100 days! Last week was Luke’s 100th day in this big wide world of ours. He was baptized at the church down the street, and after the baptism we had a teeny 100th day party, or a baek-il. His halmuni made Luke a miniature tteok-themed lei and a baby-crown out of silver posterboard, which has nothing to do with Korean tradition but everything to do with making a baby look hilariously awesome. Especially when his dad had one too. We had tteok coated in red bean powder to chase away evil spirits and a white cake for purity and long life. (This is normally a snowy-white rice cake called baekseolgi-tteok, but, as it turns out, if a recipe calls for “frozen rice flour” you cannot, as I so cleverly suggested, simply add more water to regular rice flour. So for us it was a regular ol’ white cake with vanilla frosting.)
How to describe the last three months? Our little man is chubbier by the day; he loves gummy open-mouthed smiles, yelling “ooh” or some variation thereof over and over at us, and cracking up when we crack up at him. He breaks out into a huge eye-squinching grin every time I pick him up from his crib in the middle of the night, which might be my favorite thing ever. Lately he’s started doing this thing where he stuffs one fist into his mouth while brandishing the other one, which, as B2 aptly observed, makes him look like he’s playing an invisible trombone. He really, really hates tummy time. Oh, and his hair is aggressively thinning on top and the back of his head, so I like to pull out the thick hair on the sides of his head to make him look like a mad scientist. (I’m also shedding like crazy, so we’re balding together. There are mama hairs and baby hairs all over the house.)
As for us, in 100 days I’ve totally forgotten what it’s like to be a lawyer, converted hard and fast to the cult of the dishwasher (seriously, I used it maybe once before in my life and now I have no idea how I lived without it) and, instead of procrastinating cleaning, started thinking bizarre things like “Yay, I have time to clean!” B2, who went back to work just a few weeks after B3 was born, spends an hour every morning playing with Luke before going in, and once in the office, texts every other hour asking “How’s potato?” My phone is constantly running out of memory from all the photos I send back.
We’re always a little bit tired, sometimes a little overwhelmed, and yet everything is always, without fail, better than it was 100 days ago. I get nostalgic over everything — but really, everything, like when B3 outgrew the newborn-size diapers (and now he’s about to outgrow the size 1, nooo). Every day has its little joys, from a surprise chortle to an extra-long nap together on a sleepy day, nestled in his softest baby blanket. Even on the nights when we can only eat dinner if we take turns holding him, and I spend hours joggling B3 around and singing “Please go to sleep, oh my goodness, please go to sleep,” the moment he goes slack on my shoulder, I don’t want to put him down. And then we get in bed and talk about how much we miss him now that he’s sleeping. Go figure.
Happy 100 days, sweet boy. In a world that has recently felt so dark, you fill every moment of our lives with sunshine. Thank you for making these last 100 days the best we could have asked for. We are so lucky to be your parents.
Eve
I don’t know why this post about the baby of someone I don’t even know is making me tear up– I guess I am just so glad there is still joy out there. And, your family is beautiful and your baby is pretty close to the cutest baby ever (it’s not just you being biased). Keep chasing away those evil spirits!
tworedbowls
You are so kind, Eve. I know what you mean — it is bittersweet to watch him grow but know the kind of turbulence he is growing up in. But we’ll fight the good fight and eat a lot of red bean dduk in the meantime! Thank you so much for reading and for leaving such sweet words!
E | Pen + Pan
What a little bundle of sunshine. Happy 100 days, Luke!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Eliza! 🙂
Erica
He is such a handsome little guy! Happy 100 days to Luke!!! This post just warms my heart Cynthia, hope all is well.
tworedbowls
You are the sweetest, Erica. Luke says thank you!! Hope all is well with you, too!
Amanda | What's Cooking
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Time flies sometimes, right? Xoxo
tworedbowls
It does, always!!! Thank YOU so much for reading, Amanda. I hope you’re doing well back in New York!
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
Oh my goodness, what a cutie pie! I especially love that 3 month picture where he has a sad face, but he’s still such a sweetie!
tworedbowls
Hahaha that one always makes us laugh! Thank you so much, Abby!
andi
I very much enjoy your recipes and blog, but I must confess that since bowl 3 arrived I do find he is your most delicious creation yet! 🙂 He’s absolutely adorable (can you tell I can’t wait to become a grandma someday?!). Congratulations and savor every moment.
tworedbowls
You are so kind, Andi!! Thank you so much.
Violet B
Sooo adorable! How about a mad scientist photo? 😊
tworedbowls
😉 https://www.flickr.com/photos/tworedbowls/32507599410/in/dateposted/
Cathy
He’s adorable! And I love that it really does look like he’s playing the trombone 😀
(And you sound so much calmer and together than I was as a new mother – I know everyone says this, but it’s so true … the time goes by so fast!)
loosecannon2
Enjoy each fleeting moment. For me, being a hands on mother was the best time of my life. And surprisingly, the economists on Wall Street continued successfully without my in put & the financial world did not collapse. Being a mother was so much more important. Love “potato” & yourselves.
NicholeNichole
Do you have a recipe for the rice cakes
snicklefritzin43
Happy, happy 100 days beautiful hope filled little fellow. Our world certainly needs more and more beautiful stories like this. Thank you.
Kristin
michele @ i-heart-baking
omg he is TOO CUTE FOR WORDS!!! i love your writing, they brought tears to my eyes, and made me nostalgic remembering my little three babies (my oldest is NINE now!!!). how i miss those newborn days!!!
billmacblog
well I am sure it has been said, but that is one beautiful baby- And more importantly he seems happy- Content might fit in there too- I wish him and his parents all the good life has to offer- Enjoy all of his days!
sundiegoeats
he is has such an expressive little face 🙂
almost properly
What a cutie!!! And, with a full head of hair!!! How sweet!
Sweet Tea Sweetie
What a little sweetie!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/
Sarah Ku
Yay for 100 days! I love the tteok lei, such a cool twist to the Korean tradition.
Sis Adger
That tux! Lol. He’s precious.
Lindsey Silverman Love
oh my gosh, that little guy of yours! what a sweet dream luke is. i especially love that first photo – baby toes are everything, but so is that tux! happy, happy 100 days, what a lovely celebration. big hugs to you, mama xoxo
erika
Omg Cynthia I haven’t even meet your tiny potato and I feel like I know him!!! These photos are SO indescribably precious…we are all so lucky for your incredibly photography skills!!! Thanks for sharing this amazing part of your life with us and happy 100 days!!! <33333333
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
AIYEEEEEE his face! That crown! B2’s crown … hehe. That is an awesome tradition. Sigh… Cynthia, you are right to be nostalgic about every small thing… because they are truly special and beautiful little moments in time that you will cry about many times later when Luke is 2, 3, 4 years old and being such a crazy wild man getting taller by the second and you think… he used to be this teensy baby!? (aw, size 1 diapers!!!) Love seeing his personality shining through, and looking SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN in that white suit!! Too cute. Such lovely photos too as always. Happy 100 days and beyond, B3!! XO
Jane Y.
Precious!! Happy 100 Days!
bakingwithanastasia
He is adorable! Beautiful photos & words, Cynthia! Thanks for sharing, this post put a smile on my face:) Time flies indeed! Happy 100th day to Luke!
Ellie | from scratch, mostly
I think my heart just melted, Cynthia!!!! Goshhh he seems like such a chill baby in the “grand scheme” of it all, you know, being a baby and all. And these photos are just divine. So clean, simple, and timeless. Perfect for blackmailing when he gets married! Kind of not but yes I’m kidding. 😀
Emily
So completely precious. I bet when you look back at these photos, you forget how tiring and draining that first month is, right?! That crown and lei- LOVE it.