Perpetually Exhausted, But Always Worth It

I think it's safe to assume that any couple with younger kids lives in a mixed-up state of elation, exasperation, and exhaustion. Of course, only the exhaustion is perpetual. With both of us working full-time, it can sometimes be hard to get in the activities and outings that make life fun, but we try our best. And when we come home - both kids and parents well worn-out - it's always worth it.

A few weeks back I put a considerable burden on Sumie when I left for a week-long business trip back east. I was worried for her the whole time, but she handled it like a pro. And the kids really stepped up to help, particularly Mimi. She even managed to wake herself up and get dressed every morning (the morning after I got back she, of course, reverted to form).

The kids were so good, Sumie even let them play in the pool in the afternoon.

 Yes, it's not much of a pool, but the kids don't seem to mind.

The kids also took some fashion shots while I was away.

Although I was able to Facetime with the family every night, I really missed them. I think it gets harder when they're this age. Happily, I think they missed me, too. Sumie sent me a picture Mimi had drawn for me. It's of a hotel, and you can see me in the window. It was the best drawing I've ever gotten from my little girl and completely cheered me up though I was 2500 miles away.

I returned just in time for Mimi's preschool graduation. She gave a speech at the ceremony, which she'd spent several weeks memorizing. We were so proud of her.

Naturally, it wouldn't be our life if Sumie didn't immediately have to go on call the day after I got back from my trip. That meant I was on weekend duty. I braved taking both kids out, on my own, for brunch. Amazingly, it worked.

Thank God for restaurants that provide crayons and drawing paper.

The kids took pity on me that Saturday and even Mimi went down for a rare nap. Yes, there were a lot of stuffed animals to clean up, but it was well worth the midday slumber.

The next day we attended a birthday party in SF. The special guest was the San Francisco bubble man. Mimi had a great time until she became so drenched in bubble solution that I had to wipe her down with about 50 wetnaps.

Kuri got into the fun as well. He couldn't really make any bubbles, but being a boy, he was perfectly happy simply swinging a stick around.

The fascination with bubbles persisted when we got home. I'm still not sure how Mimi pulled of this giant bubble in her hand.

Every year our county fair is around the 4th of July, and they set fireworks off every night. On Friday evening we decided we'd spoil ourselves and have a rare night out to eat, followed by fireworks. We went to a local ramen place which was, um, OK, but definitely not Japanese. One sip and we knew. Sumie and I are such snobs. Still, the food was good and the kids had fun.

Mimi even decided to turn her drink into a superhero.

Our viewing location for the fireworks was a local park that overlooks the Marin Civic Center. As Kuri and Sumie waited down at our viewing station below, Mimi and I hiked the hills for a better view. "This is the best adventure ever, Papa!" she exclaimed when we reached the top. I was so excited that she actually enjoyed hiking. We'd revisit the activity soon enough.

On the 4th, Sumie and I were invited to a wedding of a friend from Sumie's medical school. It was a chance for me to bust out one of my suits (one I actually wore at my own wedding).

The wedding was held at a beautiful winery in Sonoma. Without kids (thanks, Grandma!) we could've partied the night away, but instead our whole table got sleepy once the music started pumping. I guess I am getting old (Though, as some of you may know, I'm not exactly a fan of wedding dancing and music. Sumie and I didn't even have a dance floor at ours!).

After the wedding, the normal weekly pace resumed. Getting kids ready in the morning, working through the day, jumping on dinner, and, before you know it, bedtime. It's fun, but we always have our sights set on the weekend. Mimi is still enjoying her gymnastics. Today she nearly reached the top of the knotted rope.

And Kuri, well, he's still quite good at looking cute in his stroller.

To give Mama a bit of a break, Mimi, Kuri, and I came home from gymnastics and I then set to work putting Kuri down for his nap. Once he was out (he went down like a stone, thankfully), I put the childseat in the Porsche, took the top off, and Mimi and I headed out for another hiking adventure. We went to the same spot and marveled at the views of the bay...

...and of the Civic Center and Mount Tam. Mimi's definitely becoming a little hiker.

She's also following a bit in her father's footsteps when it comes to cars.

This was the first time we headed out "fully open" - top off and windows down. She loved it, but was just slightly annoyed that she had to hold on to her hat so tightly.

Not to be outdone, Kuri is also taking an interest in cars, as well as trucks, trains, planes, and basically anything that moves. He loves to point out Mama's car and Papa's cars in the morning before school. And he's also getting good at badge identification. So far he can spot Jaguar, Ferrari, and Fiat. Perhaps he'll end up with an Italian car someday.

These two kids have not been without their trials and tribulations, but with each week it becomes harder and harder to fathom just how lucky Sumie and I are to have them in our life. Watching their personalities come out, and seeing our family evolve with each milestone these kids pass, has been the best experience of my life.

Now if only Kuri could hit that milestone of coming off diapers, we'd be set.

10 Months, 2 Kids, Still Alive (If that's what you call it)

For a child who is not yet 1 year old, 10 months is a long, long time.  So much has changed since last I wrote, and yet, so much still remains the same (only with less sleep and more noise).

This morning represented a bit of a milestone for the wife and I, and so I decided it was time to revive the blog and share.  Chris has always been a good sleeper.  After 3 months, he was sleeping through the night.  This was a blessing, well received.  But, as is always the case with children, it came with a catch.  Kuri (our Japanese nickname for Chris), would sleep through the night as long as we did not enter our bedroom, the location of his crib.  We tried sneaking in for a week, but failed almost every night.  Eventually, we chose sleep and retreated to the guest bedroom.  The master bedroom, complete with full bath and walk-in closet, became the 4 month old's.

Yesterday, all that changed.  Kuri slept the whole night through in his own room and Sumie and I, well, we slept through the night in our own bed for the first time in 6 months.  It was a welcome change.

Since last I posted, Kuri has learned to sit up, clap, crawl, eat anything within reach, and smile, smile, smile.  We're very proud of our little guy.  So too are we amazed with Mimi.  She's still, um, an "individual," be she loves her little brother like no one else.

Every morning, I feed Kuri his bottle as Mama gets dressed.  After he's changed and dressed, we go in to get Big Sister.  Mimi's usually grouchy when I wake her up by myself in the morning, but if I bring Chris, she comes up from her covers with a big smile.

Weekends find me out with the kids quite often.  Between Mama's call schedule, and the need to take the kids out of the house to get it clean, Saturdays or Sundays are spent exploring Marin and Sonoma counties.  A while back we went to the Famer's Market at the Marin Civic Center.  It is awesome.  They even have remarkable organic popsicles which can turn even the cutest girl into the Joker.  Note the personality differences.  Mimi looks mischievous.  Kuri, he's laid back.  That about sums the pair up.

About a month ago I experienced a milestone in easier child transport: being able to use the child seat in a shopping cart.  Thank you, Costco, thank you for providing two.

Mimi's growing up fast, just like her little brother.  She has lots of hobbies.  Every day she draws at least 3-4 pictures for her Mama and Papa.  She also likes mechanical things.  At a children's sale we found a huge box of Capsela, a construction toy I loved as a child.  We built our first car together, which Mimi has been racing around the house for the past several days.  She's learning which capsule has the motor, and which has the gears.  

Mimi's also taken up gymnastics.  Saturday mornings now find Mimi jumping around a gym.  She's not the best tumbler in the group, but she definitely brings the most excitement.  Perhaps it's because her little brother is there to cheer her on.

Mimi also likes going for rides in Papa's new toy.  Oddly, her favorite saying is "Not too fast, Papa!"  I find this odd in that I drive slower than Mama in her VW Jetta.  Kuri's still a bit young for a ride, but I can't wait to take him out.  He loves the feel of the wind on his face, so I think he'll get a real kick out of cruising with the roof off.

Mimi already thinks she can drive.  That's also something that will have to wait.  When I asked her if she wanted me to teach her how to drive Papa's car, she surprised me.  "No," she said, "I'll just have Kuri drive me around."  Hmm, I wonder if she'll feel the same way in 12 years when she has her license.

 As a family, we have less time, but we're having more fun.  Here's a quick shot of playtime on Sunday afternoon.  Kuri's starting to use some of Mimi's old toys (which causes its own unique problems).  I was really proud of this pic.  Partially because I love my family, but mainly because I was able to take it.

 The first six attempts of the pic above ended up like this.  Yes, Mimi is still Mimi.

Very thankful to be sharing my life with these three.  I can't wait to see what the next milestone, for Mimi, Kuri, or even Sumie and me, will be.