100 days // Baek-il

Today marks Violet's 100 days or Baek-il.  In the Korean tradition, this is an important day because historically, there used to be high infant mortality rates.  So when a baby had reached its 100 days of being alive, there was a celebration and thanksgiving.  Traditionally, a small feast is prepared to celebrate the child's having survived this difficult period.  Historically, the mothers and babies were house bound for 3 months to ensure safety and good health for the mother and baby.   (I could not imagine not leaving the house for 3 months!!!  Even with Facebook, all the Real Housewives shows on Bravo and Oprah's final season to entertain me, I'd still go crazy!)

The traditions and customs are probably very different today, due to the fact of low infant mortality rates, but it's still a day of celebration and thanksgiving.  This day, I'm so thankful that Violet has been so healthy and happy these past 100 days.  She's been growing and changing everyday and I hope I never forget the happiness and love that I've felt in these past 100 days.  What's even more exciting is the next 100 days...and the 100 days after that...and after that...and after that!  Okay, you get the point.  Thank you, Brad, family, and friends for helping me keep her safe, healthy, happy and loved.  I could not have survived these 100 days without you all!

Happy 100 days, my sweet Violet Ann Nareh...I love you more than anything in the whole wide world...

Such a big girl!!

This face makes me beyond happy.  

Longest hair ever for a 3 month old!

Violet and her Eemo whom she loves so much!

The Hwang ladies!

So happy!!

Her outfit says Nareh, which is her Korean name that my parents gave her, which means "wings."  

Violet and Grandma...so happy and proud.  

Happy 100 days, boo!  

Dear Violet...

Today marks my first Mother's Day and your 3 month birthday.  Since my 2 month post, you've gone through so many changes and grown so much!  Your personality is starting to really show and I'm loving every bit of it!  I've been trying to get used to all the different ways you're changing and the different ways that you need me...please be patient with me, my love!

Here are some of the ways you've changed and grown since you were 2 months old:

--Right after I bragged about how you've been sleeping through the night, you decided to change up on me and sleep like a normal 2 month old!  That was a bit of an adjustment for me!  But now you're back to sleeping 6 hours straight, getting up to eat, then going back down for another 3 hours, getting up to eat, then playing for a little bit and then going back down for 1-2 hours.
--You are so very chatty!  Your favorite thing to say is still "goo" but your vocabulary is getting bigger and you're definitely finding your voice...and I love it!  Your sweet little voice is music to my ears!
--You're still extremely happy in the mornings.
--We moved you to your crib a couple of weeks ago.  You like your crib and I like you in your crib!  It was a little hard for me to make that move, but now I sleep better at night!  And I think you do too!
--You laughed for the first time 2 weeks ago.  It was the CUTEST thing ever!  Your daddy was at work so he didn't get to see/hear it, but you laughed for him the next week so all is well again in the Fager home!
--You are a mama's girl right now...
--You are constantly sucking on your digits or fist...which makes for a lot of drool!
--You're starting to lunge forward (or what I call "doing crunches") and it's the funniest thing to watch.  You lunch yourself forward but haven't learned how to lean yourself back!  So then you get stuck on your face/belly!
--Baby Einstein keeps your attention for about 15 minutes.
--We read several books a day and you love it!  You are so observant when I read to you and you just stare at the pages and take it all in.

--Your first Easter was spent in Champaign with Grandma and Grandpa and we had the best weekend!  

--Your neck and back are getting a lot stronger...even though you still don't like tummy time!  

--You're about to outgrow all of your 0-3 month clothes!  Which I'm sad about because you have some REALLY cute 0-3 month clothing!  

--You got your 2 month shots and you handled them pretty well...I think I was more nervous and upset about them than you were!  

--At your 2 month appointment, you over 11 pounds and 20.5 inches long.  You averaged 40th percentile in most of your stats.  

--You smiled for the first time during bath time a couple of weeks ago!  Yay!  No more stern face!

--Your hair is getting SO LONG!  Daddy likes to brush it towards your face after bath time and make you look like Justin Beiber...  

--You and Daddy gave me the most wonderful first Mother's Day a mommy could ask for!!

You have brought so much joy to our lives...you've shown me a level of happines, bliss and love that I didn't even know existed.  On this Mother's Day, you've also made me realize just how much more I appreciate my own mother.  Thank you for teaching me new things every single day...you teach me new things about you and you teach me new things about me.  Everyday I pray for guidance, patience and good health for our little family.  You've changed every thread of my being and I never want to go back to the way I was.   I love you, my sweet!

Love,

Mommy

Pals

How sweet are these pics??  Gibby wanted Violet to come over and play and Violet just couldn't keep her eyes off of him!  I can't wait to watch them grow up together, along with Gibby's little brother that will be here in September!  I just love these two kiddos to pieces!!  

The Greatest Experiment

So, the older V gets, the less time I have to do the things I want or need to do...like, blogging!  In the spare time that I do get, it's usually spent cleaning, cooking, going out to lunch, etc.  Luckily, my little lady has decided to take great naps today, which leaves me more time to Facebook stalk, shop online and finally, blog!

We were visiting with some friends a couple of weeks ago and we were discussing how parenting was going, how V was, etc.  We were discussing some of the challenges that we were having, some of the concerns and how we're still unsure about this whole parenting thing.  Our friend's mom said it quite perfectly.  She said, "Parenting your first child is an experiment.  Yes, your first child is your guinea pig, but everything works out alright and soon you'll forget just how hard it is parenting your first child."  I'm not saying that V is a difficult baby, because she's far from being difficult.  She sleeps well, plays well, eats well and gives me the sweetest smiles all day long.  But life sure is more stressful when you're constantly thinking about what you can do to make her sleep longer...travel better...smile more...like tummy time more...and the list goes on and on.  (Not to mention, always questioning yourself and wondering if you're doing a good enough job and if you're being a good wife, daughter, daughter in law, sister, friend.)  And our friend's mom is right.  It's all an experiment.

When V gets really tired and isn't put down for a nap or bed fast enough, she gets super pissed (it's the angry Asian in her).  Through much experimentation on how to calm her down, I've discovered that running the bathtub always calms her long enough to shove a boob in her mouth and then put her to bed.  The stressful part is that I know a lot of what I figure out will change as she goes through her phases.  I asked my friend today when do babies start to become normal people??  I didn't like her answer... I wonder if parents of multiple children think it gets easier with the second or third kid?  Do you feel that you have a better grasp on things?  Or is it that you're still experimenting but now you're experimenting with more confidence?  Or maybe it's that you just don't have the time to stress because you're chasing around two/three/four kids instead of focusing all your attention on one?  All I know is, I'm loving this parenting thing, but I just wish I had an answer to every question that I have.  This whole "worrying" thing is so foreign to me and I hope to get back to my laid back days...but I'm thinking that worrying just goes hand in hand with being a parent...

Luckily, I have this adorable, sweet, funny, fascinating baby to outweigh the stress, worry and concern!  Just gotta keep my eye on the prize!

Dear Violet...

Today, you are 2 months old and you have changed so much since when I first held you in my arms...which feels like just yesterday.  It has been so much fun watching you grow and change everyday.  I'm so blessed to be able to stay home with you and watch you kick, talk, sleep and smile.  

Some of the ways you've changed since you've been 1 month old:

--You are starting to stay awake a lot more...but you still love to sleep!  

--Speaking of sleep, starting at about 5 weeks, you decided you were going to sleep through the night!  You sleep anywhere between 7-9 hours, wake up to eat, then go back down for another 2-3 hours.  For instance, last night you slept 8.5 hours straight, got up to eat, then slept for another 2.5!  You're a dream!!

--You usually get a little fussy in the evenings because you're ready for bed.

--You've been taking a good long nap in the morning and then a good long nap in the afternoon.

--You have outgrown all your newborn jammies...  :(

--Your hair is so long, it had a knot in it the other day!

--You're starting to talk so much!  The sound of your voice is music to my ears...

--I can tell you're on the verge of laughing!

--Your favorite thing to say is, "Goo."

--Your favorite place is the changing table.  You move your legs and arms like you're dancing!  It's the cutest thing!  

--You still love to stretch...and when you're doing a good stretch, you grunt really loud.  

--You burp and fart like a frat boy.

--You're trying so hard to find your digits to suck on...but you can't seem to find your thumb! Good thing your fist and/or wrist satisfies you, 

--You're still sleeping in the bassinet next to our bed...I suppose we'll move you into your crib soon...but I'm not ready yet!  

--You'll be getting your first round of shots next week and I am NOT excited about it...AT ALL.  

--You weigh about 12 pounds and are 22 inches long.  

--You're getting better at taking a bottle...but you still think that breast is best!  

--Your cheeks are just so big!  And cute!!  Your Auntie Linz said that your cheeks were swallowing your lips!

--You're always so good when I take you out to lunch or dinner...hardly ever fussy!  

--When you're really mad, I'm the only one that can calm you down.  

--You always want me to hold you on my shoulder...I'm only allowed to cradle you when you're eating.  So bossy!

--You are the most chatty in the mornings.  You wake up soooo happy!  

--You still don't know what to think of bath time...you don't cry but you refuse to smile!  

--Daddy and I love taking you on walks.  

--You're still not a fan of tummy time!  

--You were baptized on March 27th and it was such a special day for us.  We had about 40 family and friends come to the baptism and to brunch...you are a very loved little lady!

--You started sitting in the Bumbo seat at 7 weeks and you love it!  

--I can already tell that you're going to have a laid back personality...but you've also got a little angry Asian in you!

You are such a blessing, my love, and I'm the happiest I've ever been.  You've changed my heart and life and it will never be the same again.  Every morning I wake up so excited to see your beautiful face.  If I'm ever down about anything, snuggling with you and feeling your sweet breath on my neck makes all my worries or sadness disappear.  Thank you for teaching me how to be patient and teaching me how to pray more.  I love you more than anything.

Love,

Mommy

I'm talkin' to you!

Loves to shake it on the changing table! Gonna change it to the dance table! All she needs are a couple of glow sticks!