Driving Off Base

This morning I woke up with determination to get off the base.  Living on base is great but the downside is that other than driving on the opposite side of the road...it's like being in America.  Now America is wonderful...but I didn't come to Japan to experience America!  It's way to hot to walk around the Honcho(area right off base) so I decided that we were going to drive to Livin.  It's sorta like an upscale Target with Homes(Home Depot) across the street as well.  I programed the iPhone and we took off for the gate.  We took quite a few detours to get there but made it successfully!  We got there about 30 min. before the store opened but we could visit the grocery store on the first floor, which worked out well so that I could back into a parking spot and not have to worry about getting the van out of the spot when we left.  I picked up kid sized chopsticks in a lunch type container.  They will come in handy when we go out to eat and have to fight Noah to keep the chopsticks!  He did well sitting in a car attached to the shopping cart.  Then up to the store on the second story...by this time Noah was done and was screaming and throwing a fit...even gummy snacks couldn't fix his issues.  He wanted to have the cart with the car but refused to ride in it...he wanted to walk.  And they had baskets for shoppers...well because of our visits to the library Noah knows that you put items in the basket to buy...therefore he was putting all sorts of stuff into his basket.  I was determined though not to leave until I had at least walked around a bit in the store.  I finally carried him around while pushing the cart and we were able to check out some of the store.  We ended in the kid/baby section...which had a lot of neat items.  We picked up small wooden chair for Noah and then a medium sized yellow ball...and Noah was repeating buy, buy, buy!  And then by that time we were both done and had red faces from the lack of AC(energy conservation) in the store.  Out to the car where I bribed him with anything and everything to stop screaming so that I could concentrate on driving us back to the base.  But he wasn't having any of it and we took off for home.  The drive home went great and Noah fell asleep at 10:00 in the morning on the way home!  He decided this morning to wake up before 6:00.  We will have to go back with Zack so he can check it out as well as visit Homes across the street!  We made it there and back safely without breaking any traffic laws...and now I'm feeling quite proud of myself!  I refuse to be one of those wives who hold themselves inside of the gates the entire three years while their husbands are away.  Now I'm not saying that I'd hop on a train to Tokyo with two children by myself...but if I think I can manage then we're going to give it a shot! 

On Our Own!

It's been another busy week for us...but when has there not been a crazy week since arriving.  A part of me is wishing for it to slow down and another part of me is thankful for all the craziness to keep us busy.  Zack was flown out to meet the ship in Thailand on Tuesday(This information was released to the public so I am not breaking OPSEC-Operational Security).  He was home most of the day on Monday doing laundry and packing his bag.  For some reason or another he was only allowed to carry on one sea bag and then his garment carrier. I think it was because they had to take a bunch of people and their bags by bus to Atsugi..an Air Force Base to get on a plane to fly to Thailand.  This means that he still has drawers full of socks, undies, and blue T-shirts.  After the ship returns...we don't have a date...he will then be able to carry on the rest of his things.  I'm not sure on the exact amount but he has enough of everything to last him 3ish or maybe more weeks before having to do laundry...and he keeps it all in his coffin locker(locker under his bed).  This is practical because during deployment he doesn't have a day off to do laundry and it is a must to have extras just in case the ship is called out on an emergency...or something happens and they don't return as planned.  Noah started his usual post dad leaving phase on Wednesday afternoon.  This means that he is extra whiny, clingy, not sleeping as well, easily gets upset, and always asks for dad...along with many other symptoms.  This lasts around 5-7 days before he adjusts.  He has always done this even as a newborn and Zack left on an underway when he was 10 or so weeks old.  Patience and a lot of deep breaths are getting me through it!  Thursday...yesterday I had an OB appointment at 27 weeks.  Baby is doing great.  And I have to start trying to fatten myself up a bit to meet the goal of gaining 28-40lbs...because I started out underweight.  I am going back on Monday to the lab department to do the glucose test along with the usual 28 week blood work.  Today Noah had his 18mth appointment...he hasn't hit a growth spurt yet.  He usually does this a few weeks after the check up...and still weighs 23lbs.  He's weighed this much since before he was year old...he's slimming down and loosing his baby belly.  And today we found our first poisonous centipede waiting for us when we got back from the hospital...it was bound to happen eventually.  The only way to keep them out is to have no doors(because they can slither in under a tight fitting door), no washer or dryer, no drains...etc.  I called the pest control and they can over almost immediately and sprayed again around the house and in the laundry room...and then put sticky pads around inside where Noah couldn't get to them.  I think they are coming in from one of the drain pipes that the washer hose lays inside of....because they only come in on laundry days.  To me...I would think it would be non-laundry days but that isn't the case.  Someone is supposed to come and put a cover over the pipe...but short of that there's nothing else that can be done.  It's one of nature's animals here in Japan.  Noah and I have our evening routine down...he stands on a chair and helps me make supper...he's becoming a master at heating up items in the microwave.  He puts the item in...pushes the 30sec button, waits for the ding, then takes it out and we discuss if it's hot or cold...all on his own.  We then eat supper and clean up.  Then out front to water the plants...we each have our own watering can.  Then out back to put on our shoes...where we walk down to a park to play.  We have playground super close but it's boarded up and in need of repair.  The base is going around and fixing them in all three of the housing locations...we just have to wait our turn.  Noah has a few friends that we see regularly.  And this mommy chewed out a kid on the playground twice yesterday! Also bound to happen eventually :)  Then back home to relax, put away toys, bath, quiet time, and then bed.

Next week I have a bunch of toddler activities planned where we could eventually do something each morning Tuesday-Friday.  Tuesday and Thursday is PT Tots.  We pay a fee each month to go play/socialize/group play with other parents and children.  Other mom's say that it's great!  On Wednesday is story time at the library.  I don't know if it will hold his attention or not but we're going to give it a try.  We visited the library this week and got books for mommy and Noah.  Noah was all about picking up a basket and putting books inside of it to take home.  It was pretty cute...he even looked at the covers before deciding if he wanted to put it in the basket or not!  Friday is Play Morning on the floor above the Library.  It seems to be more of a free play type deal for newbies to the base...it didn't get rave reviews.  But we're going to give it a try.  We also are going to meet up with some friends and run some errands.  I still have a long to do list to accomplish that doesn't seem to get any smaller.  Noah does really well getting out of his carseat the first two or so stops but after that he's done.  And then I'm that mom in the parking lot trying to force a screaming toddler into the carseat and it's just not worth it.  No amount of gummy snacks can get him in there when he's DONE!  I've been wanting to take Noah to the zoo...a few train stops up.  But I don't know if this is pratical to do by myself...we have to walk to the train station and then walk from the station to the zoo.  And it's been HOT so this adventure might have to wait until it cools down.  Noah is to independent to ride in a stroller these days and insists on walking everywhere...and he has to "stop and smell the roses" along the way...brush his hand along the bushes, pick up rocks and stick them in tiny holes to pick up later, gather sticks,...and so by the time we get there I'm melted from the heat and Noah's hair is dripping from all of his hardwork.  I'm working with him on trying to keep him on the sidewalk with me...but apparently the pull to gather, touch, pick up, climb, etc...is just too strong!

I don't have an address or email for Zack yet...but when I do I will pass that along!