ah, that's love

Letters to Solace: 12 months

2026-01-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

My dear Solace,

Happy 12 months! I can't believe you are a whole year old. You are 17 lbs and 28" long with an average sized head. You wear 9 month clothing, size 3 diapers, and a bib always for your perpetual drool. You stand confidently while holding onto furniture. You slide stools and little chairs across the floor to take steps throughout the house. You are fastest when you crawl. You possess an endearing blank stare reminiscent of your daddy's, especially with your bottom two teeth in view. Your gums are swollen but you haven't sprouted any other teeth yet. You prefer sticking close to your family, specifically your mama. You'll start your day by nursing in the early morning while I admire how your little feet curl against one another. Then you'll roll over to grin at your daddy and receive cuddles, and then wait for your siblings to tote you off to play. You love food and want to try everything. You eat plenty of Os cereal, eggs with spinach or other veggies, ground turkey, bananas and other fruit, salmon, and more. You enjoy playing in the little toy kitchen, with magnetic blocks and legos, and want to be a part of the fun in our house where it is never dull with five older siblings. You love bathtime with the littles. You babble, giggle, and are a cuddly ball of delight. We delight in you profusely, Solly Pie. We love you so much and thank the Lord deeply for the gift of your life, which has been all cheer and comfort. We can't wait to see how the Lord grows you, Lord willing in the knowledge of Him and His ways. May you grow into a man after God's own heart.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 11 months

2025-12-10T22:22:00.000-08:00

My dear Solace,

11 months so soon! You're standing and cruising on furniture with finesse and the widest, drooly two-tooth grin. You love food with a passion, letting us know with constant repetitions of "muh." If you're not uttering that, you're crying for mama. You prefer to be within sight of me at all times. If you don't notice I'm not present, you're the most content baby. Thankful you are such a sweet baby with others. You nurse four times a day for up to ten minutes each. You are wearing 9 month clothing and size 3 diapers. You are not a fan of shoes but you'll tolerate socks. You cling onto us like a koala, which we find exceedingly endearing. We all love you so much, Solly Pie! As we reflect on this past year, we are so thankful to the Lord for your birth, for your life has truly been a solace. I can't believe you're turning a year old next month. Time passes too quickly; we cherish all the moments in the present with you, my littlest babe!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 10 months

2025-11-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

My dear Solace,

Happy 10 months! You are such a ball of joy. You've sprouted two bottom front teeth, which helps you eat like a little king. You love everything you've tried: egg, tofu, broccoli, zucchini spinach, beef, chicken, steak, sweet potato, carrots, cauliflower, strawberries, blueberries, almond butter toast, avocado, and more. You drink water through a straw. You nurse about 4 times a day and sleep consistently through the night. What grace! You began crawling on fours towards the end of the month. You sit and transition from tummy to sitting position adeptly. You reach up to be held, most often for your mama, for whom you often call. You adore exploring and playing near your siblings. They love you so much that they argue over who gets to hold you, and they lament when you're asleep because then they can't cuddle with you. You're so used to having someone in your family around that you protest when you're alone. You'll let any of your older siblings or daddy put you down for a nap or to sleep, except your mama. You transitioned to 6-9 month clothing this month, and wear size 3 diapers. You are at such a fun age, and we just regard you fondly always!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 9 months

2025-10-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

We have loved month 9! This past month, you have found great joy in sitting with your siblings at the piano, plunking on the keys on whim. In fact, you express your happiness by accompanying your gummy grin with flapping hands. Your mode of getting around is scooting on your tummy. You scoot through the house to find me. Though you army crawl, you also push into crawling position often and into sitting position from your tummy. You love crawling over us, chewing on toys, and being the center of attention among your siblings. You adore food, grabbing at handheld bites with your fists. You now nurse about every 3-4 hours. You're sleeping a consistent 6-8 hours at night, praise God. You weigh 16 lbs 7 oz and measure 27 inches long. You are growing out of 3-6 month clothing. You wear size 3 diapers. You started murmuring "mama" at the end of the month. Your mama and entire family absolutely adore you!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 8 months

2025-09-10T23:36:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

Happy 8 months! We've all been a bit happier this month because you started sleeping through the night. Praise God! You've been doing 6-7 hour stretches at night except for when we traveled up to the Central Coast for family camp. The longer stretches of sleep at night at home have been making a world of difference. You've also been squealing, pushing into crawling position though you scoot on your tummy to get around. You're growing up a little, nursing efficiently about 10-12 minutes per session, about 4 hours apart since you are enjoying solids. You love cucumber, bell pepper, scrambled egg, apples dipped in almond butter, and more. You know who your family is, for you've developed separation anxiety, whining when you see your mama. You wear 3-6 month clothing, size 3 diapers, and are the cuddliest, squishiest ball of cuteness. We love you so!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 7 months

2025-08-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

This past month, you've accomplished sitting up to everyone's surprise and your delight. You're also scooting about and we can't believe how mobile you are already. You started solids and have tried zucchini, carrots, butternut squash, avocado, banana, tofu, and eggs. You're a fan of them all, except perhaps for carrots. Your siblings love the chance to feed you. Not to mention to hold you and just be with you always. You particularly love storytime with your siblings. Being read to is one of your favorite pastimes. You have sensitive, heat rash prone skin, so we are constantly trying to keep you simultaneously dry and moisturized. You've worn nothing but 3-6 month onesies and drool bibs this summer. You like to rub the muslin leaf blanket in your face to fall asleep. We started putting you in the boys' room at night this past month in hopes of longer stretches of sleep for everyone. In the meantime, we can't resist your gummy, open-mouthed grins, your giggles when tickled, and your squishy cuddles. We love you so very much, Solly Pie!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 6 months

2025-07-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

You are a rolly Solly! You're rolling, squealing, reaching for things, kicking for joy, and sitting up (though wobbling while doing so). You love being read to, sung to, and held close, especially in the sling. You just hit 14 lbs in weight and the nurse commented at your 6-month appointment that you are a little guy, which we thought was funny and the opposite of how we perceive you. You wear 3-6 month clothing and size 3 diapers. Your hair is thinning to our chagrin, but you are wide-eyed, curious, and smiley, and we love you and your half-year milestones.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 5 months

2025-06-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

I am loving your squealing, smiley self! You are reaching for things like your feet and figuring out how your hands work at touching everything around you. You roll around on the floor in play and exploration. You went on your first real family trip to the national parks in Utah this month and endured some heat rash, but you were a good sport because your mama wore you in the sling. You seem to prefer sleeping with a thin blanket covering your face, which boggles our minds. You went through the 4 month sleep regression and it was pretty rough, but I am thankful you are learning and growing and that I get to witness it all. You bring so much joy to us, and we, especially your five older siblings, can't help but fawn over you.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 4 months

2025-05-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

I adore your giant grins that take over your entire body so that you lurch backward in joy. This happens when we smile at you and fawn over you. You were all about your little hands this month. Clasped hands, clutching hands, hands in your mouth, hands that hug as you nursed. Your hair sticks straight up as ever and delights all who behold you. You are rolling from tummy to back, and are almost rolling from back to tummy. You are 12 lbs, almost 13 months, wearing size 2 diapers, and transitioning to 3-6 month clothing. You sleep a consistent 6 hour stretch at night, though you woke more often towards the end of this month. You are happiest when I wear or hold you, and I just love how your little body conforms to mine. What a joy to watch you grow.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2, 3 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 3 months

2025-04-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

This past month was full of grace! You learned to take the pacifier after your 2 month doctor's appointment at the beginning of the month, which has been such a blessing. It has helped you sleep not only in longer stretches (the most being seven hours) but also in places like your lounger or bouncer or car seat, which is so helpful. You like to burrow your face into a blanket or your mama. You are consistently most content in our arms, my wrap, or sling as you are held close and tight as if you are still in the womb. You delight us with your little smiles that spread into giant grins. You discovered your voice and coo to interact with us all. You suck your fists as if your life depended on it. You practice tummy time, most often on your older siblings. You probably accidentally rolled over later this month as well. You just transitioned to size 2 diapers towards the end of the month and are wearing 0-3 month clothing. We are rejoicing over these sweet milestones and are so excited to get to watch you grow and learn and become the little person God designed you to be.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1, 2 months, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 2 months

2025-03-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

My dear Solace,

You’re two months old! You currently weigh 11 lbs and measure 23” long. You started wearing size 1 diapers at 5 weeks and now wear 0-3 month clothing. What a haze this past month has been, marked by tons of cluster feeding particularly in the evening, which contributed to your rapid growth this month. During the day, you nurse every 2-3 hours. We spend a lot of time in the green armchair nursing while your older siblings homeschool. We are in awe of and adore your squishiness combined with your puffy hair, which makes for the sweetest snuggles. Your siblings clamor for their turn to hold you every day. They’ve dedicated the lullaby “Solla Sollew” to you, tenderly crooning the song when you cry. You practice tummy time on Serene, love being held dolly way by Reverie so you can stare outward, and gaze up at Valor, Verity, and Candor when they hold you.

In fact, you are most content when worn in the wrap, and prefer to spend your days in it when you’re not nursing. You stare up at me with wide eyes before drifting off into deep slumber within the wrap’s womblike warmth. Your longest stretch of sleep at night has been three hours, which we wish were more frequent and longer. It has been more common to have one and half to two hour stretches at night. The sleepless nights are spent snoozing only in your daddy’s or my arms, burrowing your face into our sides for closeness and comfort. In our arms or the wrap are what you prefer as you cry within a few minutes of being put in the bouncer or lounger.

I don't mind the cuddles one bit. You have the silkiest, fair skin. We love how your feet flex and your hands curl into fists. You give impressive burps after feeding. You’ve taken the bottle twice, and refuse the pacifier. You attended your first Sunday service at 4 weeks. You went on your first getaway to San Diego for an elopement at 6 weeks. You started gifting us little smiles around 7 weeks, along with coos. Those, along with the newborn stretches and endearing newborn scrunches, are the best. We are loving watching you grow, my littlest love. We cherish your littleness and know this time with you is a sweet gift from our gracious God. What a memorable milestone that you turned two months on your daddy's and my 13th anniversary! God is so kind!

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0, 1 month, and his birth story.

Letters to Solace: 1 month

2025-02-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

My dear Solace,

It has been the sweetest first month with you. You arrived in the same week as your Yeh Yeh's passing and other difficult circumstances, a testament to God's kindness in bringing healing balm and comfort in the midst of trials. We can't believe we've been gifted the opportunity to enjoy new life and joy in you, my littlest baby. We have all been anxiously waiting to meet you. Your daddy and I often said "In January" to anticipate your arrival, especially with your older siblings who had all been waiting with great excitement to meet you. They had been praying for a new sibling for about two years, and you are an answer to their prayers. Praise God!

We love everything about you. We love your littleness, your newborn rolls, your delicate lips, your long feet and fingers, your silky soft skin, your froggy legs, and most noticeable and surprising of all, your puffy head of hair (which hopefully will not shed as the months go by). You have a fan club of five older siblings who vie for your attention, crowding around you constantly. They eagerly take turns holding you everyday, exclaiming over how little and precious you are. Reverie kisses your head often and exclaims that you are so little she can't believe you're even a human. Valor coos over his littlest baby brother. Verity proclaims that you are her very own baby Solly. Candor loves to nuzzle you affectionately with his head. Serene murmurs "aww" whenever she gazes at you lovingly. We adore you to the utmost!

Your first month of life has been full of cuddles. I cherish our bond, nurtured by nursing, contact napping, skin-to-skin snuggles, and babywearing. My heart swells when holding you close and showering feathery kisses on your cheeks and forehead. After you turned two weeks, you preferred to sleep only in our arms or in my wrap, reminiscent of being in the womb. You tolerate the lounger and bouncer for just a few minutes before realizing they're not the warmth of our arms or the wrap. We are enjoying holding you closely, knowing fully how time goes by too quickly.

You had no jaundice at birth, but proceeded to visit the doctor four times in one week for raised bilirubin levels. Thankfully, it peaked at day 6 of life and lowered by day 7 of life to breastmilk jaundice, which is thankfully decreasing over time. You feed and pee/poop well. I love rubbing your back as you nurse, to which you respond with the cutest high-pitched grunts. You've been more alert since 3 weeks, beholding your surroundings for a few minutes at a time. You try holding your wobbly head up when held against my chest. You weren't sure about your first sponge bath at 4 days once your umbilical cord stump fell off, but now calmly enjoy the warm sink baths your daddy gives you, the first of which occurred around 1 week. You began taking the pacifier right before 3 weeks of age. You hiccup about once a day as well, which reminds me of that daily rhythm of yours in utero. Your first outing outside of the doctor's office was your Yeh Yeh's funeral at 4 weeks, followed by Sunday service with our church family two days later.

You've probably gained a pound since birth and are about 8 pounds now. You wear newborn diapers and newborn clothing. Though I cherish your littleness, I also know it is a gift to watch you grow, my sweet Solly baby.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Solace at 0 months and his birth story.

Solace's birth

2025-01-18T19:37:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 37 weeks and 6 days, I noticed contractions that were consistently five minutes apart before going to bed at around midnight. When I told Alex, he immediately suggested going to the hospital given my history of fast births. I wasn’t sure the contractions were strong enough to go in, but I hoped to get there with plenty of time to receive an epidural. I always wanted one, but didn't have enough time for it during three of the kids' births.

We called Aarika who graciously came over while Alex threw toiletries in a bag. After a short 12 minute drive, we checked into Labor & Delivery at around 1:00am. When the nurse checked my cervix at 1:15am, I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. She observed that my contractions were pretty strong, but they felt mild to me. She instructed us to walk around for two hours to help labor progress. “What?” I gaped at her. I laughed, for I had never been told to do so before. “Excuse me, ma’am,” Alex said. “Did you say walk for two hours? At 1:30 in the morning?”

We followed orders and walked circles around the L & D wing. The contractions became stronger at 3 minutes apart. At 3:00am, the nurse checked my cervix again and shared that I had not progressed. She told us to go home and predicted we’d be back within 24 hours. “Come back when the contractions hurt,” she said. I was disappointed and embarrassed to be sent home, but Alex took it as an opportunity to schedule a lunch date that afternoon - haha.

We went home to sleep for a few hours before going back to the hospital for a scheduled ob-gyn appointment while my mother-in-law and brother-in-law watched the kids. I wasn’t sure if my dilation and effacement had progressed in the four hours since going home. Contractions had gone back to being 5-6 minutes apart, but I wanted to consult my doctor regardless. When she checked me at 9:00am, I was 3.5 cm dilated and 70% effaced. “You’re progressing,” she said reassuringly. “Come back when you’re in active labor. You’ll probably go pretty fast.”

That afternoon, Alex took me on a sushi date for quality time before the baby arrives. It was so sweet to spend time together as it had been a hard week filled with sorrows and grief with hope. I spent the rest of the day bouncing on a yoga ball, taking a hot shower, and keeping a record of my contractions.

That night, on Friday, January 10, 2025, I felt the contractions deepen at around 3:00am. I timed them for an hour and then went to pee. I discovered a substantial amount of bleeding. “I think it’s time to go,” I told Alex. He called his mom to come over and we left right away. We checked into Labor & Delivery at 4:26am. The same nurse from the previous day checked my cervix. “You’re 5-6 cm,” she announced. “You’re definitely staying this time.”

I smiled in relief then winced as the contractions intensified. “The priority is for her to get an epidural,” Alex told her. The nurse prepped my IV and told me it needs to drain before they can administer the epidural. I nodded with a feeling it may not happen.

I walked over to a labor & delivery room, where I breathed deeply through the contractions now. By the time the anesthesiologist arrived at 5:45am, the contractions hurt so that I could barely sit still enough for him to poke the needle in my back. He poked several times to find the right spot, and it hurt! It was 6:00am and we were hoping the medicine would kick in in time. I was breathing too fast, so they strapped an oxygen mask on me. Labor became a blur. The contractions were fast and furious. The epidural never worked. I started moaning through the contractions. In the midst of the pain, I vaguely felt the nurses readjusting the fetal heart monitor several times. We couldn’t hear a heartbeat. "Take deep breaths, Helen," the nurses urged. "You need to breathe for the baby." The nurses checked my cervix and declared I was complete. They called the midwife in as the familiar, fiery sensation came to push. I yelled as I pushed. “Push!” the medical team commanded. My water broke. I pushed a few more times with the energy I had left. Alex told me later that while I was pushing, the NICU team rushed into the room in case they needed to resuscitate the baby. At 6:33am on Friday, January 10, 2025, Solace Just Hong came into the world at 38 weeks, weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and measuring 20 inches long. He had the umbilical cord wrapped tightly around his neck several times. The midwife deftly cut it off and praise God, he cried. They placed him on me as a wave of fatigue washed over me. Alex cut off the umbilical cord near Solace’s belly button. He was finally here, and he was okay.

We praise God for His great grace in blessing us with our littlest baby boy. We can't believe we get to do this again. My first hours with him in the hospital were so precious, with lots of skin-to-skin bonding, nursing, and napping together. Alex was such a sweet support while he was there, but he was the real MVP for going home several times in order to take care of the five big kids. So thankful for family who cared for the big kids while we were at the hospital. When we brought Solace home on his second day of life, the kids were beyond excited to finally meet him, the baby sibling for whom they had been praying for two years. They squealed in delight as they each took turns holding baby Solly. We are all in love with him and can't believe that we are now a family of eight. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

P.S. Serene's, Valor's, Reverie's, Verity's, and Candor's birth stories.

Solace Just at 0 months

2025-01-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Here we go for the 6th time! Hoping to photograph Solace every month for the first year of his life. This photo was taken when he was 2 days old on his first day home from the hospital. Hoping I'll be diligent to document his monthly milestones as he grows, just as I did with Serene, Valor, Reverie, Verity, and Candor.

Introducing Solace Just

2025-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

We are overjoyed to welcome our littlest baby boy, Solace Just Hong, born Friday, January 10, 2025 at 6:33am, weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and measuring 20" long!

solace /sol-is/ - comfort, to make cheerful

just /juhst/ - guided by truth and reason

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us…” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” - Romans 3:26

It has been a while since the last blog post as our family's updates are shared on Instagram, but I felt it fitting to document Solace's sweet milestones here for our memories.

Valor turns seven

2022-05-04T15:57:00.004-07:00

Valor turns seven! Our bright, creative, and zealous boy is a gift to our family. He enjoys drawing superhero comics, playing hymns on the piano, progressing in swim, memorizing catechism questions, and exerting energy in ninjas class. Praying he’d grow in love for the Lord and those around him. We celebrated him with a Grogu Mandalorian birthday with cinnamon rolls and macarons today per his request. May the fourth be with you!

Candor turns one

2022-04-01T21:58:00.003-07:00

Candor turns one on the first! Our littlest one’s first year was the swiftest, sweetest babyhood. We can’t believe he’s already one. We celebrated him with a golden birthday cake smash, complete with lots of gold balloons, a golden yellow knit crown, golden yellow striped shirt, and gold-accented cake. His curiosity led him to dunk his hands into his cake and taste frosting as we sang him rounds of "Happy Birthday" with the big kids accompanying on piano. The three big kids made cards yesterday to commemorate our boy-boy. We spent the day at the Huntington Library with friends, enjoying the spring weather and the gardens' creatures and flora. We didn't end up having a first birthday party for Candor's first birthday, but he was a happy babe regardless, being in the presence of his family, being cuddled all day, and snacking on his favorite foods. He tried fresh chicken dumplings and bok choy for the first time for his birthday dinner, which he loved. Alex captured some videos of his sweet and simple day. We adore our CanCan so. So thankful for the light he is to our family!

P.S. the other kids' first birthday cake smashes: Verity, Reverie, Valor, Serene.

Letters to Candor: 12 months

2022-04-01T13:30:00.099-07:00

My dear Candor Sage,

I can't believe we are already here - you are one, my littlest baby. This has been the swiftest, sweetest year. You light up our lives. You have been such a sweet balm to the tumult of the world these past couple of years. God knew we needed you. I am so thankful He's allowed us to steward your life. May you grow to know Him and His kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and steadfast love to us through the glorious gospel. May we be faithful in teaching you to walk in His ways as we learn and know you.

Your favorites are your mama ("mama" is your only word so far), milky, Os oat cereal, bananas, strawberries, avocado toast, blueberries, broccoli, turkey meatball, spinach and egg omelette, brown rice cakes, being in your family's presence, your stuffie Marius, exploring/ripping books, playing with Lego Duplos and pretend kitchen toys, having a clean diaper, chewing on water bottles, and taking baths.

You are a happy, relaxed, attached baby, and are most giggly after a meal. You kick happily, scoot on your tummy as your primary mode of transportation, and enjoy transitioning from tummy to sitting. You side sit, which I think is adorable. You're the only one of our kids who naturally prefers to sit this way. You wear 6-9 month clothing, size 3 diapers, and size 1 shoes. You weigh 15 lbs and measure 26.75 inches long. You are the second smallest of our kids at this age, right after Verity.

We all tell you all the time not to grow up because we enjoy your littleness so. We love how you rub your face into your stuffie Marius, wrap your legs around him, and roll over to the side before napping or sleeping. You use a pacifier only before a nap/sleep. We love how you still take baths in the newborn Puj tub. You dole out wide grins often, and we see two bottom teeth sprouting, as well as your two upper teeth coming through your gums. We smile at you, and your whole face lights up in the sweetest, biggest grin accompanied with "Eh!" You're happiest in your mama's arms or sling, clinging tightly to my arm and waist with deep seated legs. We love your skinny legs, round head, and wispy hair. We love how you scoot on your tummy, using primarily your right leg to propel yourself forward. You enjoy rides in a laundry basket with your siblings. You don't nap when we're out and about, preferring to observe the world with wide eyes. When we are home, you take 3 naps a day. You whine "uhhhh" with a fake cry when you want to be held. You push people/objects away with waving hands. Your nicknames include: CanCan, Sagey, Boy-Boy, CanCan Sagey, and Can-duh.

We love you so much! We pray for many years of loving you well so that you would come to know the Lord who loves you beyond measure. It is a gift to be your mama.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Candor at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10, 11 months and his birth story.

One week before one year

2022-03-24T16:00:00.001-07:00

Candor turns one in a week and I'm not ready. Just want to cherish his joyful grins, his sprouting bottom teeth, his skinny legs, and his scooting on his tummy.

Reverie turns five

2022-03-20T16:08:00.066-07:00

Reverie turns five! She is happy, sweet, sensitive, and friendly. She is our middle child with an older sister and brother, and a younger sister and brother. She is growing in the knowledge of God and his love for us in the gospel. She is eager to pray for others. She strives to obey, often responding quickly to direction and correction with, "Yes, Mommy." She likes to help around the house and with her baby siblings. She thrives on words of affirmation, lighting up with giggly grins. She sweetly lets me know when I’m being impatient.

She loves community days and ballet lessons, often jumping around like a free spirit. She also loves her blanket, sucking her thumb, playing princesses with her love (Verity), playing superheroes with Valor, doing well in her reading lessons, listening to CC memory work, organizing jewelry or little items into purses, bags, or boxes, having her hair in an Eliza ponytail, sorting laundry, putting away dishes, cuddling during read-alouds, and walking on her tiptoes. Her favorite foods are mac n cheese, pasta in general, mango, strawberries, blueberries, fruit, tofu, broccoli, strawberry ice cream, eggs, rice, but never meat.

She asked for an Encanto birthday with yellow butterflies and a miracle candle. She is a precious gift from the Lord. I pray He grants us many more years with her, and that she would come to know Him as Savior and Lord at a young age. These are some Reverie sayings I want to remember at this age:

"I'm so beh-sited!" (I'm so excited!)

"I'm going to stop sucking my thumb when I turn five."

"Best friends don't yell at each other."

"Mommy, thank you for being patient and not yelling at me."

"Are we going to eat Chick-uh-lay?"

"Neemember?"

"I love toe-food (tofu)!"

"YESSSS!" (when she is excited)

"Is this helfy (healthy)?"

Ten years

2022-03-10T15:52:00.001-08:00

Just a few photos of our visit to the Huntington Library on our ten-year anniversary, a tribute to where Alex proposed to me eleven years ago. We never would have imagined our lives to look like this now. God is kind and gracious! Look here to see us on engagement day!

Letters to Candor: 11 months

2022-03-01T14:51:00.006-08:00

My dear Candor Sage,

You're sprouting your first tooth! You're scooting around on your tummy like a little worm. You're growing wispy hair that makes your round head that much more adorable. You're an eager eater, downing bananas, blueberries, turkey meatballs, tofu, eggs with spinach, Os oat cereal, and the like with fervor, but only after nursing first. You don't prefer to be with anyone else if your mama is around, but if I'm not, you're a content babe. I can't believe you're already 11 months, just 1 month away from turning one. You wear 6-9 month clothing and size 3 diapers. We enjoy you so much. You light up the room and we adore you. We thank the Lord for growing you, but I selfishly pray you take your time. You don't seem close to crawling, standing, or cruising, and we don't mind one bit if that means you'll be a baby longer.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Candor at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10 months and his birth story.

Heart Day 2022

2022-02-14T14:51:00.027-08:00

Eating ice cream, reading heart notes of affirmation to our little loves for our annual Hong Heart Day, and being reminded that God defines, exemplifies, and gives love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:39). I love their little smiles. What a great opportunity to encourage the ones we love on Valentine's Day!

Letters to Candor: 10 months

2022-02-01T22:54:00.029-08:00

My dear Candor Sage,

You spent much of this past month calling "mama" whenever your mama is out of your sight. You are the sweetest littlest babe who enjoys eating on his own at the table with everyone else. Some of your favorites include Os oat cereal, banana, zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, spinach, eggs, tofu, turkey meatball, corn on the cob, wheat toast with avocado, blueberries, and strawberries. You're pushing up into crawling position to test new boundaries, but are wholly content sitting up and scooting about on your tummy. You don't nap when we're out and about, observing everything bleary eyes. Thankfully, you sleep well through the night and normally take 3 naps per day. You're wearing size 6-9 month clothing and size 3 diapers. Your family are your comfort zone; you're not interested in moving beyond your comfort zone. You suck on your thumb briefly at times, likely because you're teething. You like having your stuffie Marius stuffed into your face before knocking out for naps and bedtime. Your siblings await your waking up every day and clamor over who gets to hold you or play with you in their room. You are the delight of our eyes and our conversation.

Love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Candor at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 months and his birth story.

Candor with Marius

2022-02-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

The kids were each gifted a stuffie when they were born, all named after Les Misérables characters. Here is Candor with Marius, his comforter and his companion.