It started yesterday.  Suddenly his emphatic ‘No!’ has become a very polite, “No, thank you.”
“Makoto, let’s go use the bathroom”
“No, Thank you.”
“Makoto, eat your food.”
“No, Thank you.”
We are not sure where this politeness came from–and I admit it is better than his previous answer–but we wish he would hurry up and learn, “Yes, Please.”

This morning, Makoto was a big helper helping mommy make pancakes.  He paused long enough to smile for a photo shoot.

His distinctive smile, yes that is a smile, only occurs when someone with a camera points the camera at him and says, ’smile.’
And smile he does.

Makoto, Megumi, and I were waiting for mommy in the car this morning.  We waited and waited and waited more.  She had to fold laundry or… so she says.
She entered the car saying, 「ごめん！遅くなった。」
Makoto, parroting her almost successfully, said, 「ごめん！遊んだ。」
It was right out of the pages of Crayon Shinchan.  Mommy was not too happy [...]

Makoto awoke around 5 this morning crying out, 「見たい！見たい！」 “I want to see!  I want to see!”.  At first I thought he was saying, 「いたい！」  “It hurts!,” but as the crying subsided it was clearly, 「見たい！」.  After a few sobs he said, “Dora” and then “Diego.”
Makoto has really enjoyed Dora (the Explorer) and Diego (the [...]

Makoto as a baby was so quiet we were worried*; we had heard the rumor babies were supposed to cry after all.
When he was about a month old, Yumi placed him on a pillow, she turned around, he rolled off, and all he said was a light, “aau.” (that’s a lowercase ‘aau’)  She was so [...]

Mommy was firmly on the side of the korokke.
A korokke is,  according to my dictionary,  a  croquette.   If that was as helpful to you as it was to me, let me just say it is a “deep fried something.” That something can be potatoes or sweet potatoes or other potato-like things.
Makoto wanted his favorite [...]

…This morning

Makoto has found a favorite sport–sumo.
He loves it when I squat, put one fist to the mat, and then suddenly stand erect while slapping my belly.  He laughs and laughs and laughs.
About the third time around I do a two-fisted ground touch and then rush to grab Makoto who squeals with joy at being held [...]

One of Makoto’s favorite new words is ‘Combine.’  A month or two ago while at his cousin’s house he had an opportunity to sit on their combine harvester tractor.  He declined the offer preferring instead to cower behind his daddy.
He has grown in courage but only at a distance.  This is probably a good thing [...]