Crash Landing On You - These Are The Days

Dear Ji Hun and Jin Woo

This one is from Ri Jeong Hyeok's point of view. The first year of the boys' lives and Jeong Hyeok keeps a journal.

Dear Bear and Chip,

Your Mama and I just came back from Rieter Park. She told me some very exciting news. I thought that I would be meeting only one of you in about 33 weeks' time. But turned out I get to meet not just one but both of you.

My heart is so full and I've found myself a loss for words. So I want to write them down for you in this journal. Just like how I wrote a journal to your big sister. She is so excited to have little siblings to play with.

With pen and paper, my plan is to hold on to this until you're both eighteen. I want to have a record of your mom's pregnancy, your early childhood, and who we are right now.

Time is so strange, kids. It's kind and brutal. It gives so much, and it takes away so much. I want both of you to have a record of this point in time. So you know just how much loved you've been from the beginning of all of this.

Your mom is about seven weeks along. We are excited and nervous. Two kids at a time! We want to do what is right for you and your sister. We want to give three of you everything you could possibly need. I grew up in a very different environment than you will, much different, and stricter society. It's really dizzying how much we can offer to you and your sister now than what I got. I am really grateful.

Right now, at your age, our work is mostly about keeping you alive and as healthy as we can. A lot of things are not in our hands. But there are three of us who love you. I am often feeling overwhelmed that we somehow lucked out and have this much to give to my children. I don't know if I deserve all this, but my children certainly do.

We're still at the waiting game right now, with a lot of unknowns. I'm sitting in my study with a lot of questions I still have, with so much wonder in my heart at this gift your mom and I've been given.

But what I already know is, you're perfect. And we can't wait to meet you

****

Dear Bear and Chip,

It's been two weeks since we found out. They gave us a video of the ultrasound and I've been watching it on a loop. They showed us each of your heads. Where you're starting to grow your arms and legs, first one of you, and then the other. And we saw the fluttering of your hearts. I can't even describe how beautiful they are. Your big sister couldn't even hide her amazement. You two will be lucky to have her as a big sister. She is a sweet little lady and she'll protect you no matter what.

To be honest, we don't know your sexes yet. So I came up with nicknames Bear and Chip. Your Mama laughed at me for an hour straight when I came up with the ideas. She thought they were really silly. Sillier than Butterflake, she said. But she started to call both of you just the same. Bear and Chip.

Maybe I should have used something more general for my introduction letter. Maybe I already made a Dad mistake. But then again, we really won't know for sure what names you prefer until you're old enough to tell us.

For now, we'll call you Bear and Chip, and we'll see how things fall out from there.

We're also working with a big medical team who are monitoring you closely. Just by virtue of being twins, the process is a little riskier than average. But the doctor said she is perfectly okay. I couldn't be more grateful for that.

****

Dear Bear and Chip,

Your mom is at twelve weeks, which is apparently the appropriate time to start telling people.