Another season is over and like last season you got to hang with many of your family members. Your Dutch Oma was here at the beginning of Summer and she was here just this last week, she went back home on the last day of Summer. Uncle Djamo and aunt Yasmin have moved to Kuwait, but you did get to see them this Summer, uncle Djamo even twice. And of course, your Japanese Opa and Oma came over for a long visit in August.
You keep me busy, as you should, so you’re doing your job well. Still that means it has been hard to keep up writing about your developments and adventures on a monthly basis. So I’ve switched to doing this quarterly, by the season. This first one will overlap a bit with the last Babel Monthly, because after all that was part of our Spring with you.
Happy 2nd birthday our little big man! We had a great birthday party. First, we celebrated it in Japan with Oma, Opa, and Akiko on your birthday. We flew back to the UK the next day, and celebrated again with your friends on the 6th of May. On your birthday, we went to the Anpanman museum, and had a Shotani cake. In the Anpanman museum, although we all were tired from all the exciting days in Japan (everyday we did something very fun, and you screamed from joy), we managed to see a dance show on the ground floor, the public area, and saw another show in the museum.
It’s not a party without some fun activities for you and your little friends. For weeks, I searched the internet for ideas for toddler activities that I could give a dinosaur twist. I knew you guys are still too young for anything that would involve patiently waiting turns or winners and losers. The obvious activities for a birthday party, eating cake and unwrapping presents, kept you all entertained for a long while, but you guys enjoyed a lot more dinosaur fun at the party.
Last year, uncle Djamo took a photo of the three of us holding a photo canvas of the three of us in the hospital, moments after you were born. This year, uncle Djamo took another photo of us holding a canvas with that photo we took last year.
Last year, you needed some help blowing out the candle on a cupcake version of your birthday cake. This year, I knew you would be able to blow out the candles. You even tried blowing out Robin’s birthday candles a few months ago. So on your second birthday in Japan, when you were first presented with a cake and candles I was very excited to see you blow out your candles. You were about to blow, but then Opa, wanting to help you, did it for you. I shrieked “no” and insisted the candles be lit again to let you have a go, and you did it! We all clapped and cheered, and so did you.
You turned two when we were in Japan, and we celebrated by going to the Anpanman Museum with Opa, Oma, and your great aunt Akiko. We even got to take a photo with Anpanman himself, so it was a pretty memorable second birthday with your Japanesies. Your first birthday we had a little party, slightly dinosaur themed, at home in the UK and we celebrated with your Dutchies and aunt Yasmin. This year, I also wanted to throw you a birthday party. This time a party for you and your little friends. Continue reading
