Furniture update, 100 yen store and water aerobics

so as of this moment no one knows where our furniture is. We will hopefully get word tomorrow. Figures.
Last night we were bored. We were going to go to the pool, but it is closed Mondays, so no go. We decided to go check out the nearest 100 yen plaza....ooohhh ahhhhh. We got a lot of cool stuff - rice ball molds, suction cup toohtbrush and razor holders (awesome cause the whole bathroom is tile, and suction cups work all over, toothbrushes (since ours are out there in the ocean somewhere), lacquer soup bowls, and Tom's ice cube trays (long thin ice cubes good for water bottles and big ass ice cube ball maker good for I have no idea - maybe giving someone a black eye). Anyhow 1785 yen later and we were out of there. Will be back...lots of cheaper stuff than commissary.
Water aerobics - finally made it on time and in the right spot last Friday. It was great and you can use the equipment during rec time without the teacher, so I plan to go on other days and use what I learned. I will still also attend the class. It was the lightest I have felt in a couple months, and the weight off my back was great! It rained while we were doing the class,and rain and sunglasses with contacts while in the pool just does not work! It was still fun though!
Sofia is totally blowing the kick counts out of the water...her average is about 14 min for 10 kicks! They give you 2 hours for 10, so I think we are good, and yes it is like that all the time....day or night! Like I said before - if I make it out with one good kidney and my liver intact I will consider myself lucky!

Furniture cluster$%#^!

ok so I might be a little upset now! The TMO is tracing our furniture because no one knows where it is...even the carrier who transported it overseas!
My take - it all got sold in Juarez! I put in calls this morning to El Paso to see what the movers stateside are able to find out, and am in the process of calling the movers on this side. So now there is a possibility that all our stuff is lost, and they will be reimbursing us accordingly. That is all fine and dandy except for the question of how long that will take, and oh yeah I am pregnant and due soon! So we will see what happens. Keep you all posted.
On a happier note - We found our doula, and she is great! She has birthed 7 kids...3 of her own and was a surrogate for 2 sets of twins! She said she really likes being pregnant! Glad someone likes it!
We aren't really getting out too much anymore, as it really doesn't take much these to set of the Braxton Hicks. Had another episode after cleaning house this weekend. Are you kidding me?!
Oh and my perfect new car is back in the shop getting the electric windows fixed, which were possessed! Also the backside door never worked - new that before purchase. So one more week without it! Let me tell you though - the few days I did have it were heaven!!
Anyhow...hopefully this will all pass quickly and we will be onto living our lives here.
I miss you all very much!

Doulas and water aerobics

Well today Tom gets off early from work, so we can go meet with 2 doulas. We are hoping for a little extra birth support, and someone that can relieve Tom of duties if it is a long labor. It took a little time to find them...everyone is either leaving or coming to the island right now.
Also in about an hour I am going to water aerobics...missed Wed, as I thought I knew where the pool was, but was wrong...then found it...saw that is was an outdoor pool...realized that I had no sunblock....so that ended that.
After the pool I am going to get my hair cut. I also postponed that as I was feeling really yucky yesterday, and took a nap instead.

You can now fell heels and fists through my tummy...it is really weird!

Good news though - I got my fabulous awesome new car!!! I love it!

3 days of diapers!

Well all this is what 3 days of diapers looks like! Holy moly! I am spending the next few days washing and putting them together in prep for first few days. I am very pleased so far...very easy to use and sooooo soft!
Last night was the first for some Braxton Hicks contractions....not so fun. Taught me a lesson about how much I am able to do these days. We had gone to 4 stores to run errands, and apparently all that walking and exertion did me in. Now the plan is 1-2 stores and for smaller amounts of time. Tom was a trooper...he was cute! They lasted about an hour, and I had to lay in bed for about 1 hour 20 min. I was supposed to go to the 2nd phase of Japanese class, but I am going to skip that and take it easy today.
I am going to put diapers together...you will all see what I mean when you come....be prepared - the down side of my diapers....lots of prep time. We bought 36 though, so it gives you a little leeway in getting prep done.
Yesterday we also designed and bought, and assembled our "backyard". I will have Tom take pics today. I need to plant all the plants. I set up a water garden as well with Japanese lotus and 4 leaf clovers! Never seen that before! We still need to get a cafe table and a trellis on which we will hang some orchids....yep they just hang here with roots bare and dangling, as the humidity is so high. Gorgeous though...biggest blooms I have ever seen.

Finally got our packages!

We finally received the packages that we mailed about 5 weeks ago from Modesto! We also got the package of diapers! Will add pic later, but 3 days of diapers sure does take up a big box! The diapers are better than I expected...they are soooo soft, and cute colors! So I started all the washing last night, and can now start to prepare a little for Sofia's arrival. I am starting to feel a little relieved! The only things left we have to get are a baby/toddler tub, and grooming kit. Maybe a spout protector, but what is this thing anyway?? I never had one when I was growing up. Is a spout really that dangerous?

HELP!

So we are in the process of picking Sofia's middle name, and we both like Izumi. However, this makes her initials SIN. Are we committing her to walk the streets as a criminal? Please see poll above,leave a comment, or both. Thanks! We have plenty of other names we like, so we can pick another.

Health update

Well the Dr.'s office called today, and no gestational diabetes! Yippee! However, I am slightly anemic. Not that big of a worry...just an iron pill w/ vitamin C pill is what they want me to do.
Hopefully Sofia will arrive in 10 weeks or so...I am so done being pregnant!
That is all for now...until July 1st...next appt.
We are scheduled for the "Baby Bootcamp" here in the next month or so...should be fun...Tom gets to wear a sympathy belly! I will be sure and get pics!

Ok so here is the story about my new car...

Our trip here has been riddled with irony and obstacles....what is new? Anyhow...the latest I thought is pretty funny.
So I have told some of you , but for others the pre story is this....
We were still in El Paso at the time...and Tom tells me he already found a car and has committed to buying it. I ask him "what is it?" He tells me it is black. He has a picture. This is of course the only information needed when buying a car right? So he shows me the picture....coupe, black sporty car. OK...so I look at my belly and at then at him, and explain to him that 4 doors will be nice.
We arrive on island, and pick up car. POS - dirty, so low to the ground that my rear has bandaids and getting in and out requires hoisting or Tom pushing me up and out. So also let me explain that the cars in Japan are small....very small. Tom's head is an inch from the roof and knees are almost in steering wheel. hahhahha. Saving features of car - only source of transportation, new tires, and I think new transmission. Why they didn't just junk it I don't know. Hilarious part - Tom drives it to work and when we are out and about...big marine with pink "Carolina girl" sticker on back window! ahhahahah oh and every panel ...let me rephrase...every square inch is dented or scratched.
ok so I find the perfect car for my car....white box on wheels...4 doors...very clean inside, trunk room for stroller, and big roomy backseat for carseat. Wednesday the owner and I go to change over the title etc., and when his wife is leaving to bring back the car for me to pay them and receive my beautiful non low car......some guy plows into the back of it 4 times while she is stopped at a stop sign! Are you kidding me?! I am now waiting for the car to be repaired...it is at the shop. 100% paid for by other driver, but I was so excited to drive that thing!
Alas I am learning to have patience that can not be deterred by anything!
Side note - yep still waiting on our furniture....living with air mattress, dining room table, and Sofia's room has a dresser. That is it....well we have pots and pans, towels etc. that I sent in our early shipment. However, if we do not receive our shipment soon I believe that I will be unable to get up from this air mattress at some point!

So this is my life right now....despite setbacks I am having a great time, and am now laughing at all the stupid things that happen. Hey it is not El Paso!!!

Ikei Island (ii-keh-ii island)

Beautiful!
This is Ikei Beach. It is about 30 min away, and you drive through another island to get to it and one bridge. The drive is really scenic, and we are going to go back and take pictures of the drive. The beach was sandy with a little coral here and there. The water was clear and very nice. They had lots of amenities....tables with awnings and barbecues, umbrella rental, jet ski rental, glass bottom boat tours, etc., Japanese restaurant, American style food cafe, bathroom and showers. However, in the bathroom I saw a spider that was the diameter of a good size orange...scary! The swimming was great although I had not realized how hard that was going to be with way less lung capacity, so it turned into more of a Tom holding on to me, and we walked a bit. I am hoping we can have barbecues here with friends, but it is far away for most of them...they live or will be living at other bases.
Today I had my gestational diabetes screening...not so bad, but I have never had such a sugary drink! Then later in the afternoon I went for a prenatal massage at the gym. It was awesome, and I plan to go back. Not much else going on this week. Waiting for the car I bought to get out of the shop...long story...maybe next post. Maybe we will have another fun adventure this weekend pending rain. I will also attempt to get a hair cut in a Japanese salon down the street...we will see what happens! oh yeah - I got to sport my "big momma" bathing suit which does a good job of hiding what pregnancy does to ones body!

Sofia's first Japanese books!

Well this weekend was rainy, so no sightseeing. Instead we did some shopping. We found our rugs at a great shopping center that is has 3 parts...an IKEA type store, a high end furniture store where you can custom order anything, and a store like Bed Bath and Beyond/ Macy's homestore. It was great!
Today we went to the San A again, and talked with the kimono people...going to wait until next month to buy, but while we were there I found my new favorite kimono fabric...too bad it was $6000. We bought Sofia her first Japanese books with feely textures, colors, shapes, and animals. I also bought a few bedtime books, so I can start reading to her now. Our shipment of household goods has the English books...sure wish it would get here! We are off to watch Robin Hood in about 30 min., so hope you all had a great weekend!
Picture is Whiskers totally content in her new lounge area...guess boxes and excessive paper are the up side (for cats) to moving!

25 week Dr. appt.

Well everything is normal! I finally got the results from the ultrasound done at 20 weeks, and no abnormalities were detected. Still a girl! All of the genetic screenings were negative as well! She a little smaller than average, but still within normal range. They are measuring her as about 4 days smaller than I am actually, but that is fine by me! Due dates are never accurate either...so. I will have my gestational diabetes test next week, and my next Dr. visit will be July 1st ish (29 weeks). I am a hefty 140 lbs now, and I can't imagine that my belly is going to get bigger, but it is! Now that we are settled I am getting about a mile a day walk for exercise and will start water aerobics end of June here at the base pool. I am excited to use my big momma bathing suit...will post pics, but not of my thighs! hahhahah!
We found out yesterday that our big shipment of household goods (furniture and everything basically)may not get here until July 1st. Tom is really frustrated, as our paperwork said latest it will be delivered to us is June 16th. We will see what happens. It does leave me with only about 2 months to get the nursery and house unpacked and set up, so that will be a tight finish! We also need carpets in all rooms, and found out last night after picking out all the rugs from Lowe's that their are weight and size restrictions when shipping to FPO, so we are going to furniture stores this weekend out in town to try and find stuff.
Good news is they were able to ship the toilet pipe that we need to fit the Cat Genie to the toilet! Tom, the cats and I totally miss that thing. Regular litter sucks!
We also had our first basic Japanese class, and Tom did very well...we learned a lot of stuff, but we have one week until next class to practice. I think it will totally be useful for Tom conversationally...they don't teach any reading or writing, so I am working on that with him at home. I signed up for the next set of classes, but they go while Tom is working, so I will bring him the lessons.
Well I am off to mail a letter to relatives Akemi and Hiroshi from the Japanese post office...I guess if you mail it from base it potentially will go to US and then back to Japan = total waste, so going to do my walk and find a post office. Then later when Tom gets home we are going to the Makeman to buy house slippers and noren curtains. The really good slippers were at the San A, so we might end up there as well. So all you that are coming be prepared - shoes will only go to entry way of house...you will each get your own house slippers! Arigato gozaimas! ありがとうございます

Memorial Day weekend

Todays post is not so much about Sofia, as I have not had any interesting Dr. visits since we got here, and the only things that are going on are lots of movement (you can see it through my skin, and it is really freaky), belly is growing a lot, and I am tired and eating all the time! Instead I will talk about our journeys around town, as Sofia is with us.
This was our first semi non-rainy weekend in Okinawa, and we had a fabulous time! It will be a while before we can post pictures, as the card to get the photos from the camera is on its way here....still no word on that. Hopefully within a few weeks!
Tom got Sat. through Tues off! Sun. we went grocery shopping at Foster (40 min away from our base - Courtney), and then decided to go to a rug auction. We have linoleum tile floors throughout the house, so we are in desperate need of rugs. My favorite rug was worth 14K and sold for 3K ish, so obviously we came home empty handed, but it was lots of fun! It was raining so bad on our way in that even with an umbrella my clothes did not dry ever. We ran into a friend of Tom's from college there - that is always how it is from one base to the next! We met up with them for dinner at a Thai restaurant, which was great! They are on their way out to Rhode Island...oh well.
Mon. was rainy still, so we decided to go check out a few local stores. I guess my Japanese is still ok (could be much better- working on it) because I was able to get a toilet part and get an estimate on a kimono made from scratch with matching obi only using Japanese! Whoo hoo! So back to the shopping - this is the summary:

Makeman - Home Depot/Super Target. Very fun, and ice cream and shaved ice in garden center.

2 bird store (has a Japanese name, but we call it this because it has 2 birds) - AWESOME! Tom and my new favorite grocery store. We like the fresh fish, chunks of maguro (tuna) that make you drool for sushi, reasonable/cheap prices for the seafood, variety of sake, bento boxes...yummm, oh and I really like the bakery/cake section! I am sure Tom does, too. He is just worried it will start a routine of cakes in the house every day!

San A - Mall or big big Circuit City and mall squished together - AWESOME too! This is where I found the kimono maker and the shoe heaven for small footed people! We ate at the food court - Tom got a bowl of rice with nori (dried seaweed) and sashimi maguro, and side of soup. I got wakame (type of wet seaweed) udon. Super tasty! Tom wants to go back to electronics, and me back to the shoes, but I am waiting until after Sofia is born, as hopefully my feet will shrink back to non puffy status!

So we had more stores in mind, but were invited to a rooftop barbecue in our building, so we headed home. I was so tuckered out I took a 45 min nap before we made an appearance. We met 4 couples, and we are all pretty new to the island, so it is nice to make friends with people who aren't leaving soon. We think though most were Lieutenants and Captains, so not sure if Major is really supposed to be hanging out with them, but we will see what happens.
Not at the party - but there are 3 other women all due around the same time as me, so we are hoping to form a "mommy" group for support and friendship. Looking forward to it!
Tues. was finally sunny! We had to run to base hardware store (trying to get the Cat Genie hooked up, and having some issues). While we were there we checked out the Scuba store and the Furniture store (infested with mold - totally not buying anything from there). Wasn't much selection anyhow. Found out that we can't even order parts we need, so having Lowe's ship us plumbing parts and rugs. We will see how that goes! After about noon we decided to get on the road (stopping at the 2 bird store for bento lunch)to Bios on the Hill. Natural park place with boat and canoe rides, big orchid nursery (Bobbie you will just be in heaven), goats, pigs, chickens, water buffalo (to feed and to take a cart ride), and wooden jungle gyms and swings for kids to play. Beautiful scenery...Tom got lots of pics. I was expecting a little more from the boat ride, but no biggie. We got to feed the goats and water buffalo...that was fun! This will be a great place to take Sofia when she can walk and stuff. At the end we entered the orchid nursery, and OMG - BEAUTIFUL! They also had a basin of water that had the fish that will eat the dead skin off your feet! Did not try as I was in sneakers, but hilarious! We will go back to buy a few orchids once I get the patio set up, and maybe I will try the fish then! We were there until about 5 pm. We headed back...feet totally swollen and feeling like cement blocks stuck to my legs! Got a few bites from mosquitoes while there, but I was able to smack down 2 to their death after as they were sucking on me - those commi bas%&*(s!
Today I woke up itching, and Sofia is still moving and kicking me...she has laid off the bladder some thank goodness!
Next weekend pending sun we are going to Ikei island to take a scenic drive and relax on the beach!
Dr. appt Thurs, and we are also starting a Japanese class on Thurs night.
Until next post - we miss all of you!