Japaication!!

So, we're going on our 6th full day in Japan & boy-let-me-tell-you, it's been brutal.  Don't get me wrong.  I love it here.  Everyone is so polite and helpful, and, even with the major lack of public trash cans, everywhere we've been thus far has been super clean.  The part that I'm hating...we've all been hit with the stomach flu *wahhhh*.

X got it first, I suspect from the flight here (which I will get to in another post), then I got it, then X's dad got it.  Poor X has been having a really difficult time adjusting to the time zone too, which doesn't help the situation.  I think last night has been the first night he actually went to bed at his at home bed time.  Poor guy has been a trooper though. I can tell he feels like shit, but he powers through.  At first he was throwing up all the time, now he's got the runs.  But through all that he still manages to flirt with girls and cause havoc in my life.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love him so much it just pains me to seem him in such discomfort.

Sunday (Japan time) had to be the worst day.  We left Tokyo for Kyoto Sunday afternoon, & to our luck *much sarcasm *, in the AM I am praying to the porcelain God & it's not because I'm hungover.  To top it off my monthly visitor came early so I was just hating life.  At this point I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything, but I had to so I sucked it up, grabbed a barf bag, & went on my way...to walk through crazy Shinjuku Station w/a ton of crap & a baby.  Btw, traveling w/a baby in Japan.  Highly NOT recommended.  The train stations are super inconvenient when dealing w/strollers.  There's elevators in some stations, but those are super tiny, like most elevators here.  So here we are walking through the crazy crowded station when X's dad starts feeling the need to regurgitate his morning meal.  This was horrible.  Now he was dead weight. I mean, thank god he still managed at least the luggage.  There's no way I would have been able to manage a stroller & 2 extremely heavy pieces of baggage.

So. We finally made it to the bullet train & got situated & from there on out it was me taking care of X while X's dad suffered in his seat.  X started having diahrrea around this time & had a blow out on the train.  Ok.  This is easy enough to manage.  After a little bit of fussing X napped until about 30 mins before our stop.  When he woke up he has another blowout & since X's dad did absolutely nothing during this trip, of course I had to manage this change also.  Lucky me!  Well.  On the way to the bathroom X yacked all over me...& all over the train. I felt SO bad.  To top that off, & this is totally TMI, but my visitor started leaking all over.  Ugh. This had to be the worst travel experience ever.  At this point I was ready to call it quits & go home. I felt like shit. X felt like shit. X's dad felt like shit & we weren't even in Kyoto yet.  I was so homesick.  I wanted my mommy!

Well, despite our on-board woes, we managed to make it to our sardine box of a hotel room, after a very nauseating cab ride, and passed out.  We all passed out.  Until the next morning.  When we woke up I think we were all feeling much better, so we ventured out to explore Gion for a little.  X was still pretty cranky at this point so we didn't stay out for long.

A lot of sleeping has been happening the past few days.  Today was finally a pretty normal day.  X's poop is back to normal & his appetite is back so we headed to the Fushimi-Inari Shrine.  This place is huge, but gorgeous.  There was a scene in Memoriors of a Geshia that was filmed here which is how I knew about the place.  In total it takes about 2-3hrs to hike all the way up to the top...or so I hear.  I have a 13 month old. I'm not trying to hike that far.  We made it to the point where you make your wishes on wooden fox faces & then left.  On the way up to the main temple there are a bunch of food stalls & I totally got suckered into paying ¥500 for a freaking orange.  It was really good, but g.damn!  My neighbor has an orange tree. I could have just waited & saved my self $4 & some change.  It's all for the experience I guess?  After the shrine we headed back to the room since X's dad is still dead weight.  Once X went down for a nap I ditched them to explore a little...well, more like, I ditched them to go get me some green tea soft serve.  So good, but so rich I couldn't finish the whole thing.  Now I'm back in the room, finally doing a Japan update while my two guys snore up a storm.  My little guy is asleep on my chest & I can't move my left side...or go the the restroom, but I so live for these moments.  I love it when he wants to cuddle with me.  I'm totally taking advantage of this now, because soon enough he won't want to be doing this.  Well...our adventures continue tomorrow when we're headed to Osaka!  Update again soon!

More pics to come later!

OFF, OFF, AND AWAY...

AHHHHH...so, by the title I'm sure it's obvious that we're going somewhere.  But where are we going you ask?  Well, the Mr. and I have been desperately wanting to go to Japan, so that's where we're headed.  We decided to throw Taipei into the mix, because, why the hell not.  YOLO!  Yes!  A 12 hour flight & 14 days with a rambunctious, almost 13 month old.  What were we thinking?!?  I am beyond nervous.  Excited of course, but soooooo nervous.  I really hope we're not "those people" with "that kid" on the flight.  Yikes!  Expect a lot of mini updates throughout our trip, and a ton of Instagram posts.  Follow our journey through Japan & Taipei @oh_hi_its_xan #jetsetterXAN #XtakesTOKYO #XtakesKYOTO #XtakesOSAKA #XtakesTAIPEI #asia2016 #wandurluX

See ya on the other side of the world!!

1 year...12 months...365 days...

I know I'm super late, but by now you should know that I'm lazy...hey...at least I own it.

Man, I can't believe it's been a year already since X made his way into this crazy world.  Time just flew by.  My little peanut is now a 31", 22.8 lb boy.  He's got a mind of his own, and already won't take "no" for an answer.  He's the sweetest little monster I know.

It's just still so crazy to me.  Like even though it's been a year I still can't get over the fact that I'm a mother.  I still wake up each day thinking "damn...is this really MY baby?  Am I really a MOM?"  I know, I know, get used to it already.  Am I the only one that's like this?  I can't be...right? 

So as you all know from one of my previous posts, we threw X a big birthday bash.  I mean, this thing was better than my wedding, and honestly I liked it a lot better than my wedding since I didn't have to deal with other peoples BS.  It was fun.  X had a blast as did his father and I.  X is not a sleeper, but on this day he went down for both of his naps and his bedtime without a struggle.  I was so exhausted from the super long day (and alcohol) that I totally passed out while putting X to bed.  I totally left my friend outside waiting for me to come back to drink...whoops. 

All in all the party was a success.  It didn't rain...thank god.  It was actually a nice, summer like day.  All of the effort and time put into all the decorations was not in vain.  I can't wait for the next party.  The wheels are already churning in my head.  There will be flamingos involved in the next one.  Again I will over plan and want to do too much, but this time these things will be doable because the guest list will be far more intimate and personal.

With that said, I'd like to thank everyone that came and showed their love for X.  He's so lucky to be surrounded by so many caring people.  A special thanks to X's Gammy & Gamps who, once again, opened up their home to a bunch of screaming kids and drunk adults, and who also put up with my crazy ideas and super messy crafting areas for weeks leading up to the party.  X's Gamps gets an extra gold star for, at the last minute, agreeing to make a giant wooden connect four game for the party.  It was a hit!

Also, thanks to all of X's favorite Auntie's who put in hours helping me finish my projects and came to help set up, make food, and fill a bunch of balloons.  That Thursday we lost to drinking half a magnum of Jameson was totally worth it!  

Finally, thanks to X's sperm donor (kidding!) who gave me free reign on all of the party planning...well most of it anyway.  Getting the right cake was probably one of the biggest headaches during this whole planning process, and X's dad really took one for the team putting up with my absolute need for a semi-naked cake.  It turned out great.  X, your dad loves you a bunch because he definitely put in a lot of work making your 1st a memorable one, but this will probably be the last time he ever spends an entire day looking for a cake.

I hope everyone had a great time and we can't wait to do this all again next year...minus about 75% of the people though.

Stay tuned for the last photo in X's month X month photo array. 

Here are some picture of the festivities!

photo credit: William Wang Photography. 

photo credit: William Wang Photography. 

 photo credit: William Wang Photography.

photo credit: William Wang Photography. 

photo credit: William Wang Photography. 

photo credit: William Wang Photography. 

photo credit: William Wang Photography. 

photo credit: William Wang Photography.

The following photos were taken by friends

MONTH X MONTH REVISITED...

So the last post was posted late...again.  Dropping the ball...I know.  I had it all typed up and ready to go a couple weeks ago, I just had to finish it off and edit it, but I got distracted and failed to touch it again until right now haha.  I mean, I basically finished up that post and came straight into this post.  

This post isn't going to be long, just basically what the title says...X's month X month revisited...meaning, all of his monthly photos in one place, in anticipation for his final photo *sad face*.  I'm going to miss doing these monthly pictures.  I'd totally continue doing them, but honestly, I'm totally running out of ideas.  Instead of monthly I'll probably be doing bi-yearly now.  If not twice a year then yearly for sure...until he makes me stop that is.

Well, X's big birthday X-travaganza is a week away and I still haven't really started doing anything, yikes!  So without further a-do, and because I can't sit here and type away about non-sense, here are 11 of the 12, month x month pictures.  My next post will be party related, then after that check back for the whole she-bang.  All of X's monthly pictures...ALL 12 of them...man...where does the time go?

NEW YEAR, STILL LAZY!

Please excuse my last post.  I had thought I uploaded it the day after New Years, but apparently my phone didn't complete the upload, and so explains the super late post date that doesn't really match up with the post content.  My apologies.  Which that said, I used to always think that a new year entailed a fresh start.  Sort of an unofficial new beginning of sorts.  I was so naive then.  The first day of the new year is no different than the last day of the year, or the 90th day of the year, or the 200th.  If you were lazy last year, you're probably going to still be lazy this year.  Of course that's just my opinion.  I really try to start the new year with vigor, ready to tackle new endeavors and to try new things.  Work out, eat right, be a better person; but really, who am I kidding?  Why should I need a new year to do these things?  I am, by nature, a lazy person.  I'm am the queen of procrastination, and I really only make an effort to do things that interest me.  And even then, when I do find something that I'm really in to, I almost always lose interest soon after starting whatever it is I was so engrossed in.  This is probably very obvious to anyone who knows me or reads this blog.  X turned 11 months a few weeks ago?  I totally wasn't ready for his 11 month picture which explains the lack of a preview and the simplicity of the picture itself.  I felt pretty bad not attempting to do something more cleaver or creative for his 2nd to last monthly photo.  This is why, in addition to planning X's first birthday X-travaganza, I have already started planning his final photo shoot. 

The theme for X's big bash is 'Zebras in the City', weird, I know.  Why would there be zebras in a city?  I don't know.  I was inspired by a damn balloon and things just sort of fell in to place.  Hopefully everything turns out as planned.  I'm really trying not to take on too much, but I have these outrageous ideas and I always think I can pull them off, but I end up crashing hard at zero hour and end up having to abandon a few things I had wanted to do.  Crossing my fingers I manage my time better this time around and everything gets done on time and how I visualized it.  Oh gawd, also totally praying to Mother Nature that El Nino does NOT attend X's party.  I'd feel so bad for him if he had a rainy baby show AND a rainy first birthday.  Poor guy.  I mean, I realize he wasn't here to experience his baby shower, but still.

So, a lot of time is going towards X's birthday planning, which is why I've been pretty absent from the blogging thing.  Sorry X.  I guess there really hasn't been much to tell either.  X isn't walking yet, but I know he wants to.  He "cruises" a lot, and likes moving things around.  He's a handful that kid, but I haven't loved anyone more.  He has 8 teeth, and I feel like he's about to start getting more even though I can't see or feel anything, but the kid is drooling like cray.  Ick!  He still also hasn't said his first word yet.  I mean, he does the mama, dada thing, but he doesn't know what it means.  Guess he's not as advanced as we originally thought.  Just kidding X!  We love you!  Although he may not be talking or walking yet, keeping up with him is...exhausting.  He's a great kid though.  I know every parent thinks their kid is great, but X has got to be one of the happiest babies I know.  I hope, hope, hope, that he stays this way throughout his life.  He's just so happy-go-lucky, and I know that life just makes you jaded sometimes, and turns perfectly happy people in to cynics, but I hope that this doesn't happen to him.  He's been sick these past few days and he's still in good spirits, laughing and smiling like nothings wrong. 

Well...Mom duties await.  My little bambino is almost one!  Yikes!  Stay tuned for bday party posts!

2016

Well let me start by saying Happy New Year!  I'm still recovering from my holiday hangover...and now have the post holiday blues.  I love the time between Thanksgiving and New Years, it's what I look forward to every year; so once it ends I get a little sad.  Then I'm just sitting around waiting until summer, because who doesn't love cold beers and bbq's?

Enough with the holiday withdrawals.  I have a lot of catching up to do.  

X had a fantastic first Christmas and a super fun New Years Eve.  He got a ton of gifts.  His gammy & gramps really went over board for his first Christmas.  I think my mom would've bought his entire Amazon wish list if we had the room to store everything.  Her and my dads gifts alone were enough to open up our own toy shop, add to that all the gifts from our friends and other family members and X is good in the toy department for a while. We're all super thankful to have such wonderfully thoughtful people in our lives, and in turn, in X's life.  Thank you notes are going out soon guys. I promise.  

So Christmas was a success, and New Years was a...blur.  Our little threesome partied it up at our friends house and proceeded to consume a little too much Privilege.  3 couples, one who wasn't drinking too much, and 2.5 bottles of alcohol gone like dust in the wind.  I was so lucky that X fell asleep fairly easily, and managed to stay asleep through the off-tune serenades of his dad & his dad's friend.  90's slow jams and alcohol seem to go hand in hand with X's dads group of friends.

The fact that X was playing most of the night probably helped him sleep through the drunken ballads.  He loves playing/hanging out with other kids so much.  I thought it was so cute how he was trying to play with the older boys, even though they can walk/run, while X is trying to keep up crawling behind.  It's safe to say the older kids did not want to have a little baby ruining their fun, so X got ditched.  He still managed to have fun, because, and I'm not just saying this because he's my child and of course I'm going to say favorable things about him, but X always manages to have fun where ever he is.  He just has this infectious personality that is filled with laughter and cheer.  I hope he maintains his fun, carefree personality forever, and that the going's-on in life doesn't make him cynical and jaded.  I remember at one point in my life I too was like X...and then I let the realities of life get to me.  Bleh.

2015 was a whirlwind of emotions.  It was, to say the least, a wild ride.  I had to say good-bye to two very beloved pets, Alpine & Bunnie.  X's dad and I had to face some tough issues that really wore us thin.  And we welcomed our first child, the reason for this blog, into the world.  This past year has been a huge learning experience full of laughter and tears, and I'd hate to sound so basic and throw out this cliche, but it only made me stronger. I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us.  I'm ready for the crazy to begin again. 

Happy New Year guys!  I hope you all have a great 2016.

X turns 2 in 47 days!  Yikes!  The countdown to 2 begins in 16 days!  There's a ton to be done for X's first bash.  I can't wait to share all the fun with you!

Peace out 2015!  2016, lets do this!