This past Saturday was 100th Day Celebration for Jalen. In Korea, 100th Day Celebration is a big deal. It is to celebrate the child’s having survived first three months of his or her life. Traditionally, the family will serve their guests rice cakes, wine, and other delicious dishes, but as some of you know, we’re not that traditional. Instead, mom decided to take charge with all the food preparations which took full 3 days to prepare. Upon our families request, she made Spicy Pork Ribs, Korean BBQ (beef), Jap Chae (glass noodle with veggies), Shrimp Fried Rice, Bok Choy with Shrimp (not traditional korean dish, but i love it), Fried Stuffed Jalepenos, Fried Imitation Crab Pancakes, Potato Salad and 3 types of Kim Chee. Even though she is physically not at her best these days, she didn’t slow down one bit. She slaved away and prepared enough food to feed an army! I’m not kidding. It was ridiculous how much food we had! All for Jalen… Her love for him is undeniable and remarkable to me. I know we have our differences from time to time, but our love for Jalen is mutual – that’s for sure.

We felt so much love and happiness all around us from the moment we greeted our first guest to the last. Jason and I feel so blessed to share our lives at this moment with our new group of friends that we have met and are growing to love.

I met Katie and Vivian in my pre-natal yoga classes. Words cannot express how cool it is to share motherhood and everything that comes with this amazing experience. You can see how happy they are and how natural they seem to be with their precious girls… Is there anything sweeter than mother’s love? I think not.

Someone shouted, “Jalen as his ladies!” as Mark took this photo of us. Thank you Mark Kanda! You captured this moment quite perfectly.

Mamas & their little ones – Annika and Alycea even joined us with their babies too! So cute! How precious is that?!

Of course I had to ask papas to pose for a photo. So cheesy, but I love it!

Time to have some dessert! If you have not tried Nothing Bundt Cakes, you don’t know what you’re missing!

So, instead of serving rice cakes, I decided to serve Chocolate Chocolate Chip & White Raspberry Chocolate tiered cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes. It was a hit with our guests last February when my mother-in-law suggested it for Jalen’s baby shower. As my aunt Jo Ann said, “I’ve been thinking about their cakes for months!” That makes two of us!!!!

Lunch? Check! Dessert? Check! Time to go swimming to cool off! Austin’s weather is no joke in the summer time. I think everyone in Austin must have:

a) AC in the house AND in the car, b) must have a swimming pool or live near a lake in order to cool off when the heat goes up to 100+ degrees! Last summer was brutal for me, but according to everyone else, it was MILD. I think I am tolerating Austin’s heat better than last year because I actually don’t hear myself complaining every minute of the day.
Many Austinists I know have said, “You don’t get used to this heat… You just tolerate it.”

Vivian, Camilla and Rob – They moved from New York. What a beautiful family. Picture perfect! Thanks Jason for taking such a beautiful photo of them.

Happy 100TH Day Jalen!!!!!!
I know you are too young right now to remember this day, but I know I will treasure each and every moment I had with you on this very special day. Mommy, daddy, grandma and these friends in our lives love you more than you can comprehend. Thank you for teaching me how to love unconditionally, every day. Because of you, I am a better person than I was yesterday. I am forever thankful to God that you came in to my life the way you did; so perfect in every way. Our lives are changed forever because of you. May you always live to be healthy, loving, generous, empathetic and kind to others. Please never forget to be grateful for your family and friends. Because without them, life would be empty and there is no greater tragedy in life then not knowing what true love is.

I have learned many life lessons for the past 34 years of my life. However, the toughest lesson in life I had to learn so far was this: Although education is very important and no one can ever take that away from you, life is NOT about what kind of degree you achieve in college. Life is NOT about what kind of career you have and how much money you have stashed away in your bank account. Life is NOT about how big your house is or driving the best car around to show off your status quo. At the end of the day, life is meant to be shared with people who love you and those you love. If you don’t have loving family and friends to share your life with… what good is it and what kind of fulfillment will you get from life?

You only get one chance to live this life God has given you. So, enjoy life to the fullest as if it is your last. I have finally learned this lesson as I carried you in my belly for 10 months. I wish I had you earlier to learn this simple, yet important lesson. But I realize I might not have been ready mentally and/or emotionally to be a good mother then. As I approach my 35th birthday this week, I realize timing is everything and I’m so glad I waited to welcome you in to this world. I am more stable in my life then I was before and I can confidently say, I will be the best mother that I can be to love and cherish you for the rest of my life.