Happy 100 Days to baby elle

Okay. So I did something that might be considered a bit sacrilegious for a Korean American party planner... I did not throw a huge, detail-filled party for our baby elle's 100 day celebration. *gasp*

In Korean tradition, the 100th day of life for a baby is a pretty big deal. It is called the "behk il" (literally "100 day") and generally goes back to the fact that a very long time ago, not all babies survived to this point in life. So, when they did, it was celebrated because it was seen as a milestone. Kind of like, if you made it this far, you are in the clear! :) Obviously, life expectancy has improved somewhat over the years, but the 100 Day celebration is still very common and comes with a lot of fun traditions and picture perfect details. I am a lover of tradition, but about a week before her 100 Day, I was overwhelmed with a huge desire to just spend some time alone with my little family for baby elle's 100 day.

Her 100 Day came right after the holidays, which were filled with tons of family, love, laughter, hustle and bustle. I also had 4 of my out-of-town brides IN town during the holidays (since they were on break) so my work schedule was just as packed as my social schedule! I felt like we dove straight into this season right after baby elle's birth, and my body was telling me to slow down and my heart was telling me to take time to take things in... so that is exactly what we did. :) Instead of spending sleepless nights crafting special touches and perfecting final elements for a 100 Day party, Eddie and I said, "Hey! Let's get away, just the three of us and take a mini-vacation with our mini-family." And we did just that and I couldn't be happier!

We went down to San Diego for the weekend because this is where Eddie and I started our courtship! I was finishing up my BA at UCSD and Eddie was still in school at The Art Center in Pasadena at that time, but he made the drive down south at least twice a week to spend time with me to just study, soak up some sun at the beach and eat yummy food. 2012 will mark 10 years together (!!) so it was pretty meaningful to be able to take our baby elle to all the places her father and I used to frequent when we were first dating, when her existence was just a distant hope and dream. We spent the weekend focusing on each other, spoiling ourselves with good food, beautiful sights and thoughtful conversation. We didn't do anything over the top or incredibly spectacular in the traditional sense, but it was oh so perfect. I feel super recharged and ready for 2012. I am reminded of how blessed I am to have my family and the life that I live. I want to thank each of you who visit my humble blog, for stopping by and being a part of the spark that keeps me going. I love each of you, dearly and truly, and look forward to sharing a marvelous 2012 with you!

So, I send each of you a virtual hug and kiss and strongly recommend a mini-vaca to anyone who needs a chance to soak in the thought of all the blessings that are coming your way in 2012. Seriously, whether you are getting married, starting a family, starting a new job or making new friends - this is going to be an unforgettable year! Baby elle says, "Cheers to new years and new beginnings!"

Image courtesy of baby elle's daddy, Up Imagery. This was supposed to go out as holiday cards - but that is another tradition that I love, but decided to let go of just this one year. :)