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The Endless Stories of Dan & Misono & Their Beloved Mio
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New Year + Preparations

January 10, 2014 By Misono in Mio, News and Updates, Videos Tags: Anpanman, baby, Mio, new year, pregnancy, singing, song, video

Happy 2014

First blog post of 2014! Hope everyone had a great new years, and we wish you all the best this year. We’ve been busy preparing for our little bundle of joy who is due to arrive any day in the coming weeks, going on the hospital tour, digging out baby gear and newborn clothes from storage, packing the hospital bag, installing the baby carseat, etc. Unfortunately I fell sick this past week (even though I got the flu shot last month!), and have been suffering cough, congestion, fever, and some sleepless nights. I went to the doctor who said it seems to just be a viral infection like the flu, so I’ve just been taking Robitussion which is safe for pregnancy. Hopefully I’ll be completely recovered in time for the baby’s arrival, as I’ll need all the energy I can get for labor and delivery!

I’m currently over 37 weeks, and I’m feeling a lot of pressure on my pelvic floor lately, which is making it hard to walk (it’s really more of a waddle these days) and climb stairs, and even driving short distances is difficult because my belly barely fits behind the wheel (since I have to be right up against it — darn these short legs!). I’m pretty much ready for this baby to come out any time — I know life will get much more hectic with the baby outside the belly, but life with her inside is getting really uncomfortable and exhausting that I think it would actually be a welcome respite for me! Pregnancy has always been tough for me, but this time around has been especially trying.

Mio has been clingier than usual lately, and her potty training which had been going so well a few weeks ago seems to have regressed and taken a few steps backward in the last couple weeks… we wonder if it’s because she senses the upcoming changes and can tell her days as an only child are numbered. It’s a little exasperating and frustrating, because she’d been doing so well! We may just have to revisit it again after the baby’s born, since I don’t have a whole lot of energy these days.

Below is a video I took of Mio singing part of the theme song to the Japanese show “Anpanman” which she loves to watch lately! It’s so cute to see her learn and sing songs on her own. (She was also singing some of “Jingle Bells” around Christmas-time.) Excuse the hoarseness of my voice… I’ve lost my voice since getting sick.

Christmas & 31st Birthday

December 26, 2013 By Misono in Family and Friends, Seasonal Celebrations Tags: birthday, Christmas, holidays, misono

Hope everyone had a memorable Christmas! We’re spending the holidays quietly at home this year, since my due date is only about a month away now.

Christmas Eve among the "stars"
Christmas Eve among the “stars”

 

Christmas morning - the excitement is palpable.
Mio on Christmas morning – the excitement is palpable.

 

Christmas 2013
This was Mio’s third Christmas.

 

Unwrapping presents.
Unwrapping presents.

 

Look at that smile!
Look at that smile!

 

Mio received the most gifts! She seemed kind of overwhelmed after a while.
Mio received the most gifts! She seemed kind of overwhelmed after a while.

 

Her favorite was an Anpanman toy from my parents.
Her favorite was an educational Anpanman toy from my parents. Once she opened it, she had no eyes for anything else!

 

Mio with a bug eye viewer.
Mio with a bug eye viewer from Tarrin and Jason. Thank you to all of our friends who sent gifts for Mio all the way from California — especially Tarrin & Jason, the Pou family, and Aileen!

 

Christmas Day also happens to be my birthday, and this year I turned 31! We had a delicious dinner with the family (on Christmas Eve we had ham, but Christmas we had Peking duck for dinner — my favorite!), with cake afterwards. Here is Mio helping me blow out my birthday candles! (This is her favorite part of birthdays… she gets pretty upset if you don’t let her participate in blowing them out.)

Mio helping me blow out the candles.

 

31st birthday
Thankful to grow another year older with a wonderful husband and this precious girl!

 

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2013 By Misono in Creative Corner, Seasonal Celebrations Tags: Christmas, dan, holiday card, holidays, Mio, misono

A very Merry Christmas and happy holiday wishes from our family to yours! Here’s our holiday card from this year…

 

 

A lot of people have been asking where we got our photos taken. We actually took them in the comfort of the living room at home! Dan worked his magic with the lighting as well as some color correction of the photos afterwards, but the pictures came out looking pretty decent — almost studio quality! Thanks to how well the photos came out, they were easy to work with as I designed our custom holiday card. So glad so many people loved it! Hope it brought a smile to your face. πŸ™‚

Holiday Confusion

December 24, 2013 By Misono in Mio Says Tags: Christmas, confusion, Halloween, holiday, Mio, quote, Santa

This is the first year that Mio is starting to comprehend seasonal celebrations and holidays, and remember elements about them for weeks (and even months) afterwards. For example, she’s still kind of stuck in the excitement from Halloween, and likes to carry her pumpkin bucket around the house.

Yesterday, she went up to a Santa Claus doll with a basket and said, “Trick or treat, Santa!”

December Festivities

December 23, 2013 By Misono in Family and Friends, Seasonal Celebrations, Videos Tags: birthday, Christmas, dan, festivities, holidays, housewarming, Kennedy Center, Mio, misono, parties, party

Christmas is only a couple days away, and I can’t believe how fast this month has flown by! In addition to the holiday season, there’s always a lot to celebrate in our family during this month because both Dan and I have our birthdays, and I love that people come together more during the holidays and the end of the year. This year has had its share of challenges with a tough pregnancy as well as navigating Mio’s tumultuous toddlerhood, but as I spend time with family and friends and reflect back on the year, I know that I have so much to be grateful for! Good health, wonderful friends and relatives both near and far, and our growing family that brings smiles and laughter to every day. And of course, there’s so much to look forward to in this coming year and beyond!

Some pictures from the past couple weeks, as we wrap up the year…

After her last art class!
Mio after her final art class at the local rec center. She thoroughly enjoyed her 8 weeks of arts and crafts!

 

"Here you go, penguin!"
She pressed one of her crafts against the inflatable penguin, saying “Here you go, penguin!”

 

Dan and I at the Kennedy Center
We enjoyed a delicious dinner on the Roof Terrace followed by a performance of Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center. It was a holiday event with Dan’s company and was nice to get an evening out without parenting responsibilities for once!

 

Celebrating Dan's 31st birthday!
Celebrating Dan’s 31st birthday on the 13th!

 

"Happy birthday Daddy!"
“Happy birthday Daddy!” Mio was so excited to help Dan blow out the candles.

 

Group photo of the girls at Ashly & Danny's housewarming!
With the girls at Ashly & Danny’s housewarming party!

 

Congratulations Ashly and Danny on the beautiful new home!
Congratulations Ashly and Danny on the beautiful new home!

 

An early birthday dinner , complete with amazing desserts!
An early birthday dinner out last week with some girlfriends, complete with amazing desserts! Thank you Michelle for planning it. Can’t believe I’ve known these ladies for 15 years!

 

Mimi knows me so well. Love this nail polish set!
Mimi knows me so well. Love this nail polish set! It has all the perfect shades, especially for the holidays.

 

So many cute crafts and gifts brought home from preschool today! Now the dilemma is how to keep the chubster occupied during winter break...
Mio brought home so many cute crafts and gifts from preschool! Now the dilemma is how to keep the chubster occupied during winter break…

 

Mio's very own My Dear Darling penguin
Mio’s very own My Dear Darling penguin! Thank you so much Akiyo for such a beautiful handmade gift.

 

Mio was in love!
Mio was in love!

 

A sweet video of Mio playing with her penguin doll:

 

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