Six weeks already!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our little Shingil has already turned six weeks old! She's growing like a little weed in the richest soil. When she was last weighed at the pediatrician, she weighed in at 11 lbs, 8 oz., and was 24 inches long. I imagine she has already put on more weight and grown even longer since then! While I stay home with the little one, I try and take pictures of every little funny and adorable expression she makes to share with Jeff when he gets home from work. I take short video clips of when she's happiest and cooing and laughing at every slight expression...she has recently taken a liking to hearing herself yelp loudly and then laughing. :) Just the thought of those sweet smiles and how her eyes just disappear when she smiles really big make me smile and almost tear up with joy - how could I have been so lucky to have such a little angel flitter into my life? Even when she is inconsoleable and all I can do is hold her and rock her and walk her and sing to her, she is still the most beautiful little angel I've ever seen. I love her! From her chubby little cheeks to her tiny little toes, from the tip of her little mohawk hair to her ever dirty bum, I love her! Every little thing she does makes my heart melt...

Never did I know that I would love being a mother so much. Never did Jeff and I know that we would have such a precious little thing join our lives!

Today was little Shingil's first outing in her stroller. She surely doesn't remember much of it since she slept through the majority of it, but while Jeff went to the gym, I walked her around post getting some minor errands done and getting a bit of fresh air and exercise. I think she enjoyed it...at least I hope she did. We have to be so careful here in Seoul with the smog and the yellow sand - don't want our little one getting asthma or something worse before she's even one. I check the dust levels every day and each hour before we go out anywhere, and when we get back home, I wash her little face, hands, and feet off and change her clothes, just in case. She like it when I wash her face...:) She smiles and coos at me while I try and wipe her down...I have to be careful not to wipe her tongue accidentally...hehe. I think we're slowly getting ourselves into a routine...Jeff might not believe it, but I think we are...:)

And so each day passes with a new smile and a new tear, a new giggle and a new wail...and each moment, Jeff and I are able to cherish with our little angel...

Love,
Rosa and Jeff

Lucky...

I must be one of the luckiest moms in the world to be blessed with this little angel in my life. My mom, dad and brother left yesterday morning to go back to the states and the prospect of playing mom by myself during the day was quite scary. I didn't think I was ready or capable of taking care of this little person without another set of hands constantly helping me, but I survived my first day while Jeff was at work without any breakdowns or too much chaos...:) It's funny how motherhood is expected to be such a natural thing, but in actuality, it's such a learning experience. It's quite experimental, too. With a crying baby, you try various different methods that you think might work to stop the crying - it's amazing what a mother will do to figure out what this little creature needs to soothe her. :) Thankfully, our little Taylor is fairly easy to soothe, even when she's crying so hard that she turns purple...phew. Now the thing I need to figure out is how to fit in the rest of the household chores while still taking care of little Tay and meeting all her needs. I feel confident that I can now meet all her needs without too much trouble, and I've managed to slip away quickly enough to go to the bathroom without panicking when she starts wimpering.

This morning was our first venture out of the house - just her and me. I had to take her to the hospital to get her first immunization. I was quite nervous...but she was such a champ with me - putting up with me seating her into her car seat, getting examined, and even getting the shot. I was so nervous myself that when the doc told me that the shot would go on her left arm, I undressed her right arm...and they laughed at me and said that it was very common among new moms because the moms are more nervous than the babies! Little Tay wailed while she got the shot, but after the shot, I held her close to me and she stopped crying immediately. She just snuggled in close and went to sleep because that was the only way she could cope...poor thing. We still made it out of the hospital without too much trouble and I tucked her snugly back into the car seat and we made it home. Once we were home, we were both wiped and took a nap together.

I'm also very lucky in that our little one sleeps relatively well at night. I was so nervous about the first night because I was afraid that I might not wake up to her needing me...but, I did! I actually woke up before she started crying! It's like that little bit of motherly instinct inside of me was coming out...it was a wonderful realization for me...and a tremendous vote of confidence. Jeff has also been a tremendous help in boosting my confidence about becoming a mom...I think we're gonna make it. :)

I must get back to my new little family...:)

Much love,
Rosa and Jeff