Eden Hope

Elina Marie 9lbs 4 oz

2010-03-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well it has been so long since we have updated. We have had a crazy few days. Elina Marie came into the world March 26th at 6:16am after a 3 1/2 hour labor. Thats right folks that was a quick entrance! Luckily we were planning a home birth, because we probably wouldn't have made it to the hospital. Everything looked good for the sweet lil one, but two hours after the birth, we noticed a dusky color in her face and labored breathing. She ended up being airlifted to Providence and we will be here a week. She is such a trooper, a strong lil one. She is nursing great, and is finally breathing great without extra oxygen. She is definitely on the mend.

We have felt so much love, prayers and support from family and friends during this time, and we sincerely appreciate it!

Meanwhile Eden is having a blast with both sets of Grandparents. She isn't quite sure what to think of her baby sister. We wish so much to be at home with our two girls, but since that has to wait a week we are so grateful to be near to our family that loves and dotes on Eden, and makes her feel so special during this unusual time.

Summer Re-Cap

2009-09-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

Trip to Minnesota

Eden rompin' around Great Grandpa and Grandma's Farm

Playing with the Kitten Peaches

Dress Up time!

4th of July!

Snuggle with Grami

Crazy goggle girl!

Home-again home-again jigity-jig

2009-05-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

We are home and totally enjoying the Pacific Northwest. We feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Ohimesama- Princess

2009-03-13T00:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we got a chance to wear traditional Japanese Kimono's and Eden wore a Yukata. It was a wonderful experience that we will treasure for a lifetime. Our friend's Grandmother and Mother dressed us and the Grandmother called Eden 'Ohimesama' and Eden liked that very much, I guess she knows that it means Princess.

A kiss for Tsukasa

The Star of the show

Ohimesama

We love Our Little Girl!

2009-02-09T23:16:00.000-08:00

Lately Eden has been testing the limits and trying to figure out who is the boss around here, US or HER! It can get pretty messy with her RAW emotion and disappointment, but she is learning little by little the tantrums are getting fewer. I hope :)

The Warm-suit

2009-02-07T04:09:00.000-08:00

Eden doesn't necessarily like the warm-suit, but she knows she has to wear it when we go outside. It has been a cold winter, especially because we don't have a car and we are always taking bicycles or walking outside, this thing is a must :)

2009-02-01T23:50:00.000-08:00

Our friend Kentaro came to visit us last week. We all had a great time. Here we are taking 'purikura' which are popular photo booths in Japan.

2009-02-01T23:44:00.000-08:00

Sitting on the Shelf

2009-01-16T00:27:00.000-08:00

P.S. You may have noticed that she has shoes on on the house (and we live in Japan, a huge no no) But she is in love with shoes of all kind and so these are her inside shoes, never been worn outside, kinda the same as slippers, right!?!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-30T04:32:00.000-08:00

New Year's is the biggest holiday in Japan

Here we are at the famous Thunder Gate in Asakusa

Eatin Okonomiyaki with Tsukasa

Making Mochi

This Video is when we made mochi (which is mashed rice)

Mochi is used in many Japanese style desserts, snacks and meals.

Making Mochi is a New Year's tradition, and we were

so happy to be apart of it this year :)

On a slight side-note, Americans see a man in the moon right? Well the Japanese see a bunny, holding the wooden hammer above his head making mochi!

Christmas Time

2008-12-30T04:21:00.000-08:00

Baby doll from Grami Tami and Adorable rain coat made by Nana Sandra

Thank you so much!

Crab puppet

Despite being far from Home this Christmas, we have felt so blessed!

Big Girl

2008-12-30T04:16:00.001-08:00

Hug for Teddy

Playing at the park

This Girl has got it going on!

2008-12-10T03:47:00.001-08:00

Eden has mastered the picto-chat on Daddy's Nintendo DS

Here we are checking out Eden's picture in the Department Store Ad

What a fun gal you are Eden!

December

2008-12-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

Eden getting bundled up and ready for bed in her Panda suit

So excited about her new footie pajamas from Ash

Eden hugging her Elephant from Isla

(Ash thanks so much for sending us stuff, We feel so loved)

The month of November (so far...)

2008-11-22T05:12:00.000-08:00

We have been having a wonderful November. It started out with Mommy's 22nd Birthday. And it was the first time I had to cook my own Birthday Dinner (SHOCK) And this is only because I am living in a foreign country, otherwise I know my Mama would have been right on it! But I didn't deviate from the plan, I slaved away on a roast with mashed potatoes and gravy (my fave) and Grandma's Neopoltian Cake (also my fave:)

OKAY back to Eden...

LOTS of time at the Park

And some more!

Playing with baby Yoshua (so cute)

And bundling up, because it is getting COLD!

And next week brings Thanksgiving! We will have a houseful to celebrate the "American" Holiday, and I am so happy I found a Turkey (very rare in Japan) and it actually fits in my tiny tiny oven and stuff to make Pumpkin Pie (also very rare).

Grape Picking

2008-11-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

In October we went to a vineyard with our wonderful friends, Hideki and Tsukasa, and ate as many grapes and we could fit into our bellies!

Thank you so much for taking us all the way to Yamanashi-ken for this wonderfully delicious experience.

Koen-- Japanese park

2008-11-15T04:25:00.000-08:00

Eden loves the Park

And she loves the slide!

But her favorite thing about the park...

Is the sand/dirt!!!

She could play with it for hours, and completely ignore the slide.

Hats!

2008-11-13T04:49:00.000-08:00

Eden absolutely loves hats! And hat is one of the few words that Eden uses on a daily basis. Probably used more than Mom and Dad. Eden doesn't use many words yet, but she communicates well using signs and other gestures to get the point across.

Busy-Bee

2008-11-06T04:18:00.000-08:00

Eden is a busy little girl. She is always walking around the house, playing with her toys, or getting into something!!!

This a rare sight during the day... Eden SLEEPING! She has always been not so good at napping, but lately she thinks she is old enough to skip the naps altogether. The other day I was sitting next to Eden and the next thing I knew, she was asleep! Rarely, rarely, does this happen!!!

Bye-Bye

2008-11-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

Eden loves to go Bye-bye. Often times I find her standing by the door waving, which means she wants to go out!

"Can we go now!??"

Week off

2008-10-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

We spent 4 days in Utsunomiya (where Evan lived for 2 years when he was a boy) with friends. Here are some pictures from the trip:

With Michiyo (who let us stay with her)

At Sachiko's having a wonderful Lunch

Eden enjoying her ice (she loves ice!!)

Here is Eden walking, clapping, and also bowing like the Japanese do.

Also Eden said her first Japanese words yesterday!!! I was so shocked. All day I had been singing a cute childrens song to her in Japanese. And later that night I sang it again and she mimicked one line of the song perfectly!

Eden-chan Eden-chan, doko ni iru no?

(Eden Eden, where are you?)

Koko desu koko desu, koko ni imasu.

(Here Here, I'm right here!)

Anyway, she said "Koko desu" so clearly. And the funnest part was, we had some Japanese friends over for dinner, so they were just as shocked as I was!

Fun times, our little silly girl is growing and changing in leaps and bounds these days. It is exciting to see her learning everyday.

Also, I made these boots for Eden for this winter. They turned out better that I thought they would, so I was so excited. I got all the fabric from the thrift shop for only 100 yen each. That makes for some cheap winter boots.

First Concert

2008-10-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Passion World Tour Tokyo Monday night. And We couldn't find a babysitter for Eden, so she came along. It was her first concert, and she loved it!! It was a little loud, but she didn't seem to mind. So happy she was such a good sport, staying up way past her bedtime.

Japanese Nature

2008-10-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

Playing by the pond

Koi Fish

Pretty Butterfly

Sewing

2008-10-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying being creative and sewing lately, and Eden loves to watch and point at the sewing machine.

Fun at the Park

2008-09-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Going down the roller slide with daddy!

Eden like climbing up the slide!

Lil' Cutie!

Goodbye Summer

2008-09-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

The hot summer days are coming to a close and we are moving into Fall! This is Eden playing in the Tama River in August. The weather is cooling down and the humidity has dropped, which makes me very happy!

laundry girl

2008-09-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

a one year old!

2008-08-31T05:43:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to our little Eden. She has changed our lives in so many ways! And we just can't imagine life without the little HAM!

2008-08-28T06:09:00.000-07:00

We are so happy to have Grami Tami and Uncle Chad visiting us in Japan for two weeks. Eden just loves the company! Can't you just stay here forever :)

2008-08-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a fun summer vacation, visiting friends is Komatsu and Osaka.

coolin off at the river

2008-08-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

Eden loves the water! And she looks adorable in her little swimsuit:)

water fun

2008-07-13T05:02:00.000-07:00

Hot weather brings more plastic-bin pool fun! And Eden's new favorite fakey-scrunchy smile!

A trip to Toys R Us and Eden's new favorite pet. Which was 7350 yen, No thank you :) We'll just ride you at the store:)

pearlies

2008-07-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

On top of all that we have been busy doing, Eden is working on her own thing. TEETH! This is the best picture I could get of her three emerging pearly whites!

BUSY BUSY

2008-07-09T05:18:00.000-07:00

We have had a very busy week, full of fun and friends!
For the 4th of July we had some friends stay with us and went downtown.

We made a fort out of linens drying on the deck!

We ate lots of food!

We played with water on the deck!

We got a new helmet (still a bit big)!

And played with new friends from Hawaii!

The weather has been really hot and humid, but it hasn't seemed to phase our little sweetie!

out n' about

2008-06-29T03:09:00.000-07:00

rainy day

2008-06-24T02:51:00.000-07:00

Now thats what I call an Umbrella Stroller!

crawling...

2008-06-24T02:47:00.000-07:00

eden has officially started crawling. we are so proud, the little scooter decided it was time to stretch out!

Marin's Birthday

2008-06-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

Eden's little friend, Marin had us over to celebrate her 1st Birthday!

summertime

2008-06-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

eden being outside, especially down by the river.

festival fun

2008-06-16T02:10:00.000-07:00

we enjoyed a fun day at the "hotaru matsuri" a fire-fly festival. eden enjoyed riding with dad and looking at all the people.

Fun with Friends

2008-06-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

Eden loves to make friends. She's our little social butterfly!

Toy Box Fun!

2008-05-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

Eden played and lounged in the school toy box for nearly two hours! Happy 9 Months little Edie!

jaunty-mama

2008-05-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

our main mode of transportation in the warm weather, the bicycle!

new favorite toy

2008-04-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

An Orange!

She loves standing up:)

it takes alot to stand alone...

2008-04-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

but Eden has got it down!

new shades

2008-04-04T01:32:00.001-07:00

Eden is a cool cat in her new shades, thanks auntie Carol:)

Miho Visits

2008-03-31T00:48:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend Miho came for a visit and little Eden couldn't keep her eyes off her! We love you Miho, thank you for coming:)

Curious Panda

2008-03-27T03:02:00.000-07:00

New apartment New things=Fun for Everyone

Fun and kisses for Mama

2008-03-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Eden and Daddy

2008-03-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

She loves her Daddy!

teething

2008-02-19T23:32:00.000-08:00

mommy and baby are both teething, literally... Mama's getting a wisdom tooth and Eden's working on her two front teeth:)

food

2008-02-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

eden enjoyed her first bite of the grown up world. sweet potatoes.

little by little

2008-02-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

Eden's hair is growing!

tummy time and rolling over

2008-01-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

2008-01-16T20:45:00.000-08:00

she is so interested in what we are eating, and gets so frustrated that she doesn't get anything yet. however, she loved this empty milk carton!

thumb-sucker

2008-01-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

edens new favorite thing... her thumb!

fun

2008-01-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

eden did great on the 10 hour plane ride to Japan, she was such a champ! now we are settling into the cold, and bundling up!

life in japan...

2008-01-16T20:28:00.000-08:00

cold!

christmas eve

2007-12-27T22:19:00.000-08:00

the life of the party!

bundle of joy

2007-12-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

2007-12-27T22:15:00.000-08:00

yummy hands!

eden and kaden

2007-12-27T22:13:00.000-08:00

2007-10-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

my favorite pumpkin pie!

2007-10-28T20:12:00.001-07:00

sweet baby

2007-10-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

one month old

2007-10-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Family

2007-09-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

2007-09-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

2007-09-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

eden sleeping with grami tami

2007-09-23T12:37:00.002-07:00

smile

2007-09-23T12:37:00.001-07:00

2007-09-23T12:27:00.001-07:00

2007-09-23T12:26:00.001-07:00

2007-09-23T12:25:00.001-07:00

2007-09-23T12:24:00.001-07:00

Baby Eden

2007-09-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Eden Hope Erickson was born August 29th at the Bellingham Birth Center. She weighed 9lbs 3oz and was 22 inches long.