Noa: Jesus fall down and bump his head. It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s snoring. bumped his head… (to the tune of, “It’s raining, it’s pouring”)
who knows where she comes up with this stuff? WHO. KNOWS.
the little heretic herself, gettin' fixed up with some "poppin" (lipgloss)
… a few times this last week:
“NO BAFFA! Working. on. my. puter. Baffa don’t touch it. Mommy, get her.”
Eric has let Noa use a few broken electronic in our house recently (please don’t think we are bad parents. It’s expensive to throw non-burnable trash away here… we thought we might at well use them as toys for a while!) and so she really enjoys having her very own “Puter”.
Here’s the photographic evidence of her little office area:
We had an eventful day on Tuesday. The girls and I were in Toke (about 25 minutes from home) to do Moms’ and Kids’ club and we had a wonderful time. At the end, Noa and Mikuni were eating their lunches and playing together while the moms talked and visited a bit. Noa was running and her foot caught on a carpet and she flew… several feet… and hit her face on a low table. Amidst all the blood and tears, it was hard to figure out what had happened, but I soon realized that she had bitten through the skin beneath her bottom lip. She had a good 1.5 cm gash and a ton of blood coming out. 
God really had his hand over us, though. Noa hardley cried after the initial shock, and I really think having her little friend Mikuni there, who immediately started talking to Noa and then drawing pictures for her, was a good distraction for Noa. Also, Mikako was able to call our family doctor and get the number of the hospital that we should go to, and then call that hospital to let them know we were coming. Eric was at school and wasn’t able to go home with Martha (it was nap time and she was a mess from already missing her morning nap) but my friend Rebecca was there picking up her kindergartener so she just took Martha back to her house for her nap. Also, Chizuka – dear, wonderful, such-an-amazing-friend Chizuka – had the day off and was ready and willing to jump in the car and come with me to the hospital to help with translating. All of these little things together helped in a big way to comfort me and bring peace amidst a scary situation.
In hour between when she hit and when we finally got to the doctor, Noa did great. She was chatting up a storm, so excited to see a doctor for her boo-boo, and really excited that “Chi-chan” could come with us. 
We were able to see the doctor almost immediately and she was super sweet with a two-year-old of her own. Thankfully, Noa didn’t need stitches and the doctor thinks it will heal with minimal scarring. I didn’t realize it, but with bite wounds, they rarely stitch because of the risk bacteria. Thinking about it now, it makes a lot of sense, and I am so thankful we didn’t have to go through the stitching. She gave us a prescription for some ointment to keep on it to help with the scarring, and told us to come back in a week so that she can check on the healing. It was one of the better, easier doctor’s visits we’ve had and I am so thankful.
Noa is definitely her normal self. Her lip is still a bit swollen and and actual wound is still a little raw looking, but all in all, I think it is healing well. It doesn’t seem to bother her at all, and she only talks about it if someone asks her. Here she is showing off a 1-day-old boo-boo for “Mimi and Gampa”:
Noa showing off her wound
I am so thankful for God’s protection and care through the whole experience. I know he had his hand in every little part and we praise him for his care.
On to other fun things… Here are some recent photos:
Noa sporting a ponytail (doesn't it make her look so grown-up??) and having dinner with Aunt Hannah, one of her favorite people EVER.
Martha is learning to sit in chair which makes her big sister happy, as that means Noa can now make her do "church" with her
the girls with Uncle Isaac during family devotions one night last week. They sure do love him!
the girls with Chizuka: amazing friend, prayer partner, sweet Auntie, and wonder medical translator
Bath Time! This was particularly special because Martha actually got to stay in the bath for a while. Because she is so wiggly, we usually just put her in, holding her the whole time as we washed and rinsed her and then took her out. We felt bad that she wasn't having fun play time in the bath, and we always tried to not be the one who had to have the tiring job of holding her wiggly little self. So, Eric and I put our heads together and came up with using this old plastic high chair top that was given to us. WOW! This has revolutionized bath time in our house and everyone is excited. Can't you tell?
Late is better than never, right? She’s almost 11 months old, but it seems like so much has happened for her this last month that I didn’t want to wait to post and try to remember 2 months worth of stuff.
And can I just say that it is so strange having a kid that seems to be doing everything so much quicker than Noa did. Noa wasn’t crawling or signing until she was 11 months old, but Martha has been doing both for months… it just goes to show how God makes everyone different with their own strengths and uniqueness. I love seeing the differences up-close in my girls.
Also, Eric and I have talked a lot about how strange it is that Martha is almost the age (11 mos.) that Noa was when we moved to Japan. It is so special to see her doing things that Noa did when she was this age in the same place and with the same people. Martha is also wearing most of the clothes that Noa wore last winter. Some are a bit big, but it is so special to see her in outfits that have such sweet memories for us with Noa, and to be making more with our precious second-born. I feel like I am at a place with both girls where I am always saying, “this is my favorite stage…”. Man, I just love having kids! I know there are hard things and it has certainly changed our lives a lot, but we are at a particularly fun time of having two very interactive, explorative, and fun little girls that fill our days with so much joy. Thank you, THANK YOU, Lord! Truly, they are gifts from YOU!
So, on to an update on Martha…
She continues to be on the move constantly. She crawls normally now, though every once in a while she reverts to the army crawl. She is quick, too! She gives her sister a run for her money in trying to keep up with her. We heat our house one room at a time here, so we keep the doors closed. But, I tell ya, as soon as that girl sees an open door, she makes a break for it. She’s a little explorer for sure. Since right after my 9-month post, she has been pulling up on things to stand, but in the last 2 weeks has been pulling up constantly and cruising a bit. She prefers to try to go higher, though, rather than along things. She is quite the climber. In fact, she made it halfway up the staircase the other day! As soon as I put her in her crib, she pops right up and stands there giggling away with her sister… I wonder if we’ll have a crib climber in her… I hope not! 
Oh yes, and the other day she was pulling up on me, letting go, standing for a few second on her own, and then falling on her bum. She did it over and over and over again. Good thing all that cloth in her diaper gives such good padding!
She has transitioned to nursing only twice a day now, in the mornings after she gets up and at night before bed. This month we pretty much stopped baby food and have transitioned her to our food. She loves spaghetti, any fruit, soybeans, and senbei (Japanese rice crackers). I try to have her eat as much as we can self-feeding from her tray, which has been great for me. However, when we do have food that we need to feed her, we’ve noticed that she is super impatient with whoever is doing it.
Speaking of meal times, that is mostly when she uses her signs. She does more, and accompanies it with verbally saying, “Mmmmma mmmmmma mmmmmmma”. Does that count as her first word? She also signs “all done” regularly. She has signed “drink” (she loves her sippy cup and drinks about a cup and a half of water a day) and “please” a few times but not consistently or without prompting. She claps and waves for “hi” and “bye” and sometimes says, “Haaaaaaaaaa” for “hi”. One of my favorite things that she does is babble all day long. Sometimes on the moniter in their room, I can’t destinguish whose voice is whose because she and Noa just chat it up with each other and giggle like crazy. And my absolute favorite times are when she is really sleepy, or when she just wakes up, she has a ton to say and just whispers it all to me. She has the sweetest little voice, and her intent little eyes while she whispers away totally melts my heart and holds me captive. It’s especially cute when she needs to stop nursing for a second to “tell” me something…. I just LOVE it.
Her sleeping is getting better. She has started to sleep til 7 or 7:30 most mornings, though sometimes wakes up much earlier and needs a paci and some soothing. She’s still taking two naps, the first being about 2 hours and the second about 2.5.
Martha loves to play with Noa, though Noa doesn’t always want her sister to join her. I had been having Noa move the toys she doesn’t want Martha to touch onto the couch to play, but that doesn’t work anymore since Martha can now climb onto the couch. So, both girls are learning to share. Martha loves to play peek-a-boo. She loves to get in the wrestling with Daddy and Noa. And she really loves looking at books. I have also caved (as far as my hold-off-on-television-as-long-as-possible policy) and let her watch some Baby Einsteins with Noa. She really seems to enjoy them (as long as she in confined to her exersaucer) and it is really nice to not have her underfoot if I am rushing around getting dinner ready or something. She has grown out of her crying/needing to be held by only mama stage (for the most part), but still likes to use my legs for pulling up, and that is hard when I am in crunch for time.
Martha was baptized as Covenant child on December 28th. It was a beautiful day of celebrating God’s promises, and exciting for Martha to be baptized along with 4 other children, 2 of them whose parents were also baptized that day. How we pray that one day Martha will call on Christ as her Savior, and we hope for that with anticipation, knowing that God is a God of families and loves to work within families to draw his children to himself. Here are two pictures from that special day:
My brother, Mark, brought over the baptismal gown that I wore as a baby, and that my father and grandfather wore as well. It was special to have her wear it too. And I thought it was beautiful!
As always thanks for reading up on our little girl. We think she’s pretty great and thank God for her precious life. Can’t wait to see what the next 10 months hold!
On Saturday we celebrated the engagement ceremony of our dear friend Ai-chan to Jason Kueh. The whole day was such a joyful experience of God’s love poured out onto his children, especially these two precious people as they prepare to reflect Him in their marriage. We were so thankful to get to be a part of the day, and that we will still be in Japan for their wedding in July.
Engagement ceremonies are ceremonies to announce and celebrate a couple’s intention of marriage. In the Christian church it is a worship service including the couple’s “vows” of intention. Eric and I also had an engagement ceremony when we came to visit Japan together the winter that we were engaged. It was nostalgic and special to be at one again.
I had a great morning with two of my closest friends here, Ai and Chi-chan, at the beauty parlor where she had her hair done and her Kimoni put on (Yes, you have to have it professionally put on, or at least put on by someone who is certified in putting them on. It takes a lot of work!)
Beautiful Ai:
Ai-chan wore a beautiful kimono with the long sleeves that indicate she is an unmarried woman. This was the last time she could wear one like that. She looked absolutely stunning in it.
The soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Jason Kueh:
During the ceremony:
Stating their intentions of marriage:
They sat with Ai’s parents who came down from Nagoya for the ceremony. It was fun because Jason had a few people planning this and her parents ready to come down a few weeks ago without Ai knowing. When he proposed and she said yes at the beginning of this month, everything was well on the way to being ready for this special day.
The food and decorations were wonderful!
Ai’s parents and her older brother who was also able to make it:
Look at this fun couple! I pray that they have many many years of laughter together!
Some of the cutest girls ever: The Yonemoto sisters and their “adopted sister”:
The Tsuka-Yone-moto families
Would you pray with us for these dear friends as they prepare for the awesome adventure of marriage. Jason will head back to seminary in Philly at the end of this month, and they will be apart for almost the rest of their engagement. They plan to live in Japan for a bit after they are married in July and then live in the states while Jason finishes school. After that, I believe they hope and plan to be in Japan. Would you pray that God would use them mightily for his kingdom here, especially as they become one and begin their covenant family.
Jason and Ai~ We love you two and are so thrilled for you! Know that you are in our prayers and we look with anticipation to what the Lord will continue to do in and through you, as individuals and as a couple. May he be glorified and you be blessed! “Gambate” these next months of being apart and preparing for your marriage!
“Head shoulder knees and toes Amen! Our Father in heaven Amen !”
