big brother

Henry is the most amazing big brother. Just look at him with his baby sister! This is the scene 20+ times a day. He is always snuggling up with them... he says I just love babies so much! I didn't expect it as much from him because he usually has his nose buried in some animal book, but he has been very helpful and attentive with both his younger sisters. He is so sweet, oohing and ahhing over Violet's little feet, helping Akemi get toys out (and showering her with so many hugs sometimes she gets tired if it and she yells go way henry, right now!). I cannot wait to see what he is like when he's older!

little style

windbreaker: Old Navy | jean shorts: Target

lazy weekend

Lazy weekend might not be the right choice of words, but it definitely felt like a long summer weekend around here (complete with watermelon and lots of reading). The grandparents whisked Naomi and Henry off for Saturday morning pancakes and afternoons on the boat and at the beach, so things were a little more low key around the house. I think Akemi knew we were trying to relax and decided to ramp things up by not napping all weekend... we had a very cranky little girl on our hands!

other than that...

Akemi is saying i love you and i love you too mama all the time. It is sooo cute.

Henry told us he wants 2 things for his birthday in September: a wallaby and a cookoo clock. This doesn't really surprise me that much.

We are watching the original Lone Ranger series with the kids, it really is fun!

Kenji's paternity leave is up... I'm sad to not have him around all the time anymore, but I feel so lucky that he's been able to take such generous leave with all our babies. He is seriously the best swaddler in the world! But I guess we can't keep him to ourselves all the time can we?

kid lunch

Henry: peanut butter and honey on wheat, orange slices, baked sweet potato fries

Naomi: grilled cheese sandwich, orange slices, grapes, baked sweet potato fries

Akemi: grilled cheese sandwich, baked sweet potato fries, sliced grapes

I will try to do kid lunch posts more now that I'm not pregnant and can stand to be around food again...I am soooo happy to not be sick anymore, it's hard to believe. woo hoo! I found these Bynto lunchboxes for sale on zulily.com last fall and was so excited (they're bpa free and cute! oh and they come with the perfect little water bottles, I should be getting paid to talk about this). It makes lunch time a little easier, not to mention the kids love having their own lunchboxes!

akemi and me

Akemi has been sliding into her new role as big sister quite nicely. We always precede any new baby with months of preparation for the kids... whoever is littlest stops being called "the baby" and takes on their new big kid title. They start getting different jobs and privileges, all to move them farther away from that youngest kid persona. Then by the time the baby is here, they don't feel "replaced" because they've already moved on up. It works wonders I tell you! Akemi is quite the helper getting diapers and blankets for Violet; always wanting to hold her and rock her...

that said, we have had some long nights with these two little ones. Akemi is very attached and loves being close and having lots of cuddles (which can be hard at 5am if I'm up with the new baby...) it's been tricky figuring out our new system. But we've found a way. There is a time of the day for everyone... and lots of hugs and snuggles saved for Akemi after Violet goes to bed and stories are read. 

Sometimes there is a rush to push kids to be independent. To say that at 1 or 2 or 3 they should be doing this much on their own, or this much away from their parents.

But every child is different. 

Akemi is not as independent at 23 months as our others were... for some reason she needs that extra security, nurturing, that closeness (and she is beginning to accept more nurturing from others... papa, grandparents, babysitters, so she is growing and gaining that confidence). But sometimes she just needs to curl up next to me, her face pressed against my neck as she says mama mama! and falls back asleep. This meets some need in her. 

So even though she is not "my baby" anymore, I'm ok with her staying like this a little longer. It may mean I go from cuddling one baby to the next some nights, but I can do that.

They are only little once.  

Let's not rush it!

linking up for embrace the camera today!