There's really no place like home. :)

Can I just say how awesome it is to be sleeping on a bed again? (^o^)/ Futons are comfortable, but beds are just so much easier to get in and out of. I don't even mind the annoying low water pressure of our shower- just because it's our shower.

We moved back Friday, which was quite an undertaking- needed two cars to bring all the assorted baby stuff we had somehow accumulated while we were there. Akari woke up during the trip and cried for about 40 minutes --she sure hates being trapped in that car seat-- and even now her voice is all weird and hoarse from the extended crying jag. D: But she's been sleeping and eating well, so she doesn't seem bothered by the change. And I'm sooo glad the dog can't wake her up from her naps anymore! It was getting to the point where I was ready to smack him --Akari would finally be sleeping after I rocked and hummed and slooowly and carefully put her down on the futon (which from a standing position is not easy)-- and then the dog would waste all that effort with his demented barking because some random person walked by. Or he could hear a car backing up in the distance (but couldn't even see it!) Closing the door to the bedroom didn't help either, because the door was literally paper thin. Traditional Japanese houses: not so great at keeping out noise.

My MIL has been staying over for the past couple days to lend a hand while we make the transition, but it's been really easy. So comforting to putter around in my own kitchen, using my own dishes and pots and pans again while she watches the baby. Although secretly, I feel a bit of pressure to make nicer meals while she's over, so it will probably be even easier once she's gone so I can slack off on the cooking a bit. hehe

My FIL is also bringing over the rocking chair and stroller today before we all go to base to welcome my husband back from his overseas mission. He hasn't seen Akari for two weeks, and she's grown so much in that time- I know he'll be surprised to see just how much chub she's put on and how much more aware she is now. She passed her 1 month check-up with flying colours, having put on about 50 g/day (average is 20 to 45 g/day) and growing 5.5 cm longer/taller. Her lanugo (the fine hair on her back and shoulders) and newborn jaundice have pretty much disappeared. Seeing the pediatrician put her through all those reflex tests without supporting her head did shock me though! He was just so matter of fact about it too, even though she was protesting her ill treatment the whole time. What the heck are you doing to me, mister? DX *kick and wave arms furiously*

She's been smiling more and more, so we're hoping to get a real social smile soon. And last night she finally broke from her pattern of eating every two hours! She's been like that for the last couple of weeks, which means I have to change her, feed her, get her back to sleep (all of which usually takes about an hour) and then get the remaining hour's sleep before she wakes up and we repeat the whole thing until about 10 am. At least she doesn't try to play or cry much at night- she usually reserves those for before midnight. Oh, and colicky episodes are becoming few and far between, to our relief.

We'll be doing her Omiyamairi (1st visit to a shrine at about 1 month of age) this week, so expect those pictures to be up soon! Until then, here's my favourite picture of her when she is about 3 weeks old: Yo!


I've also put up a pic of her and my mom, who visited for a couple of days in tangent with a visit to HK to see my grandma, who had a heart attack about a few days before Akari was born. Everybody in the family conspired not to tell me because they didn't want me to have any extra stress, so her trip out was a big but nice surprise. You can barely see it, but Akari is wearing her first bling in the picture- a silver bangle. She also got gold jewelry and jade adornments from my mom and grandma that she won't be able to wear until she grows up, throwbacks to that whole Chinese girl dowry thing. My grandma is bouncing back just fine, BTW. We are under orders to fly to HK ASAP, so she can "hold her great-grandchild." :)

Wave to all the nice people, Akari-chan!
Bye bye!