With love from Chicago

We took a trip to Chicago & Baltimore this past week. Jude was asked to be the ringbearer at my cousin's wedding in Baltimore so we first stopped in Chicago for my family and friends to meet Eli for the first time. Sadly, it may be our only trip out there this year . It was so nice to spend time w/friends. It goes without saying how much we love and miss them, but no matter how short our visit, they always make us feel so loved and missed.

Jude had a great time on our vacation. He loves his "hung-ah" and "noonah" but it was surprising to see how affectionate and playful he was with his little cousin, Noelle. She is one year old and the tiniest girl. She wears the same size diaper as Eli, who is only 3 months old. Everything about her is so petite and cute.

Meanwhile, Elijah turned 100 days so we celebrated with a dinner at my parents' house...

After a week in Chicago, we flew to Baltimore for the wedding. Jude is 2 years and 3 months old. We were so honored to have him be a part of the wedding, but we were also very concerned. My mother-in-law had been practicing w/him before our trip, but for those of you who may not know the mind of a 2 yr old, walking slowly down an aisle by yourself in front of a church full of people is not something you are excited or even willing to do. He didn't even have a flower girl to walk with. So on the night of rehearsal, he basically ran down the aisle, saw my mom in a pew, and ran to her. . But with his amazing skills of persuasion (and a lollipop as bait at the end of the aisle), Kwang somehow got Jude to walk slowly all the way down the next day at the wedding! Even I couldn't believe it. We only have video footage of the actual miracle since I was at one end and Kwang was at the other, but here is a shot of Jude warming up before his big performance:

And here he is relaxing after finishing his ringbearing duties.. and his lollipop:

The picture above is of Jude again with his cousin, Noelle. She really can't talk yet and he is just starting to put together long sentences, but for some reason Noelle is crazy about her cousin Jude. It's such a precious sight. From Baltimore, we flew back to LA yesterday. Including a layover, it was almost 8 hours of air travel with an infant and toddler... but we made it!

Notre anniversaire

4 years. My biggest blessing this side of heaven...

But onto cuter people…
Jude and his cousin Justin (4.5 mos old), whom he adores:

And Eli, whom Jude also adores but at times torments for no reason:

Like Father, Like Sons

I was looking through some pictures last night and was shocked to see one from the 70s of my mother-in-law holding an Eli-look-alike. I thought, wait a minute... I know Jude is Kwang's little mini-me, but according to many Eli supposedly takes after me. I don't get it.

Kwang (pre-school magna cum laude)...       and Jude....

         

Kwang....                                    and Elijah....

    

Isn't that funny? I know that Jude and Eli will eventually have something that takes after me, but I love that they take after Kwang. Hopefully, they will also inherit qualities like his patience and sense of humor. When I look at my sons, I'm even more amazed at the omnipotent Creator God is.

Future Friends?

Onto happier topics! Matthew, the son of our good friends Jean & Charles, made his way into the world last month. This means he & Eli are 1½ months apart. Matthew already has tons more hair and bigger eyes than the older Eli. But what Eli lacks in hair & eyes, he apparently makes up for in cheeks & chub

Trading babies for the evening:

  

That back-to-school feeling

Tomorrow I'll be going back to work. I enjoy working (minus the stress), but I'm always somewhat surprised when someone says that going to work is easier than staying at home w/your child. I wonder if they've ever done it. Perhaps I'm just not very strong, but I haven't come across many things more difficult to do than entrust my baby to another person's care, no matter how much I trust them and they are family. I find it harder this time, because Eli is only two months old. He's still a baby but smiles so much and loves having me near him. He takes the bottle really well, but selfishly I love nursing him. How can sitting on conference calls or in front of a computer be easier than sitting in front of this guy:

So I have my pictures all ready to take to work and plaster my cubicle walls with. I'm also going to miss morning walks around the lake with Jude. It's really entertaining to see the world through his eyes by what he says and how he says it. Then if it's so hard, why do I work? I think about this a lot. Definitely no one's forcing me to. But as strange as it sounds, I guess I think this is best for our family at this particular time. Being a mother now, I have a growing respect for my own mom, for her sacrifice and diligence as we grew up. Hopefully, one day my kids will think this, too.

When I get moody or emotional (like now), I just have to remember how fortunate I am. Yesterday was my 34th birthday and although I love getting new gifts, these days I'm thankful simply for the husband and children God's already given me. I love my three boys. I think I'm pretty lucky to be able to come home from work to a smile like this: 

1 Samuel 16:7

Jude means "Praise".

Tuesday night, Jude fell and hit his head. When I went to see what happened, his face and Kwang's shirt were covered with blood as it gushed from a gash in his forehead. This was our first experience taking him to the ER. He now has four stitches smack dab in the middle of his forehead. My poor Jude.

After going through neurosurgery with him at 5mos of age, it sounds silly to say that this hospital visit was just as traumatizing for us if not more. While being strapped in a body wrap with a towel over his face as they stitched him up, he wimpered and then cried, saying all the new words he's learned to try and console himself. What two year old does that? It was so sad.

I honestly can't believe Jude has only recently turned two years old. He's such a strong boy and I'm amazed at his composure and attitude when things happen. It might almost be easier for me if he reacted like I expect a toddler to-- screaming, kicking, & wailing. But because he tries to "cha-moh" (endure), I'm just always so sad for him. So I often think God gave him this personality partly because of what he's had to go through. MRIs, VCUGs, surgery, CT scans, stitches... all in his first two years. I only wish he didn't have to go through so much. Yet despite these things, I feel extremely blessed to have Jude for a son and praise God everyday for him.

I really have to toughen up now that I'm a mother of two boys. I don't know what I'd do without Kwang. He tells me Jude will be fine, but as Jude's mom I'm sad he's going to have a scar in the middle of his forehead. The doctor even mentioned plastic surgery as an option! That's when I was reminded of 1 Samuel 16:7, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." As I watch his personality and character shaping, I pray Jude grows to have a good heart. One that brings God much pleasure.

Here he is the morning after, giving the thumbs up that he's okay:

Chicago Grandma

My mom flew back to Chicago today. It was really nice having her around again to talk to and watch the kids. So I'll probably miss her the most, but she'll probably just miss Jude & Eli...

 

Golf anyone?

Again making the most of our time while my mom's in town, we took Jude to the golf course across the street. He was so excited to putt around with his dad:

Here he is setting up a challenging shot:

Will he make it?...

Yes!

Jude loves to be like dad:

All in all, a fun time...

Faster than fast, quicker than quick, I am Lightning...

We took Jude to see his first movie at the theaters. About a month ago, he caught the commercial for Disney's "Cars" on TV and after it was over, he turned to me and asked, "More Cars?" I then had to rewind and play the commercial about 10 more times (the luxury of DVR), because it was too cute seeing him so interested in the talking cars.

So we saw the movie and although it was really good, I didn't think it was as great as some of the other Pixar films. But when it came on the screen, Jude was SO excited! I think I was watching him more than the movie. It was a fun experience.

So where was the baby? Well, Kwang set up one of his creative inventions to keep a pacifier in Eli's mouth so we could leave him on the couch while the three of us snuck out:

JUST KIDDING. My mom's in town, so Kwang & I have been living it up as much as parents of a toddler & infant can. Not only did we take Jude out, but we also had an opportunity to go out and see a movie ourselves, just the two of us. Perhaps it's not the most exciting "date", but I appreciated it and had a good time.

Jude & Eli

These days when we read the Bible & pray with Jude before bed, he says his own prayer. But he doesn't quite know the difference between bedtime prayer and mealtime prayer, so he says:

"God... food... Jesus... Amen."

(translation: "Dear God, thank you for this food. In Jesus' name, Amen.")

Jude just turned 2 years old... 

And Eli turned 2 weeks old...

My two boys...

(why does Jude always have this "look" on his face whenever he holds Eli? He cracks me up.)

Our friends Jean & Charles stopped by on Sunday with some lunch. As much as I love the korean "seaweed soup" I've had to eat everyday, I thoroughly enjoyed the yummy torta they brought me! =) I can't wait for their baby to arrive. Just one more month! I hope he & Eli become good friends.

Hello Elijah

Our second son was born Tuesday at 10:49am. After all the possible concerns, our prayers were graciously answered with a healthy baby boy! What an exciting and amazing experience it was to go "au natural". Unfortunately, I was wrong THIS time about doctors always overestimating baby weights. After measuring me, my doctor said this one would be 6, maybe 7 pounds at most. Elijah weighed in at 7 lbs, 11oz! Yikes. Had I known this, I might not have been so eager to go without epidural. But in all seriousness, I couldn't ask for a happier ending... a healthy-sized, healthy-looking, healthy healthy boy.

 

Jude and his new brother:

 

 

Proud dad:

 

 

Me and Baby Eli:

 

 

In His Element

So you may have thought I was being facetious about the things that go on in our home. Once Kwang asked Jude, "Why do you have to turn on us?" because one day, an older Jude will not want to associate with us. He may even be embarrassed we’re his parents. Sad! So we treasure these times all the more when we are his world, his best friends. But the following pictures may prove why Jude could become bitter towards us... because his dad teaches him things like...

The robot dance:

The cabbage patch:

And the moonwalk (I guess you kind of have to see this in person):

And then his mom takes pictures and publishes them to the world.

But the times we probably treasure most are those we spend reading the “Bi-Bo” (“Bible”) and praying with Jude before bed. He will tell you the guy in the book next to the big boat is “Noh Hah-jee” (“Noah Hal-ah-buh-jee” / “Noah grandpa”) but has more interest in the giraffe and turtle beside Noah. But whatever the picture or story, I pray his excitement for God’s Word never fades but only grows as he does.

 

God on a cross

Since my college days, I like to read Max Lucado’s “No Wonder They Call Him the Savior” around this time every year. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the author's because his writing can seem a bit fluffy, but there are points in this book that resonate in me in a way not many books do. I think it’s the perspective he writes from about the events surrounding the cross. And each time, I take from it something different.

 

“God on a cross. Humanity at its worst, Divinity at its best. No wonder they call him the Savior.”

 

 

Travel Town

Due to the overwhelming LACK of response to my last post, a.k.a my "non-Jude picture post", I've concluded my suspicion is correct... my xanga visitors are mainly interested in my offspring, not in me. That's okay. I don't blame you. I, too, find Jude much more interesting and cuter than myself.  

Last weekend, we had a chance to take Jude to Travel Town, a transportation museum. He thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the train ride... probably because he enjoys Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.

Here he is having the time of his life with Kwang on the train:

And playing with Aubrey and Nathaniel...

  

When it comes to sleeping, Jude has always been easy. But for some reason, the last few nights have been unusually difficult. Although he'll reluctantly go "night-night", he'll cry once in bed. It's such a sad cry... it pains me. Last night, as he was crying in his crib and Kwang & I were debating what to do (we knew what we should do-- let him cry himself to sleep-- but what we both wanted to do was get him), I noticed through our video phone that he stopped crying, carefully arranged his animal friends, and then fell fast asleep. After watching a movie, Kwang & I checked on him and found that to comfort himself, Jude decided to arrange all three animal friends to lie specifically face-down next to him before falling asleep the same way:

I realize probably no one finds this as cute & funny as Kwang and I did and assume every parent finds their kid more amusing and adorable than anyone else. Sometimes I wonder if we're strange for laughing at our son as much as we do. But Jude cracks us up all the time. He brings so much happiness to my life.

(BTW, please don't mind the korean floral PJ top. It was a very nice christmas gift from his LA grandma. Korean PJs are the best.)

TNSTAAFL

I guess my Econ prof was right... there's no such thing as a free lunch... at least there's no such thing as free unlimited amount of xanga. I just discovered I can't upload megabytes of Jude pics to my heart's content and that as a free subscriber I am given a limit each month. I suppose that makes sense but I don't plan on paying for a "better" package. What's better than FREE?! So Jude fans the world over will have to wait until the end of the week (beginning of a new month) to see still shots of him doing the robot dance, cabbage patch, moonwalk, or whatever. You think I'm joking but while I am busy teaching Jude his numbers and alphabet, Kwang is diligently teaching him a cornucopia of dances from the 80's and 90's. So with the temporary inability to exploit my son, I thought I'd complete this little exercise-sans-photos since getting "tagged" by a friend...

Four Jobs I've Had:
1. Dry cleaners (surprisingly, my parents have never owned one)

2. System Software Associates (5yrs)

3. Ameritech/SBC (5yrs)

4. Davita (7mos)

(Are you still awake?)

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:
1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (for Audrey Hepburn’s style & grace)

2. Sound of Music

3. Shawshank Redemption (one of the only non-romances I can watch over and over)

4. Pretty in Pink

(what can I say, I’m a girl)

Four Places I've Lived:
1. Kansas City, MO (Go Royals!)

2. Chicago, IL (Go Bulls!)

3. Champaign-Urbana, IL (Go I-L-L...I-N-I!)

4. Los Angeles, CA (Go....)

Four TV Shows I Watch:
1. Grey’s Anatomy

2. Everyday Italian

3. Sex and the City (on TBS)

4. those are the shows I currently DVR…

 

Four Places I've Vacationed:
1. Paris

2. Rome

3. Austria

4. Florence

Four Foods I Love:
1. Coldstone Creamery (Coffee Lovers Only)

2. duk-bo-sam at an all you can eat for $14.99 korean buffet

3. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies

4. Original Ray’s Pizza in NY

 

Four Sites I Visit Daily:
1. yahoo!

2. xanga

3. missions team 93 blog

4. only three…

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
(at this very moment…)

1. home with Jude

2. Chicago

3. any vacation with my husband (he plans the best trips!)

4. at the hospital or home AFTER having given birth to a healthy second baby and looking into its eyes (I don't think I'll ever feel the "glow" of pregnancy...)

Four Random Items in My Purse:

1. Pocky (chocolate-covered biscuit sticks)

2. diapers (clean, of course)

3. tangerines

4. my wallet (see, it is a purse!)

(NOTE to reader: I’m pregnant)

Four People to Tag:
1. anyone with a xanga site or blogspot who’s reading this and hasn’t done one… =)

Jude's first "Kim" cousin was born today!

Justin Kim

6 lbs. 8 oz.

20 inches

and adorable!

These pics are from about 10:30pm. We dragged Jude out of bed and to the hospital. So even though he may not look excited, poor thing, we know he was ecstatic on the inside to be meeting his new cousin... (notice the rare shot of him with his mouth shut)