Dear Lucia: 10 months

Dear Lucia:

You are 10 months now. I looked back to see when my last letter was and it was 4 months ago. We've been busy around here, traveling and renovating the kitchen. But, things are slowing down a little and we are getting ready to enjoy this early spring. We are going to have lots of fun this summer because you are starting to move around. After sitting up and watching the world intently for a while you have decided to start moving around. It's still slow, cautious and studied (I suspect this is going to be a theme in your life) but you are beginning to bum scootch/crawl to things to check them out. You can stand up, supported by something, but tend towards dramatic falls and so we have to keep a close eye out. I do this too, and I'm still here so I think you will survive. The other day at church you were sitting on the floor while your brother ran circles around you. You: content to watch, him: always on the move. Don't worry - he is always going to be faster than you but I suspect you are going to be bigger shortly. This will even things out.

You have started to use some little words. You say "papapapapap" and "di..di..di..di" to call your father and brother. You have also started to try some signs. We think we have seen the sign for 'change' and 'all done' and maybe 'food'. You have definitely figured out that this will work and are just working out the kinks between brain and hand/eye coordination.

Everyday interactions with you become more complex, you are passing toys and looking for 'lost' things. You are calling out to people to get their attention and responding to cues. We are playing 'ojitos' and clapping. You are also sharing a room with our brother now. You are still getting up 2 or 3 times in the night but your father and I are sleeping more soundly and Diego loves the company. Last night he went to sleep before you and complained that he was "lost" because you were not in bed yet... this may have just been a tactic to put off bed time but it is also a sign of how much he loves to share with you. Remember that when you are older and you both start to fight.

You have four teeth now and more on the way. This has been disrupting everyone's sleep even more lately but we're surviving. We'll be glad when they come through. That's why this month's pictures all seem to have drippy noses. You always get a drippy nose when your gums are bothering you.

You are beautiful and intense and serious with the power to transform the room with a huge smile when you want to. Your father is smitten and I like you pretty well too little lady. Keep growing and exploring.

Your mama.

Kitchen on a Budget: Part II - Construction

And then we began to put it all back together. After the insulation the drywall went up. A friend of Rafa's came and helped us which was BIG!!. We opted for big sheets (12 - the length of the wall) which meant way less mudding and taping but the hanging is  more complicated. We did end up cutting the ceiling pieces in half to make them more manageable.

Rafa and I did the first tape together - and then took turns with the following coats. Diego has been in daycare all week and Mom is here taking care of Lucia but she got sick just after the first tape (actually really good timing) and so Rafa and I took turns with the last bits.

The cabinets arrived on Friday and we hung them up - despite not being done mudding and taping. Rafa goes back to school on Monday and so what doesn't get done by then I will have to do on my own whenever I have time. I can not hang cabinets by myself.

I got up Sunday morning at 5:30 to sand while everyone else was asleep. Then Mom and I took the kids to church while Rafa painted. We are staring to get very tired by this point. Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun were all long days. The bright side and extra motivation to continue came on Saturday when the gas fitter came and hooked up the stove again. We really enjoyed that first cooked meal. I read somewhere that six weeks is the average for a kitchen renovation. We were ready to be done after 6 days. I don't know how people do it. The kids are getting pretty tired as well. Saturday and Sunday they were both  looking for more attention from Mama and Papa. Grandma has been fun but enough is enough.

Today the plumber was here and hooked up the water. (And also replaced the toilet that was cracked during the demolition) and so we have a functional kitchen. There is still lots of finish work to do but I will enjoy doing that bit by bit.

Stay tuned for more pictures of finished product and the budget breakdown.