It’s been 100 days with my Clara girl! (Well, more like 115.) Like we did with Luke, we celebrated Clara’s 100 days with her baptism and a teeny tiny baek-il with family. We had red bean steamed rice cake, pat tteok, and pretty pastel song pyeon; I made the excellent double-vanilla cake from Tessa Huff’s new Icing on the Cake book for a little 6-inch layer cake, and (because I failed dismally yet again at making baekseolgi-tteok, even with Maangchi’s new note on how to make your own frozen rice flour, maybe a third kid’s the charm?!) an extra half-batch of Tessa’s recipe for a bunch of mini cakes too.
In 100 days and change, we have found ourselves in the care of the sunshiniest, chubbiest, sweetest little girl there ever was. She loves, in no particular order: napping, chatting all day, getting kisses, and laughing at her tyrannical big brother, even when he does things like try to squash her head or use her belly as a pillow. In keeping with all the second-child stereotypes we heard, she is more easygoing than I knew a baby could be. She’s also, evidently, longer than any girl on the WHO chart, and built a little bit like a very cute, very rotund weiner dog. My unflattering comparisons aside, we are even more in love than we thought we would be 100 (and 15) days ago. Before Clara was born I never could picture what I’d be like as a girl mom, having grown up with a little brother even before I had Luke, but the answer is–a very, very besotted one. And one who really likes buying dresses.
Her four-month birthday on the horizon means that my end of maternity leave is creeping up, too, and in case you had any illusions that I’m handling it better this time around than the last time, I’m not! We had a particularly nice surprise this time around in that B2 got to take some time off at the same time that I did, so all four of us have been kicking it at home together lately. In stark contrast to last time, when B2 went back to work pretty quickly, and I spent most of B3’s naptimes cooking and working on the cookbook, these couple of months have just been all family, all the time. It feels like a little party every day. (A tiring party.) I am sad that this peaceful pocket of time in our family is ending, but super grateful that we got it. What a wonderful gift it’s been.
I hope you are all having wonderful summers, too!
![The incomparable @hettymckinnon first sent me a jar of her homemade chili oat crisp nearly a year ago, at the start of the pandemic, and it was so life-alteringly delicious that I have been itching to share it with you here and on my blog ever since. Well, it has been a long wait, but the book that it is in, “To Asia, With Love,” is finally coming out stateside in a few weeks, and so I wrote up Hetty’s recipe earlier this week in anticipation. I did not know at that time what would happen in Atlanta this week, but have felt in my heart how necessary a book like Hetty’s, and voices like Hetty’s, were already—and even more so now.
Hetty writes poignantly in “To Asia, With Love” about a “third culture”–a struggle for her identity growing up as a Chinese immigrant in Australia, and the eventual “cross-pollination of ideas and techniques that are grounded in [her] Chinese heritage, yet greatly influenced by growing up in the Western world.” As immigrants, our cultural identities, and the fabric of society into which we weave, are so complicated. It can be beautiful, but it can also be messy, and events like these show how devastatingly far we still have to go. I don’t have anything more insightful to add than has already been said by so many, but I am glad more than ever for the brilliant, thoughtful voices around me to whom I can look for guidance and inspiration. Some resources posted to my profile, and if you’re looking for a spicy balm to take your mind off things, recipe for Hetty’s chili crisp (which is, all else aside, truly one of the best things I’ve ever made) is on my blog. ❤️ #stopasianhate #stopaapihate](https://tworedbowls.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Marisa Franca Stewart
I always read your posts and look at your gorgeous photos but I don’t comment. Today is different. I had to tell you how beautiful and precious are your children. The smiles take by breath away. So happy you could spend this wonderful time with them. Love reading about your family.
tworedbowls
Marisa, you are so kind! Thank you so much for reading, and for saying hi.
Wendy
What a beautiful baby! Does she have blue eyes? One of the pictures look like she has eyes of blue. Congrats to the happy family
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Wendy! Yes, they do look blue sometimes! Right now she has her grandpa’s hazel eyes and in her first few months they were very blue in certain light. Both of us have brown eyes (and dark too!), so we are pretty sure this won’t last, but we love looking at them right now!
Shannon
What a beautiful baby! There is a wise old soul behind those eyes.
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Shannon!
Barbara
Oh my, could Clara be any cuter? It is evident that she radiates love, happiness, & sunshine—just so very happy to be with her family. My 2 children were about the same in age difference & for my older son, the novelty soon wore off & he was back running around with a Golden Book wanting to be read to–we held our baby daughter while he practically sat in my lap & read. They are now adults & he continues to be very protective of her & she indulges him. The christening dress is breathtakingly beautiful with the cap adding whimsy which she appears to tolerate well. So happy you’ve memories of this happy “maternity time” to pen in Claras book. Happy Happy days ahead. Thank you for sharing your family.
tworedbowls
Such kind words, Barbara! I love your stories–your children sound wonderful and I hope Luke and Clara end up like that too. We’re lucky that although he’s a terror these days (haha) he loves Clara a lot, even when he is squashing her. Thank you so much for stopping by.
Anonymous
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing! What beautiful pictures of your family.
tworedbowls
Thank you so much for reading!
Rossi Anastopoulo
Oh my lord, she is ADORABLE
tworedbowls
You’re the sweetest! Thank you so much, Rossi!
Anonymous
Thank you for sharing these photos. You and your family are so very blessed!
Mary Eastham
She is so adorable! You can see how easy going she is from the pics. I don’t even have kids and I wanna make that beautiful small cake. I found a wonderful new-but-made-to-look-old cake plate at Target of all places. It is calling for that beautiful cake to sit royally atop it. How nice that you and your hubby work at places that respect the need for both parents to bond with their kids, especially in the beginning. Lots of great wishes coming your way from me and my three Golden Retrievers!
tworedbowls
I love your comment because two of the stands in these photos are from Target! You never know what gems you can find there. And agreed–we feel very lucky indeed. Thank you for commenting and hugs to you and your goldens, which I bet are just gorgeous!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much for reading! We feel very lucky indeed.
lorie braam
what a beautiful precious family!Enjoy every moment. Time passes much too quickly.
tworedbowls
I bet, it already feels like it does. Thank you so much, Lorie!
Sharon Griskenas
What beautiful photos! Both your children are beautiful, Enjoy!!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, Sharon!
Sis Adger
She is GORGEOUS!!
What a blessing to watch your family in its happiness! <3 Beautiful photos.
tworedbowls
Thank you so much, kind Sis! Sending hugs your way.
Kipper
It’s nice to be around sunshiny people of any age.
tworedbowls
It surely is!
Anonymous
So beautiful! So, just perfectly presented. I am so glad of your happiness.