3Y3M 1Y6M ハーイ！ Haaai!

タカラは、他の人の言葉を繰り返すことが上手になってきて、言葉が増えてきた。「マイン！（僕の！）」「モア（何かがほしい時）」「ゴーゴー（行こう！）」「ハロー」「カンパー（乾杯！）」「（いた）だきまーっ（す）」「（た）だいまー」「（開）けて！」「（行っ）ちゃった」「（熱）っい」「（う）んち」・・・・。なぜか頭の音が消えるのがタカラの特徴。「ばっちゃん」や「じっちゃん」とほぼ正確に言える。アラタはおばあちゃんのことを「ばっぽん」って言ってた。

ちょっと前までお気に入りだったタカラ語の「パックンママ」はいつの間にか「ココバーバ」に取って代わられた。これも何かほしい時。いったい何語が語源？？

この間、「なかざとたからくーん！」に手を上げて「ハーイ」と応えるように教えた。すると「おっぱい飲みたい子～？」に、ニコニコと手を上げて「ハーイ！」と早速応用していた。

アラタの時は寝る前に頑張って本を読んであげていたが、タカラにはほとんどやっていなかった。でも、最近本に興味を持ってきて、自分で本を選んできて読んでくれとせがむ。Jasonがアラタに読み聞かせするのが習慣になっているので、タカラもいい影響を受けているのだろう。

タカラのお気に入りは、去年日本のブックスタートでもらった『じゃあじゃあびりびり』。踏み切りの「カンカンカンカン」や「ビリビリビリ」を一緒に言うのが楽しいみたい。『おむすびころりん』の「（おむすびころりん）すっとんとん」の音も気に入っていて、「っとんとーん！」と叫んでいる。

Takara picks up new words every day. His English vocabulary includes, "More", "Mine!", "Go go", "Hello!", "Gone". And Japanese words are "Cheers!", "Open it!", "We are home!", "It's gone", "Hot", "Poo", "Grandma", "Granddad"... He used to say "Pakkun mama" when he wanted something but now he says "Koko baba" instead. It's Takara's own language. We don't know where it's from.

I taught him to say "Haai! (Yes!)" raising his hand when I ask "(Where is) Nakazato Takara kun?" Takara now says, "Haai" with his hand up when I ask "Who wants mummy's breasts?"

I made an effort to read books at bedtime when Arata was at Takara's age. But I haven't done much for Takara. Well, Takara has started to bring a book and ask me to read it. It's a good influence from Arata, I think, because Jason always reads a book or two from library for Arata. Takara likes some of the sounds of the lines and he repeats them with me. He especially likes "Kan kan kan kan", crossing sound, "Biri Biri Biri" tearing paper sound and "(Sut)tonton!", sound of a rice ball dropping down in a hole.

3Y3M 1Y6M まだまだ続くよ Still going on

アラタが一才半の時、卒ボトルができなくて困っていた。ははは、別に困ることはないよ、いつかは止めるんだからって思うけど、それは第一子だったからね。どこかで一才半までにボトルからカップに移行するべきと読んだのだ。（結局2歳になると同時に自分からやめた。）

第一、タカラは卒乳すらしていない。「二人目は早くから混合にして、おっぱいも早めに止める」と宣言していたにも関わらずだ。アラタの時には癖になるからと絶対にやらなかった添乳ももう一年以上。だからタカラがベッドで「ねんね」と言う時は「おっぱいくれ！」って事だ。見事におっぱいと寝付けが関連付いてしまっている。

初々しい新米ママの志は見事に崩れている。教科書通りにやらなくても子供は育つという事を学んだとも言えるが、二人のチビ相手の激務をこなすためになるべく楽な方を選ぶから。まあ、タカラは母乳のおかげで、ナーサリーに通っているにも関わらず、この冬、感染症にはほとんどならなかった。アラタが抗生物質を飲みまくったのとは大違い。

さて、タカラが二本の指先で空いている方の乳首をつまみ回しながらおっぱいを飲むのは相変わらず。一才半ともなると、気が向くと私のシャツを開いて勝手に飲む。それも、立ち飲み、座り飲み、歩き飲み・・・様々な体位。時々私の顔を見上げては微笑むからかわいくて、私が止められないってのもあるかな。今日は月齢10ヶ月のミアの哺乳瓶の乳首をつまみあげていた。普通、哺乳瓶、乳首の先をつまんで持ち上げないだろう。ちょっとやばいね。

When Arata was at Takara's age, I was trying hard to switch to a cup from a bottle, which Arata didn't want. I read somewhere that it's easier to switch to a cup before the child is 1.5 years old and I was trying to follow the tip. Eventually Arata refused bottles just after he turned 2 years old.

When I look back, I was surely a first time mum! I wouldn't worry about these small things now. Partly I've got enough experience to judge things by myself, but also I'm too tired to look after two kids. I tend to choose easy and less stressful options "for myself".

Look at Takara now. He hasn't even stopped taking my breasts. Before Takara was born, I 'declared' to my friends that I will start mix feeding from early stage and will stop breastfeeding after 6 months old.

What a liar! I laugh at myself! Not only this, I started feeding Takara while lying in bed about a year ago and I'm still doing. I was so careful with Arata and I never made it a habit however tired I was, because I knew it will make it more difficult to stop breastfeeding. Well, it's our second child and everything seems to be more relaxing. Never mind. When Takara says, "Nenne (sleep)" in bedroom, it only means "Give me your breasts!"

One thing which may be a benefit from still breastfeeding is that Takara didn't get many infectious diseases in winter even after he started to go to nursery. It's so different from Arata when he started nursery. He kept taking antibiotics!

Anyway, Takara is old enough to come to pull my shirt up and have breasts whenever he feels like. At 1.5 years, in different positions, standing, lying, walking.... While he is having breasts, he keeps pinching and squeezing my other tit with 2 of his fingers. It's his habit now. He often looks up and beams with his mouth full! It's so cute. No wonder I'm not keen to stop it by myself....

But I had a second thought today. When Takara found Mia's bottle, he picked it up by pinching its tit with his 2 fingers! I don't think children pick up and carry a bottle like that....

3Y3M 1Y6M 四月の雪 April snow

こんなタイトルの韓国映画があったけど、今朝起きたら雪が降っていた。金曜日は暖かくてコートも要らなかったのに、いったいどういうこと？バルコニーで雪だるまを作った後、雪合戦。タカラは中腰になって雪だるまにニコニコ「ハロー！」と挨拶。

Korean film with the same title, "April snow", is one of my favourites. Anyway, we had snow this morning. On Friday, I didn't wear long coat for the first time this winter. I'm quite shocked with the sudden changes of climate.... Jason and Aratakara made a snowman. Takara smiled and said, "Hello" to him!

3Y3M 1Y6M ナーサリー Nursery

アラタカラの通うTeddies Nurseriesの創立10周年イベントがあった。アラタとタカラのそれぞれのクラスに行って、彼らがナーサリーでどんな様子か見るいい機会だったが、まあ予想通り。アラタは大人しく遊んでいる。タカラはガキ大将的存在。私が目撃したのは、面白い事を思いついて遊んでいるタカラの所に友達が寄って来ると、その子も巻き込んで、奇声を上げながら大興奮という場面。写真は、庭で風船を飛ばした時。タカラはじっと座っていない。保母さん、タカラを面倒見るのは大変だろうな。私はお金を払っている価値が大あり！

実は月曜日から5日連続で偏頭痛。今日は最悪で会社も早々に退社。イミグランを飲むタイミングを逃したため、夜中過ぎまで吐きまくり…。ナーサリーでも吐き気で辛くて早々と帰宅した。こんなに毎日薬飲んでいいのかなあ。頭痛、どうにかして！

Teddies Nurseries are celebrating their 10 years anniversary and we visited them for the event. It was a good chance to see how Aratakara are doing at nursery. Arata plays quietly with a couple of friends. Takara is like a ring leader. All as we expected. When I went to see Takara, he was giggling and playing interactively with some of his classmates. I took these photos when they released balloons. Takara didn't sit quietly. It must be hard work for carers to look after him. It's worth spending money on nursery, on the other hand, for me!

I've had migraine since Monday. It was worst today and I left work earlier than planned. I kept throwing up till midnight. Of course, I couldn't stay at nursery long as I felt so sick.

3Y3M 1Y6M タカラ1歳半 Takara is one and half years old

タカラは今日で1才半！体重は11.2Kg。同じ年の子供のほぼ平均。でも、これはアラタが2才半の時と同じ体重。やっぱりアラタに追いついちゃうかなあと思ったけれども、アラタも最近少し体重が増えているので、現在12.6Kg。この差は小さいようだけど、このまま行ったとしてもアラタ8才ぐらいまで実は追いつかない。アラタの成長期とかもあるだろうし、大人になるまでは追いつかないんだろうな。

月曜日に久しぶりにWappingへ。圭ちゃんはタカラと3ヶ月しか違わないのに3Kgも軽い。電車の中の写真のタカラの表情は最近のお得意。目を細めて笑う。

Takara is one and a half years old today. He is weighed at 11.2Kg. It's just on average, although Arata was 2.5 years old when he was as heavy as Takara today. Arata is 12.5Kg now. The difference looks small but even if they grow at the same rates, Takara could only catch up with Arata when Arata is about 8 years old. I think Arata must have growth spurts from time to time and Takara will never reach Arata until they have fully grown up.

We went to Wapping on Monday. Kaye is only 3 months younger than Takara but Takara is 3Kg heavier than her. Look at Takara's smile on the train. He likes to do this. He deliberately makes his eyes very narrow and smile!