In the hospital....we were thinking and praying for you this week. Before we even knew you were a boy. This day we were considering what your name was going to be :)
The hospital you were born in...

Your family falls in love with you...

A few weeks later the nurses and your foster mother were taking good care of you after your accident. They really and truly loved you, buddy.

We "waited on Christmas" for you, until you could come home. Then, we celebrated Christmas in February!!

Daddy holding you for the first time. That whole first visit, you gave us the stare down and a slight side smile occassionally. I remember you looking at us as if to say "hmm...do I know you somehow?...I feel like I am supposed to know you....now, who are you again?"

I tried my very, very best not to scare you by my tears. I left them fall just slightly when I held you for the first time. Hard to hold in....

Your first few days, weeks (okay, who am I kidding...the first 5 months!!) we spent A LOT (did I mention A LOT) of time together like this in the middle of the night. I actually cherish those memories in my mind now.

Your visit with Mrs.Kim when she came to the U.S.A after your first birthday. What a special time with such a special lady.

Age 1 year 3 months

You have always loved the water. "No fear" is your philosophy in life. We love it.


Your Second Birthday was Circus themed.

You love the snow and don't see the danger in going out and spending hours. In fact, why do we even need all these clothes?!?!

Age 2.5 Enjoying your life as always.


Oh man, melt my heart, I love you kiddo!

And, your newest discovery...this funny face.

Sweet things I want to remember about Jee at this age....
1) How he is growing out of the "mia" stage. This is where he has called himself "mia" or "me" for so long. Tonight I said "I love you Juju" and he said "I love you too mommy." Awww...he used to always say "Me lub you mama".
2) How he is super duper funny and a big show boat when people are around. He loves talking about his "booty"...nice, I know.
3)His funny face....mouth puckered and to the side.
4)Him walking up to his dad and saying "I like you."
5)When he wants candy or gum and he says "Me poop, me get gum?" Meaning, I know I get rewarded when I poop (I have no idea why we still reward him for this...he has been potty trained for nearly a year) so I will just make myself poop if I want candy.
6)When he hugs us and says "I love my family"
7)When daddy asked him to get in his carseat or do something else that he is too busy to do and he says "2 minutes, daddy."
8)How he sneaks into our room at night and doesn't even let us know. He uses our chest on the end of our bed to crawl up in the middle of us and not disturb us.
9)How he plays with his ears to comfort himself when he is tired. Or, even better, when he plays with our ears when he is tired or needs comfort.
10) Unsolicited hugs. The B.E.S.T.
11)His obsession with "Netfix" (again, I am not touting our good parenting here!)
12)How he sings "ABCDEFG next time won't you sing with me"
13) How he loves to do "topics" and pick something to talk about as he falls asleep. The recent obsession is "I talk about my Caillou birthday party."
14) How he focuses so hard to get his three fingers up and say he is "Free"
15) His obsession with spicy food
16) His boundless energy
17)His taste buds...he will eat ANY THING...for real.
18) How he wants to do absolutely everything that bubby does
19) How noonah loves to teach him new things and do "school" with him...those are sweet moments (most of the time)
12) When he says "hug and kiss" to request a hug and kiss like his noonah taught him.
JeeJee, You bring joy unspeakable to our lives. Like I told you today, you were born in Korea but even before you were born we were praying for you and loved you so much. I literally cannot imagine life without you. You bring such joy and laughter. God knew you belonged in our family. If I looked all over the world and could choose any little boy to be my little boy, I would look and look and look and look and then, you know what...."I'd choose you."
You are my bitty boy and thank you for loving mommy and daddy so much. We love you too, my little three year old boy.
"Sang Il Chook Ha Hamnieda". Happy Birthday, buddy.