And the last I is for....

[rkold]

So I should be working on my Japan trip since I am leaving tomorrow, but I am resting in bed because I am exhausted from NY Dolpa.

Some nice things happened, sumeragiskank, kosquarepelli and I were able to reunite a doll with her owner after we found the doll on the sidewalk while walking to my car. I was able to get two decent free parking spaces both days, I got to see my parents and my mom and I went to my favorite cafe in Larchmont for lunch on Friday. I got a chance to meet people and see other people I only see once a year. My new maternity dresses looked really pretty on. And I learned how to say "It's a girl" and another way to say "I'm pregnant" in Japanese. My mom had amazing super expensive conditioner that smelt ehhh but was amazing in my hair and I might have finally found something to use to wash my face with and which doesn't irritate my skin. It got rid of the dry skin on my arms and made me look even more like I was glowing. (though that might have been the pregnancy) I sort of want to buy some now...

I don't think a lot of people could tell I was pregnant. People mostly seemed surprised when I said I was. My belly got touched by lots of people lol Ryuchan was being somewhat active and is being active now. When I feel sad about something she kicks more as if to say "Don't be sad `mommy' I love you and I am with you." I feel so lucky to have her in my life already and she hasn't even been born yet. I know a lot of people I know don't like children and/or do not want any of their own, but I really wanted her and it means so much to me when I can feel her moving.

Thank you so much cc_lemon and blacktempest for my very first two baby gifts. It's so exciting for me to start to get things for her. Both your gifts were generous and extremely thoughtful.

Some things did not go as well as I would like this week end. As usual the food at the Dolpa was awful. I can understand why the food was awful, but it still makes me unhappy. A few other things were incredibly disappointing for me, but there is not much to be done about it.

Comments

[twotone]

Aw... *hugs*

I'm glad for the happy things and am sorry about the unhappy things. But yay for finding a good facewash, and yay for a healthy baby!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Overall, I sort of wish I had gone to Coventry instead >> For one thing the food is way better lol

So which is a better way to say "I'm pregnant"? "ninshin desu ga" or "ninshin shitimasu"?? I expect to need to be able to say this so I can get the sticker to get a priority seat on trains. >>;;;; And just because it is my favorite thing to talk about. lol

Ryu-chan likes to be more active when I am really sad to give me something to smile about. It means a lot to me, like when Cookie visits me in the bathroom when I am puking >>;

[twotone]

"Ninshin shite imasu" is "I am pregnant".

"Ninshin desu" is also nice and declarative. "Ninshin desu ga" is more like "I'm pregnant, but..." or "Um, I happen to be pregnant" (so might be better if someone challenges you?).

Just a warning, "Ryu-chan" is kind of a masculine-sounding name so people may be confused if you refer to Ryu-chan and say that you are having a girl. It might be simpler to say "akachan" for the benefit of strangers. :)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know my friend, akaisakura thought I was having a boy because I kept calling the baby "Ryu-chan" so I was careful not to use that nickname around Volks staff since I did not want to confuse them. I've mostly been sticking with calling her "my baby" and "my daughter" and "akachan." I guess I could use "Ryuko-chan?" Or is that completely made up sounding lol

And ok ninshin shite imasu is what I should use when asking JR for the sticker for my priority seats! :D

I think at the time I was asking my friend for help, it was in reference to asking people to please let me cut them for the toilet so I could puke <<;;; Fortunately, that should be less of an issue now, I hope! :D

If I can make it through today that will be 3 days, my longest run yet.

[twotone]

I'm glad to hear that it's hopefully less of an issue! Do you want to know the phrases for "I don't feel well" and "morning sickness", just in case?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yes please! *hugs* Also if you could please get me the addy for the Roppongi Lupicia and the Harajuku Lupicia I would be in your debt. (or it will just make it easier to get us both some tea, however you prefer I say it lol) I sort of remember how to get there but I just do not trust my memory now.

I know I feel bad is something I like "kimochi warui." Hopefully it will not be an issue. I am more worried about the flights now since I actually managed to eat after 7 2 days in a row without puking! I need to be careful with my prenatal vitamin since a good number of times I threw up this last week involved it.

[twotone]

Yup, "kimochi warui" and "kibun ga warui" will both communicate that you feel unwell. Morning sickness specifically is "tsuwari". I think it would be "tsuwari de kimochi warui" (I feel unwell from morning sickness) if you were using a full sentence.

Oh shoot! I was going to look up the Roppongi Lupicia store address for you, and it looks like it closed on May 31st?! They recommend that people go to Jiyuugaoka, Shibuya To-Yoko, or the Daikanyama Bon Marche instead. Is there another location that would be good?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Nooooooo Roppongi had the LEs later than everywhere else ;;_;; Uh uh uh, could you please give me: Harajuku (since they have all the destination LEs), Sendai, and uhhh either Jiyuugaoka or Shibuya? I have no idea where Daikanyama even is lol I so want to get the summer LEs. I am expecting to spend more on tea than anything else except the FCS I am ordering for someone.

And yeah!!! I should write everything down. Tsuwari. But yeah I think I am finally coming out of everything. Hopefully. I am slowly doing better, and I am starting to eat more. I ate almost as much as a normal person over the week end. I think my belly looks bigger and I realized my waist is gone o_O;

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Rachel, although I have never wanted children of my own, I am very happy to see that you have finally been able to get pregnant and I do think you and Kennis will make wonderful parents.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I hope we make good parents, I worry about that a lot. I really care about my baby even though I know she will be a huge change to my life and my relationships.

This week end just was disappointing at times and having her even though she was part of the complication made me feel a lot better.

[summer-queen.livejournal.com]

I have to echo the poster above, kids have never been my thing, but I'm always happy to see someone who really wants a little one around have their dream come true. ^_^

Hope you have a great time on the trip!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Thanks and I hope you find a way to go to AX. I just realized I am probably spending that entire period in Japan. >>;; I'm a little nervous about the weather and the heat, but hopefully it works out. I want to bring a face cloth or buy one there.

I know a lot of people I know are not interested in having their own, but she just makes me smile, whenever I can feel her move.

[paleonaturist.livejournal.com]

Ryu-chan's thoughtfulness at such a young age makes me smile. (^__^) I'm sorry that some things at Dolpa didn't go well for you, but think you were destined to be there, rather than Coventry. Without you, Sharon's would have been just another sad tale of New York....

((((Hugs))))

~Bruce

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I am really glad I was able to help Sharon, though honestly, I would have been happy to be able to reunite any owner with their missing doll. (not just Sharon, though I am glad we could make her in particular so happy!) I still only feel bad that we were unable to recover Quinn. I was really too exhausted to even consider that there might be other dolls in the carrier, though Kim did say she looked.

I'm so happy for you, though personally I vote the granddaughter is better than the Sei-tenshi even. And to think she was even born on Father's Day.

[mec]

Sounds like some much-deserved good things have been happening to you! I didn't realise your trip was quite so close - hope you have as smooth a flight as possible. I can't even imagine what flying with morning sickness would be like, ugh...

When I feel sad about something she kicks more as if to say "Don't be sad `mommy' I love you and I am with you."

Not into kids but that is an adorably cute way of looking at it!

Have a wonderful trip! Your baby will be a seasoned traveller before she is even born. *hugs*

[rkold.livejournal.com]

*hugs*, I already feel like my daughter is going to have a love travel in her blood like her mother (and unlike her father)

It was something of a mixed bag of things. I might post some time later about the less good parts, particular if no semi-miracle happens in the next 2 weeks. (which is the most likely occurrence.) The morning sickness is mostly gone now but the trip back in February was so so so awful. I am so glad I did not go for GW.

I like to try to be positive, though I would say she is more active now overall. :D

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I hope my trip is awesome too! I'm nervous about the flights but I am hoping Japan itself goes great. I just need to figure out all the hotels still lol I booked a good portion of it, but I might change some of the hotels. >>;

You so need to go back.

I bet there is something in LA this year. It is the 5 year anniversary. We got cards to fill out to wish a future happy birthday to Volks LA. So I personally think there will be something come November!

Yeah, it was a very lucky thing for the owner I only wish we could have gotten both dolls for her. It actually is good thought the bag had been rifled through as otherwise we would have had no idea there was anything doll related in it and I doubt we would have opened it/touched it.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yes, Shigeta-kaichou, Shigeta-san, Mikey, Shino, and Kuni were all there. The Shigeta parents weren't there the whole time but they did both attend part of the Dolpa. (Mikey and Shino ran the set up and the event until their father came.)

Shigeta-san touched my belly, though Ryuchan was not being active then and it is still hard for others to feel her. I think everyone was surprised as I don't look that pregnant.

The owner is very very lucky but I wish we had found both dolls. I feel guilty for not checking through garbage cans and around the area super closely today but supposedly her friends searched and honestly I am just always so tired post Dolpas.

I hope you make it to Tokyo!!!

[codename-windy.livejournal.com]

While I don't really want a child of my own, I don't have anything against children. My beef is with parents who fail in parenting, which results in badly behaving kids. However, I am sure that won't be an issue with your little one. *nodnod*. You obviousy truly want Ryuchan and you're quite likely as ready as one can possibly be for parenting. ^_~

Hopefully you feel better soon! Part of the sad mood might even be hormones...? (I get all sad two days before my periods without a fail and I imagine the hormones are causing even more havoc during pregnancy! x_X;; )

I do hope Japan will be better and happier experience than Dolpa! Get Ryuchan something cute from there! ^_^

[rkold.livejournal.com]

No, there are actual reasons I've felt down, but hopefully something happens and it all works out.

I do plan to try to be a responsible parent. I don't know about in Europe the cause for bad parenting but I think one of the causes in the US is, so many parents work such long hours that when they finally get to see their children they don't want to just spend it disciplining them. I think if parents had more options here it would really help.

I do hope to get things for Ryuchan! Assuming my credit and ATM cards all work....

[codename-windy.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear there was bad stuff. :/ Hopefully it has been/will get worked out!

There are probably various reasons why bad parenting happens. I'm sure your point of parents having to work too long hours is one. Personally I also tend to think that the modern day mentality of "me first!" plays a part too, with parents feeling entitled to carry on filling their own whims and desires. This is not to say that parents shouldn't do things for themselves or anything like that! Simply that having a child should make people do some re-arrenging of their priorities.

I would bet my money on you guys being responsible parents. ^_~ After all, you really want the baby, you have had time to mentally and emotionally reach the stage of your life where it feels right and you have had time to also pursue your own individual interests.

You're having problems with credit and ATM cards? Ick! Hopefully that gets resolved soon!

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful trip to Japan! <3

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!!! *hugs* And someday I will send you the gift I picked up for you in February! >>;

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

:D Hehe, no problem. I'd say you've been justifiably busy~!

[cc-lemon.livejournal.com]

It was so awesome to see you there and spend a little time together! I'm so glad you like the afghan I made for your wee daughter!

Safe travels in Japan!

[blacktempest.livejournal.com]

It wasn't much at all, but I hope she can use it! I wished I could have bought a toy instead because they're more fun lol but my luggage was stuffed to the max!

It was lovely getting to see you at Dolpa. Hope you're having a wonderful time in Japan now :D