Izzie, You're 13 Months Old Today!

Dearest Izzie,

Congratulations, you turned 13 months old today! Today is different from all of your other monthly updates, since this is the first time that you’re not physically with us. You’re in Korea with your grandparents, as mommy continues to recover from Radioactive Iodine Treatment. We wish you were here, but mommy just got nuked, and it’s not safe for you to be around her. But worry not – it sounds like you are having lots of fun in Korea and doing just fine. We’ll reunite soon; you’re coming back this Friday.

This month was kind of a weird month. You were out of New York the whole time. We spent your birthday and Christmas in California, and then New Years Day in Korea. With all the traveling and transition, we didn’t get a chance to observe too many of your developments. We were just happy you were able to get over the jet lag.

You started playing with your toy piano, which plays different children songs when you hit the keys. That’s your favorite activity in Korea, and your mother hopes it’s a sign that you’ll be musically inclined in the future. She wants to buy a real piano for you once we move. Your biggest event in Korea was your Tol; that’s the party we threw to celebrate your first birthday. Hopefully, the Tol marked the end of your stranger anxiety; you met a lot of people that night, but didn’t freak out. As sad as we are that you’re no longer completely attached to us, we’re happy that you’re taking this step in your social development.

Well, this next month and year should be interesting. We’re gonna try to encourage you to walk. We also bought a lot of books that we’re going to read to you, and we also bought some wall posters which will help you learn some new words. If you haven’t figured it out yet, having us as parents won’t be easy! But guess what! Life ain’t easy. Anyway, we’ll be sure that you’re having fun and enjoying your toddlerhood too.

Oh, and there’s no picture this month. We thought it was symbolically appropriate, since we can’t see you right now. But soon, that will change! Really soon! We can’t wait.

Love,
M+D