All's well with the baby

We had two successful visits to the doctor in the past two weeks. The videos don't seem to work on my computer, so no new pictures. But, that is fine, because the last two videos were short and you could not really see much.

Rie had some blood tests and other extra tests this week. We did not get any phone calls, so I guess all is good there.

We spent an extra 30 minutes with the doctor on Friday and asked all sorts of questions about the delivery and post-delivery. I can cut the cord if I want, the hospital will provide night-gowns for Rie, and I have to bring a blanket for myself to use when I sleep on the couch.

Our next visit is in two weeks. That will be week 37 and the beginning of the normal window for delivery.

One week to race day

One week from today I will be enjoying the Gyeongju Marathon. We have reservations at a nice Pension and will drive up there on Saturday.

Today, my race packet came in the mail. It included a really nice long-sleeve shirt, a timing chip, my numbered bib, a race booklet and a 10% off coupon for an asics product. Not the best swag bag ever, but the race was not that expensive and the shirt is one of the best I have ever gotten. There is absolutely no advertising on the back.

The race booklet had pictures of all the international stars who will be competing in the elite category and a map of the course. The course seems to follow the river mostly, so it should be fairly flat. I should have no trouble finishing in well under the 5 hour limit. Also, the course passes near the Start/Finish line twice, so Rie should get to see me a few times during the race. It looks like it finishes with a half-lap around the municipal stadium, so there should be a good crowd and lots of energy at the finish.

I am still bummed about only running 11 miles this weekend, but my training schedule got me to an enjoyable 23 mile run two weeks ago, so I may as well follow it until the end next Sunday.

Avram gets excited.

Avram is always calm. He thinks of our families first. It makes me very happy.

This season, he's a little bit busy for watching college football and U.S. soccer. Then you can see he gets excited.

He sits in front of the computer and doesn't look at me at all. When his team gets points, he turns to look at me and smile with saying "Yeah!" When his team is losing the game, he gets shocked and put his face to the floor and hits it. It looks like he sees the last of the world. It's fun to see that Avram.

I'm nice as a wife even if he doesn't listen to me at all during the game. I waited for him for a few hours until the games finished today. I pretended I'm reading a book though I don't like to read.

I guess playing or pretending to be a nice wife or husband makes the life happier and easier. It has worked for us so far:)

P.S. I don't mean we tell lies to each other. Thank you.

Sorry, Avram.

Thanks to our families and friends, we have many baby things now. Today I washed brand new clothes, which we bought for our baby this summer.

Now no place to dry Avram's laundry.

Sorry, Avram. Maybe you're not my first person today:D

Love,

your wife

"When you were born,"

When the due date, November 17th is coming closer, our parents and grandparents tell us how we were born, what happened then, and how they were. It is great to hear that.

Japanese people don't talk about it so much. The reason why they don't tell it to their children depends on the person. Especially my mother doesn't talk about herself. But now she starts to tell me about my father and her. Finally I learn about my parents. They had a good story how they fell in love.

I like to hear how our parents felt when they had us, how Avram was born, what kind of boy he was, and so on.

I will tell about it and how Avram and I feel when we have the baby to our daughter. Then she will know how much her families love her.

Mameko vs/& Avram

Avram was fixing the computer with a screwdriver in the living room when I came in yesterday. When he saw me, he tired to shoot his bellybutton screwdriver missile to my belly. Of course, he was joking because he loves me:D But, Mameko was upset with her father's tries, so she tried to kick and punch him hard. Her hard work was a little painful for me.

Avram said she's not attacking him. He said she was trying to catch the screwdriver for their communication. According to him, he knows it because he's her father. I don't know if it's their communication or fight, but either way only I DO get hurt from it. That's not fair :(
If it's true he's having a nice communication with his daughter, why does he have that way to his wife?

We both have nice big bellies now, we sometimes have the contest. Avram is trying to catch me, but he can't beat me anymore. He's losing his weight from his big runs. He lost nine pounds in a few months. Our weights are getting closer, but hopefully I won't get to his weight.

In Japan, pregnant women's weight control is very strict. I am not so serious about it, but I try not to eat too much for Mameko and me.

P.S. I'm not carrying a watermelon.

Mameko is very active, especially when she hears her father:)

21st Century Heartbeat Music Therapy

We got a CD in the baby class. It's an original recording of classic nursery songs set to a real human heartbeat. According to the CD jacket, it's proven by research to calm babies and stop crying.

One night, we listened to it. We could hear the heartbeat in the songs. When we listened to Mary Had A Little Lamb, Avram said it should be "Mary had a pink i-phone, pink i-phone, pink i-phone" these days. It makes sense. Times have changed. Those songs could change too, but I like original one.

Though I like original songs, I wonder if the father in Hush Little Baby spoils the baby too much.
The father buys many things everytime his baby cries. When does the baby learn patience?

I learned one thing from this CD quickly. It is that this CD works for Avram very well. It already worked. He would fall asleep earlier than our baby and wouldn't wake up for her at midnight.
Now we have to talk about the day schedule and who stays up with the baby every night.