベントで入場料無料。重要文化財のように歴史あるお屋敷でこうやって楽しめるのは英国らしい。

中庭の噴水では、子供達が水遊び。（水着を持ってなかったアラタはオムツで！）WAIというニュージーランドのマオリバンドのコンサートもあった。マイナーなグループだが、JasonはCDを持っている程のファンらしい。ポイという、てるてる坊主みたいなボールを使ったダンスには、ワークショップで手作りしたポイを持った子供達も舞台に上がって踊った。

シャイなアラタは舞台にも上がらないし、舞台の前の子供席へも移動しない。でも、歌の中で、マオリ語の「１、２、３・・・」が出てくると、嬉しそうに「タヒ、ルア、トル・・・。」10まで数えられるからね！

舞台から「ニュージーランドから来ている人はいますか？」と聞かれて「イェース！」と大声で答えると、「どこから？」Jasonが「ワンガヌイ！」我が家のニュージーランドのお里はワンガヌイなんだと、少し新鮮でした。

We went to "Free Time" at Somerset House. It's a children's event of art, dance, music, craft making etc, for free of charge. The idea to have such an event in such a venue is very British, I think.

At the fountains children were playing in swimsuits. (Arata was in his nappy.) WAI concert was also on. They are New Zealand band of traditional Maori music. Jason has their CD and he enjoyed the concert most, I think. With one song, children who made their own pois at workshop earlier, went on the stage to dance together.

Shy Arata didn't want to go up on the stage nor move forwards to sit in front of the stage with other children. But when he heard "Tahi, Rua, Toru..." in one of the songs, he looked amused. Of course, he can count up to 10 in Maori now!

The lead singer asked us if anybody is from New Zealand. I yeiled, "Yeeeees!", pointing at Jason. She then asked him where he is from. Jason shouted, "Wanganui!" I then realised his and our 'home' in New Zealand will be always "Wanganui", where Jason grew up, although his mum doesn't live there any more.

2Y7M 43W4D モデル Modeling

子供服の型紙のお店のため、トーマやカレンちゃんと一緒にアラタも写真モデルをした。

『MiliMili』

はゆうこさんのお姉さんのネットビジネスのお店。サイトを見ているだけで、自分でも作りたくなってしまう。日本のお店なので、「ハーフちゃん」のモデルとして登場。今月の表紙とタンクトップの所に、アラタがいるよ～。

Arata, with Thoma and Karen, modeld for Yuko's sister's internet shop

"Milimili".

This sites sells children's clothes patterns. Browising this site makes you feel you want to start clothes making! Her shop is based in Japan and our children are appearing as "Half (mixed race)" models! You can find Arata on the home page and the page of tank top shirt.

2Y6M 43W3D 乳腺炎 Mastitis?

アラタの時も「もどき」はあったけど、こんなに痛くなった事はないのよ・・・。これって乳腺炎かしら。

水曜日の夜、アラタカラ抜きで外出。帰ってくるまでに胸はパンパン。実は、先週末、タカラは熱を出した。夜中に何回も起きておっぱいを上げたので、私の胸は「母乳をたくさん作れ！」という刺激を受けてしまったらしい。そんな時に外出で母乳を溜めたのがいけなかった？あるいは、タカラの熱の原因菌が乳腺に入った？？

夜遊びから帰ってきて、200MLほど搾乳すると、爆発しそうな痛みは収まったけど、ワインのせいか、とにかく全然眠れない。朝起きると38C近い熱。左胸は、乳腺が詰まっているわけでもないのに、痛い。ポンプで空になるまで搾乳して少し落ち着くが、熱が下がらないのでパラセテモを飲んで早くに寝た。

タカラがおっぱいに吸い付こうとする度に、激痛が走る。「キャー」っていう悲鳴を抑えながら、すごい形相で授乳しているから、傍から見たら笑っちゃうだろうなー。

It's the first time my breast became so sore. Is it mastitis?

I went out on Wednesday eve without Aratakara. By the time I came home, my breasts were so full and sore. I expressed nearly 200ml and felt a bit better. But ,was it because of wine? Or pain? I couldn't sleep at all. When I woke up in the morning, I had a temperature of 38C. I expressed my left breast till it became empty. This made me feel a bit better but temperature didn't go down. I took paracetamol and went to bed early.

Takara had a temperature over the weekend and I kept feeding throughout nights. That gave a false signal to my breasts to make 'more milk' and my breasts were anyway quite full this morning. This must have been one of the reasons. Or the bacteria or whatever Takara had for his temperature got into my breasts?

When Takara is latching my breast, it really hurts! I try to suppress my scream when feeding. If you are here to watch it, you can't stop laughing! My face is like a clip of horror movie!

2Y6M 42W5D 歩いた！ First steps!

歩いたよ！タカラは生まれた時から背筋が強くて、腹ばいも寝返りもアラタよりずーっと早くに出来た。歩くのも早かった。今、9ヶ月半だから、同じ時期に歩き出したというJasonの遺伝子ね。

（アラタは11ヶ月で。）

「一歩だけ」は何回かやっていて、座った状態から何もつかまらずに立ち上がれるようにもなっていた。倒れそうになってもしりもちをつく前にまた立ち上がる筋力があるから、スクワットをしているようで、ふらっと後ろに倒れて頭を打つことはまずない。

昨日はアラタはナーサリーだったので、タカラと一緒に3時間も昼寝をした。私は、すっきりした頭で、アラタがいなくて余裕のある午後、やってはいけないことをしてしまった。タカラの手を引いて、「いち、に、いち、に・・・」と歩く練習。二人目ともなると、一日でも動き出すのは遅くていいと思っているから、絶対に「練習」なんてしなかったのに、つい・・・。

コツをつかんだタカラは、一人で歩き出した。初めは2歩ぐらいから始まって、うまくいけば５、６歩まで。おめでとう、タカラ！

Takara started to walk yesterday. He has always had strong back muscles and he started to pull himself up or roll over much earlier than Arata did. Takara is just over 9.5 months now and I've heard that Jason also started to walk around this time. Definitely it's Rumney's gene.

(Arata started to walk at just 11 months.)

Takara started to make 'just' one step about a week ago, and on Thursday stood up directly from the floor without holding on to anything. For some time now, when he is going to fall, he can often manage to get up again from squatting position. His muscles must be really strong.

Arata was at nursery yesrterday and I had a nap with Takara for 3 hous! My head was so clear and Takara and I were enjoying quiet afternoon without Arata. And... I did something I shouldn't have done! I walked with him holding his hands saying, "One, two, one, two..."

Well, for the second child, I hadn't particularly wanted Takara to start to move so early. Everybody knows that they will eventually walk and I wanted to avoid it as long as possible as I didn't want any extra work so soon! So I'd tried not to do 'practices' at all. But I just forgot about it yesterday. It was so nice afternoon without any headaches...

Takara soon took off. He must have gained confidence so quickly. At first, it was only 2 steps. But by the end of the day, he could make 5 or 6 steps without falling. Congratulations, Takara!

2Y6M 42W4D お帰り、ジェームス Welcome home, James!

一ヶ月ほど前、機関車トーマスの一部の木製おもちゃの塗料に鉛が混入していたというニュースがあった。アラタの赤いジェームスが製造番号から対象商品と判明したので、早速リコールセンターに送付。これはビルギットからアラタへの2歳の誕生日プレゼントで、ドイツから我が家にやってきた。

アラタには「ジェームスはホリデーに行ってる」と言ってあった。一昨日、ジェームスはお友達のデニスを連れて帰ってきた。（発売元のＲＣ２はこちらが負担した送料＋梱包料としておまけを配布。）

About a month ago, it became news that the paint used on some of the wooden Thomas toy trains contains lead. We checked our James and found it was one of the trains that needed sending back. We sent it back immediately to the U.K. recall centre. The James was Arata's 2nd birthday present from Birgit, which came all the way from Germany.

We were telling Arata that James went on holiday. On Wednesday, James came back with his friend Dennis. (Dennis was included to cover the postal and packing charges to send James back.)

2Y6M 42W3D やっと11Kg突破 Reached 11kg!

月曜日にチャイルドクリニックで体重測定。アラタは11.25Kg。（前回は裸で量ったので）数値で見るほど劇的に増加したわけではないが1ヶ月で200gは増えただろうか。Growth Spurt(成長期)かな。身長も伸びたようで自転車のペダルに足が届くようになった。タカラは8.62Kg。

今日は

広い庭と池

がある

Worplesdon Placeパブ

でお友達とたくさん遊んだ。アヒルやギースがたくさんいて、アラタが怖がって帰りたがったのと（他の子供達は嬉しそうにしていたのに）、糞がたくさん落ちていたのはちょっと・・・だったけど（タカラが拾って食べてたから）広々としていいパブだった。

On Monday, we went to the child clinic to have Aratakara weighed. Arata was 11.25kg. Considering he was weighed naked last time and not this time, he has still put on about 200g in a month. It's really good. Probably he has reached another growth spurt? He has grown taller and now can reach the pedals on his bike. Takara was 8.62kg.

We went to

Worplesdon Place pub

today with friends.

The pub has a large garden and a pond.

Children were running around without stopping! There were lots of ducks and geese. It's a bit annoying because Takara kept picking up their 'droppings' and put them into his mouth! And as expected, Arata kept screaming when ducks came to near him, saying "I'm scared, let's go home!', while other kids were happy feeding them! Apart from these, it's a very family friendly pub.

2Y6M 42W2D ボケットファームパーク Bocketts Farm Park

Coignチャーチのプレイグループで

Bocketts Farm Park

でピクニック。ファームアニマル（家畜）の動物園＋充実したプレイグラウンドという印象。屋内でも屋外でも楽しめるようにできていて、動物に触ったり。ピッグレースを見たり、ポニーライディングしたり。屋外のプレイグラウンドも、屋内のソフトプレイエリアもあって、乗り物遊びやトランポリンもできる。（みんなが写っているのは「ジャンピングピロー」の上。）

まなちゃんやトーマは手の上にえさをおいて、羊に食べさせたりできるけど、アラタは怖がって、床の上にまいていた。そして、特に動物に興味を示さず、遊具遊びだけに徹底。スコールのような激しい雨が降って、水溜りが出来ると、泥んこになって遊んでいたので、みんな最後は、オムツだけで走り回っていた。ティールームもある。今度は家族で行こう。

We went to

Bocketts Farm Park

with Coign church toddlers group. It's a mixture zoo (of farm animal) and big play ground. It's designed for us to be able to enjoy both indoor and outdoor. We can touch animals, watch pig races, try pony riding etc. There are loads of outdoor play ground equipment including several Trampolines.

Mana or Thoma can let lambs eat pellets from their palms but Arata looked a bit scared. He scattered them on the floor! He didn't take any interest in animals but he was enjoying riding on pedal tractor or playing outside. Children all liked playing on the Jumping Pillow. (See the photo.)

We had a couple of squally shower. They all loved playing in big puddles and getting soaking wet. In the end, they were running around with only nappies on! They have a nice looking tea room as well. We should go there again with daddy next time.

2Y6M 41W5D ロッキーホラーショー Rocky Horror Show

ちびっ子三人組・・・の母親達でWoking、Victoria Theatreのロッキーホラーショー（RHS）へ。

小道具持って仮装して歌って踊って、参加することに意義があるショーだけれども、私は一度も仮装して行った事がない。でも、今回は初めて、「次回はドレスアップするぞ」と思った。

だって、半分以上がすごい格好していたので

（こんな感じ）

、普段着でいる方が恥ずかしかった。ロンドンで見るRHSより盛り上がっていたような気がする。みんな近くに住んでいるから仮装して出て来易い？それとも最終日だったから？

Woking公演の最終回だったので、終演後の挨拶に、脚本を書いた（なんと1973年に！）リチャード・オブレイエンも登場して益々盛りあがった。

劇場まで家から歩いて5分っていうのも近郊都市のいいところ。やっぱりWokingに家を買うか～。

The mothers of these boys went out together to see Rocky Horror Show (RHS) at Victoria Theatre in Woking.

RHS is the show we participate by dressing up, dancing, singing.... I have never dressed up for it before but I really felt I will have to do it next time.

Well, more than half the audience today dressed up.

(Like this!)

I even felt out of place without proper dress code! I'm sure the audience in Woking enjoy the show more than those who are at RHS in London. Is it because we are all local and it's easy to come out in kinky clothes?

It may probably because we went to the very last show in Woking. When the cast came out to thank us at the end of the show, even Richard O'Brien, who is the creator of RHS, appeared on stage!

The theatre is only 5 minutes walk from our flat. Woking has gained another point from me as a good place to settle down!

2Y6M 40W5D 本読み Reading a book

アラタの本読みクリップをJasonがUp!

お出かけ、車のおもちゃで遊ぶ、横になっている赤ちゃんなどの写真で構成されている本。最後のページには鏡がついていて自分の顔を映すようになっている。

アラタが何度も繰り返す「レディトゥゴー（Ready to go）」（この赤ちゃんはお出かけの準備ができたよ）は、アラタの好きなページ。語呂がいいからかな。

最後の鏡がついているページになると、アラタはいつも自分以外にも、「ママ！」「ダディ！」「オリ！」と言いながら鏡を向けて映してくれる。今回は、おまけがあった・・・。

Arata is reading a book by memory.

In this book, each page has a baby photo who is about to go out, playing with a toy, lying down etc. In the last page, there is a mirror to reflect ourselves (children themselves).

Arata likes "ready to go" page. Probably he likes the sound of the words. Every time he reaches the last page, which has a mirror, he not only reflects himself but he turns it to each of us saying, "Mama!", "Daddy!" and "Oli!". This time, he included one extra....

2Y6M 40W4D レスキューレメディ Rescue remedy

しばらく子育てのストレスがすごくて、「切れ」まくっていた。「切れる」＝「アラタにあたる」。アラタをひっぱったり、ものを投げつけそうになったり、責任転嫁したり。

冷静に分析してみたら、ストレスを感じている所にもう一つのストレスがやってくると、プチっと行くというパターン。タカラを昼寝させようとしている最中（なかなか寝ないからストレス）に、アラタが騒いでタカラを起こす（またやり直し！というストレス）など。

ふたつ以上のストレスに対処できないって訳。二人子供がいるってことは、常に二つのストレスじゃない！

ひどかったのは、『寝かせている時に起こされる』でアラタを怒った後、ジュースを飲ませていたら、台所へ立った隙にわざと全部じゅうたんの上にこぼされた時。台所から持ってきた、出来立てのポップコーンを「アラタいいこじゃないから上げない」と言って、「食べたーい！」と泣き叫ぶアラタの目の前で、本当に一つも上げずに平らげた。鬼母・・・。

子供に対する言葉の暴力、今回のような「無視」による暴力、フィジカルな暴力が、どんどんエスカレートするという気持ちがなんとなくわかってしまい、自分が怖くなった。

怒りのコントロール。お母さんもタイムアウトをするのがいいらしい。子供だけではなく、親も「反省」コーナーへ行って心を落ち着かせること。そして、行き過ぎたことをしてしまったら、素直に子供に謝る。

新生児8ヶ月検診の時、お母さんのストレスチェックもする。私のストレスチェックの点数は「中」程度だったが、気になるようなら、カウンセリングをしてもらうことも可能だと言われて一安心。

保健婦さんには、

「レスキューレメディ」

をすすめられた。

（日本語はこの説明がわかり易い？）

70年の伝統があるフラワーレメディ。医療機関でこういものを勧められるのが英国らしい。最近二児の母になったマリエットも使っているというので、早速スプレー状のを買った。

その後、ひどくイライラすることがなくなった。シニカルなJasonは早速ネットでレスキューレメディについて調べたようで、「心理的な効果があるだけだよ。」確かに、怒鳴りそうになった時に、レメディのことを思い出すと、自然に気持ちはタイムアウトする。

I was under enormous stress for a while. I couldn't cope with it well and often snapped. Then I took it out on Arata. In one occasion, I was close to throw a cushion at him. On anther day, I was pulling his arm very hard when he didn't listen to me.

I analyzed my behaviours and found that I can't cope with more than 2 stress at once. I often yield at Arata when I am trying to put Takara into sleep (he doesn't go to sleep easily and it's stressful) and Arata comes to ask me to do something (Takara wakes up and I have to start again, this is another stress). Well, I have 2 children, which means I always have 2 stress!

The worst day came about 2 weeks ago. After telling him off for the same reason above, I gave Arata some apple juice to drink. While I went back to the kitchen to get freshly made pop corn, he spilt his juice on the carpet. He was still unhappy about being told off. I just snapped. I said to Arata, "You are not a good boy and you can't have any pop corn!" Then in front of him, who was crying and screaming to give him some, I really finished a bowl of pop corn without giving him any! I turned into an evil on that day!

I was really scared about my feelings of, sort of, understating some people escalating their verbal, emotional and physical abuse...

When I was checking about anger management, I found a good tip. "We parents also need time-out." And if we go too far, we should apologise to our children.

At 8 months check-up, mothers are also checked our stress level. The result of my check came out to be the 'middle' level. But if I want, NHS will provide us with counsellings. The health visitor suggested me to get some

"Rescue remedy"

. (It's really interesting that NHS recommend alternative medicines like this. It's very British, I thought.) Mariette, who has recently become a mother of two, also uses it so I bought a bottle immediately.

Since then, I have been able to control my emotion. Jason is cynical enough as usual and has checked about Rescue remedy on the net. He said, "There is only psychological effect." Well, it's more than enough. When I feel anger, I just remember to grab the bottle, then naturally I have some time-out.

2Y6M 40W2D 警戒態勢？ Tightened security?

フラットの前から駅へ続く道脇のパーキングは、先週末の連続テロ未遂の影響か、全て使用中止。ここ数日、上空を警察のヘリコプターが出動していることが多いし、ショッピングセンター内では警察官が巡回している。

全国的な警戒態勢強化の一環か、Wokingに疑わしい人物が住んでいるのか、テロ情報でもあるのか、よくわからない。でも、のんびりと買い物している横で、防弾チョッキを着てライフルを持った警官がパトロールしているのを見ると、ちょっと緊張・・・。私達、Wokingの繁華街に住んでいるから。

そういえば、この間、「タカラはJasonに似ていて、アラタはママ似だね」と言われた。どれだけアジア人ぽく見えるかに気をとられて、こういうコメントをする人はあまりいない。Jasonが日本人ならこんな感じだと思うけど。

The parking bay on the road to the station has been suspended. I often see police helicopter hovering over the town centre in the last few days. I've seen more police officers patrolling in the town centre.

I'm not sure if it is a part of the standard tightened security after the terror plots last weekend or police has any intelligence information of possible attacks here or if there is a suspect police is watching lives nearby... But to see police officers in bullet proof vest carrying rifles makes me feel a bit tense, when I just pop out to get some milk.

I was told yesterday that Takara looks like Jason and Arata is like me. Lots of people think the other way round because they tend to look at them how oriental feature they have. If Jason were Japanese, he would look like Takara, I think.

2Y6M 40W1D 工作 Getting messy

ベラ宅でフォトフレーム作り＆絵の具遊び。私は、絵の具とか、のりやはさみを使って一緒に遊ぶのは、後片付けが大変そうでやろうとも思わない。ベラは絵を描くのが趣味と言う事もあるが、なによりも、子供と遊ぶことが私の100倍以上好きなのだ。アナベラとよく工作をして遊ぶと言っていた。

アラタはナーサリーでは絵の具遊びもするので、慣れた様子。子供にはこういう遊びが大切だから、家でやらない分、ナーサリーでやってくれるのは助かる。

絵の具がついたままの手がいやなアラタは、「ママ、あらってー」とうるさい。その手でやたらと周りを触って汚さないのもナーサリー仕込み？アナベラが絵の具が付いたままの手でおもちゃを触っているのを怪訝そうに見て、「アナベラ　おてて　べたべた。」ちょっと神経質かしら。

タカラも手のひらに絵の具を付けて手形アートを作った。そのまま手を口に入れてみていたので、口の中まで緑色だった。

We went to Vera's. Arata and Annabellie did painting, hand painting and photo frame making. I've never played with Arata with paint or scissors or glue because I hate cleaning the mess after that. Vera does painting as her hobby may be one of the reasons. But the main point is that she loves playing with children much much more than I do. 'Lucky' Annabellie seems to have lots of chances to play with mummy with messy and crafty things.

Arata does paintings at nursery and he seemed to know how to do it. This sort of play is very important for children of Arata's age. I think it's one of the advantages of going to nursery that he can have experiences like that, which he wouldn't have if he only stayed at home.

Arata didn't like his hands covered with paint. He insisted I should clean them. In a way, it was good as he didn't touch anything with his messy hands. (Is it also something he's learnt from nursery?) But a bit over sensitive? When he saw Annabellie touching a toy with her hands covered with paint, Arata looked a bit annoyed and said, "Annabellie otete beta beta. (Annabellie's hands are sticky.)"

Takara also tried hand painting, hand impression with paint. As you can expect, he tried to taste his hands and his mouth also got green.