Chika had to set aside her cello when she could no longer hold the instrument close to her body (due to her growing belly) and instead took up the mandolin which she could rest on top of her stomach. So Akira has been with her every step of the way as mommy learned the new instrument and bluegrass pieces. Chika says that on more than one occasion while she was practicing, the mandolin would bounce off her stomach from an energetic kick from the baby. So clearly, the kid had an opinion about the music.
This was the first time that Akira was hearing the music “live” outside of the womb. He appeared to be giving mom his thumbs up… if not kicking up his heels in the swaddle bag.