Warning: lots of pictures on this post!  I figured this would make up for not blogging in a long time.  Our third child, Emmy Noelle, was born on June 23rd at 2:06 pm and weighed 2686g or 5lbs 15oz.  She’s on the small side but a very healthy baby girl.  Anne was a trooper as she was in labor for about 6 hours.  The labor wasn’t necessarily long but of our three kids, this one was the longest and most painful for Anne.  You were great, Honey!  Anne wanted me to document the entire experience and so here it is.  For our families and friends who are far away, I hope this is the next best thing.  Enjoy!

This is where it all begins.  Junko’s ready to lend support.  She was there for Mia and Abby’s birth as well.

Here she is!

Our midwife for the day…drumroll please…Nayon!

Looking beautiful on delivery day.

This tennis ball will receive Anne’s abuse when her contractions begin.

Words of encouragement from Junko.

She apparently said something that upset Anne.  LOL!

Ikue, another midwife, comes in to give a big hug.

Nayon didn’t want to be left out: group hug!

You can do it!

These midwives are off duty but came in to say “Hi!”

Megu helps out by fanning Anne.

One more group picture before Anne gets uncomfortable

Anne checking the monitor.

Starting to feel some discomfort now.

Labor pain in graph form.

Foot massage to help alleviate some of the pain.

Ikue is showing Junko the pressure points.

The pain is starting to increase.

Putting the tennis ball to use.  Meanwhile…

Riz is eating Anne’s lunch!  Okay, I’m gonna get crap from this.

Pain intensifying further…

She’s getting ready to come out!  Push!!!

Is she out?!?

Joy and relief!

Welcome, Emmy Noelle!

Priceless!

Other nurses/midwives pay a visit as they hear the good news.

Anne’s pain is not finished yet as Doctor Yanai stitches her up.

Ikue being her silly self.

She’s all cleaned up and ready for Mommy!

This is also my favorite!

Thank you, Auntie Nayon, for a safe delivery!  She also delivered our first child.

Emmy striking a Michael Jordan pose for Daddy!

We can’t say enough about how grateful we are for Mrs. Fukuda and Mrs. Itoh.  They are always there for our kids.

Happy family!

This goes on Emmy’s hospital carriage.

Ikue is playing with Emmy while we wait for Anne’s room to be ready.  Ikue delivered our 2nd child.

Nayon is showing Emmy off to the rest of the hospital staff.

In her room finally!  Great job, Honey!  You deserve lots of rest and massages (which will come in the next few days).

Mia’s first look at her little sister.  Next post will be pics of the siblings.  Stay tuned!

I promise to post more later.  Enjoy the appetizer!

More Japanese t-shirt madness.

Huh?!?

From a branding point of view, I like the last line.

More wisdom from those crazy Japanese t-shirts.  Make your own interpretation

A new take on quarreling.

What do you want?

Remember that book by Robert Fulghum titled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten?  Well, it’s not true.  Let me correct this title: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten…a Japanese Children’s Store!!  That’s right.  Many life lessons can be learned from the English you read on kids’ clothing.  I won’t give it all away on one post.  I’ll make a series out of it and post a few at a time.  I hope you enjoy these and take some to heart even as you laugh.  Let the fun begin!

Basically, it’s asking, “What are you doing with your time?”  Key phrase: well-spent (most of us are stuck on “spent”).

So true and yet so not prioritized.

This is a birthday post and it is dedicated to my beautiful wife, Anne.  I thought I would spare all of you some gushiness and instead celebrate her day by posting some maternity pics taken last month.  The weather was beautiful and the cherry blossoms were a sight to behold!  Overall, a beautiful day to take pictures of one beautiful wife.  Oh oh…it’s starting to get gushy.  Better get to the pictures.  Happy birthday, my Honey.  You are an incredible woman.  I am blessed.

Anne is pointing to the sign of Angel Hospital.  She will give birth here.  Our two little ones were also born at this hospital.  We have become friends with many of the nurses and doctors of this place.  Pictures of Angel Hospital and its staff will be posted this summer.  Can’t wait!

Don’t forget to call your mama!  Go to animoto and make a short video like I did.

Hey guys,

Here’s a sweet little program that simulates a nice buttery background that fast and expensive lenses provide.  Get a chance to win this plug-in by visiting iheartfaces.blogspot.com.

Hope you win!

The second picture below of a dilapidated chapel sign is interesting to me.  The tag line reads “We’ve only just begun.”  Well, it is clearly done but this sign has made me pause and think about my short journey into photography.  I, too, have only just begun.  When I think of all the things that has to be done to set up shop, I honestly feel paralyzed.  And perhaps fear is also playing a part.  I wonder how many dreams have been thrown away?  Like the chapel sign, how many dreams have ended up in a “boneyard” because fear suffocated the desire to follow those dreams?  One way to allay fear is to be brutal about setting goals.  Goals provide a vision for how you want to achieve something.  Without setting down goals, then you become directionless.   I like this old expression, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any path will get you there.”  Could it be that a dream never takes off because we have not taken the time to set goals and act on those goals?  If a goal is never set, then you will certainly feel lost and that’s when fear creeps in and takes over.

Speaking of just beginning and chasing dreams, the model in these pictures is none other than the beautiful (you’ll see what I mean) Jessie Poole.  Jessie hails from Virginia Beach, VA.  This was pretty cool because Virginia Beach is part of the Hampton Roads area where I lived for three years.  Jessie just plain rocked this shoot.  I didn’t take too many wide shots of her.  I wanted to showcase her natural beauty by taking a lot of portrait shots.  Jessie was even a good sport in the last image when I asked her to do what the Japanese love to do when getting their pictures taken: the peace sign!!  Thanks for modeling for us, Jessie and hope to see you in December when I’m back in the States.

The impatience on my three year old’s face is obvious as she wants to go off and play in the new park near our house.  In many ways, she is becoming more and more independent each day.  She no longer wants me by her side 24/7 when playing outside.  My wife and I can sit at a nearby bench and watch God’s miracle at play in His creation.  My camera is processing images as I shoot away but I, too, am processing as I reflect on three wonderful years of having this angel in our lives.  And my reflection goes on further: Everyday we have a front row seat to the workings of God’s handiwork as displayed in the lives of our little ones, Mia and Abby.  And we marvel and are humbled by it.  If you have children, then don’t miss out on the miracle that unfolds before you each day.