Sigh...

Thanks to everyone for the advice on how to snap out of my bah humbug blues. I figure that it might happen on saturday when I help out at a Xmas party being held by one of my students who teaches English to kids, or if not I will get over it next week when I start making cards/crafts with my students during lessons. I will definitely have to start blasting Xmas carols in my car!!! On the bright side, I have found the perfect Xmas present for Joey. It is a book of animals and they have buttons to press where the animal makes the sound. The sounds are realistic and the only way I got him away from it yesterday was that my MIL bought him a different book that makes train/ crossing/siren noises! That said, I am sad today because it is my Mum`s birthday. This is another reason I get sad around this time of year because ALL the celebrations in my family (except my brother`s birthday) fall in December/January. First is my Mum`s birthday (13th) then Christmas, my Dad`s birthday is December 30th, then New year and then my birthday is January 6th and my parents` wedding anniversary is January 8th. We basically have a big month of celebrations but I have missed out for the past couple of years and it didn`t really bother me so much until recently but this year I am really feeling sad about it. Hopefully next year I will be at home with everyone to celebrate, but this time my brother will be in Australia!! Anyway, I shouldn`t whine, I am the one who chose to move to Japan in the first place! I guess having Joey has made me appreciate family and friends alot more and although I have wonderful friends here in kagoshima, I really do feel the pain of having my family so far away much more than I would if I didn`t have Joey. On the bright side, Joey has been a real joy recently. (although it makes me sad that my parents are missing out on seeing him at this stage) He is learning so much so fast and his language development has jumped up a gear in the past few weeks and I can no longer count the words he uses on two hands. He also chats alot but none of us know what he is trying to say. His daycare teachers asked me if it was English and I was like "no, I think it is Joey-go" (Joey`s own language, the Japanese for language is "go") They commented on how quickly he is growing and changing. That said, he does have stubborn annoying moments but lately he has been giving great big belly laughs and gorgeous smiles when he is happy/ amused and that more than makes up for it!! Daisuke and I actually went to the gym together last night for the first time. It was kind of fun going together although we will only do it once a month when MIL is here. I am going again tonight because that is when the aqua aerobics class is. I am really looking forward to it! I had forgotten how much I liked swimming/ being in the water!