Fast forward a Few months to Summer in the Mojave Desert

Apologizing for my lack of blogging is an understatement, as I am mad that I waited so long.

In all honesty, I started to feel like everything I wanted to write about was about my child. So i waited until I could think of something else to try to exaggerate and and draw out....but only this came to mind ...

  There is a part of me that does not want to be classified (by my friends without children)...as the 'mom who wouldn't shut up about her kid'. Yet, most of the current hilarity in my life comes from mine and Andy's own expense of procreating.

Granted, we do live very far away from friends and family, and I'm sure those who are interested probably appreciate hearing the ins and outs of our hard headed Hurricane Clara. Not to be confused with Hurricane Clara who never hit land fall in 1977 (see photo).

This Clara has hit landfall and has a special talent for casing catastrophic destruction, most of it on my nerves. But, in the eye of the storm she is peaceful and sweet, often giving me kisses and squeezing me until she finally exhales as loud as she can before whirling off to rip all the magnets off the refrigerator and throw them in the garbage. To Andy, She is an excellent DE-clutter-er, as she has taking a liking to throwing everything away..into both the trash and the recycling. I'm sorry for the recycling center, I think they have received empty bottles, rinsed out cans, a few socks, some dog food, my brand new mascara, and a few 'stinky stinky' diapers. Selfishly, I am not sorry I stopped fishing the miscellaneous items out of the blue bin, as it would literally take up half of my day.

Although it is hurricane season 24/7 at 8318 A Shiloh St, it does not take into account our HOT 103 F sunshine we had today. It makes it hard to be motivated to go outside and do anything! We have been having a LOT of water dates...in our little princess pool or at the pool here on post. Clara SUCH a little fish. Miss Chloe Allen called it on day 1...'that girl is going to be a swimmer'. she might be right. What she did NOT call on day 1, was after 20 minutes at the pool, Clara would whine to have her puddle jumper removed, and then take it upon herself to try to throw herself into the deep end.

Most recently she got in trouble for trying to jump in the deep end, had her puddle jumper put back on, and THREW herself forward onto the ground screaming. Good thing she had a floatation devince on her chest, otherwise it might have knocked the wind out of her! (Clara is 30 pounds and almost 3 feet tall!!) When she realized I was not impressed, she simply opened that big wide Lean mouth and proceeded to LICK the ground. We have not been back to the pool since.

But while we get to bask (or chase toddlers) at the pool, Andy gets to work out in the heat, dressed in a full military uniform. That poor guy gets home from work (I know, that's almost a joke in its self) and heads straight to take a shower. Complain as we might, I know both of us are VERY thankful it is a dry heat.Even if it is 110 F by 9 am.

So you can probably guess we are not the biggest fans of the Mojave desert.

 But we are fans of each other, and glad that even if he works non stop around the clock with only 6 days off a month, I am happy that he is in my desert backyard, and not the desert over seas. A lot of spouses here tell me they think it is easier when their husband deploys, as you know he will be gone and you do not have to worry up the disruption of a routine and schedule until he comes home. I can fully understand that, but never experiencing Andy being gone on deployment myself, I try very hard to be optimistic and thankful that we do see him as little, or as often as we do.

So much happens every day that I curse under my breath that I have not documented it, via blog. Clara likes to read books, I am starting to love the heat, Clara got stuck in the top of a McDonalds playland, I stopped drinking soda, Andy and I are reading "The Inheritance Cycle" by Christopher Paolini, not caring that they were probably meant for kids almost half our age, Clara talks to animals in a high pitch voice, as if thinking that higher decibel makes them love her more...

But above all..

She is growing and growing and growing. Her Michelin-man arms are still there...but her legs are growing long and lean. Oh, hello blog title. She is a constant reminder of the patience and I am working so hard to hold in my heart, and when I surrender, and let go of frustration, the greatest reward is her toothy little grin and her excitement at the possibility that I might understand what she is trying to say.