Friends. Beaches. Korean food.

I wish many things for Bebe when (s)he arrives. Although my hopes for my baby are all based in what (s)he finds solace in, I can’t help but think that her life will surely be made better by good friends, trips to the beach, and joy of all joys, Korean food.

This weekend was a conglomeration of all three of these wondrous factors for my husband and me. Three of our good friends who we met in Korea came and visited us from all parts of the country. Our K-Fam reunion was made complete with a trip to a wonderful Korean restaurant in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The anju was plentiful and fresh, the bulgogi was tender and flavorful, and the gigantic platter of chop chae noodles helped us properly celebrate Chuseok so many miles from our second home of Yongin, South Korea.

I was a little sad to abstain from a refreshing, reassuringly sub-par bottle of Cass – one of the most popular of Korean beers – but my husband had one and assured me that it was just as lackluster as he remembered it and that it will likely remain so until after the birth when I can resume my consumption of beer whose flavorlessness pales in comparison to the memories it elicits.

The next day we took a trip to beautiful Wilmington and spent a few hours at Wrightsville Beach. I am beginning to show – albeit slightly – and I loved the feeling of just lying in the sand and rubbing my belly. The natural snugness of my bathing suit made Bebe seem cozy and nestled in me as I nestled myself into the sand, layer after layer of life. There was a mom chasing her toddler son around and rolling a ball back and forth with him. We have so many things to look forward to, but every instant with Bebe now is sacred and perfect.