Another Park in Toyota City

Yesterday we set out on a small hike to try and find another park in Toyota City. I'm not sure of how long it took us to get there, but I'd say a solid hour. The park was just ok. They don't seem to have playground equipment in park here. Children must just have to make up their own fun and run with it. It was a nice walk none the less and Carter seemed to really enjoy having the open space to walk and attempt to run. :)

Bridge that crosses over to the Toyota Stadium

Park Rules

The park

He was too quick for me to even snap a photo of him!

Those of you who know Carter, know that picking up things that are dirty is just not his style, so I was really surprised when he went after this stick.

He carried it for about 5 minutes, just here and there.

Cute collage I made of him and the park bench. It took him just as long to get up on and off of the bench as it did the actual time he sat on the bench.

** Can anyone explain to me why I have a line under my text? It happens randomly and I can't figure out how to get it undone. Help!

First Trip to Nagoya

First, a note about getting in touch with a Toyota wife that is here for a year with her hubby and 3 beautiful children. Her name is Dirsa (Deer-sa) Smith and her husband is Robert Smith. He works in Safety with Kara Yde. They have 2 girls, one is 12 and the other is 4 and are both in school here, and an 18 month old boy. We've only chatted via email and Facebook, but it's so nice knowing there's another wife out there that is looking to be friends with any other American around. (I'm not desperate or anything! Ha!) And such a small world because when I did a search for her on FB, I found that we share two mutual friends. They are two of my neighbors, one living right behind us, the Lozen family. I just think that's crazy! So, hopefully we'll be able to meet up soon. We plan to get together this weekend at their place. :)

Yesterday, Scott, Carter and I packed up and traveled to Nagoya by train. It was very hectic carting Carter around and all of his things, but an adventure none the less. We got a late start, so we didn't get to see all that we wanted to see, the Nagoya castle, more of the city, etc., but it was so much fun.

Nagoya is about the size of Chicago, so a pretty big city with alot of things to do. We went up in the TV Tower (like the Eiffel Tower at Kings Island, but maybe a smidge taller), so we could see all of the city and just how big it is. The tower is in a park, like that of Central Park in NYC. It's a beautiful place with lots of little cafes to eat at and fountains. A great place to take pictures!

After the TV Tower, we ate dinner at Outback Steakhouse, and yes, it was A-MA-ZING! I had the prime rib with mashed potatoes, green beans, a caesar salad, and THE BEST bottle of Coors Light I've ever had in my entire life. It was a $7 bottle of beer, but it was sooooo good. Carter and Scott both had burgers. The bill came to $62.00, so it def won't be an every weekend kind of place to eat, but it was nice to have a nice meal to kind of celebrate making it through our first week here. Hopefully we can go back and do it again right before we leave.

After dinner, we visited a store called Loft. Scott calls it a huge Bed Bath and Beyond and I call it an IKEA on crack. Either way, it's a pretty cool store and it's big! It's 8 or 9 stories and they sell a little bit of everything. I hear the store calling out name for some Christmas gifts.

When we left the store, it was about 6:30 and by the time we navigated to the right subway line and finally made it home it was a way too late 8pm. Carter had had enough and was overly tired. We had a rough night with him, being awake from 3am on. Scott and I were both up with him separately. Ugh! Hopefully tonight will be a bit better. (As I type this, both the boys are napping)

Carter is 18 Months

Carter turned 18 months on September 17th, our big deal day of world travels. I just wanted to jot down a few things that he's doing, so I don't forget. We did not do an 18 month check up before we left because he wouldn't of been able to get his shots yet, so December it is to cover probably 2 different well baby visits. I sure hope that doesn't mean twice the amount of shots.

Height: I'm not sure of an exact number, but he is just about as long as his changing table. We're going to have to take it down when we return to the

US because he's just too big for it now. :(

Weight: While we were weighing our luggage before leaving,

I weighed him and so the unofficial weight is 28lbs.

** He has 10 teeth now. He got 2 molars starting the first of September.

It really hasn't been too terrible, not at all like people say. He's a trooper!

** He says Mommy, Daddy, May May, "G-Da" for G-Daddy, "mo" for more,

"dut" for duck, cat, "dot" for dog, "bop" for ball, "ba ba" for bye bye, and "ya ya" for hello, "choo choo" for train, and "cheese" when I take pictures of him

** He has become my hip buddy. He's very clingy, especially around

strangers and even grandparents, friends, and people he hasn't seen in awhile.

He sometimes doesn't even want Scott to put him to sleep.

He's def a Mama's boy right now!

** He has quite the personality, is sweet as can be. Smiles all the time,

and giggles up a storm. He's an extremely happy child!

** He is a watcher and observer. He likes to study things, how they work,

and how they work & fit together. (Just like his father, the Engineer!)

** He blows kisses, but he will also lean forward for you to

kiss him if you ask for a kiss. It's very much a closed mouth kiss, ha! He also hugs

his animals and makes an "Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm" sound. Too cute!

** He's still a great eater. He loves bananas, blueberries, strawberries,

pancakes, pasta salad pepperoni, banana peppers, meatloaf, peas, green beans,

marinated chicken, flavored cheerios, goldfish, animal crackers,

waffles, eggs, my morning onion bagel and cream cheese, etc.

** He's picked up on baby signing. He now signs for more, all done, milk, and banana.

This isn't an official sign, but he's really good at shaking his head no

if you ask him if he wants this or that.

** He's a great sleeper. We are pretty strict about bedtime routine, have been

since day one. We start bath at 6:45-7pm and he is usually in bed

after books and milk by 7:20ish. He is always awake when I go into

get him in the morning about 8:30, but he usually starts talking about 8am.

** He takes one 2-3 hour nap a day, in the late morning

** He wears size 5 diapers, size 6 shoes, and 18 month clothes

(and some 24m depending on what brand it is)

Exploring Toyota City

Yesterday, Carter and I packed up and left the apartment to walk around and just explore around us. I brought my camera with me and we walked directions Scott hadn't taken us yet. Along our way, we found a grocery store and a library with an English children's book section. I also took pictures of things that I thought people back in the states might like to see, like what the local McDs looks like and some signage in the garden area. Haha!

If you walk out of our building and hang a left, there is a garden type area with a path that runs through the city. It's very peaceful with lots of trees and flowers and a stream and small waterfalls. The garden is where we started.

Play Place at Matsuzakaya

We found a play place on the top floor of a mall type building (9 stories). It's loud and colorful and fun, and Carter LOVES it there. There are a ton of Japanese mothers and young children. My plan is to visit there at least a few times a week in hopes of finding an American or English speaking Japanese woman. It would be so nice to have someone here to do things and explore with. At any rate, enjoying Carter run around and have fun will have to do for now. Wish me luck!!