Airi (愛理) CJ Fox

Avram's lullaby for me.

As I already told you, it sounds interesting to listen to "Hush, little baby" for me because the father buys too many things for his baby. I wonder if the baby believes her father when he tells her it was just a lullaby when she becomes a teenager.

I like the song which Avram made for my staying at the hospital. You can sing it with same music as "Hush, little baby."

Hush, if you can't eat Korean food, I'm gonna buy you a rice ball.
If that has some kimchee smell inside, I'm gonna try to take it out.
If you can't drink Tenjang-chigae, I'm gonna take the smell away... .

I hope he'll sing for me when I'm in labor.
It could help me to forget the pain.

I liked Korean food. I still like some very much, but I sometimes can't eat, even smell it after the morning sickness. Hopefully I can eat it again after the delivery.

Don't make me laugh

Many Japanese people think it should be romantic to marry to an American man because we learn many things about the U.S. by movies. People imagine the lives of American romance movies. For example, a boyfriend or husband calls their girlfriend or wife "honey," and she calls him "darling." In weekends, the man brings breakfast to their bed and feeds her. People think the life should be very sweet. But when you live with your partner, you don't have to call them "honey" or "darling" if you're always close to each other in your place.

In our case, we usually don't have to call our names because we're always together. We just talk. Avram says it sounds like I'm upset with him when I sometimes call his name. It happens to me, too.

The other day, Avram heard the sound of fart.(I'm sorry I always write about this, but this often happens around us though I don't know why.) I didn't! He didn't! Then I don't know who did. It could be Mameko. Anyway Avram thought it was me and asked me if I did it. I said no. He smiled. I could tell he's thinking I did, but I didn't. I said somehow the sound is familiar to him, so it must be his mishearing. Then he suddenly put his hands on my arms, looked at my eyes and said softly , "RIE, you burp and you fart... ." He kept saying something, but it was too funny he called my name and saying as if he's saying romantic words. I couldn't stop laughing and looking at his beautiful eyes, so I didn't hear his words until the end.

Every time he calls my name, tries to be serious to say some words, looks at my eyes very well, and pretends to be romantic, he makes me laugh a lot. I'm sorry, Avram. I can't be a good actress. I have no idea when we can be a couple like in American romance movies.

He calls me "Oi!" ( "hey" in Japanese) when he can't find me in a public place. Unfortunately it works better than my name. Then I can find him easily. He is smiling:D I wonder how many women look at him if he says "Oi!" in Japan. I should get used to hear he calls my name.

I will try to look at Avram like a romantic couple when he tries to be romantic before we have a baby. We'll see:)

Week 37 and 3days

It's so easy to gain my weight in the last month. My belly is getting bigger and bigger so quickly. I feel sorry for my belly skin.

Now I can understand how Sumo wrestlers' lives are.

These days I use and write the word "belly," so sometimes I get confused when I spell berries. I sometimes write bluebelly. It sounds very strange to see it.

Anyway, Mameko and I have been very well.
I do Yoga and go walking everyday. While Avram works hard, I work hard for Farmville in Facebook. It's my pleasure to support Avram, but harvesting his trees is so annoying:( It's a beautiful farm, but it's so so so annoying when trees are ready to harvest.
His character and I have to work harder than Avram. I feel sorry for his character because he must walk to harvest here and there all day.

Time to do Yoga. I'm looking forward to seeing Mameko at doctor's visit tomorrow:D

What shall we talk about?

My parents sometimes wonder and talk what they will talk between them after my younger sister leaves home. Fortunately they try to have the same hobby or common things which they both enjoy together. It's farming so far. They like to grow organic vegetables for their children and grandchildren.

A few days ago, Avram and I were taking a nice walk in Haeundae Beach. We talked about the solution of farts. I said I remember how the smell is like when I hear the sound of farts. He said it doesn't smell when I hear the sound, it means I can use my imagination to change the smell to any kinds of flavors. Maybe it's true, but it's not so easy. I said people should put some aroma oils on their butts, then I could smell it. Avram said probably dish washing soap is better for it. Even though he didn't finish his words, I got what he meant. I asked him if he meant we can see colorful bubbles from the person. He was smiling.

We Japanese say we understand each other from the silence. We don't need words to express feelings. It means we understand the other one well. It's sometimes true and it sometimes doesn't work. I guess it's working between Avram and me so far, but I wonder if we will still talk about these topics even though our children grow up. I just can imagine our children could join us to Avram's wonderland.

When we turn to our parents' age, I wonder what we will be talking about. I hope we still enjoy traveling all over the world and talk about it with our families.

Recovery Complete

After the marathon last weekend, I was a bit sore. I wanted to start running again on Wednesday, but I was too busy at work. I did not get a chance to run until Saturday. I went for a great 13 mile run. The middle few miles were along a path that was new for me. During the run, I realized that the marathon training program I did for 16 weeks really was just a way for me to get in good enough shape to do what I want to. What I really want to do is explore as much of the city and surrounding areas as I can by running.

So, now my new goal is to maintain my current fitness and see how long my long runs can become. Also, I will start bringing my bus pass so that my 4 hour runs can be one way. I should be able to see lots more new areas that way. I have also been eying the nearby mountains as possible destinations.

I don't know what Mameko will do to my schedule, but I will try to keep in shape until she is ready to be pushed in a running stroller.

Ethnic

Rie's latest thoughts on being Asian in America and Japanese in Asia reminds me of something I found confusing in American super markets.

When we are looking for Japanese food, we go to the ethnic aisle and we can find all sorts of food from around the world, including from Japan.

When we are looking for hair care products, we go to the appropriate aisle, but the people pictured on products labeled "Ethnic" don't look anything like Rie.

How can Rie be ethnic on aisle 3, but not ethnic on aisle 10?
Does she lose her ethnicity somewhere around aisle 6?
Do they make this announcement after we leave? "Clean up on aisle 6."