Thursday, July 31, 2008
Breast Feeding is Hard Work!!!
In today's modern world, child care often goes unpaid and unrewarded. I am learning from Jinny just how much effort it requires to care for a child. As a husband who is often outside the home, I notice how hard it is to realize just how hard it is until I am home alone with Noah for a day. This picture reveals to me the sweet joy of Jinny's care and love for our son.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
True Presence and the Power of Love
I never thought that babies could pick up on love so early, in essence, right out of the whom. When Noah was born, the nurses handed him to me three minutes after he arrived, crying and wailing. The moment he was in my arms, he became quiet, stopped crying, and the nurses owed and awed. After the nurses took a picture of Noah and I together with my cell phone, I handed Noah back to the nurses. Noah proceeded to start crying again. I just knew that Noah knew something, was intelligent, and how amazing that is for a being, a biological organizism, just nine months old. Totally amazing.
I appreciate so much, and am wowed by Noah when I sit gazing into his eyes with no thoughts at all, just showering him in pure attention and loving presence. His eyes light up, and he smiles so much, cooing and gurgling to his heart's content. Yesterday, it was just stupendous. I was holding Noah, as I usually do on my right thigh, and I lifted up his shirt and gave him a fart kiss on his tummy. He laughed three times really loudly, each time I did it. Jinny could hear in the kitchen. It was his first real laugh that I've heard, and he's only 14 weeks now. My head dropped in wonderment and that sound echoed through my mind the whole day, and even now. Little things like that stimulate me in ways that help me appreciate the wonders of infantasia.
Oh, for balance, while I was giving Noah a bath, at Mommy's request, Noah spirted onto me for the first time. Luckily, Mommy warned me to take off my jeans before giving him a bath. 'Why?', you might ask. Noah has a tendency to pee-pee especially, or poo-poo the moment he feels warm water. I had to wash my own underwear after giving Noah a bath. Actually, I had to give myself a bath, too.
And before finishing, I was really impressed with my little Noah, startled even, when this young baby erupted in a sudden burst of volcanic bowel movement that made the diaper look like a suicide bomb, though light brown instead of dark red. I didn't know babies could do that! I'm more careful now, knowing that it might come at any moment.
We are inventing new games to play with Noah, such as wave the hands in a dance 1 meter away from his eyes. Also, we have an ABC mobile with an electronic tune that he enjoys. If others read this and have ideas of things Noah might like to do or play, please offer a comment below this post.
In much love and affection,
Greg (and Jinny)
I appreciate so much, and am wowed by Noah when I sit gazing into his eyes with no thoughts at all, just showering him in pure attention and loving presence. His eyes light up, and he smiles so much, cooing and gurgling to his heart's content. Yesterday, it was just stupendous. I was holding Noah, as I usually do on my right thigh, and I lifted up his shirt and gave him a fart kiss on his tummy. He laughed three times really loudly, each time I did it. Jinny could hear in the kitchen. It was his first real laugh that I've heard, and he's only 14 weeks now. My head dropped in wonderment and that sound echoed through my mind the whole day, and even now. Little things like that stimulate me in ways that help me appreciate the wonders of infantasia.
Oh, for balance, while I was giving Noah a bath, at Mommy's request, Noah spirted onto me for the first time. Luckily, Mommy warned me to take off my jeans before giving him a bath. 'Why?', you might ask. Noah has a tendency to pee-pee especially, or poo-poo the moment he feels warm water. I had to wash my own underwear after giving Noah a bath. Actually, I had to give myself a bath, too.
And before finishing, I was really impressed with my little Noah, startled even, when this young baby erupted in a sudden burst of volcanic bowel movement that made the diaper look like a suicide bomb, though light brown instead of dark red. I didn't know babies could do that! I'm more careful now, knowing that it might come at any moment.
We are inventing new games to play with Noah, such as wave the hands in a dance 1 meter away from his eyes. Also, we have an ABC mobile with an electronic tune that he enjoys. If others read this and have ideas of things Noah might like to do or play, please offer a comment below this post.
In much love and affection,
Greg (and Jinny)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Drooooool...
Noah is really good at drooooooling! Wherever we take him, we have the cloth, er, I mean the towel, er, I mean the blanket. It's good to the wash all of them regularly.
One of Our Favorite Games!
Noah loves to walk on Daddy's tummy, and drool all over the place - thus the big thick towel. I hope it's enough.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Noah Walks Up Daddy's Tummy
Dear All,
Yes, it's true. Noah has begun to walk, with a little help from his friend - Daddy! Noah can support his own weight for a short time, and with a little help, walk up Daddy's tummy. He's actually smiled more than usual today when I engaged with him in this. He's showing how much he likes to move around the apartment, and even go outside, though he doesn't stay awake long when we go outside due to, we suspect, and heavy stimuli. He's also sleeping a lot today.
More big news is that Noah's ability to turn his head as arrived, when hearing or noticing something. Before, he never turned his head, but now, it's normal for him. Waaaaa. Baby is growing.
Vacation has arrived for Greg, and he's beginning to study NVC in more depth (www.cnvc.org), as well as study Korean (imagine that, after 4.5 years of living here he's finally getting around to it - Uh-oh...I think he's evaluating himself - Ouch!).
Greg is transitioning into a more relaxed environment, where he's able to "live love" and source his presence from a deep connection with self and others. He's trying to get back the mindfulness he had when at Plum Village, and is strongly longing for a greater wholeness in his entire atmosphere. He knows just how much joy and happiness this will not only bring for himself, but for his wife and baby son, Noah.
In much warmth and affection,
Greg
Yes, it's true. Noah has begun to walk, with a little help from his friend - Daddy! Noah can support his own weight for a short time, and with a little help, walk up Daddy's tummy. He's actually smiled more than usual today when I engaged with him in this. He's showing how much he likes to move around the apartment, and even go outside, though he doesn't stay awake long when we go outside due to, we suspect, and heavy stimuli. He's also sleeping a lot today.
More big news is that Noah's ability to turn his head as arrived, when hearing or noticing something. Before, he never turned his head, but now, it's normal for him. Waaaaa. Baby is growing.
Vacation has arrived for Greg, and he's beginning to study NVC in more depth (www.cnvc.org), as well as study Korean (imagine that, after 4.5 years of living here he's finally getting around to it - Uh-oh...I think he's evaluating himself - Ouch!).
Greg is transitioning into a more relaxed environment, where he's able to "live love" and source his presence from a deep connection with self and others. He's trying to get back the mindfulness he had when at Plum Village, and is strongly longing for a greater wholeness in his entire atmosphere. He knows just how much joy and happiness this will not only bring for himself, but for his wife and baby son, Noah.
In much warmth and affection,
Greg
Friday, June 27, 2008
Noah Moves
Dear All,
Noah has started to support his neck better and better theses days, and soon enough he'll be crawlin' 'round the apartment. He loves for us to carry him around the house while we hold him, and I've developed a new game of "touch the nose" with him, which he really likes.
Jinny and I are wantin' to go camping outside of Seoul, and are trying to do more of that... Searching for that perfect camping place, free of other people, is a challenge in a nation the same size of Oregon with a population of 50 million (Oregon has only 3.5 million). Also, I'm reducing my activities at my Buddhist temple to devote more time to enjoying life more... This summer my goal is learn more Korean and deepen my studies of Nonviolent Communication (NVC - see www.cnvc.org and www.krnvc.org). I am working toward becoming a Certified Trainer. Also under consideration, is returning to school for my PhD in Education, from a colleague of Alfie Kohn (Google "Alfie Kohn" to get a sense for my direction).
That's it for now... I'm really excited about taking more time with family..., and not having to sacrifice the money aspect to do it. Yippee!
That's all for now...
Greg
Noah has started to support his neck better and better theses days, and soon enough he'll be crawlin' 'round the apartment. He loves for us to carry him around the house while we hold him, and I've developed a new game of "touch the nose" with him, which he really likes.
Jinny and I are wantin' to go camping outside of Seoul, and are trying to do more of that... Searching for that perfect camping place, free of other people, is a challenge in a nation the same size of Oregon with a population of 50 million (Oregon has only 3.5 million). Also, I'm reducing my activities at my Buddhist temple to devote more time to enjoying life more... This summer my goal is learn more Korean and deepen my studies of Nonviolent Communication (NVC - see www.cnvc.org and www.krnvc.org). I am working toward becoming a Certified Trainer. Also under consideration, is returning to school for my PhD in Education, from a colleague of Alfie Kohn (Google "Alfie Kohn" to get a sense for my direction).
That's it for now... I'm really excited about taking more time with family..., and not having to sacrifice the money aspect to do it. Yippee!
That's all for now...
Greg
Friday, June 20, 2008
Noah Was Born
Well, better late than never, so they say. Here's our blog full of photos of our family and the ups and downs we go through in daily life - we'll, actually, mostly the happy moment when we felt like taking a picture. I'd consider us very lucky and happy to be in the situation we are in, and to have so much love and warmth among us all.
Noah was born on April 7th, at 2:13PM, 2008. We had a professional astrologer do his chart shortly after he was born. Looks like he'll make a GREAT professor one day, apparently. See next post for astrology reading... (fun!).
Jinny was in the hospital for a week after the birth, and then went home to her mother's home, as is tradition in Korea. She stayed there for nearly six weeks, leaving poor old Greg at the other home to fend for himself. It was a bit tough on him, but he managed somehow. He visited Jinny and Noah as much as he could considering his other commitments of work.
Finally, Jinny came back to her home with Greg not long ago, and Greg felt much better. Jinny is a full-time Mommie, while Greg works much less than most men like him, and has time to hold Noah and be an active part of his life, though he's not so active yet (aka he can't walk yet, and is just beginning to get some control over his neck - though he can kick and partially stand on Greg's tummy).
Noah was born on April 7th, at 2:13PM, 2008. We had a professional astrologer do his chart shortly after he was born. Looks like he'll make a GREAT professor one day, apparently. See next post for astrology reading... (fun!).
Jinny was in the hospital for a week after the birth, and then went home to her mother's home, as is tradition in Korea. She stayed there for nearly six weeks, leaving poor old Greg at the other home to fend for himself. It was a bit tough on him, but he managed somehow. He visited Jinny and Noah as much as he could considering his other commitments of work.
Finally, Jinny came back to her home with Greg not long ago, and Greg felt much better. Jinny is a full-time Mommie, while Greg works much less than most men like him, and has time to hold Noah and be an active part of his life, though he's not so active yet (aka he can't walk yet, and is just beginning to get some control over his neck - though he can kick and partially stand on Greg's tummy).
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
A Mature Look Into the Future
I like this photo because it begins to reveal a mature Noah, what he might be like as he matures. His clothing reminds me of Gandhi's native dress. What are your thoughts when you look at this picture of Noah? Hmmmm.
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