D Day is here

Its the 27th today but baby Apple Juice as C has endeared her still has not made her debut. Riekos mum came over on wednesday and is camped out in the spare bedroom with enough luggage to last her a year and so much food I can hardly shut the fridge door. Had very bad belly ache but cured the benpi after countless trips to the loo so reckon its probably going to be tomorrow as its a full moon too!!! Whatever, just want this over with now Fed up of waiting. Monster being tantrum like knows the baby is coming and reverted to siting in the babies vibrating chair asking for a dummy!!! Also having fun trying to communicate with Obachan as best she can in Japanese!! She had a good pose in her frilly pink dress the other day ( only frilly and pretty pretty cuts it these days) forget trying to get her into jeans and Tshirts.. She does at least attempt to dress herself though which is some progress at 2 and half. Plus I don't have any potty training nightmares thank god that happened at 16 months record speed I am thankful for. She is talking like an old lady, comes out with some very funny things. Had school report for which she got all top marks for verbal communication which was not a surprise. She is apparently quiet good at logic and reasoning too but we are talking about a 2 year old so as long as she is learning some manners I am happy as she is a bit wild and THE most stubborn child I know Exhausting! Anyway off to check I have everything in the hospital bag. Really hoping for a quick and not too hideous labor. ARRRRRGH

Warm and Sunny May

Ok 10 minutes before monster waks up so highlights highlights!!! Only weeks or maybe days away now from loosing Orca status and having 2 kids.. April was terrible rainy and cold but May so far has been sunny all the way. Golden week I begged cliff to take us to Thailand and the flights were looking good as the unrest kept people away, but my belly was not looking safe so cliff said no boo hoo!! So we ended up going to Nagano Ken to see homestay family and all the Olympic Volunteers from when i worked as a CIR in Nagano prefecture during the 1998 Olympics. Its been 12 years and they all looked pretty much the same. We ended up in a lovely soba noodle restaurant which I might add was only 1000JPY for a massive fresh portion with a huge plate of Tempura whereas in Azabu its 1800JPY for rubbish!!! Aunty Rieko came with us thank God so had extra pair of hands to tame the monster who without a nap is hyper nigtmare and there was no place for naps on our 2 day adventure. After lovely lunch we went to Homestay mums mothers house which is something out of a Samurai castle warrior movie massive in the countryside with orchard but she is 90 almost and living there alone and its just too much for her. She was sooo happy to have company charlize ran the tatami matt rooms and corridors and banged on the piano and then finally stopped energiser bunny mode when we went to the orchard and she climbed into pushchair. We took a later shink to Karuizawa picked up hire care and had a hard time figuring which of the HUGE and many Prince hotel cottages we were staying in. Finally found it, checked in and then headed for dinner and an onsen. C was soooo tired but went in the onsen with cliff and went crazy swimming In the rotenburo she has very thick skin so tolerates 42 degrees no probs! I was just relived to get to relax without her! At 9 we got back and she was out for the count. Next day we had an early Japanese breakfast and at the hotel and then headed up to Onioshidashi the volcanic hiking trails at bottom of Mt Asama ( bear in mind I am waddling at a few weeks before D day!. C was tired and grumpy but picked up after ramen and a poo!!! So we looked for the farm and then trecked to a lovely waterfall before doing the Karuizawa ginza street full of tat and ice creams before a sniff around the American outlet mall at the station before shink back to Tokyo. Next day I started to have contractions and needed to stay in bed the whole day!!! Just over did it tad!! Cliff took c to Karate workshop on tuesday led by a very scary looking black belt hulk. Instead of punching the guard she hugged it and would have gone dressed in her tutu if possible. Spoke to Karl and dad and they have actually booked flights to come out ( wow!). Dad arrives 1st June for 1 month and Karl 12th June for 10 days. Today just got back from a fire station trip with the school and c and thinking should I do that hill again in search of an ice cream this afternoon. Hum? Anyway over and out until maybe after baby arrives or maybe not we shall see.