bahng.net

Good weekend

sol — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:28:03 +0000

It started on Friday night. Hyunnie woke up every 30 to 45 minutes crying and wouldn’t stop until she was held. Then she’d cry if I put her down. I hardly slept and my arms and lower back were hurting. Of course she wouldn’t nap Saturday morning, so she had a 3 hour afternoon nap. But, she needed to be held the whole time. My biceps were burning. During lunch and dinner Hyunjung kept feeding me the food she didn’t want. Cute, but kind of gross, especially when the food comes out of her mouth. She cried when I put her in the bath. She cried when I took her out of the bath. She cried when she wanted to take a bath after she already had one. The rest of the weekend pretty much went the same way. But, every once in awhile, she’ll stop what she’s doing to give me a kiss. Sometimes, I’ll be sitting on the floor watching her play and she’ll bring over a book or a toy, sit on my lap, then continuing playing. When I smile at her and she smiles back, I’m happy. It was a good weekend.

She’s truly our daughter…

angela — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:37:18 +0000

So poor baby has not been sleeping well and cranky all week, and today we discovered that she has a yucky rash all over her body. Hyunnie has VERY sensitive skin, and can only use certain laundry detergents (Tide Free powder version, not liquid) and a certain kind of diaper cream (A&D, not Desitin). Fortunately we also discovered that Aquaphor heals almost everything, so we have a very greasy, Aquaphored baby wearing minimal clothes right now. Now the funny/sad thing is Sol and I both have very sensitive skin. Sol has almost the exact same rash as Hyunnie, and last year I found out I’m allergic to fragrance, chemicals, etc… Too bad Hyunnie “inherited” such an inconvenient trait from both of us! It made me start to think of all the ways, big and small, that Hyunnie truly is similar to me and Sol…Ways that Hyunnie is like Daddy…

Many people say Hyunnie looks like Sol. I can definitely see it (round face, big eyes)… When people who don’t know she’s adopted look at me and Hyunnie and ask if she looks like her dad, I can honestly say “Yes, she does!”
Hyunnie is a homebody, just like Daddy. She is happiest at home, so happy in fact that whenever we come home from a long day out and about she is literally dancing around and practically kissing the floor. Lately she likes to do a dance that resembles an Irish jig, very quick feet
Hyunnie doesn’t seem to care what other people think — in a good way! I always tell Sol that he so doesn’t care what other people think, he’s pretty much the opposite of a people-pleaser. Hyunnie also seems to be independent and a leader — hopefully she won’t grow out of this trait as she gets older.
Hyunnie can be both hyper-active sometimes and very focused at other times. The hyper part was Sol when he was little, he says that sometimes he had so much energy he just couldn’t stop running in circles! The focused part is Sol now. When he focuses on one task, there’s not much that can distract him. That’s definitely like Hyunnie. Just observe her playing with a toy that interests her… it’s like super intense concentration powers come over her!

Now ways that Hyunnie is like Mommy…

The girl LOVES to eat! Especially chips, fries, anything crunchy and salty. I feel like I have to eat chips in secret from now on… otherwise Hyunnie is going to develop a bad junk food habit just like mommy!
She gets a bit cranky when she wakes up and doesn’t like to go to sleep when she’s tired… Sol is always telling me to go to bed earlier, and just like Hyunnie I find myself fighting sleep too often!
Hyunnie is very determined and doesn’t give up easily. One of our friends told us that is similar to me, and although I didn’t see it first, I guess that I can be quite stubborn and determined in getting my way for certain things that I want!
She has a very high-pitched scream these days… when I told my mom about it, she said, “Oh, you used to scream like that ALL the time when you were a baby…”

Most people wouldn’t guess this about me and Sol (hopefully!), but we were actually both kind of difficult children growing up. Apparently we made it hard on our parents and now I see it coming back to us in Hyunnie!! But, of course I still love my baby One way that Hyunnie is NOT like either of us? She’s very fair-skinned. Fortunately a good trait in Korean culture. When we look at family pics of the 3 of us and see how dark Sol and I are, and then look at Hyunnie, I can see why people start to wonder, hmmm…

Adventures of Hyunnie & Mommy

angela — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:45:13 +0000

We had quite the eventful day today… it all started when I fell asleep while Hyunnie was watching her Praise Baby DVD. This actually happens pretty often, mainly b/c I am so exhausted in the mornings. Well, when I woke up, the first thing I saw was that there was poo everywhere on the bed!!!! Hyunnie was just sitting there quietly, probably not wanting me to change her diaper as usual. But then she actually put some of the poo in her mouth (second time she has ever done this)!!! I rushed her to the bathroom, got her cleaned up, and soaked all the sheets and put them in the laundry.Later today, we went shopping with my sister, and Hyunnie was walking around and having fun (as much fun as she could have I guess) at Anthropologie. Then all of a sudden, she lies down and puts her head down on the floor of the store ~ basically signaling to me, I AM TIRED MOMMY GET ME OUT OF HERE. Poor baby. She had a rough day. As for me, today was a bad mommy guilt kind of day….

Baby No More

angela — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:51:47 +0000

Our Hyunnie turned 18 months old today… We are officially calling her a toddler now as she really is toddling around quite well We were so worried that she would be crawling to kindergarten, but when she was good and ready she decided that she would like to walk. We’re also joking with her that her baby days are over, as our pediatrician recommended a few things before she turns 2:

#1) No more bottle
#2) No more pacifier
#3) No more sleeping with mommy

Hyunnie’s got a lot of growing up to do in the next 6 months!!! Sol was saying that maybe God allowed me to have some extra “baby” time with her because I had been so sad to miss her 1st year of life. It’s true that at the same time I worry about her being a big baby compared to other kids her age, I love the baby things about her, like being able to rock her to sleep, feed her a bottle, carry her all around, and hold her close during the night. The best feeling in the world is giving her kiss after kiss on her chubby little cheek while she is sleeping and watching her smile or laugh without fully waking up. Hyunnie, we say you’re a baby no more, but in some ways, you’ll always be my baby… that is, until you’re a rebellious teenager who wants to be all independent… good thing that is years and years away…

about one year ago…

angela — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:04:56 +0000

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and I am remembering how one year ago Sol & I were in Korea meeting Hyunnie for the first time. I remember how unsure we were about booking the tickets to Korea, wondering if we were taking a huge risk by going to meet this beautiful baby girl who we still weren’t 100% positive we would be able to adopt, but thank the LORD that we were able to go, and see her, and hold her, and to have that time with her that we would otherwise have missed. Of course, she won’t remember those times, but we will treasure them always, and we can show her the pictures when she is older and tell her stories about how cute she was even then. In the ordinariness of everyday life now, changing diapers, chasing Hyunnie around, I have to keep remembering how amazing this is, that she is HERE. with us. everyday, every moment. this is what I am beyond thankful for this thanksgiving….

What I Love About Hyunnie

angela — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:03:03 +0000

But first a quick recap… Hyunnie had an eventful weekend, after 1 week of not leaving the house! On Friday she had her 1st official date with Andrew, and things seem to be off to a good start Well, Hyunnie was trying to hold Andrew’s hand and Andrew was a little bit shy Saturday was another date with Andrew and his cutie pie cousins Alivia and Julia, and in the evening her 1st pumpkin carving party, where she and little Colette went head to head over the slide and every toy in sight! Unfortunately I have no pictures bc Hyunnie hid the camera in the couch all wknd! Monday was her 4 week anniversary of coming home, and she got to celebrate by going to a baby shower at Daddy’s work… wearing a cute little Grainger tee… and the best news of all, hyunnie may be over the car seat drama… the secret seems to be blue’s clues dvd (thanks anita!) and mommy throwing herself over the car seat until hyunnie calms down… we’ll see how long this lasts!!

And now, just a few of the things I love about our Hyunnie…

her smile
her funny i’m a little rascal and i know it personality
the way she loves to eat!
how she squeals when daddy throws her up in the air
the way she cries “wa-wa-wa-wa-wa”
how she loves saying amen, and waving her hands up and down when she’s excited
watching her play so hard that she is literally panting!
how she loves the chicago sports team page in her “good night chicago” book from eemo
the way she dances to her playtime music CD (thank u eemo again…)
how her favorite thing to do is look at pictures of herself!

We’re coming home!!!

angela — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:28:24 +0000

After one year of waiting, we are so thankful to finally be able to say, Hyunnie is coming home!!! Looking back I can’t believe how many ups and downs our journey had, especially since this was not the typical adoption process, but it’s definitely all been worth it in the end!

Things that I am super thankful for right now:

Sol coming out to Korea AGAIN just to help bring Hyunnie home — already he’s such a great dad and a great hubby
My grandfather whose persistence and love helped us adopt Hyunjung, a baby girl who some said could never come to the U.S. because she was considered an abandoned child. Praise God!
Eastern and Lifelink, the agencies that agreed to help us with the process
The MANY MANY people who love Hyunnie in Korea and the U.S. and have been praying for her
Hyunjung’s birthmom, who chose to give her life!
The jundosanim, who raised our daughter like a princess for the past year
The new friends we’ve made through this adoption process
Understanding more of God’s love, sovereignty, and His good and wonderful gift to us - Chloe Eden Hyunjung Bahng!!!

USCIS APPROVAL!!!

angela — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:30:48 +0000

Hallelujah - we got our USCIS approval for Hyunjung to come to the U.S.!!!!! Thank the LORD! Sol and I were skyping as usual today, when he said, wait - let me check the mail. When he came back on skype, he was opening a letter. I said, “Did we get it? Did we get it?!” and sure enough, it was the visa approval!!! I loved that we got the news at the same exact moment, even though we’re miles apart!

Tomorrow Sol will check with the national visa center to see if they have received it and sent it on to Korea… I finally see the light at the end of this long journey… HJ is on her way home very very soon!

Transitions

angela — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:44:08 +0000

I’ve been in Korea 2 weeks with Hyunjung and it already feels like it’s been forever! Everyday is so bittersweet - filled with joyful moments of bonding with my baby girl and also filled with sadness that Sol’s not here to share them. I am praying everyday that our paperwork gets approved in the U.S. so we can get on a plane and bring Hyunnie home!

I also feel like I’ve gotten a crash course in parenting. Some of the challenges:

HJ being a very feisty, strong-willed little girl!
Being homesick and longing for support of Sol and my close friends & family
Dealing with a painful transition with HJ’s primary caregiver
Learning how to bathe, feed, change diapers, and do everything “Korean” style!
Getting unsolicited advice from everyone at the orphanage - it makes me feel like I’m living with a hundred old school Korean grandmothers!
Hiding out from the hot, rainy, and humid weather here…and no one uses the AC at nite!!!!

But you know, in the end it is ALL worth it, when Hyunjung puts her head on my shoulder and falls asleep and I can tell that she’s starting to trust me a little more each day. Lord, help us go home soon!!!

God is faithful to His promises…

angela — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:57:46 +0000

Today we heard a sermon that reminded us no matter how disappointed we may be with certain outcomes in our lives, God is always faithful to His promises and His purposes are always good. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that things turn out the way we want them to… or think we want them to.

I’m going to Korea tomorrow. Sol and I had been planning to wait for our official travel call before going to pick up Hyunjung, but with the delays in our paperwork and Hyunjung getting older, we both felt like now was the time for me to go. Although we don’t know exactly when the visa will be issued, we’re taking this step of faith, praying that we won’t have to wait too much longer… and I’m confident that God is going to be faithful. We believe that God has promised this daughter to our family, so I can have peace knowing that He’s going to bring us through these last steps of our adoption journey.