test

This is a test... I can't seem to update via my Window's Live Writer.

My domain expired on the 10th of this month and I hadn't talked to Jaime about renewing it so I kept expecting it to be gone... but it's not! Thank you once again Jaime you always have my back!

S.T.R.E.S.S (help me!)

Moving is such a hassle!  Even when you are only moving next door to yourself.  Our deadline is this Saturday and it is sandwiched in between concerts and rehearsals and general life-ness.  I pulled something in my right elbow yesterday, I keep lifting things that are too heavy but if I don't this effort will never be finished.  We still have SOOOO much to do.  The biggest problem is that the new house has less places to stash things.  More bedrooms but less storage and wall space.  So we have the new house set up all pretty and non-cluttered and the old place is sitting there full of clutter.  We have purged a good amount but more will have to go. 

Today has been crazy.  I had a morning rehearsal at the Fox Theatre so my Mom helped me out by taking Ara to the Children's Museum so I could be at rehearsal for at least the Debussy and Tan Dun Pieces.  I left early, picked them up, did A's bank errand, picked up lunch, dropped off my Mom, and came home.  Ara was in need of a bath but I cannot get the pilot lit on our water heater.  I know nothing about water heaters and until today I have never even really looked at one.  Ours is in an outside shed that is full of spider webs and other scary things.  I read the instructions and turned the knob things and pushed the pilot lighter and sort of jabbed the lighter at the thing I thought looked like the ignition spot.  It's amazing that such expertise did not produce results right?  I WANT HOT WATER.  So I put Ara's little bathtub out on the porch and she went "swimming" in it.  Then I put her to bed and I was really looking forward to a little down time but it was not to be.  Ara filled her diaper with poop then got out of bed and took off her diaper.  After everything in her room had a nice coating of poop she called me in.  So I spent the last hour re-bathing her, hand washing all her bedding, and scrubbing her rug and tile floor.  I also got to call A's Mom to ask her if she would come to our house earlier.  He called me from work twice to tell me to call her, his excuse was that he didn't have time to call her.  So I got to be the bad guy and listen to her silence and sighs.  Yes, she was THAT dramatic.  You know I feel buried in life right now and I feel guilty that my brother, dad, and sister have taken the brunt of watching Ara until late 3 days this week.  I just don't know who else to ask for help.  But I DO need it.  I had a dream that I was in labor and I had forgotten the phone number of the birth center and A wouldn't help me.  He just sat at the computer.  Actually in the dream he was talking to some girl on the computer but he doesn't do that in real life so I don't know why I would dream that.   Anyway between moving and all the rehearsals I feel stressed and just in desperate need of someone to vent to and to lean on and to lift heavy things for me!  

Saturday is tomorrow and the impossible task is looming.

Ara Update

I haven't really posted about Ara's development lately so I thought I would just put up a list of sorts.

• She has been able to count to 1 1 in English and 10 in Spanish for a while now.
• She has mastered all the basic colors.
• When she draws she has amazing control.  She drew two small circles and told me they were glasses. 
• She can build impressive structures with legos and blocks.
• She is very communicative with her feelings.  When strangers talk to her she usually tells them that she is a little scared and that she is shy!
• She can tell you her name and age.
• She knows the words to several songs and sings constantly.

Today Ara said the most hilarious thing!  She said she had "diaper crash"!  We are working on potty training and she is wearing the pull up diapers.  The pull ups are significantly more expensive than the regular kind and Ara likes to take them off for no reason and throw them away.  Last week she took off her pants and diapers, put on her dress shoes and a santa hat and came walking into the living room as proud as she could be!

 

We are in the process of moving and Ara is very excited about her new room.  I just hope she will sleep in it!

Hot Water

  Ara and I had a play date today at a wonderful park.  We met my friend Renee and her daughter who just turned one.  Renee suggested the park and I had never been so when we got there I was in awe.  It was beautiful. 

"A unique 101-acre park with a perennial warm spring flowing into three large ponds, The water source has attracted a wide variety of waterfowl and other wildlife species. Human habitation has been found to date back about 5,500 years. The site makes for a perfect place for a picnic or day hike."

The water is as clear as glass and the fish are surprisingly colorful and exotic looking. 

Ara fed the ducks and the fish and was one happy little toddler. 

I enjoyed getting out to try something new, it was so much nicer to go to this nature preserve than to our main park with it's artificial blue water and creepy guys walking around.  It was also nice to have some adult conversation whenever Ara would let me!