We went over to my parents’ house last Sunday to do Okuizome (お食い初め) for Linc. Okuizome is one of the Japanese rituals held since the Heian period to celebrate your baby’s 100th day and to express a wish that your baby will have no trouble getting food for the rest of his/her life. Linc’s 100th day is August 5th, but we decided to do it just a little earlier.
What we do is to prepare a dinner that includes a big fish like a Tai (鯛, sea bream), soup with big clams, red rice, some stewed vegetables, and pickled vegetables. Each of those food should be served in a small lacquerware (塗物) dish (some sample images). Also, pick up some small stones in a shrine garden and put them beside the food to wish your baby strong teeth.
This is the traditional way to do Okuizome (I’m sure there are regional differences in details), but we decided not to use lacquerware and instead bought some nice oven-safe dishes that Linc can use when he starts eating solid foods. After you have the whole dinner ready, you do a little acting. As if your baby has started eating solid foods, you bring the food to his/her mouth. Linc had some spoons of warm water and was only mildly interested in the other dishes, but he was drooling the whole time. Linc is now a big boy and can sit up a little, and that seems to make him drool more.
Linc with his great grandmother. The age difference is just barely less than 97 years.
The chair he is sitting in is a gift from his uncle Mitsuhiro (満弘) and has been very useful. The seat back angle is adjustable and is usable from 0 to about 3 years old. It has a little table you can attach to and also swings back and forth and plays music.
After a while we heard him saying he was done with the food and wanted milk as a second course, so rest of us finished the food In the evening, we all went to Chinatown in Yokohama and enjoyed a Chinese dinner course. Peking duck is my favorite, yummy…
Its this big guy's turn for the spotlight. Just finished chatting with him on Skype and was struck, as always, by his insight and humor. Get well, Baby. Don't let that cold get the best of you. Take some Zicam.
UltraGirl
95.4
This girl has been lately leaving insightful comments on my posts, a move likely to ensure her a good ranking on the Oriko Leaderboard. Thanks, UltraGirl. I too am glad my camera returned from the Center of the Earth. And do give those cranberries another try.
UltraBob
95.3
k Has been a little busy, but hopefully that's good news for Akatombo Media. We keep missing each other on Skype, but we'll figure it out one of these days. Thanks for the comments. Someday I may finish writing about the trip!
Jim
95.2
Am a little disappointed cause I thought I was going to get to see this guy next weekend at Aunt Debi's wedding. Now he's not coming after all, which is probably a wise choice and all, but still drops him a bit in the Leaderboard ratings til I get over it. Give me another day or two. And he DID make me and UltraDad a super-awesome Anniversary Card with a fun guessing game. We're still waiting to hear....who won?
Heather
95.1
Hasn't been leaving comments, and refuses to share her taco dip recipe, but she did send UltraDad and me an absolutely gorgeous Anniversary card and cash for a dinner out, which we have already made use of. Thanks, Honey.
Polly
88.0
I'm going to leave this kitty up here ahead of the dogs for now. They are still barking at her at every juncture, and as far as I can see, the only thing she does to instigate it is to exist.
Murphy the Wonderdog
87.9
Doesn't bark at Polly as much as his little demon-brother, but does bark at said brother way too much. Murphy, you are the (relatively speaking) "Big Dog". If you want the chewbone Rowdy has, don't bark at him; take it away from him!
Rowdy
75.0
Still too much barking, and a little too much pooping and peeing in the house. Is starting to learn a few tricks, but is not as clever as Murphy in that way.
In the evening, we all went to Chinatown in Yokohama and enjoyed a Chinese dinner course. Peking duck is my favorite, yummy…
