Two Sweet

Yesterday we finally took Keira to her 2 year checkup with Dr. Jones (Dr. "Bones" as she says) and learned that she has graduated to 3 feet tall which is 95th percentile for height! We knew she had gone through quite a growth spurt, but she has never been over 75th percentile. She is getting so tall and beautiful that Art and I are amazed on a daily basis. It is fascinating how she took our cuteness and multiplied it times 10- just amazing and humbling to think that we created someone so perfect and special.

One thing I think is particularly special about Keira is not only is she 95th percentile height for her age, but she is 95th percentile sweet. She is especially polite and caring. When most 2 year olds say "NO!" she says "No, thank you." She says "thank you" at every appropriate opportunity and "bless you" every time we cough or sneeze. She says "please" to get her way and all this without any prompting to do so. When she wants to be held, she doesn't say "up," she says "hug." She shares her soft blankee with us and gives big hugs and "tisses," takes care of us when we're sick, and showers us with her love all day.

As I have confided with Art, the most important thing to me as a parent is to make sure that Keira knows how much we love her. She requires an outpouring of patience and love to avoid yelling at her all day so we really make an effort to treat her kindly and speak to her softly. As headstrong and energetic as she is, I knew it would take a special approach to bring out the good qualities in her. Not only does she reciprocate our kindness to her, but she magnifies it. Art and I are far from perfect and struggle more than we should to get along, but one thing that unites us is how much we love our little girl and we both agree that she knows it.

Our Many Adventures

In our family, it's rare to let a month go by without doing something fun. Here are a few pictures from each of our adventures this year starting with the most recent.

The Fresno Fair - October 12, 2010

We ran into Art's Aunt and Uncle - Gloria and Cruz Martinez

Camping in Henry Cowell State Park - September 11, 2010

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo - August 22, 2010

Third of July Fireworks Show in Kerman - July 3, 2010

Peters Family Reunion in Yuba City - June 20, 2010

Vivian, Krysta, Keira, Mom, Lauren Eslick, Kenley, Jewel, and Kenna Jones

Dee Eslick, Mark Peters, and Cousin Kenley Jones

The Fresno Zoo - May 31, 2010

Camping in Montana de Oro State Park - April 25, 2010

My 24th Birthday - March 28, 2010

San Francisco Aquarium - January 20, 2010
(pictures posted previously in "Making It")

When You're Two

Every bath must have bubbles.

It's fun to walk around with a broom saying, "Help-ing! Help-ing!"

It's also fun to walk around with an umbrella saying, "Rain... Rain... Rain..."

Coloring is called "cook" and crayons are edible.

Bath time is for swimming.

Barney and Caillou are the best shows ever and Up is the best movie.

Grandma's house is the funnest place to go- hands down- and is requested on a regular basis.

Bathroom trips are every 15 to 20 minutes all day.

All meat is called "chicken" and it's delicious.

A scowl is the new smile.

Every trip includes an armful of random objects- anything from stuffed animals to makeup.

Blankee, however, is a necessity.

Bugs are yucky and every fuzzy on the floor provokes, "Eeew! Yucky bug!"

Singing and dancing are daily activities.

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.” - Anonymous

Tough Decisions

After careful consideration, Art and I have finally come to the decision to find our poor Bunny a new home. We estimated that our guilt for getting rid of him would be less than the guilt of never paying attention to him. I hope we find this to be true. Despite our love of Bunny, he just isn't suited to be in the presence of small children and that's all we'll have in our home during his bunny life span.

A couple weeks ago, my friend Robyn told me a story about how she had two kittens that needed a home and she decided to give them to her dad but she couldn't go through with it and was distraught until she realized it was because she was on her period. I laughed at her and said I surely wouldn't make the same mistake if/when I decided to find Bunny a home. Nonetheless, I have someone coming to pick him up tomorrow and I am on my period- feeling rather remorseful and second guessing my decision- trying not to cry about it. Silly me.

It's been a hard day for sure. In addition to finding Bunny's new owner today, I have arrived at the decision that I need to find a new job... AGAIN. When I started my job at Realty Concepts, I was told that after 90 days probation, my boss would pay me $100 per close and set me up as an employee instead of an independent contractor. The latter is the only reason I accepted this job. Knowing that I plan to have more children, I need to be able to get disability payments when I go on leave if I expect to survive. My boss has always been very pleased with my work and often tells me so, however, after my probation was over I brought it to her attention and she said that she isn't going to pay me $100 per close until I can do everything 100% on my own. Firstly, I can't do everything on my own- I'm not the agent. Secondly, I only work 4 hours a day. I can't do everything in only 4 hours. She pretty much went back on her word, then set an impossible standard to meet before she would keep it. As for making me an employee, she said she would start on it as soon as she got her computer set up. It has been set up for a couple weeks now so I asked her about it today and now she says she isn't going to make me an employee either. I am just seriously tired of being taken advantage of. Both the promises she made were broken and she expects perfect work and maximum effort for next to no pay.

The past year and a half have been extremely difficult for me jobly speaking. A pathetic looking string of short term part-time jobs, paying less than I have made in many years. I just want to work ONE PLACE- a GOOD PLACE- without a PSYCHO boss. Does such a place exist? I dare say it does not. I am not burning my bridge at my job yet, but I am definitely starting my search for a new job. It took about 6 months last time and I don't anticipate it being any easier this time either.

I close with a tear and a prayer for Bunny and me, that these tough decisions might be the best decisions in the end. And next time I try to deal with stuff like this while on my period, please smack me.