A new baby brother!

I arrived safely in Indiana very late at night and while waiting at the airport luggage carousel who should suddenly hug my leg but Luka!

Tony was actually on a business trip for another two days so we were all relieved that at least Leiya had some adult company (me) for the next couple of days.

Leiya was VERY pregnant but didn't seem to be uncomfortable.  We figured we had 8 to 10 days before the baby arrived and so from the next day we started weeding though what she wanted to get done.  Clean out cupboards, do some grocery shopping, buy fabric for two quilts that she wants me to make.   

It was decided that I will take care of laundry and general cleaning while I am here and though I have offered to do the cooking if someone will give me a recipe and go shopping, so far Tony has taken over that role.

Luka has started preschool three days a week and so that was to be on the schedule, and Leiya had a doctor's appointment already on the calendar.  

After Tony got back from his business trip, we got to JoAnne's leaving Luka in his care.  It took FOREVER for the two of us to buy two sets of fabric for two quilts plus some stuff that I thought I might make use of myself once I was back in Japan.  I can not believe the prices for fabric at JoAnnes!!

We came home in a snowstorm and settled in for the night.

The fireplace is so nice!

Of course Luka wanted to go out and play in the snow so this evening Leiya and Luka and I headed outdoors.

I came prepared!

Leiya, Luka and Tony cooking dinner.

Tony is fantastic at just throwing things together and turning it all into a great meal and Luka is learning early how to work in the kitchen.

I sit around drawing pictures...

But that all changed on the morning of February 18th!!  I woke up at 7:00 and came downstairs and Leiya casually mentioned that she'd sent me a text (which I didn't see as I hadn't looked at my phone yet) and that her contractions had begun at 1:00.  She'd sent Tony to the gym as is often his custom in the mornings, and she was straightening things up and getting things ready for the hospital, BUT she didn't think the baby would be coming this day as it had taken Luka awhile to arrive.  I was concerned that it seemed like her contractions sure were coming close together and was very relieved when Tony got home around 8:30!  After a call to the hospital, they decided to head out after all with me practically pushing them out the door as THE HOSPITAL WAS 45 MINUTES AWAY!!!    

As it turned out, Leiya and Tony did make it to the hospital in time... And the baby arrived 45 minutes later!!!  A very fast delivery!

Daddy admiring his new son!

And the new mommy of two boys!

Luka and I stayed home alone for a day and a half with no problems whatsoever.  We had a sleep over in my bed and made a block baby to welcome his new baby brother home!

A week in California

We have had a whirlwind couple of weeks.  The short story is that Tetsu and I spent a week with Takumi and Julieta, Tetsu flew home to Japan, I flew to Indiana and a week later there is a new baby in the house!

The trip to Narita Airport was uneventful and the flight to California wasn't a full flight so we had some room to spread out.

Takumi picked us up in LA and we had a three hour drive back to his house.  Julieta came home from work a couple of hours later and we settled in getting caught up on their lives.

Father and son.

This was a surprise quilt that I made for Takumi so I'm just showing it now...  I haven't done a Wonky Words quilt in quite awhile!  I also brought Julieta the latest Labyrinth quilt that I'd been working on so now she has two...

A bullet journal spread dedicated to the doggies.

Tetsu had jet lag but the doggies kept him company.

While we were in California, Julieta bought a new car...

Takumi fixed Tetsu's computer...

And Takumi and I worked on jigsaw puzzles (which I love but I feel like I'm getting more accomplished if I am putting together quilts so I don't do puzzles often on my own.)

This was a fun one because it had a twist at the end!

We got to spend time with my brother's family...

So good to get these family photos!

Brother and sister were never so hug-gie when we were younger.

Julieta makes my brother smile!

Do the cousins look alike?

The weather was gorgeous in California with the recent rains making the mountains stand out in white.  

I don't remember seeing so many mountains!

We drove through some interesting scenery!

The days went by too quickly.

We will miss the doggies.

Tetsu got along much better with them then he does with John at home.  (Which goes to show you that it is John who has the problem!)

We had a memorable week with Takumi and Julieta.

And then Tetsu and I went off on our separate ways...  Tetsu back to Japan and me on to Indiana. 

That only gets me up to last week....  I'll try to blog again as soon as possible for baby news, but I'm on call for housekeeping, cooking, and keeping Luka company!