Noah and Loved Ones in 2012

Here's a little video Noah and I created today.  Fun.



Enjoy!

Noah tries out his new baby backpack from Dad and Momma Joyce

This is our first test run of Dad and Momma Joyce's gift of a baby backpack! Go hikers!

Noah Chases Daddy

Noah follows Daddy around the villa! :-)

Picture in the Park

While we were walking home from the park to our car, a man among many photographers was passing by with his fancy Nikon camera and he spotted Noah on my shoulders. I asked him what he was doing at the park, and he told me he was a hobbiest photographer. I invited him to take a picture of us, if he wanted to use us as practice, and then gave him my card. Shortly, later, he sent us this picture. Not bad, I'd say, for an amateur!

Yangjae Citizen's Park

This place is the coolest to visit in spring, summer, and fall!

Dad and Momma Joyce Conclude Visit

We are sad today because Dad and Momma Joyce have left South Korea for the USA. :-( Hopefully they will visit again soon, but then again, maybe we can come to visit everyone in the USA next summer (not this summer - sigh...).

Sister Catherine, parents, and us had tea together at the Anglican Church Convent of Holy Cross the day before Dad and Momma Joyce left, on Easter. Sister Catherine is moving to the UK to help found a community of sisters. She won't be back for some 3-4 years. How sad... but maybe we can visit her in the UK one day soon. FYI, Sister Catherine is the one that married Jinny and I. She is glowy (a new adjective, I think) and resonates compassion... Thank you, Sister Catherine, for inspiring us all!

Noah Turns One Year Old! Happy Bday Noah!

Today was Noah's Continuation Day... What's that? A "Continuation Day" is a (bday) reminder that we are beyond birth and death, and that a Bday is a reminder of our constant death and rebirth in every moment. Just think: how many of the eleven trillion cells in our bodies are born and die in a day? Noah is not the same Noah as last month, or even last week. The only thing that never changes is change. And where was Noah before he was born? Science clearly shows us that something cannot come out of nothing, thus, Noah was somewhere before he came here. Where might that have been? What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Last Sunday we invited Jinny's family(our family), Dad and Momma Joyce and some friends to The Palace Hotel to a private room on the 12th floor with buffet brunch for all to celebrate Noah's maturation. The first bday in Korea is a big deal (called "dol") and not to be missed. Many say it derives from the fact that many babies in Korea died in the past, not making it passed one year. Thus, a big celebration arose to commemorate a baby's survival past the age at which infant mortality drastically reduces. Congrats, Noah! You made it.

After the big Sunday party, we had another party with Dad and Momma Joyce at my favorite Buddhist restaurant near my university with a cheese cake from Kim Yong-mo, one of the best bakeries in Seoul. Yummy! Sadly, Noah couldn't eat any because of the sugar - but we sure did.

Noah Underweight But Growing...

Though Noah is technically underweight, at about 8.1 Kilos, and was born April 7th, 2008, he's a healthy and happy baby. Because of his low weight we are feeding him meat now, whereas before we weren't. It was a difficult dilemma for us. We wanted to raise him vegetarian, but we just wasn't gaining enough pounds. So, we changed. Jinny finds it challenging, also, making TASTY food that Noah will like. Daddy tries to offer as much encouragement and suggestions as possible.

At present Noah likes sweet potatoes, banana, bread, strawberries, meat/egg pancakes, and this new baby formula we got that he just LOVES (it's sweetened with what we're not sure, but the doctors recommended it to help him gain weight

Publish Post

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Also, Noah is still crawling up a storm, but not yet ready to walk. We are doing simulated walking once a day in the morning from Daddy to Mommy, to help give him a jump start. He can stand up by himself, but can't actually take steps unassisted. He'll be walking soon.

As of a month ago, Noah is transitioning to real food and avoids breast feeding much these days.

Mom Visits for Two Weeks! :-)

Katharine Mom came to Seoul and visited with us for two weeks. She was super accommodating and stayed with us in our home despite the smallness of it. We were a cozy happy family for the time she was here, and will try to keep that warmth after she leaves. Here are some pics of our time together.

Mom helped with caring for Noah and gave Jinny and I a break from being with him 24/7. Ah, the grandeur of rest! Thank you, MOM. We love you... Here is a picture of us at Yangjae Citizen's Park near our home. We like to go here to refresh and enliven ourselves in nature. There is a big water fountain that makes all the city noise go away, and big pine trees that offer a shady spot on a humid summer day. Thank you, nature; without you, we'd be in deep trouble.

Grandmother Love.... Ahhhh!

Greg doing a wrap impersonation, but all of us dancing away to the MP3 collection of great tunes, this one being "I Believe I Can Fly," R Kelly. Grandma also helped us train Noah to sleep regularly so Mom and Dad could sleep better. Thanks Grandma!!! Here's to Granmother-love! I never really appreciated my parents as much as I do now. What an insight into the connect between the generations. I'm so touched by it all.