Heart Check

I usually try to keep my blog posts lighthearted, but today I have something more serious on my mind.  An old friend from high school (ironically, we were never “friends” at all until we were reacquainted on Facebook, of all places) posted a note about her frustrtation and struggle with being unemployed in a down market.  While I am not an economist and cannot answer most of her questions, her “soapbox” did get me thinking.  This particular friend is in a really tight spot.  She has bills and rent to pay, a car to fill with gas and maintain, and two precious children, for whom she is the sole provider and parent.  I, on the other hand, am married, do not have a financial need to work outside the home, and my worries are few compared to hers.  Here in Texas, we haven’t felt the recession nearly as badly as in other states.  It’s easy to forget that many are not as fortunate as we are.

What can we do?  First, we need to take a good look inside our own hearts and have an attitude check.  (I am preaching to myself here.)  Do I complain about making dinner while others go hungry?  Do I despise my job and my tiny paycheck/annoying coworkers/endless responsibilities when so many would gladly take my place?   Do I lament the pitiful state of my house, the age and condition of my car, or the lack of up-to-date fashions in my closet when there are people in the world who have neither decent clothing, housing, nor transportation?  God have mercy on us for our wretched self-centered attitudes and hardness of heart.

Secondly, although one person cannot do everything, all of us should strive to do something.  I can give food to the local food bank (food I actually like, not just the leftovers from my pantry that I know I’ll never use).  I can sponsor a child in a third-world nation.  I can donate time or money  to a local ministry.  I can bring food or offer free babysitting to a friend who has a serious illness, a job loss, or just a life full of craziness.  I can try a little harder to thank those in service professions (waiters, for instance, and people on the other end of the phone) when they do a good job.  And most of all, I can keep my eyes and ears open to the needs around me, so that, when a situation arises where I can be of assistance, I will be available. 

All of us, no matter how busy or stressed-out, can do something.  “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” –Mother Teresa

Two-and-a-Half , Going on 15

I know I’m not the only one with a funny child, but I just can’t resist posting some of the silly things Jocelyn says.

Fun with Food (?)

Pretending to make Cheerio (child) and hard-boiled egg  (mom) talk: “Need a hug.”  “OK, put your shoes on.”

With a cheesestick flying in the air: “Brazil!  Ar-tica!” (One of her DVD’s teaches about different countries.)

J: “Need a blue thing.”  Mommy: “That’s Daddy’s hair gel.” J: “Need a blue hair Jell-O!”

“Don’t eat a wet diaper!  Vewy yucky.  Make you sick.”

“Oh, vegetables!  YUMMY!” (I love hearing this one!)

I was taking a few animal crackers out of the HUGE jar we have.  She apparently had never noticed the jar before, because as soon as she saw it, she cried, “NOOOOOOO!  Jocelyn want the WHOLE FING!”

“Get a drink and a dinner and a snack!”

Musical Mishaps

While we were on vacation, a relative gave Jocelyn a book about the Five Little Ducks, based on a children’s song.  Jocelyn takes great pleasure in freely adapting the ducky song for her own use:

“Five little changing tables went out one day…”

“Only three little band-aids came back.”

We have also watched some songs from the Suond of Music DVD with her.  After seeing the Do-Re-Mi song, we heard:

(Randomly) “A DROP OF GOLDEN SUUUUUUUNNNN!”

“So, a (mumble mumble) bread!”

Mommy: “That will bring us back to…” J: “DO DO DO DO DOOOOOOOOOOH!”

After seeing a Wonder Pets advertisement: “Wonder pets, wonder pets, RUN AWAY!” (The real song says “We’re on our way.”)

Say What?

Daddy: “What color is Jocelyn’s hair?” J: “Yellow!”  Daddy: “What color is Daddy’s hair?” J: “Gray!”

From the backseat, gleefully: “Jocelyn smoke!” (We finally figured out that she was talking about her MILK!)

After I put a little bow on Shannon’s head: “Shannon looks like a little pig!”   To which I responded, “No, she doesn’t!  That’s not nice!”  Jocelyn reconsidered and then said, “Shannon looks like a person!”

We were looking through a book with pictures of animals.  Jocelyn was stumped when she saw a walrus.  Finally, she guessed, “Hello, dinosaur?”

Chatterbox Funnies

Our 2-year-old, Jocelyn, continues to give us the giggles at every opportunity.  Here are some of her latest sayings:

1.  Daddy: What sound does a lamb make?  Jocelyn: No, a sheep!  BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

 2.  Mommy: Jocelyn, I am losing my patience with you.  Jocelyn:  Have patience song!  (OUCH!)

(The song goes, in part, like this:  “Have patience, have patience/Don’t be in such a hurry/When you get impatient/You only start to worry/Remember, remember/That God is patient, too/And think of all the times when others have to wait for you.”)

…and later, even funnier, she said, “Don’t have patience song!” 

3.  “Oh, a bug!  A bee!  Get a bugspay!”

4.  “Please hard egg Easter egg!  Thank you welcome!”

5.  Mommy: The dishwasher isn’t full yet.  When it’s full, we will run it.  Jocelyn: Walk it!  Stomp it!

6.  After I gave her the party line lecture about not putting small objects in our mouths, I heard her saying to her doll, “Very very sick!” 

7.  Jocelyn:  No watermelon to Shannon [baby sister].  No teeth.  Only drink Mommy’s milk.  Mommy: What other foods can Jocelyn eat because she’s a big girl?  Jocelyn: Strawberries!  Blueberries!  Yogurt!  Mommy: What else?  Jocelyn: Ketchup!  Mustard!

8.  “Pink song, pink song, I like pink.  Pink song.”

9.  Talking to her food: “Jocelyn eating.  CHOMP!  CHOMP!”

10.  Mommy:  We are going to take a trip to Mema and Papa’s house on an airplane.  Jocelyn:  Take a helicopter.  Take a  balloon.

11.  I was singing a silly parody of “Cat in the Cradle” which includes the line, “There’s a kitty cat on your fork.”  Jocelyn looked up from her toys and said, “Puppy in a cup!”

12.  While watching me cook on the stove: “Oh! A fire!”

13.  Tom was blasting the radio one morning.  Jocelyn walked up behind him and said, “MAKE IT QUIET!”

Sugar and Spice and…Uh Oh

So I was sititng on the couch this afternoon, feeding the baby and minding my own business, when a loud, frightening noise emanated from below.  Since Shannon is my second child, I was not disturbed by this, and I kept reading my novel and feeding her.  At some point, she stopped feeding and several more unpleasant noises came to my ears.  I placed her over my shoulder to burp her.  Suddenly, a waterfall of spit-up rolled down the back of my shirt (thankfully, it was one of Tom’s…hehe).

I picked Shannon up to go back into my bedroom to change my shirt.  I just happened to glance in the bathroom mirror, and this is what I saw:

Upon removal of her (now completely destroyed) onesie, here is the sight that greeted my eyes:

Not to worry–everything came out all right in the wash.  : )

Fun with Two

Jocelyn, our 2-year-old, has lots of new opinions and funny sayings since sister Shannon arrived. 

* One day I told J, “Shannon needs to burp.”  J said, “Jocelyn burp.” (loud fake burp) “RUUUUDE!”

*Shannon made a noise other than crying.  I told Jocelyn, “Shannon is trying to talk!”  Her response: “Jocelyn talk!  Blblblblbl!”

*We were talking about big girl/little girl.  I told Jocelyn, “Shannon is the little girl in our family.  Who is the big girl?”  She thought a moment and then said, “Daddy?”

It’s a Girl!

At 7:58 AM this morning, we welcomed another girl into the Besser household.  We’re still working on the name, but here’s all the important stuff!

Contractions started in full at 2:15 AM this morning and we arrived at the birthing center by 3:15 AM.

6 lbs., 8 oz.

20 1/2 inches long

Mother and baby are doing very well!

Update:  Her name is Shannon Elise Besser

Baby Besser #2

Today’s the day! We’ve been at the birthing center since 3:00AM. I’m posting status updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Jocelyn is 2 now, and her mouth is constantly working to create new funny stuff for us to hear!  Recent hilarity includes:

“Birthday song.  Poo poo song.  HAHHHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!” (Now just try not to crack a smile when she says this!)

After running into the wall and hitting her head: “Band-aid! Medicine!”

To no one in particular: “Fall down, owie.  I sorry, I hurt you.  Mommy fix it.”

After raiding the pantry and bringing me the spoils (cocoa-roasted almonds): “NUT!  PLEASE NUT!”

After I asked her if she was ready to have a new baby in our house: “NooooooooOOOOOOO?”

Yelling at ducks during a walk in the park: “QUACK!  QUACK!  BLEGABAGEG!”  (Trying to be bilingual, I guess)

At breakfast time: “High chair, booster chair.  Yucky brefust.  No, yummy brefust.”

In the back seat of the car: “Daddy drive.  Mommy drive.  Jos-n drive.  No, see-see goose!”

The litany that usually greets me when I get her up in the morning: “Good morning!  Wake up!  Hello Piggies!  Boppy! Hi!  Hello!  Good sweep!  Morning!  Mommy change you!  Get dwessed!”  (Pigs are part of the design of her curtains, and Boppy is her name for any blanket with a tag.)

And in case you didn’t catch the last blog, some things she’s been saying while I’m on bed rest:

(Obviously mad at me) “SLEEP ALL DAY!!”

“Climb on the mommy.”

(After hitting me on the head with a block:) “WAKE UP!!”

“Read-it-a-book!” (Yes, we have been doing a LOT of that lately!)

Knocking on front door and crying: “Go outside!  Take-a-walk!!  Play-a-pawk!!”

Observations on (Modified) Bedrest

As many of you know, I was put on modified bedrest by my midwife during my 34-week appointment.  Apparently, Baby #2 is trying his or her best to bust a move more than a month early!  Now, I have a 2-year-old, so “bedrest” is kind of a joke around here. 

The first two days I was supposed to be off my feet, here are some of the wacky things that happened:

1.  Jocelyn had a 103.7 temp and was a complete cranky pants.  She wouldn’t eat or drink anything until noon, and she didn’t even have a wet diaper until 2 pm.  And yes, I was freaking out just a little bit.  (She finally ate a couple popsicles from a sweet neighbor friend and drank some apple juice…after refusing water, milk, and even sweet iced tea!)

2.  On three seperate occasions throughout the day, she took off her pants and started swinging her diaper over her head, lasso-style, and yelling, “DIAPER OFF!!”

3.  At one point, she got so mad at me being on the couch, she yelled, “SLEEP ALL DAY!!”  I guess she really wanted me off!

4.  I spent a lot of time (between giving her cool baths and Tylenol) reading books with her.  She was so emotional!  Every time I got to a part when somebody fell in a puddle, she would start howling!  Later, we read a book with an ice cream truck in it, and the ice cream was falling out the back of the truck.  She started crying and saying, “OH NO!  Ice cream fall down!!”  She was acting like somebody died…I had to smile.

5.  Since Mommy was not allowed to take long walks, my daughter was not worn out at naptime, so she spent an hour talking to herself in her bed, messing with the baby monitor, and generally being stubborn…*sigh*  Last night she finally went to bed at a reasonable hour, after my husband took her to the park to burn off some of that childish energy!

So we are doing the best we can to follow midwife’s orders.  When Tom comes home from work, I do the “total bedrest” thing, and handles all the chores and kid stuff…what a wonderful husband I have!  Everyone keep praying that we can make it to at least 36 weeks.  I would MUCH prefer to make it to at least 38!!

Life Update

Tom and I have been so busy since our trip over Christmas, I feel like we are living in some kind of time warp.  As in, “Was that January that just blazed by?  Oh wait, that was March.”  Between our move into our new home, two deaths in the family (Gradma Bubbi in New York and Uncle Bill in North Carolina), multiple hours of studying for exams (Tom is pursuing Microsoft certifications for .net), and an out-of-town wedding (Congratulations, Megan and Peter Lathrop!!)…well, let’s just say the mundane parts of life like being pregnant, dealing with piles of boxes, mowing the lawn, and getting the car and house repaired have fallen by the wayside.  Every time I see the midwife, I think, “I have to start keeping a journal of this pregnancy!  It’s almost over!”  Indeed, with just over 10 weeks to go (IF I make it all the way to my due date!), it has truly flown past.  If I didn’t have some discomfort sleeping now, I probably would hardly notice the pregnancy at all, that’s how busy I’ve been.  *sigh*  A little reprieve, please? 

Tom was scheduled to go out of town this past weekend to play for a worship conference at a high-security women’s prison in Gatesville, TX.  Thankfully, the trip was cancelled at the last minute.  I was glad to have him home, and he needed the break.  Nobody can go nonstop forever.  We all need rest. 

All this busyness has led me to think about something I was told in college.  A wise mentor said to me, “You will never have a better time than right now to seek God, to pursue your dreams, or to accomplish whatever is in your heart.  Don’t think that things will get easier or that you will have more time.  That just isn’t true.  There is always something waiting to take up your time, no matter if you are a student or working, single or married, with or without kids.  Make the most of today, or you will have to wait until you retire to “do something” with your life.” 

In 10 weeks or less, we will start a new chapter in our family’s story: life with two children.  I pray that I can make the very most of every day, and not just survive, but truly love life and make a difference in the lives of my kids and husband daily.  I have to be careful not to give way to fear when I think about the postpartum period, since the last time around was very difficult and lonely for me.  I pray that this time will be better, but even if it isn’t, I pray I will have the grace and strength to deal with each new challenge. 

God is, and has been, so good to us.  Many are out of work, while Tom has a reliable job.  I may have had a rough postpartum experience with Jocelyn, but there are many who cannot concieve, or who have a child with special needs.  We may not have a perfect life, but compared to 95% of the world’s population, we are rich, incredibly healthy, and ridiculously blessed.  In fact, through the eyes of someone in a third-world nation, we have too much!  Clean drinking water, highways without holes that can eat your car, Internet access, voting rights, electric lights, no fear of war on our own soil, supermarkets crammed with fresh food, indoor plumbing…I could go on and on about the benefits we Americans enjoy that others can only dream about.  Why am I feeling sorry for myself when, halfway around the world, many women spend 5 to 6 hours a day hauling parasite-infested water over miles of dangerous wilderness?  (Google ZAO water if you are interested in knowing more about this particular issue.  It’s a real eye-opener.)  I know I’m up on my soapbox now, but I’m just preaching to myself.  There is NOTHING in my life worth complaining about.  There!  I said it!  There’s noting limiting my ability to be happy except little old ME. 

So, with this blog, I give myself, and everyone else, permission to stop whining and just BE.  Be content with your lot in life.  Make the best of wherever you are, knowing that tomorrow could change everything!  Stop navel-gazing and worrying what people think of you, and start thinking about them instead.  What a breath of fresh air our country would have if everyone laid down their vanity, complaining, and personal black rain clouds and just had a reality check that, hey, life is actually pretty good!  And yes, I think, even though things might be somewhat imperfect, they could be a lot worse, and I think I am going to survive.  THAT is a sentiment I want to spread around!