Three

My girls both turned 3 in the last few days. Eloise turned three years old, and Eden turned 3 months old. Both such significant milestones. I feel like Eloise is no longer a little baby anymore and becoming her own little lady with a lot interesting thoughts and opinions. And passing the 3 month mark with Eden makes me let out a huge sigh of relief. The first 3 months with any baby is difficult but I really can't complain. She is such a pleasant baby and she lights up whenever Eloise sings to her.

I am so in love with these two. Happy THREE my loves.

2 months

This little dumpling is 2 months old this week!

I am obsessed with staring at her face to see how similar and different she is compared to Eloise (so far, pretty similar!), and I am getting as much little cuddles in as I can because I now know how fast it goes by. And as tired and hard having a young family is in the moment, I know these are the moments of my life I will cherish the most.

Our Second Little Bun : Eden Kim

It has almost been a week since our second daughter arrived and I still can't believe it. Eloise left for my parents house for the weekend last Saturday morning because Jin was off to work that day and I thought it would be safer if Eloise was with my parents just in case I went into labour by myself (but I didn't think I really would). I had a full day planned, first to have dim sum with our #dimsumclubTO friends, and have one more night out with Jinny before our baby comes. But our baby had something else in mind.

I thought maybe I was feeling contractions at around 6 pm while Jinny and I were getting ready to head out for dinner but I called our midwife to see what she thought. I even asked "So...you think we should stay in?", and she said that might be a good idea. Good thing we did because 3 hours later, our baby was born in our home.

Our midwives said that this child is very special because she was born in the caul (which means the amniotic sac was in tact during birth) and out of the 900 babies she has delivered, she has only seen about 10 babies born this way! It is said that a child born this way is destined for something special.

I have been reluctant to google "born in the caul" to avoid seeing any images as my eyes were closed the entire delivery and my mind and body is still shocked from the experience. I was equally as frightened to go into labour the second time around!

Before our baby arrived, Eloise already had a name picked out for her, and we loved it. I still cannot believe how much she looks like Eloise when she was a baby, when I see the two of them together, it is as if I am looking at the present and the future.

So without further adieu, I'd love for you to meet our newest addition to our family:

Eden Kim
January 10, 2015, 9:07 pm
5 lbs, 11 oz
What a lovely way to start the new year!

Eloise's announcement

Eloise is excited to tell you something!

She is going to be a big sister!

In her exact words, she says "I am a big sister! Not yet!"

Many of you may have already suspected if you noticed my little bump here. I'm already about 25 weeks along and we are due in mid January! We didn't mean to announce it so far along, I have been meaning to do it for weeks but life is exponentially more hectic with a toddler around! I had so much leisure time while pregnant with Eloise!

Eloise is very excited to be a big sister, she talks to the bump and kisses it everyday. She also instructs the baby to come out, but I tell her that mommy and the baby have to grow much bigger before she does!

And yes, the baby is a "she"! We are so blessed to welcome another baby girl into our lives!

(Thank you Gabe for taking these photos of us!)

two

And in the blink of an eye, our little baby turned TWO this weekend!

She is full of beans and it is hard to get a photo of her standing still these days! All signs of a healthy, happy toddler!

The second last photo is her "smiling face". Every kid has one right?

Happy Birthday little Eloise!

Eloise's Dol

We celebrated Eloise's first birthday this past weekend with a Dol ceremony and a little party! My brother graciously allowed us to hold the party at his place and I decorated it with hot pink confetti stuffed balloon garlands. The days leading up to Eloise's party, she caught a fever and it turned out that she had Roseola. We found out when she started to break out in a rash on the day of her party. If you looked at her closely, she was starting to get pink dots on her skin and I joked that she matched the balloons. The unofficial theme of the party was "Roseola", it couldn't have come at a better time (poor baby!).

I used this party as an excuse to do some serious crafting! I made two party favours for guests to choose from, one was snap on bowties for babies and adults using this fun tutorial! I was so happy to see most of the guys wore the bowtie proudly around the party! The other favour was painted wooden bead necklaces from this great tutorial. I love how they turned out!

Ellie chose her fortune well during her Dol ceremony. She picked up a coin and a badge of some sort. The coin means wealth and Jin's mom explained that the badge was for some sort of high level secret spy working for the government (there is much lost in translation here!) so Ellie will be wealthy spy!? Haha!

Nikole made a beautiful and delicious birthday cake for Ellie and Gabe expertly documented the party for us. Ellie is so lucky and so loved! The Dol props and her traditional Korean dress are rented from Party with Chloe and we had Hammersmith's cater for some afternoon tea. It was most delicious!

Ellie's party was a success!! Thank you to all who helped us put it together and for all who came to celebrate this joyous time in our lives with us! And happy first birthday my young "wealthy spy"! You alone have brought so much happiness into our lives. We are so blessed.

All photographs in this post are by Gabe Li!

one year

Just promise me one thing Ellie. Try not to grow up too fast. Stay a baby a little while longer. I want to remember all your little things, forever.

Of course we know that is an impossible request but I thought I'd just ask.

We love you to pieces.

Happy first birthday our sweet baby Eloise.

Love Mommy and Daddy.

Thank you uncle Gabe for taking these wonderful pictures for us, and for just being an amazing uncle to Eloise! (Gabe posted some more photos here)

Happy Birthday Elodie!

A friendship budding at an early age! Elodie shared a bit of her birthday cake with Eloise at her birthday party. So generous, Elodie!

Happy first birthday sweet Elodie! And congratulations Juli and John!

11 months

I have been so occupied these past few weeks, I nearly forgot that this winter was coming to an end. Ellie turns 11 months old today and it took me a second to remember that she was born on a beautiful spring day. This past weekend was sunny and warm, spring is coming and my little baby will officially be a toddler in a month. But in my eyes, she will always be my baby.

Ellie is still trying to figure out how to crawl but her newest obsession is pulling herself up to stand. She has the proudest little face when she walks with Jinny and she is always trying to escape from her bath with a smile. Her other new thing is keeping food in her mouth for hours making her cheeks adorably round (she is keeping her dinner in her mouth in the last two photos). Because of this little one, our home is always filled with singing and laughter and the occasional cries from accidental head bumps.

Happy 11 months little Eloise!

August's First Birthday

A few weeks ago, I photographed this handsome boy's first birthday. His parents, Jane and Andrew put together a wonderful party and a Dol ceremony as well. A Dol is a traditional Korean ceremony that celebrates the first birthday of a baby and blesses them with a prosperous future. August was put in front of a number of objects and depending on what he selects, that will foretell his future. August picked a calligraphy brush and some coins which means he will be a wealthy scholar!

This party got me thinking of Eloise's first birthday which is coming up soon! I wasn't going to do much but after attending August's party, I am inspired!

Happy birthday sweet little August!