Shannon Yee

I’ve been taking some strolls down memory lane recently. Eila dripped a bit of jelly out of her sandwich (she now eats pb&j, yippee!) and it reminded me of lunch everyday at SHS when Steve would drop jelly from his sandwich. I finally got to reconnect with my better half (the square root of Shan squared). Brian and I took Eila to see the dinosaurs this weekend and had lunch near the Bell Tower, parking on East Ann. Grant came over and wanted to listen to Five Iron Frenzy. We went to Chicago, home to many a great trip in the past and a fun time seeing my sister. Brian and I went on a date, just like when we were young… It was all very cool beans.

Last night was the annual Ladies’ Tea at my church and the speaker was the best yet, in my opinion. Liz shared about how we should smell, look, and sound good. She used several passages from the book of 2 Corinthians. She reminded me that I am the aroma of Christ to those around me. That is a sweet fragrance of self-sacrifice and love with compassion and humility. I should smell good so that others will want to be near me and know more about Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:15 Cheryl, our party planner, read a poem to start off the night that was about a lump of clay becoming a beautiful tea cup in the skilled Master’s hands. Liz talked about how we are to look good too because we are reflecting the glory of God. We all have flaws and cracks and it is through those holes that God’s light shines. When I, a pot of clay, have the glory of God, the greatest treasure, filling me up, others can see Him shining in me. 2 Corinthians 4:7, Finally, there was a challenge to sound good, ie. not complain about the temporary struggles because I know I’m going to a better place eventually – this isn’t all there is. She told a story about how tents are for memories, not for living in all the time. That’s how our bodies are too… 2 Corinthians 5:1 & Romans 8:23.

It was a good reminder to me and I hope that you also will be encouraged to let Christ dwell in your richly, so that others will see and glorify your Father in heaven!

It seems like people are often asking me for advice and I gladly oblige because I enjoy telling people my opinion as though it is fact. I am a first born and love to be the boss. Telling people what to do come very naturally for me. Unfortunately, I can appear to know what I’m talking about without actually be informed at all.

The most common reason I am asked for advice is dealing with raising kids. My friends who have children younger than my little toddler or those who are expecting a second child soon. Questions range from feeding, diapering, playing, etc. I do feel that I am fairly well-informed in all of these areas, but I am no expert (despite the way I may sound if you ask me to talk about any of these topics.) I recently gave faulty advice to my sister and am hoping that she didn’t take it.

Folks will also ask me for wisdom on exercising, esp. running. I enjoy running, but really don’t know much other than what I’ve learned works for me. Again, I pass off what works for me as expert experience and knowledge that others can and should take as pearls of great worth. I do read an occasional running magazine, so some information may be accurate, but there is no guarantee.

Basically, I just want to put out a warning to “Ask at your own risk” I am happy to indoctrinate anyone who asks with my philosophies and practical methods of childrearing, running, eating, and anything else, but the asker assumes all liability associated with following any of my suggestions, recommendations, or demands.

On this mostly typical day in Michigan, what I have seen includes:

Sunshine. Rain.

Firefox freeze up twice. Part of dinner burn once.

Thirty-five Arabic women trying to read the question: What did May get for her birthday? Three of them succeeding.

Thirty-five Arabic women trying to answer the question: What did May get for her birthday? Eighteen of them succeeding.

Eila sucking on her toes. Josiah sucking on Eila’s shoes.

Josiah licking a gate. Eila licking Josiah.

Josiah asleep in a shopping cart, falling over. Eila asleep on Josiah in the stroller.

Eila eating yogurt that she previously ate and spit back into her bowl. Josiah spitting out all of his rice cereal and not eating anything.

Eila sucking on a sprinkler that has been in the garden since last spring. Josiah sucking on my chin.

Josiah sleeping peacefully in his crib. Eila saying “stuck!” & laying next to Josiah who was screaming in his crib.

A knife falling on my finger and leaving only a papercut.

Fifteen emails. One instant message. Over twenty websites.

One of my favorite indulgences is cheesecake. Brian made me a fabulous low-fat cheesecake, which is delicious and extremely satisfying. My other favorite sweet snack is chocolate chip cookies, especially with a little peanut butter swirl. For Lent, I gave up cookies and while this might not sound like a great sacrifice to some; for me, it’s a daily challenge. That is a good thing because the purpose of Lenten sacrifices is to remind us of all that Christ gave up for us and cause us to call on him in our need. Each night, I would normally treat myself to a cookie or three and thoroughly enjoy this little feast while watching a little TV, but now I am without my standard nighttime snack and have found myself reading the Bible or praying instead of munching on cookies. It’s a really cool thing.

I have been trying for some time to get my children on the same or at least somewhat overlapping nap schedule and today I have succeeded! It is wonderful to have a little time to myself during the day and do a few things on my ever-growing list. But, first I procrastinate by chattering on and on about how I have a few minutes of time while both of my beloved children nap… I suppose that having quiet might be something that others would try to escape or fill. I am not like those people. I enjoy not hearing anything at all – except right now the click-clack of the keys on the keyboard and the final spin of the washer with an occasional bang from the overalls in the dryer. However, when I’ve said my bit here, I’m going to go read a chapter or two and curl up with in the easy chair with no noise (I’m not even going to change the laundry!) Peacefulness is, of course, a gift from our great God and He has blessed my heart with peace even while Eila spent a good portion of the morning crying because she was hungry, but didn’t want to eat and Josiah fussed because he has a cold and is generally uncomfortable. So, I’m off to relish the peace and quiet in the house while it lasts.

Sally tagged me, so here goes.

1. I was voted “Most Talkative” in Jr. High, but cannot think of anything to say to new people that I meet.
2. While being a bit of a perfectionist, my house is never clean. I hate sweeping and vacuuming, so I wait for Brian to do it… I also hate washing dishes, so I only do them as needed (usually about once a week).
3. I used to think that I didn’t like chocolate, but it’s just that I don’t like cheap chocolate (and that’s all my mother had ever given me – no offense, Mom.) I loathe M&Ms and Hershey’s bars, but like brownies and hot chocolate, and especially like Belgian truffles.
4. Recently, I am only interested in movies or TV shows that are extremely clean (rated PG or G) and happy. I really enjoy watching programs geared to young teenagers. I have enough stress and disappointment in life that I don’t want to watch someone else go through that too. I also do not feel any need to defile myself any more than I already do…
5. I am a tandem nursing mother. On rare occasions, I can be found breastfeeding two children at the same time. Usually though, they have to wait their turn.
6. I love being pregnant. Pregnancy agrees with me. My hair is thick and shiny. My skin is clear. I never need a coat (as I am a human furnace during pregnancy. I have a great excuse to eat and sleep whenever. The only drawbacks are limits on carbonated and alcoholic beverages and raw fish.

I know that moms and Christians aren’t supposed to like Halloween for various reasons, but I really do like this holiday. I don’t like everything about it – I hate scary movies and anything related to spiders freaks me out. However, I love the idea of getting dressed up and of running around in costumes to get candy. I love how on this one night all of our neighbors have their lights on and doors open to welcome and greet anyone who walks by. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the kids and parents out together and hearing the calls & reminders of what to say and do. Attending parties for Halloween is fun too. Bobbing for apples, donut hangs, mystery substances to stick your hands into searching for a prize, and costume contests are a hoot and good, if not clean, fun. This holiday has a history of darkness and bad stuff, but it is really easy not to even see or notice that stuff, especially if you try to avoid it, and instead appreciate Halloween as a celebration of fall and all the great stuff that comes with my favorite season – pumpkins, the changing colors and falling of the leaves, cider and donuts, apples, cute costumes, and lots of sweet treats! What’s not to like?!

My precious baby is now a toddler and some seem very surprised that she is still nursing (~5 times/day). I should probably clarify that most people are most shocked that I am still nursing her rather than that she is still nursing. The majority of negative comments or looks that I’ve received have been at least partially because I am also pregnant. Apparently, it is unacceptable (by some folks, not all) to even consider nursing while pregnant or especially tandem nursing.

Well, Eila is a big fan of “teter” (the french term that we use) and is showing no signs or disinterest or even of the possibility of distracting her from her desired form of nourishment. Now, I must admit that I am also in no hurry to end this part of our relationship. It is a great excuse to sit down together and rest for 5-10 minutes all at once (a rarity for toddlers). It is also a great excuse to eat tons of food (healthy, mind you, but still – I like to eat.) I also like to know that I am providing the very best for her with immunities and antibodies as well as the calories and vitamins and minerals that she needs. God made this food just for her and I want to make sure she gets it.

So, all of this to say that my milk supply is diminishing and the end is coming. I don’t know if it will continue until baby2 arrives and beyond or if Eila will want to stop sooner. I do know that it won’t last forever and that when weaning is over, I will probably be a little relieved (to be able to be away from her for days on end, if needed) and sad (that she could go days on end without needing me).

As for how the weaning process will happen, I have read a lot and gotten lots of advice on the best and worst ways for this. I imagine that it will be a gradual reduction of the number of feeding per day down to just one or two and then she’ll stop asking and I’ll stop offering and then one day I’ll realize that she hasn’t nursed for a couple of days…