taking it easy (ier)...

Well, time is flying by! I've happily learned that as long as lil M holds off his/her arrival for another week, Greg should be here to experience it! That being said, mom and I are taking it really easy.... next doctor's appointment is on Saturday.

We've tackled my new sewing machine and are making some adorable burp cloths, sheets and blankets for lil M. The Japanese fabrics are so adorable and unique compared to what we find in the states. I think I see a new business venture in mom's retirement! So much easier than knitting! Though we've only put our knitting on HOLD until we know blue or pink, we promise!

Our landscaping is looking pretty good and we're proud of the changes we've made to the yard. We can't wait to show it off to Greg and dad!

We did manage to have a bento picnic lunch at Saikai Park which is situated above these amazing natural whirlpools that spin about as the tide changes. It was hard to capture in photo, but really cool to watch in person. This park of course boasts many seasonal flowers and we can't wait to return. It also has a fabulous ADULT play park complete with a giant grass slide and ski slope! We avoided THAT fun but are sure that Greg will love to come play sometime.

As you can see, we're protecting our skin with parasols --- very hip and almost mandated here in Japan. They're so cute!

Okawachi-yama and Imari

Today mom and I took an MWR field trip. For those of you non-military folk, MWR stands for Morale, Welfare & Recreation and it is an organization on base that offers lots of things to do in the area. This tour went about an hour from Sasebo to a quaint little pottery town where we saw how pottery was and still is made, did some shopping, had lunch, painted our own pottery (tea cups) and visited a sake mill for sampling and more shopping! It was nice to not have to drive and to have a Japanese tour guide to show us these nooks and crannies that we would have never found ourselves!

Kujukushima

Hello! These pictures are from an AMAZING boat cruise mom and I took around Sasebo's 99 islands. Many of you know that we have a great spattering of islands around our city, which are featured in the opening scene of "The Last Samurai" movie. "Kujukushima" translates into literally "99 islands." We learned that there are actually 208 islands, but the Japanese think that 99 symbolizes "a really big number!"

We had a gorgeous day weatherwise, very clear and 68 degrees. This was lil M's first boat ride!

I really look forward to sharing this experience with visitors, as well as Greg when he returns. They offer sunset cruises and the islands are a very popular place to kayak and scuba dive, too. As long as we find a sitter for lil M, we will INDEED partake in these activities!

I'm 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant today and feeling pretty good. I have occasional contractions, but no real labor signs yet. I had a doctor's appointment today and Dr. Higashijima is happy with my status. He's now predicting an 8 lb baby at birth, but who knows! Still no idea if lil M is boy or girl....

virtual Greg installation...

Hi there from Greg. We got to talk again tonite -- 2 in a row! He's got duty and is confined to the ship. I'm serving as a conduit of some quick info from him... sorry no pictures (maybe I'll look for some more fabulous Greg dancing pix instead!!)


He's in the Philippines now and considers it a pretty miserable place This is likely due to (or at least escalated by) the heat and minimal aircon situation.... However, he's excited to report that he's sailed past Corregidor Island and has sailed in both Manila Bay and Subic Bay. He's been reading up on some famous WW2 happenings that included all of these locations.


Greg's days have been long and filled with MORE exercises, etc. He's launched armored personal carriers (tanks that swim) and raiding crafts (little rubber boats minus yellow duckies). Apparently all is going well with the deck department, which is great news!

Nagagushiyama

What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday in Sasebo... mom and I went to the "azalea mountain" that is located just north of Sasebo which boasts millions of brilliant azaleas AND a stunning view of the 99 Islands of Sasebo.

The weather was beautiful -- 76 degrees and sunny. We BOTH got freckles today!

Apparently azaleas grow wild here and this festival is the main source of economy for the little town where the mountain is located. There is also some fishing and freshwater pearl industry. Of course we couldn't leave without a couple of pearls! And a small azalea bush to plant at home, sure hope it takes...

Green Thumb?

Hi all -- Everything Green here in Sasebo... The Macha Latte (green tea latte) at Starbucks is fabulous! Mom is helping me garden around the house, as well... we have had a ball shopping at a garden market that is temporarily set up between our house and base and are loving the views. We've found similar flowers, herbs and produce to those available in the states. I'm doing a bit of "passive gardening" and I enjoy watching her artwork!

Our weather has been beautiful -- mid-70s by day, mid-50s at night...

I'm feeling well -- am 38 weeks tomorrow. Lil M continues to be active and I'm feeling no signs of labor. I talked to Greg tonight and he's thrilled for that news. Let's hope that it continues... He's currently in upper 90 degree weather and air conditioning that is running at 50% only on the ship. He said he's dreaming of an ice cube bath, poor guy!

Happy Easter!

Hello, all..... wishing you a wonderful Easter Sunday! I am so glad to not be spending it alone or working, as I have the past 4 years of my life.

Mom and I had a good, but exhausting day. We got up for a "sunrise Protestant service" atop Mt. Yumihari, which is located right in the middle of Sasebo. We had a spectacular view of sunrise and of the city and the base. We came home for breakfast and then headed out to Fukuoka (where she flew into last week) to the monthly "shrine sale" at the Hakozaki Shrine. It is an antique/flea market that always proves to have wonderful, unique treasures. The drive is about 2.5 hours each way on narrow mountain roads. This was definitely the last I will drive that far while still being pregnant, as it was sooo hard to get comfortable. The weather was sunny and HOT in my opinion, I saw temp at 77 degrees at one point and despite my SPF 15 moisturizer, I still managed to come home with a face full of freckles!

Today we found some vintage kimono and obi along with a glass fishing buoy (which Greg and I have been collecting since living in the Northern Marianas Islands). We also drooled over some furniture, but stopped at looking as neither our car nor house have room for any additional non-baby furniture! On our way home we stopped at a lovely farmer's market for our weekly veggies and also Finn and Bonny's favorite Japanese treat -- dried fishes.

I've heard from Greg, who is currently "somewhere extremely HOT" and only 25% of the ship's air conditioning is functioning, which does NOT include his stateroom. It's another work day with nothing special or significant for Easter. I did send him with an Easter basket and his favorite Cadbury eggs and Reeses PB eggs... When asked if we need to worry about his ship being overtaken by pirates, he answered: "No worries about the pirates… they only board vessels that might be good prizes… I think this one has enough bad press that they’d probably turn and run before getting caught in a “Ransom of Red Chief” scenario…"

The bottom picture shows the basin where the USS Tortuga is typically docked here in Sasebo.

Mom and I have a busy week planned ahead of us and will likely post some of our adventures here.

Omura Park

WELCOME MOM! She safely arrived on the 7th and we've been keeping busy!

Today mom and I visited Omura, which is located halfway between Nagasaki and Sasebo. The drive was nice and the park we visited was beautiful! We are at the end of the well-known sakura (cherry blossoms), but the park was full of the unique double sakura (shown in variegated colors above) and also hot pink azaleas. They were just stunning! In about a month the Iris gardens will be in full bloom and super pretty.... we're looking forward to coming back for a picnic perhaps, perhaps with lil M in tow!

The weather here in Japan is simply gorgeous --- low 70s by day with a nice breeze (likely since we're so coastal) and low in the 50s. Mom sure likes it since it was SNOWING the day she left Michigan!

We're having a lot of fun here -- getting house ready for lil M and spending time together. She was able to accompany me to my latest doctor's appointment. Everything's looking good. Despite my HUGE looking belly, doc is not worried about baby's size and I have no signs of labor yet. So hopefully Greg will be back in time for the arrival of Lil M! The above picture shows my 36 week + 6 day belly.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and we are celebrating with a sunrise service up on Mt. Yumihari in Sasebo followed by a special breakfast and then some antique shrine shopping in Fukuoka. We hope to have some pictures to share!

congrats Greg!

We just found out that Greg was ranked as #1 SWO on his ship... SWO is Surface Warfare Officer. The Navy works by ranking officers against their peers and even though Greg's only been here 5 months, his hard work has earned him this #1 ranking. This will be helpful in determining future promotions and positions offered to him. We're so proud of you, Greg!

(Greg's gonna kill me for putting this "happy dance" picture in, but I couldn't help it!!)

a whole lot of "one last..."

Greg pointed out that last weekend was our last chance to SLEEP IN together for many years, likely. We also took "one last" dog walk just us and the "kids." And went out to eat in peace "one last" time. And cook breakfast at home in quiet "one last" time..... the above picture is our last jsut us and the kids walk in our neighborhood... Greg, Finn and Bonny are about to pass a beautiful cherry blossom tree.

WOW he's so right. How overwhelming to realize this! Now it'll only get better, right?

Greg's ship has left "one last" time before we expect the arrival of lil M. We're hoping and praying that he'll be able to get back to Sasebo in time for the birth, but we really don't know. This goodbye was indeed the most difficult we've faced thus far (and we've had a lot of goodbyes in our 3.5 year relationship...) Hopefully he'll be close enough to a port that he can fly back, in case the time comes.

My mom has wonderfully volunteered to come and stay with me in the meantime. She's celebrating her retirement after 22 years in her position and now coming to learn the new role of Grandmother. She arrives in 2 days and we're looking forward to her arrival! My dad will join her in about a month to also meet lil M and the two of them plan to do some Asian travels.

Onsen

On Greg's day off last weekend, we decided to visit a local onsen for some rejuvenation! An onsen is a natural hot spring, which are abundant in this area of Japan. I've been before when travelling here with my sister years ago, but this was Greg's first experience. He was leery of going into a public one -- which is how most onsen are set-up (one for men, one for women). So we were able to find a "family" or private one.

Onsen etiquette involves a lot of bathing, followed by soaking. As you can see in the picture, one is expected to first clean with soap and water while sitting on a stool, then soaking in the natural spring water. This process is to be repeated multiple times, likely to allow the body to cool down as the springs are HOT. Being pregnant, I was especially cautious of the time I spent submerged in water, as it was probably 120 degrees F or so... Even soaking my feet felt wonderful, though!

Despite looking out in the open, the onsen was hidden indeed amongst the hillside and we did not feel like our privacy was compromised.

Greg mentioned that after a long, hard week on the ship, this was the perfect was to relax for an afternoon! I think we have a convert... there are several towns in our prefecture that specialize in onsens and offer different scenery and different mineral springs. Not sure we'll be able to make a trip with lil M -- perhaps when Grandma and Grandpa are visiting!

April Fool's Day....

My April Fool's day consisted of a DAYtime party that was actually a surprise baby shower! It was given by my group of "shufu" friends here in Sasebo. Shufu means housewife in Japanese and since none of us are working here, we have all become know as shufu! What a fun surprise -- thanks a bunch Charity, Janet, Lauri, Stacy, Amy, Nicki, Tanya and Sanae!

We had a lovely brunch and played games, opened gifts and did a belly cast of me. It was a ball! When I arrived, everyone was dressed up as pregnant, too.... as you can see in the pix. Most gifts were centered around baby "Engrish" -- the bizarre English that Japanese use on clothing... it doesn't quite make sense, which makes if fabulous... indeed something to collect.

My friends even arranged a conference call with my sister and my parents, so they could join the festivities. It was really great (and nice to talk to my mom on the night of her retirement AND transition to the role of Full-Time Grandma --- congratulations, mom!)