Laundry Machines

Today I hauled my laundry down two flights of stairs and across the parking garage to the coin-op machines in my apartment building. Usually I try to squeeze in this task while Maggie is napping, but I rarely get it all done before she wakes up wanting to eat. This time, as I was leaving my apartment to manage my laundry, Maggie woke up even earlier than she normally does from her nap. Earlier in the day she had to have a vaccine, making her temperament a little unpredictable, so I also carried her in her HUGE car seat down two flights of stairs and across the parking garage. The whole way I was cursing apartment living and pining over the washer and dryer that we sold when we moved to Santa Monica; I was remembering how laundry didn't used to hardly count as a chore. I could toss in dirty laundry just before going to bed and have clean clothes by morning. I didn't need to babysit my laundry and I definitely didn't need to plan my whole day around it.

As I was cursing and cursing my laundry situation, I remembered an experience that I had when Joe and I were in Ghana a few years ago. We were living in apartments on the temple grounds. Ghanaians would travel from their villages and stay in the apartments when they were able to visit the temple (for many a once in a life time experience). One day when I was putting a load of laundry in the coin-op machines in the building, a young Ghanaian mom stood shyly watching me. As I finished, she asked me if I would show her how to use the machines. I helped her get her wash started, and by the time I finished explaining how to move her clothes to the dryer, start the machine, etc. she was almost jumping up and down with excitement. She had never seen anything so amazingly convenient in her whole life. I remember feeling so humbled by all the things I take for granted in my life--things like washing machines.

So, I am grateful that I had that experience because it helps me keep things in perspective. How lucky am I, that all I have to do is carry my clothes down a two flights of stairs and toss them in a washing machine? How lucky am I, that I have so many clothes that I have to do several loads of laundry each week to keep up?

Instead of cursing, I should be counting my blessings, so today I am trying to be grateful for washing machines, even when they are two stair flights away.

Peacefully Sleeping

The other day I went to get Maggie out of her car seat. This is what I found.

Apparently her headband decided that it was time for her to take a nap and she agreed. Can anyone say sweet baby? She doesn't even quarrel with her headband.

I know it has been more than a month since I last posted anything because Winky is now more than 3 months old. She is up to 14 lbs--hanging in there at the 90th percentile. Her newest tricks include playing with toys, talking a lot, laughing (this is my favorite), and sticking her tongue out . . . this just started yesterday. Also, she rolled over once on accident, totally startling herself. It was funny.

Also, I am very sad to say that I lost my camera, so all the new posts and pictures will have to come later. Luckily (and strangely) I had downloaded all the pics onto my Mom's computer, so I will get around to telling about our trip to Idaho in a little while.

Smiley Girl

On Tuesday Maggie had her 2 month check-up. She is now weighs 12lbs 13 oz. and is 22 1/4 in. long. Her 6 month old cousin had her appointment the next day and guess how much she weighed . . . 12 lbs 13 oz. That's right. They weigh exactly the same amount.