It snowed! Forrest loved playing with all the neighborhood kids in the snow. He helped build snowmen, threw snowballs, and even sled with his mama.
First Snow of the Season
Forrest
Sendai Concert Trip Day 2
Today was probably the best day of Forrest’s life yet. We went to the Sendai Anpanman Museum! For the viewers here who haven’t lived in Japan, Anpanman is a huge cartoon character that’s extremely popular with young children. His head is a bun filled with red bean paste, and he breaks off pieces of himself to feed hungry children. A chef then remakes him. There’s a weird cat alien looking thing that’s apparently the bad guy. Anyway, Forrest is obsessed and will always get excited when he sees the characters. Today we found out there’s an Anpanman Museum and when we showed Forrest the pamphlet, he got so excited. We knew we had to go!
After naptime, we went to the Sendai Pokémon Center. Forrest went crazy looking at and holding all the different Pokémon plushies. For someone who doesn’t watch TV, he sure does love the characters from the TV shows Anpanman and Pokémon. Then we found a cat café, or a “nyan nyan” café as Forrest would call it. We couldn’t go inside because we were after last entry time but we enjoyed watching the “nyan nyans” from the window!
Forrest’s Daycare Hosted a Festival!
Here in Japan, summer is “matsuri”, or festival, season! There are festivals in towns and cities, from small as in Downtown Misawa to huge in cities like Sendai and Akita. The best festival this year, however, was the one that Forrest’s daycare threw for the kids! Forrest was given a special outfit with his name on it, and when he came there were 12 stations set up! Each station had a game or activity, that when completed, Forrest would get a stamp. Once he got all the stamps, he got a fun prize. The games and activities all had little prizes too. Forrest had a field day!
Forrest Took His First Step
Mom came to Japan for Forrest’s first birthday and was able to stay for a while. During her time, she spent a lot of time working with Forrest to help him learn to walk. After a short time with his dadimaa, he picked it up! This video was the third take, and to be honest, I didn’t expect to actually capture his first step!
Forrest Sakura Photoshoot
Forrest’s First Easter
Forrest’s First Birthday
For Forrest’s first birthday, Leanne planned an amazing “forest” themed birthday! She home-made a cake shaped like a log with wood bark and everything, topped with woodland animals. We invited all the neighborhood kids, made a lot of food, and set up a huge bounce house!
After the party (and a nap), Forrest opened all his gifts.
Forrest Chooses A Starter Pokémon
There comes a time in every child’s life when he must choose his starter Pokémon. These are Squirtle, a water-type Pokémon, Bulbasaur, a grass-type Pokémon, and Charmander, a fire-type Pokémon. My starter was Squirtle and Leanne’s was Charmander. Who will Forrest choose??
Of course, we think it’ll be Bulbasaur because, well, he’s Forrest The time has come Forrest! Choose your path!
Forrest says his first word: “Dada!”
Forrest has been making lots of sounds and most have been nonsense gibberish. He has also been saying “dada,” but it never felt intentional until yesterday. He kept asking for Dada at the store, and was so happy when I joined Leanne and him, and he saw me! Then later we said, “where’s dada?” and he looked right at me, every time we tried!
So it’s official. Forrest’s first word is “Dada”!
Forrest’s First Christmas
A white Christmas in beautiful snowy northern Japan. Forrest has been trying to open gifts all month since they’ve been under the tree. He can finally open them up! Thankfully, Leanne got the holiday off!
Thank you everyone for such wonderful gifts! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful loving family and that Forrest had an amazing first Christmas!