Tag Archives: baby

Ichiro: cards #5, 6, 7 “Oh! the places…” / 26.6

Ichiro: card, #5 “connecting generations” 26.6

Connecting generations, passing batons, bridging continents, looking good

(Ichiro cuddling in a baby blanket made for me in 1970 by my maternal great grandmother.)

Ichiro: card, #6 “branded hat” 26.6

<Branded> #io handmade hat, not available in stores {yet}

Ichiro: card, #7 "Oh! The places you’ll go {Can I come with you? Good!}" 26.6
Ichiro: card, #7 “Oh! The places you’ll go {Can I come with you? Good!}” 26.6

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I (only) get 30 minutes visitation with him per day…

The hospital is doing a wonderful job but of course it’s all very strange…

I hold and kiss and talk for 29 1/2 minutes > Amazed with each little movement and gesture and noise and stretch…

So far, always zonked out when i’m there in the afternoon and seems so very happy and content.

Momma & baby might come home tomorrow? or maybe the next day, regardless, it’s the best 30 minutes ever… I can hardly wait to see him every time and then miss him so I make these little “trading cards” to remember these early days.

His face is constantly changing of course and i’m already getting confused about how many days since arrival (i keep track by which shirt i’m wearing)

Are you collecting a full set? #io

Ichiro: card #2 “endless goodness” / 25.6

Ichiro: card #2 “endless goodness” / 25.6

Ichiro Olson, card #2
“endless goodness” June 25 2020

From here on forward, you are top of the list, the main thing, the high priority – I get to support you, cheer for you, teach you, rescue you, learn from you.

All of it, all the time, everywhere, anywhere.  Let’s open all the doors.

Ichiro: Waiting (with intentions) 23.6

Ryoko, 21.6.2020 at Grandpa Ichiro’s ohaka

 Good morning from a cottage in Japan with an update to say “no update per se“. Thanks for all your sweet notes and good vibes… I’m eating all the snacks and hanging out with our rabbit, scribbling in journal and completely excited…

Ergo:

I want to wear matching outfits with him, I want to write books for him, I want to teach him all about his ancestry, I want to turn him on to all sorts of music and books, I want to be the dad who welcomes him and pals home from school with snacks and hang out space, I want to support him on anything and everything he wants to do, I want to let him be whoever he wants to be, I want to be an example of kindness, empathy, intrepidness, courage, and sweetness. I want to introduce him to so many cultures and ways of life and be an example of respect, tolerance, advocacy and friendship.

I have stacks of maps and globes and art supplies and so many musical instruments and no TV. We have soft places to rest and projects going everywhere from pickles to paintings.

I will (try to) always be present, (almost) always put his needs first and prepare him for a wonderful life with patience & unconditional love.

His mother is magnificent, sunny and happy every day of this journey, full of energy and ideas… Until yesterday working in the garden, making things on the sewing machine, playing piano and singing for him, reading nonconventional texts about taking the best care of him, going slow, staying calm, eating well and… Yesterday we even had a dance in our tiny kitchen. Hooray dopamine.

Btw, Contractions started yesterday late afternoon (JST) so, as we measured the interval time, I made her a classic “japanese standard” dinner before taking her to the hospital… (hearty miso with daikon, brown rice, salted plum, pickled carrots, kimchi, grilled salmon, edamame) / noting: I will be that dad who makes the cutest bento lunches for the kid!

Oh, & I might have to invent my own alternative scouts organization to organize mellow camp outs at the goat farm / “no badges, no saluting, just good times“#WeedScouts

So… Here’s a picture of amazing Ryoko two days ago at paternal grandpa Ichiro’s nearby grave asking for a little bit of support. A bit of a talisman as of course during the pregnancy, we haven’t been out and about but take frequent walks to go clean his grave, light incense and talk about the beauty of it all. Yes, complete life reinvention.

PS As it all goes, maternal grandmother who is 88 and full of laughter goes in for a surgery today… World keeps on spinning spinning spinning.

All the vibes all the vibes #Grateful #Patience

Now I need another coffee and to go hang up the umeboshi in the sun. 

Ichiro: Waiting (with Talking Heads) 22.6

Meanwhile we’re Stilllllll waiting stilllll (patiently and gratefully)waiting for this baby to decide to arrive (4 days “late” i.e. right on time), as such listening to:

PS Anne-Marie: Being late is a Western concept. Time travellers do not adhere to. My light being was over a week past the “silly, slilly, late deadline. Be grounded you have work to do when you are re-united with your family. xxx sleep now

 

Diary: Stroll to Grandpa Ichiro’s ohaka juuust before…

Ryoko gives Grandpa Ichiro’s grave a clean with a wooden ladle

{Catching up with…} evidence of a stroll on June 21st as we were waiting for baby Ichiro to make his appearance (he was “due” on the 18th but whatever) so, as we often have done during the pregnancy – and related timing of erstwhile pandemic – we took a stroll up to grandpa Ichiro’s grave here in Tsuchida neighbourhood in Okayama, Japan.

Lighting some incense at Grandpa Ichiro’s grave

While there, we give it a clean, fresh out the flowers, light some incense and have a conversation with him. In this case, mention if the baby was coming and if he has any pull in the situation, to keep an eye on us.

Thanking about grandpa dying at 49 and waiting here for so long
Ryoko has some words and thoughts for the Grandpa (who she never met)
2 days later, his namesake grandson was born and 10 days later, his widow Tomiko passed away (45 days from then, her ashes will be added to the ohaka)

Turns out, the walk was fortuitous as our wonderful baby came along healthy and happy on the 23rd and share his name with his grandpa (same pronunciation but different kanji characters – more on this another time). 

Probably our last snaphot as a family of just 2

Note: baby Ichiro was born 2 days later and Grandpa Ichiro’s widow Tomiko passed away on July 1st and after 45 days will join him in the ohaka. 

Memo: post updated July 17th from events on June 21st and back-dated.

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