100th Day
In Korean tradition, the baby’s 100th day and first birthday are huge milestones, often celebrated with loved ones. While some families opt for large first birthday celebrations at venues, we kept Evan’s 100th day celebration more intimate with immediate family. We ordered non-Korean food, got some traditional rice cakes, and spent time with Josh’s side of the family, including his 91 year-old grandmother.
For those in the NY/NJ area looking for party rentals, a friend recommended @hello_designandparty (hellodesignandparty.com), which I used for Evan’s 100th day. You pick up and drop off the items in Harrington Park, NJ.
First Birthday (“Dohl” in Korean)
Click here to read about our experience.
Holidays
Thanksgiving being the first holiday without my Mom was very difficult. We had spent last Thanksgiving day enjoying shabu with my mom. We had such a great time enjoying the food and each other’s company. My mom and I used to spend Thanksgiving visiting my sister and nephews in L.A. It was hard, but I also cherished the time with my husband. We talked about Mom and reminisced about how good the shabu was that year. It was a way to keep her spirit alive with us.
Sweet & simple Christmas with our little family. I had many conflicting emotions through the first few months of postpartum, weaving between joy and grief . One minute I’d be overwhelmed with love for Evan, and the next I’d be missing my mom’s presence, wishing she could be here to share in these moments.
I was actually looking forward to this holiday because it would be Evan’s first holiday whether he knew it or not. I didn’t want to dwell on that fact that it would be the first without my mom because all I would do is cry. I wanted to focus on the loved ones who were physically present and make the most of it. It just so happened that many of my husband’s family members were also going to be away.
We decided to get a mini Christmas tree, which was smaller than the one my mom used to set up, but it felt right for this year. It was a way to honor the tradition while keeping things simple and manageable. A friend gifted us the cutest ornament that had his name and the details of his birth. It was a small, wooden snow globe with ‘Evan’ and his Korean name with the details of his birth (date, time, location, weight, height) as floating pieces in the snow globe. It was such a thoughtful gift, and it made our little tree feel so special, so his.
- Here’s the link to the ornament: Baby’s First Christmas Ornament 2024 – Snow Globe Shape Baby First Christmas Ornament
We finally got around to adding the string lights I’d bought earlier (thanks to some help from friends!). They made the mini tree so festive and lively. It was the perfect touch for our low-key celebration.
Even though this Christmas was bittersweet, I’m already looking forward to creating new traditions with Evan, sharing the magic of the holidays with him, and keeping my mom’s memory alive in our hearts
Hey, New Mom! 