This is going to be a long post. I apologize for that now! This last week was a busy, trying week for us and I didn't have time to post anything but I did have time to take pictures. The babies are growing like weeds! They are able to sit up in their bouncers now and can sit up a little bit better on the couch. I'm working hard right now on getting them to roll over and they are both laughing up a storm! I love it! We are getting closer and closer to Grant coming home too so the excitement is growing in our house!
Ben hanging out with the babies before school. Yes Ben wore that outfit to school. Ben has really matured in the last few months. He has been very sweet to the babies and tries to help me out. He often asks to hold them and is always trying to make them smile. I know this won't last for long but I'm enjoying it. Everyone was looking in this pic!
Smile!
My neighbor Jane let me borrow her blue bumbo seat so now both babies have a place to sit. The seat Piper is in isn't as molded as the blue bumbo and Piper has more core strength so she gets the green one and Nate the blue one. They can only handle them for so long but it's nice to see them sitting upright.
The babies had their four month appointment this last week. During the appointment the Dr. noticed Nate's misshapen head. I had noticed it awhile back but I just figured it had to do with how I laid him down at night and that he would grow out of it. Piper's head is flat on the back and I just figured it was normal for Nate's to be flat on the side. Well the Dr. was concerned enough to put a consult in with a local craniofacial specialist. This could be a sign of early fusion of one of the sutures in his head i.e. his skull is already starting to grow together and it shouldn't. He has a few of the signs such as the misshapen head, his ears are not aligned and his left eye socket sticks out farther than his right. On Thursday we go to the local Japanese hospital to see a specialist. Please say a little prayer for Nate that this is not the case and we will be able to correct this with therapy not surgery.
This is my early Christmas present - thank you Grant!!! The USO was having a bazaar on base and a local jewelry company was there. This is what I walked out with! It is very pretty and for some reason it was calling my name. Talk about retail therapy!
On Friday night the football games of MWR on base started. Our neighbor Michaela and her sister Lindsay are cheerleaders (Lindsay is actually the coach) and their brother Caleb plays football. We went down to watch a little bit of the game and Ben decided he was going to cheerlead. Maybe he has a future in cheerleading? (He's up front helping lead the cheer.)
On Saturday we headed out to Nodake Park. We had stopped at the park on our way to Omura Dream Farm during our field trip through Ben's school. Jane and I thought it was so nice we decided to make the one hour trek back on Saturday. It is beautiful there! They have a lake with cabins and paddle boats and a walking path that goes all the way around the lake. Plus they have a really cool playground. There were Japanese maple trees all around changing colors and evergreen trees dropping pine cones.
This man was very nice and helped Ben on the zipline. The babies were both crying and his wife was helping me console them. It is so interesting here. Noone has a problem coming up and touching the babies and even picking them up. For some reason it doesn't bother me. I guess I need all of the help I can get, especially since my son has a deformed head from too much laying down in one position!
A common scene - both babies crying. This attracts the Japanese even more.
We headed down this walking path and stopped for a picnic in the shade by the lake. That is Jane up ahead.
The walking bridge across the lake. I was scared s***less on this thing! I do not like heights and the sides were open enough for Ben to fit through them. Because he is a wild man I was so worried he would run off and fall right through the side. Luckily we made it across without any accidents (by accidents I mean noone fell off and I didn't do anything in my pants from fear!)
Paddle boats you can rent.
The little rental shop/coffee shop in the middle of the woods.
After we left the park we stopped for ice cream at Omura Dream Farm. They were having a big event there and I think part of it was these scarecrows. Very interesting...
Am I back in Hawaii????
Fish on a stick.
The kids eating ice cream. Yummy! Ben chose a rose flavor (of course because it was pink and his favorite color is pink.) I got one with apple chunks in it, Jane got sesame seed, and the girls got a purple one which Jane thought was sweet potato. Right now is sweet potato season and they are everywhere and in everything!
On our way home - Hotel XYZ - 1050 yen (about $11.50) an hour. You can guess what this hotel is used for...
There are a lot of these around here and I think the rest of Japan.
This is hard to see but the sign says Cut & Purm. I think I may go there for my next haircut... Well maybe not.
Trying to get the babies to roll over. Nate is definitely more motivated than Piper.
