Happiness is Cleanliness

I have recently learned that life is a constant battle against uncleanliness, both morally and hygienically. We have to bathe every day, sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, do laundry, wash dishes, wash our cars, and brush our teeth. Every day we are fighting uncleanliness of every kind. I was feeling inadequately equipped to defend myself in this dirty battle so I armed myself with a few new weapons.

Firstly, my mom has convinved me of the cleaning power of WD-40. It not only keeps your doors from squeaking, but it cleans shower doors and keeps them shiny and clear. Also use it on your metal fixtures and it will take all the water spots off instantly. Spray it on the ring around your bathtub and it will wipe right off.

Secondly, my mom has also introduced me to Liquid Gold. It is intended to be a wood oil, but it works awesome on many other things. It will put a shine on any surface, including those shower doors, counter tops, kitchen floors... anything you want to bling.

Next, I gave in and bought a Hoover Steam Vac. I can't say enough good things about it. The carpets in my apartment were pretty nasty when we moved in and it made short work of getting them back to acceptable. The attachment on it amazed me even more than the machine itself. I used it on the floor mats in my car and it made them look perfect in an instant.

Lastly, I finally got a washer and dryer! No more hauling my clothes all over the world to wash them. I can do laundry ANY TIME I WANT and I can get other things done while I am waiting. We decided to get a used Kenmore set from Used Appliance Depot. They are in great condition and only a couple years old and we saved around $500 by going for a used set and the ones we got have a lot nicer features than the cheapest new ones do. They also have a 60 day warranty. They were just delivered today and I joyfully washed two loads of laundry. I can't even explain how relieved I am to have a washer in dryer in my house. After 3 years of hauling my laundry around, I deserve it!

I am certainly enjoying the happiness that comes from cleanliness and I wish you luck in your own battle.

The Big Fresno Fair

Last year I was walking around the fair when I was 9 months pregnant in an unsuccessful attempt to get my contractions going and this year Keira was walking around the fair on her own two baby legs. At first we tried carrying her around and pushing her around in the stroller, but she absolutely insisted upon walking most of the time, giggling all the way of course.

We had an absolutely awesome time. The weather was perfect and Baby loved everything. She soaked it all up like a sponge. I can't wait til the fair comes again next year.

Denial

I'm in denial. There is no way she is already 11 months old! Her birthday is so close I can smell it!

In the past month she...

Got 4 more teeth- all on top!

Mastered walking and can even walk in shoes now.

Took her first bubble bath and had to taste the bubbles, of course.

Learned how to point her finger.

Loves to say "Bye Bye." She likes to look at her picture on my mom's cell phone then close it and say "Bye Bye."

Only laughs when you tickle her upside down on her neck. If she's not upside down, it's not funny.

Thinks it's funny to take a picture of herself then look at the picture in the screen on the camera.

Has started taking only one nap a day in the early afternoon, but is going to bed earlier. Usually by 9 instead of 10. She sleeps until around 8:30 every morning.

Gets so excited if I get out a book and comes and sits in my lap to read it, but she is so hyperactive that she can't sit through the whole thing. She is really hard to keep still and will rarely just sit in your lap for even a minute.

Hates to be held down, even for a diaper change. Putting a diaper on her is like trying to put a diaper on an octopus- or maybe a tazmanian devil.

Has started to climb. She has made it half way up my mom's tv stand, and one time she climbed out of her high chair onto the kitchen table.

When she is tired she puts things on her nose, preferably a soft blanket, but if a blanket isn't available she will hold any object against her nose.

She has an incredible shoe fetish. We can't leave shoes anywhere within her reach or she will steal them and eat them. She is just now learning to keep her own shoes on her feet instead of in her mouth.

I asked my husband how far apart in age he envisions our children to be. His reponse was, "Well, not more than 2 years." I did the math and realized that would mean we would need to start trying around Christmas, which is only a couple months away, and be pregnant early next year. That is so soon! I honestly don't know how second children are ever born. I feel lucky to be alive. Keira is such a good baby, but she really is a handful.

As much as I want our kids to be close in age, I just can't fathom being pregnant and taking care of my live wire at the same time. Not to mention the financial aspect of the whole thing. We have lots of thinking to do on the matter, but Art is less hesitant than me. He said, "More babies means more fun!" I'm glad he's so enthusiastic. I, on the other hand, may need some convincing.

Meet Virginia

"Is that a bruise?" Everyone asks me about Keira's arm.

"No it's just a birthmark."

"You know, I have a birthmark too. Right here on my leg. I had forgotten about it until today." She was a thin woman of 92, wrinkled from head to toe with wispy white hair. She hiked up her skirt to show me the mark her thigh which I was unable to distinguish from the age spots. I couldn't imagine being so comfortable in my own wrinkled skin. It was admirable, yet disturbing.

She went on to tell me about the time she died. She had her gall bladder removed when she was in her 20s and died on the operating table. She told me her memories from the other side of the veil and how they sent her back because she still had a purpose on earth. Her subject matter of choice made me wonder if she was old and senile or if she had treasured knowledge to share.

She went on to tell me about how she knows things before they happen, citing an instance where she dreamed of a rock slide that blocked a river. A few days later, there was a rock slide in Yosemite, exactly and she dreamed. I believed her because I have the same gift of knowing things before they happen and the spirit testified as to the truth of her words. Her pale blue eyes stared straight into mine as she told me the importance of documenting important things that happen in your life- something that I try very hard to do.

She took me by both hands, looked me straight in the eye and said, "I don't know why I'm telling you these things, but I know that I love you. There is something very special about you and I know I was supposed to give you this message and I love you very much."

Tears filled my eyes as I felt a connection I had never felt before. The feeling of souls communicating. Looking at her felt like I was looking in a mirror. Though we had just met, I knew we were not strangers. Her name was Virginia and I hope to meet her again.

Green Trees

I love my new apartment. It is on a quiet side street and has the greatest density of trees in the whole city. My car and house are never in the sun and I finally have a window in front of my kitchen sink providing an awesome view of the beautiful shade trees outside.

There are green trees everywhere... including my bathroom. It's true. Green, beige, gold, silver metallic leaves. Who was the fool who decided that this was the perfect wallpaper to put in every unit and then decided not to allow tenant alterations??? Maybe it was some kind of cruel joke? I'm not really sure, but I did the best I could with the horrible hand I was dealt. After visiting several stores and making a few purchases and returns, with the help of my mom and sister I managed to pick out a shower curtain, towels, and a few accessories to dull the disgustingness. I still need to put the pictures on the wall and add a couple finishing touches, but it is definitely looking better than it did.

Little Walkie Girl

Keira is 10 months old! She is looking much more like a toddler these days than a baby, which makes me very sad. I think baby's need to grow about half as fast so we can enjoy them twice as long. In the past month...

She learned how to WALK and can walk across the room now!

She got to go on the swings at the park and LOVES them.

She says Mama all the time and has even said Bye Bye. She has said Grandma, Dada, and Uh Oh before but she hasn't said them since!

She learned how to open the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and likes to pull everything out.

She started making the most hilarious ornery face when she wants to get her way. She sticks her out her lips and breathes in and out of her nose all loud. Like so...

She got her first tooth on top, which makes a total of 5 teeth. It's not the middle tooth though, it's on the side!

She learned how to make a kissing sound.

She loves to play a game where she tries to sneak places she is not supposed to be then when you see her and say, "HEY!" She squeals then takes off all fast.

I sure love my little walkie girl.

On The Move

As it turns out, Keira isn't the only one on the move around here. Now we're all moving! After 3 years in our little apartment, nearly one year of it sharing our one room with the baby, we are finally moving into a 2 bedroom apartment!

We put in our 30 day notice yesterday, but you couldn't pay us to wait that long to move. We're so done with the crazy upstairs neighbor who stomps as if she weighs 300 pounds. No longer will we be able to hear our neighbors pee in the toilet above our heads. No more late night bedroom activities and bi-monthly breakups. Girl Upstairs, I say unto you, "Good riddance!" Unsympathetic Landlord, the same goes for you!

In just a week and a half I will be enjoying my 2 bedroom, 2 bath single level apartment with washer and dryer hookups, fireplace, and garage and nothing can stop me! Moving day will be Saturday, August 22nd so feel free to come help!