Kokochi

Peek-a-boo!!!

Boy, does Tesla love peek-a-boo. She'll do it when on our bed, reaching for a sheet while I try to change her diaper. She'll do it around our sofa as soon as she knows I'm playing the game. And with the curtains, she tries all the time. Dav and I have cheated and raised the curtain while she was "waiting," to find her sitting still, head down, as if she was counting time to make her grand entrance. It's hilarious. She doesn't quite get that her feet sticking out give her away. She's even giggled, while still "in hiding" when I've tickled one of her feet. These are the moments that make you laugh and see your baby reaching out to you. She wants to entertain us. So darn cool! Pictures via Papa Dav.

Uncle Ian visits

Izumi and the kids are in Tokyo now, enjoying the hot muggy weather. I think it's important and wonderful for the kids to get to hang out in Tokyo. This is their 3rd time (I think) so Tokyo is not too strange to them. Perfect. Ian is at home though. So I invited him over for dinner along with our neighbor Jeremy whose wife and child are away too. Before Jeremy arrived and Dav got home, Ian played with Tesla while I prepared dinner. Someone gave her a telephone. I had no idea it could be programmed. Ian, of course, immediately caught this and made some nice recordings with Tesla. Thanks, Uncle Ian!

This is Japan for me...

This image of a 平凡（heibon) / ordinary neighborhood road pulls at my heart. This is the kind of road I grew up with, walked to school in. The architecture (like 雨戸, amado）、the walls, the hot weather (shown by the parasol), are so familiar. I played with friends in these streets without caring about the danger of cars. I didn't know the people in many houses of my neighborhood, but it was still, a neighborhood. It was safe and home. I miss the small roads that were organically made over history vs. a car-culture constructed city. It's a feeling that is *so* different from here. And now that I have a child, I appreciate these streets in my memory that were full of kids playing with no adults supervising because it was a true neighborhood. I'm not sure this exists in any U.S. place I've lived. Perhaps the rural areas? I know it must exist here somewhere. I mean, my childhood street was in Tokyo. Credit goes to Akira Kawamura. Thank you for taking this perfect picture.

I must get this phone strap

Doesn't this Bruce Lee Kewpie look like someone? From Wired

tough night

I was going to title this "worst night ever" to contrast with the previous post, but it wasn't that bad. I'm surprisingly OK now (I'm sure I'll drag in the afternoon). Tesla has a minor cold. Runny nose, sneezes, a few coughs. But it's making her needy, and she can't sleep well. At times, she woke up what seemed every 10 minutes. And she wanted to be on the boob ALL the time. When I got fed up and turned my back (yes, I do that when I get sore lying on one side for her for too long, and physically need a break from her pawing at me) she'd protest. Every time I tried putting her back in the crib, she wanted out. If I brought her to bed, she'd roll around trying to sleep, and since I'd be worried of her rolling off the bed, I couldn't sleep. Finally, at 7am, I brought her out to Dav so I could get some sleep before work. I heard toys and then TV. Apparently, she got to see Barney! Of course now that I'm awake, preparing for work, she's pretty chirpy. Her cuteness all back. :)

best "welcome home" ever

I came home early today so Gaby (nanny on Tuesdays) could leave for an appointment she had. Tesla had been napping for an hour or so. I came in, saw that Tesla wasn't with Gaby making a mess in the living room, so asked, "she napping?" to which Gaby said yes, and explained that Tesla resisted her crib today so Gaby put her in our bed. Some days, when Tesla is needy, she sleeps better in our bed. I smiled. Just then, we heard a squeal down the hall, and saw little Miss T almost running towards me with her hands waving above her head. She practically fell into my arms. Tesla knows how to get off the bed safely so she must have heard me come home, and quickly got out of bed. I can't really describe how special it was to see her hurry towards me. Then to hug her in my arms. It's the most, "ahhhhh" feeling I know.

she is a walker

Hard to keep her put now. We've become those parents that you see assisting their eager walking toddler in restaurants, coffee shops, stores, everywhere! Now I'd hesitate to take a long international flight since Tesla will insist on walking around (vs. staying put nice and easy)....well, I'd hesitate for like 10 minutes, but of course I'd still hop on a plane for an adventure with Ms. T!

Moblog moment getting passed around

Sent from a friend of a friend of a friend who captured this scene with a cell phone in Tokyo. Pretty neat that I get to see it here in San Francisco. I'm happy that we can't see his face, poor sleepy guy. Makes me miss the safeness of Tokyo where it's OK to conk out like that in public (although bad for his neck & back). And even with his bag so open for mischief, most likely nothing will happen. On the other hand, it also reminds me how tired people get. Kids and adults...working and commuting in a big busy city. It can be hard for sure if you don't know how to slow down.

Pulling out Barbara Bush's hair

When Tesla was born, Ian gave her a Pat the Bunny book. It's such a classic. Ian later gave us a political version. It's quite hilarious. Being our daughter, Tesla has taken a liking to the political version. In fact, she is quite mesmerized by a bunch of fluffy cotton glued to one page to represent Barbara Bush's white hair. Tesla likes to tease it out, leaving bits around the house. I sometimes walk down the hallway following a trail of white tufts stuck on the carpet, and I know where that's from. In our house, Barbara Bush will soon be bald...

Tesla is part of the 7 most exciting moments in science

According to Discover Magazine. Thanks, Anil. Tesla Yaginuma is cuter though.