She's standing! つかまり立ち

Nano wanted to climb the knees. So she came to people to ask "goo" or "coo"  in her language meaning "Please hold me up. "It's cute! Like a puppy" husband said. ナノは最近、人の膝に近寄っては、「クーンクーン」みたいな声を出して、乗せてもらおうとする。「犬みたいで、かわいいなあ〜」と相方は、喜んでいた。

But it was getting too often and at the end it became all day long. I could not take the all offer.　が、どんどん頻度が上がり、そのうち、一日中膝によじ上っているようになった。そうなると、何もできないし、邪魔だ。

So I just let her moving around me ignoring half of her wish.　ということで、膝まわりでピーピーいうナノを邪険に扱い、ごまかしながら、自分の用事を済ますようになっていたが、

And I noticed that she was standing by my side holding desk. It was her fist standing and I missed the first moment. I am such a careless mother...　ハッと気がついたら、ナノが隣でつかまり立ちをしていた。最初の瞬間を見逃してしまった。それにしても、随分、あっさり、できてしまったなあ、、、多分、膝に乗っていたのは、つかまり立ちの練習だったのだろう。そして、さらに安全地帯（ナノの手が届かない場所）が減っていくのだった、、、

how to bath the baby without husband お風呂の入り方

Husband went to 10 days business trip. When I heard it, my concern is "how to bath Nano" Usually we gave Nano bath together-one is waiting with towel and other takes bath with Nano. 相方が１０日間の出張に行ってしまった。出張の話を聞いた時に、まず私が思ったのは、「どうやってナノを風呂に入れよう」という事だった。いつもは、どちらかが外で待機していて、いれているのだ。

Of course, husband were out many times before, but it was the time when Nano could not move by herself. At that time, I kept open the door of bathroom and talked with Nano when I washed myself first. After I finished myself, I held up Nano and gave her bath.　もちろん、今までも出張はあった。が、その頃，ナノはまだハイハイができず、お風呂のドアをあけて、話しかけていれば、かわいらしくお風呂の入り口の所で裸で待っていた（当時は、寒くさえなかったのだ）。

On first day, I tried the same thing-open the door and left Nano there, but she just entered the bathroom without any hesitation-she soaked.　とりあえず、同じように、（でも、寒くなったので服を着せたまま）風呂のドアをあけて入ってみたが、即座に風呂場に飛び込んできて、服ごとびしょぬれになった。

Even I rushed to wash myself, I need 2 minutes at least. I estimated the distance and left her in the living room and kept calling her from bathroom. I thought that she would come to the bathroom during my washing.　そこで、次の日、リビングにナノを置いて、風呂場に来るまでの間に、体を洗う事にした。私の予想では、約２分の時間があるので、その間に、風呂場から「ナノー」と呼びながら、大慌てで頭まで洗う作戦だ。

However, she never came to the bathroom, but I could hear her crying. She was stuck at the door on the way. I had to pick her up naked and wet. I had to wipe the flood I made after the bathing.　ところが、いつまでたってもナノは来ず、泣き声だけが聞こえてきた。仕方なく、濡れたまま見に行くと、途中のドアで引っかかっていた。どういう訳か、曲がってしまったらしい。床が濡れてしまったし、これもうまく行かなかった。

I tried to use swim-pa. That was what my friend gave to me to use Nano's bath without husband. Nano used to be happy to be in swim-pa but this time, she was in a bad mood since she was just left in the bath tab alone. Anyway, I got the free hands and I could make it to wash myself.　そうだ、スイムーパの出番だ！もともと、友人が、出張の時のためにプレゼントしてくれたのだし、今こそ使う時だろう。そこで、ナノを洗っておいて、スイムーパを装着して、バスタブに浮かしてた。ぽいっと放っておかれてるのが気に入らないのか、ナノは不穏な声を上げながら、浮いている。でも、とにかく手は空いたのだから、あわてて自分の体を洗った。

After I finished, I held her up from the hot tub and found she was red-like a boiled octopus. I felt like it was not good for her to do everyday.　洗い終わって、ナノを拾い上げると、真っ赤っかになっていた。ゆでだこならぬ、ゆでナノカになっていた。これは、毎日って訳には、いかないか、、、

Then we went to bathroom together and out together. It means I only can wash Nano. I could not wash myself. Every other day, I gave up washing myself. It was big mess after the bath. Does anyone know better way to give her bath?　というわけで、一緒に脱いで、一緒に入り、一緒に出る事に。つまり、私の体は、それでは洗えない訳で、、、２日に１日は、体も洗えないのでした、、、なんか、いい方法、ないかなあ、、、（少々、お疲れ）

Grow Fast 子の成長はうれしいけれど、、、

Nano grow so fast. Now she can crawl all over and open the door of shelf looking for interesting tools. She gets bigger and her dress is getting tighter and soon she has to give up present size. なのはどんどん成長していく。ずりバイをして自由自在に動き回り、戸棚を開けて物色し、好きなものを勝手に出して、遊んでいる。体も大きくなって、つなぎの股の所が、またとまらなくなってきた。買ったばかりの服ももうすぐあきらめなきゃいけなさそうだ。

I was talking with friend and she talked about her 2 year old boy. He was now talking funny and running around. He looked like "a child" rather than baby. "Of course it is pleasure to see my son's growing, but miss babyhood sometime." I agree. Even after 6 months, I already missed tiny baby Nano sometime.　友人のところの二歳児は、言葉も話せば、走り回りもする。「あの赤ちゃんが、もう子供なんだなあ〜」と思った。「もちろん、成長はうれしいんだけど、他の小さい子を見ると、思い出して、かわいいなあ、て思うよね」と友人。私は、すでに、その心境で、ナノがでかくなるのがうれしいのと同時に、「すぐ、大きくなっちゃう」と、赤ちゃん時代が終わってしまうのが、少しさびしく思い始めてる。

One day, husband watched Nano and he mentioned, "Nano's hair does not stand recently." I love Nano's hair up and felt shocked to hear!　先日、相方が、「ねえ、最近、ナノの髪の毛、おとなしくなってきたね」と指摘してきた。確かに！髪の毛が立ってるのが、トレードマークだったのに、、、

Next morning, Nano's hair became wild again. I dried her hair from down to top very hard after bathing last night. Yes, she is still "chick hair" baby!!!　次の日の朝は、いつも以上に髪の毛が立っていた。私が、お風呂上がりに、逆立つように心を込めて、乾かしたからだ。ね、まだまだ、ヒナみたいでしょ？（そろそろ、あきらめないと、ダメかな）

Fake cry ウソ泣き

Our house is standing on the top of the hill. On way home after walking, Nano usually cries loudly.我が家は、丘の上にある。どこへ行くにも、坂を降りたり上ったりしなくてはいけない。そして、散歩の後半、ナノは必ず、泣く。

I do not want to hold her all the way home since she is heavy and the slope is steep. Then I just run with crying Nanoka in storoller like a siren.　泣き出したものの、こんな坂道で、ナノカを抱っこしたまま、大きなベビーカーを押すなんて、すごい重労働だ。ということで、泣かせたまま、坂道を駆け上がり、ナノはサイレンのように泣き続けることになる。

One day, a cute elementary school girl talked to us. (Girls like to take care of babies and I often saw they are kind to babies) She looked at Nanoka and  said to her, "You are faking to cry. You did not shed any tears"　そのサイレンを聞いて、「あ、赤ちゃん」と、近所のかわいらしい小学生が声をかけてきてくれた（子ども、特に女の子は、赤ちゃんの世話を焼きたがる子が結構いるのだ）。そして、彼女はナノカを見ると、「ウソ泣きだね。涙が出てないよ」と、ばっさり言ってのけた。

Nanoka stopped crying once to see her, and again she started to cry. Then girl said, "See. It is fake cry. No tears." Every time Nanoka started crying, girl kept saying the same things. Kids are severe!　ナノカは、少し泣きやんで、女の子の顔を見ていたけど、また、泣き出したが、その度に、「やっぱり、ウソ泣きだ。涙が出てない」と指摘され、泣きやんでは、泣く、をくり返していた。なかなか、子どもは手厳しいですねえ。

Poplar Nano? モテモテなのちゃん？

We are average parents, not like models. So we knew that our baby would not be super-model kinds. But Nano looks so cute to us(we were one of silly parents). She seems to gather good parts of all the family. Her pale skin is coming from husband, her wise-looking brow came from my father, and dark thick hair came from husband's father. We thought we did good job. 私達は、(見た目的に）ごく一般的な夫婦だ。ということで、まかり間違っても、モデルみたいな子どもが生まれてくるとは、思ってない。が、実際生まれてみると、ナノは結構かわいい。典型的な親バカ心なのだろうが、それにしても、一族郎党のいい所を、うまい具合に寄せ集めて、いい具合な感じがする。（のも、やっぱり勘違いなのかもしれないけど）ということで、夫婦で、「うまい事やった」と、言いあっていた。二人で言いあってる分には、冗談に収まってるのだから、楽しいし、いいものだ。

When we were at Sendai, mother in law looked over Nano and she said, "Nano looks like Kae's mother when smiling. Nano is beauty." Husband did not show any interest and just said, "really?" reading newspaper.　正月に仙台に連れて行ったら、お義母さんが、「笑うと誰かに似てる」とナノカの顔をじっくり見て、「カエちゃんのお母さんだ。美人な所が似てる」と言った。相方は、「そう？」と気のない様子で流していた。

On way home when he was driving, he said, "I am thinking,,," in serious voice, and asked me,　帰りの車の中、相方が、真面目な口調で、「あのさあ、考えてたんだけど、、、」と切り出すので、何かと思ったら、、、

"What kind of girl is she becoming if she gets so poplar among boys?" I was surprised to hear that. Did he seriously worry about that from now? "Well it is the matter how parents teach what is important in the life. In the case we taught her right, it is just good things because she has more choices." I answered. Daddy, you will have so much anxiety for next 20 years!　「ねえ、モテ過ぎると、女の子って、性格的にどうなの？」と聞いてきた。え？今からナノの将来の心配？「美人」て言われたから？（それも、ばば愛で目がくもってる、身内の意見をまともに受けて？）ホント、これから、パパは気苦労が多そうですねえ。

Kasa-jizo かさ地蔵

I illustrated the booklet for the magazine, kid's English Journal February issue. The story is Japanese folk tale, Kasa-jizo. It is a lovely story about an old couple at the end of the year. アルクの子ども英語ジャーナル２月号の付録の、「かさ地蔵」の絵本の挿絵をさせてもらいました。

Kasa-jizo

Once upon a time, there lived an old man and his wife. One year-end, the old wife said to her husband, "We don't have any rice cakes." The old man answered, "OK, let's make some bamboo hats and sell them to buy some rice cakes."　おじいさんとおばあさんは、お正月用の餅すらありません。

The old man and his wife worked hard to make the bamboo hats, "One, two, three, four, five. We have made five bamboo hats, "smiled his old wife. The old man left home to sell the hats in town.　竹をあんで、かさを作って、市場で売る事にしました。

"Nice bamboo hats! Nice bamboo hats! Who needs a bamboo hats?" The old man sang out in the crowd, but nobody stopped. "Oh, boy. These aren't selling at all."　しかし、かさは売れませんでした。

The sun began to set, and he still had five bamboo hats left. The old man thought of his wife and said, "I am sorry. I won't be able to get any rice cakes today." He started to walk back home with the five hats.　帰り道、雪が降ってきます。

On the way home, the old man saw six ojizosama with their heads all covered by snow. "Oh, there is no roof above you. You look almost frozen in this snow," the old man said to the ojizosama.　ふと見ると、道ばたに、雪をかぶったお地蔵さんが並んでいます。

"I will give you these hats. One, two, three, four, five..." The old man put a bamboo hat on each ojizosama's head. "No, I need one more hat. Hmm...Oh, I have an idea!" The old man took his towel and placed it gently on the sixth ojizosama's head. Then he returned home with nothing in his hands.　おじいさんは、売れ残ったかさを、お地蔵さんに順番にかぶせてあげました。最後のお地蔵さんにはかさがなかったので、自分の手ぬぐいをかけてあげました。

When the old man arrived home, he told his wife what he had done during the day. "Forgive me. I couldn't sell even one hat. I couldn't buy any dice cakes." "Don't apologize. You did a good thing. The hats will help keep off the snow." His old wife smiled kindly.　手ぶらで帰ったおじいさんが、事情を話すと、おばあさんも、いい事をしたと喜んでくれました。

In the middle of the night, the old man and his wife heard a mysterious sound. The sound got closer and closer. And they heard someone knocking on the door. Knock, knock, knock."Who's that?" said the old man. "Oh, it's so late," said his wife.　その日の真夜中、扉をたたくものがあります。

"Shall we open the door?" asked the wife. "OK," answereed the old man. They opened the door. Lo and behold, there wre lots of rice caked, rice, fish, miso, vegetables, New Year's Day decorations, and many other delicacies. "Wow, this is amazing!" the old man and his wife shouted.　扉を開けると、そこには、お正月のお餅やごちそうがいっぱい！

"Look! Those are ojizosama!" said the old man. They saw six ojizosama walking away in the distance. "These are from the ojizosama." the old man said. "Thank you very much, ojizosama," said the old couple who were deeply grateful.　遠くに夕方のお地蔵さまが歩いてるのが見えました。お地蔵さまからのプレゼントだったのです。

Thanks to the ojizosama, the old man and his wife were able to enjoy a lovely New Year's Day. And they both lived happily ever after.　お地蔵さまのおかげで、よいお正月が迎えられました。そして、おじいさんとおばあさんは、それからも幸せに暮らしました。

Taste of New Year お正月を味わう

Nano received Otoshidama, money gift from adults, for her first time from Grandma in Sendai. She grab and brought it to the mouth. 人生初のお年玉をもらい、すかさず口に持って行くナノカ。

Their house was new and warm, and Nano moved faster and freely. In this picture, she found wooden Daruma, the figure of the monk without arms and legs by training, and had a big bite.　木製のだるまを見つけて、突進して、かみつくナノカ。

We went to Sendai to meet parents in law for New Year holiday from Dec 30 to Jan 1. It was first time after 3.11 earthquake in Tohoku. Thanks to their new house, they even did not get injured at all and they were happy to welcome us. In the afternoon of Dec 31, husband drove through the area where tsunami hit. It was just 1 kiro meter from parents house and that was the port and river and area he played around in his childhood. The place was all blank. All the staff were took away and there were even no trash now. It seemed me to be flat field all my sights, but husband told me there were houses and buildings all over. We found some houses stood but close to see, we found all the windows were broken and blank in the first floor. It was filled with unnatural silence. He was speechless. So did I. We drove beside the junior high school we saw on the news. Only people who escaped to higher stories survived. I just imagined what the tragedies happened at that time and held tight Nano in my arms.
People there tried to live daily life. They tried to get over the incidents. Even for us in Yokohama earthquake and unclear accident were shocking. I could not imagine how much lives of people there has changed after that. But still the lives go on and we have to stand. All the people seek hopes to the next.
2011 was surely the hardest year for Japan. For me and husband, Nano was born in this special year and she was growing like a strong tree bud. Husband and I followed that hopes every day. It was the words that many people already said, but I recognized that it was so true that kids are hopes of the society.
For 2012, I set up ordinal goal, "find the balance of work and family. Several book projects will come true. Possibly go to family trip (best it New York)" It is our generations' rules-keep living, not losing hopes, respecting each other, being happy and uniting with family and friends.
１２月３０日から１月１日まで、仙台の相方の実家のじじさま、ばばさまに、育ったナノカを見せに行ってきました。実家は家を震災の前年に新築していたため、怪我もなく、日常生活を取り戻していました。ナノカもたくさんの人に囲まれ、とても、楽しかったようです。
買い物に出た時、相方が、港の方へ車を走らせました。小さな頃から、釣りをしに自転車を走らせた道なのだそうです。がれきの撤去が終わっていて、はじめて目にする私には、えんえんと続く広い平地のようにしか見えませんでしたが、そこには、かつて建物が並んでいたそうです。ニュースで見た中学校や、建物の横も通りました。その瞬間の事を想像する事すら恐ろしく、二人とも、言葉少なく、私はナノカを抱きしめるだけでした。遠く離れた私達にすら、ショッキングだった出来事。そこに暮らす人たちは、どれだけの傷を背負ってるのでしょう。でも、生活も家族もそこには存在している。人々は、日常を取り戻そうと、模索してるように見えました。
２０１１年は、日本にとって、確かに、つらい年でした。一方で、私達にとっては、ナノカが生まれ、生活が一転した年でもあります。この特別な年に、私自身はおろおろもしましたが、当のナノカは、お構いなしに、木の芽のように、強く、たくましく、育っていきます。その姿を見ていると、物事はポジティブな方向に向かっているように思えてきます。月並みな表現になってしまいますが、「子供は、希望」なのだと実感します。
２０１２年の抱負を、私は、あえて、「仕事と子育ての両方を楽しむ。絵本のプロジェクトを何冊か、形にする」という、現世的なものにしました。日常を取り戻して、一歩ずつ前に進むのが、私達、現役世代の今の役割だと、思うからです。
お正月は、「今ある幸せ」をあらためて、感じる日なんでしょうね。