Fear

We all have something we fear. Some people fear flying, some people fear bugs, some people fear people! I have fears -- flying in small planes is one. But my greatest fear at this point in my life is something I didn't know you could fear. My fear is forgetting. Forgetting what I learned overseas, forgetting everything I saw and experienced, forgetting not to take anything for granted. I chuckle (not to be offensive) when people go on a week-long trip to some poor foreign country and they come back saying "I'll never take for granted anything again!" I mean, that's great, but after a few weeks or maybe even months, we start to forget that we experienced, what we saw. I lived in Asia, a poor part (not extreme poverty, just poor) for 17 months, never thinking I would forget, never thinking I would take anything for granted ever again, but sometimes I forget. In this western culture we live in, it is easy to forget.

I complain about a room being too hot or cold, and I have to remind myself that, while overseas, we didn't have an AC in the summer or a heater in the winter. At least here, I can just move rooms or adjust the AC/heater and be cool/warm again. I remind myself of the villages we heard about that lost so many people due to the extremely cold winter just two months before we arrived. At the newly-built university where we had Chinese classes, the rooms were concrete with cracked windows and doors. During the winter, we had on longjohns, three pairs of socks, coats, gloves, scarf, and hats in the classroom. So did all the other students. Luckily, we were able to leave after class and go back home where we could take a hot shower or plug up our space heater and get somewhat warm again. If the students wanted to take a hot shower, they had to go to another building before everyone else or the hot water would run out. The school wouldn't let them plug in ANYTHING in their rooms (due to electricity costs), so no space heaters of any kind.

I sometimes find myself wishing for a bigger house or just a house to call my own. We visited a school one time and looked at the teachers' housing. It was a concrete square cell. No bathroom (had to use the one outside facility where the students also used the bathroom), no kitchen, no AC/heater...just an old metal bunkbed. The windows were cracked, so it was freezing in the winter. And someone near my age, a new teacher just graduated, was working here because that is where she was "placed" -- it was not her choosing. Wow, another thing not to forget...freedom to choose where we want to work!

I complain about food, and I have to remind myself that I have so many choices here, and that if I don't like a certain meal, I'll get a better one later! At the deaf school we visited, for lunch, the students got the same meal everyday (rice and veggies) -- one bowl and nothing to drink. They were also forced to eat outside everyday (wind, rain, snow, it didn't matter) because someone had broken a chair in their "cafeteria" who knows how long ago. I also remind myself that our food is pretty clean and safe to eat, nothing that will make my husband drop 50 lbs again. I don't have to wash with bleach or soap every piece of vegetable or fruit I buy and I don't have to make sure every piece of food or utensil is completely dry of parasitic water. I remind myself of the joys of turning on the faucet and drinking tap water without fear of getting sick.

I don't want to forget, but living in America where we have grown up with so much more than we ever needed, it is so easy to forget. I have to remember my blessings daily:

- a house that is provided for us during this time
- the ability to be warm and cool
- being able to eat food and drink water without getting sick
- having family nearby and not counting down the months (or year!) to see them again
- having the freedom to choose our jobs, where we want to worship, where we want to live
- the freedom TO worship -- where we lived doesn't even compare to other countries where they have no freedom whatsoever in worship

I could go on and on, but my precious child is trying to wake up. If you actually read all of this, I'm impressed. I wrote it more for me than for you. I need to remind myself often of my blessings. I hope you do too.

5th Anniversary and Something Precious

I started this blog way earlier today, but due to a crying baby and trying to catch up on everything that I have put off until this weekend, it is 10:20 pm and trying to finish this blog. Isn't that life!

June 4th is our 5th year anniversary (wow!), but since summer camp is about to start and life will again get crazy, we decided to celebrate a little early this year. We were able to get free tickets to see "Little House on the Prairie" at Fair Park in Dallas. It was a wonderful production -- really enjoyed it!


Us trying to get a self-portrait!

Before the production, there was a lunch buffet that we decided to eat at. Wonderful food...and lots of dessert :) Nate decided to see how much dessert he could eat...don't ask why...


Plate 2...didn't take a picture of plate 1...didn't think he would actually go back for seconds...


or thirds...


goodness...or fourths!


He is finished! Decided he couldn't finish the pure fudge cake -- I was actually glad! And since you are probably wondering...yes, it made him a little sick. He even had a "sugar" hangover the next morning! He learned his lesson to never do that again!


At my parents' house after we got back from Dallas.

The next two pictures are the most precious pictures, I think :) Nothing to do with our anniversary -- just wanted to share!

Cooing and Smiling -- it doesn't get any better than this!

Here are some videos of Tristan -- just talking and smiling away!

2 Months Old!

Pictures are of Tristan at 2 months old :) It's hard to get a good picture of a baby that doesn't sit up well yet! Can you tell?!




Wednesday, May 5, Tristan turned 2 months old! He had his 2 month appointment Thursday. He now is 23 inches long (52 percentile), up from 20 inches at birth. He is also 10 lbs 9 oz (23 percentile), up from 7 lbs at birth. His head has also grown from 12 1/2 to 15 1/2 inches, so his brain is growing good (gonna be smart just like Dad)! Overall, the doctor says he looks healthy! He, unfortunate for him, had to get some shots, and he was not pleased with that at all! He let us all know how he felt -- I've never seen him turn that shade of red/purple before! Luckily, he felt better quickly after Nana picked him up and comforted him with his pacifier :) Here are some facts about him right now:

1) He is wearing some 0-3 months clothes, although the majority of the 0-3 months clothes in his closet are still way too big. He's not taking after his mom who was a much "healthier" baby (3 1/2 lbs bigger and 2 inches longer at 2 months!). Mom's ready for him to fit into his 0-3 months clothes -- he has so many cute clothes...they just don't fit yet!

2) He is starting to smile and coo, especially when you sing to him. He has the cutest smile in all the world...seriously...

3) He is holding his head so well now! Not perfectly yet, but soon!

4) He loves bath time! He calms down as soon as he hears the water running. He doesn't even cry when he's getting his "hair" washed. He only cries when he have to put clothes back on after bath time :)

5) His eyes are blue and we're pretty sure they will stay blue. Takes after his dad's side of the family. Just as long has he has his mom's eyesight!

6) He usually hates tummy time! He usually just lays there and cries. Hopefully he'll enjoy it soon!

7) He enjoys his swing and almost everytime falls asleep there. Mom and Dad are not complaining!

8) He is often calm and happy until Mom and Dad sit down to eat a meal. Somehow he just knows Mom and Dad are eating and he is not...

9) He is a pretty good sleeper at night. He usually sleeps anywhere from 7-9 1/2 hours for the first stretch (last night was from 7:30-5:15 -- almost 10 hours!). He's been in his own room and crib since week 2, which was the best decision we've made so far! Luckily we are just across the hallway from him so we can easily hear his cries.

10) He isn't the best napper during the day -- he usually just takes catnaps but sometimes he'll take those nice 3 hour naps!

11) He often drinks 6 or more ounces of breastmilk at a time (when taken from a bottle). According to guidelines, 1-3 months babies usually only take 4-5 ounces at a time. He's a good eater :)

12) Again, according to guidelines, he's poopy diapers are supposed to have decreased to about 1 a day, but he doesn't like that idea, especially at 4:00 AM when he thinks it is fun to have an explosive dirty diaper, after already been changed once. He is a boy, what should I expect!

13) He is absolutely the most precious and beautiful baby in all the world. Again, seriously. Not saying that just because I'm his mom. It's been declared a fact.

Video attempt #2

Trying again with the video -- didn't work last time! Tristan playing -- watch for the surprise at the end!

Daily Life of Tristan 2

Here are some more pics of Trist during his day -- be sure to look at the post before this (had to break it up). I started school this past week. I enjoyed it, but I sure was happy to get home at night and to be able to see him during the day this weekend! Glad that summer will be here before long :)

He often falls asleep in the swing, which often gives us a nice break and sometimes even a quiet meal!

There is something that always catches his eye...


Just a closeup of Tristan!


He really enjoys his bath! If he is in a bad mood, we go take a bath. As soon as I turn on the water, he quiets down. He's not smiling yet in the bath, but he'll stay calm in there for a long time, just kicking his legs and moving his arms. He even doesn't mind getting his "hair" washed!


Trying to get a good pic of mom and son :)


Trying again...he doesn't look thrilled, does he?!


Pic with Dad!


Here is a video of him playing -- watch at the end for a little surprise! ;)

Faces

I was going to add more to this blog, but looks like I'll have to divide it up some. Site is giving me problems. But anyways, just some cute faces of my little guy :) You can see how fast his mood changes!