Going, Going, Gone.

Last Thursday we took Frankie to her first of many tax sales. She laughed, she cried, she ate, she passed out and she was our little good luck charm. We were cautiously eying three properties: one we were certain would go for more than our little bank book would allow (which it did) and two that we thought would likely do the same.

When the first property we liked came up Frankie and I were at the back of the room doing the baby pace but listening carefully to the auctioneer. He called out the taxes owing and R bid. He called for advances on this bid and nothing. Second call - nothing. Third call - still nothing. Sold! We had just bought a little home outside the city for $3100.

Maybe it was all the anticipation or feeling like we just won the property lottery but I wanted to run up and give R the hugest victory kiss. Or at least the hugest victory high five (in which we both jump in the air and high five at the same time). Looking around the room though Frankie and I decided that this might be best reserved for the parking lot afterwards.

It's not a mansion and its not ready to move in. At the same time its not lop-sided or falling off a cliff. Some where right in the middle (but more on the side of move in and mansion than lop-sided and cliff if I had to pick one). There will be work to do. Maybe lots of work. But with a starting price of $3100 and no mortgage we've got a little wiggle room.

Because it was a tax sale the original owners still have another six months in which they can pay the taxes owed and redeem the property. Given that it's been three years since they've paid any taxes and that we've dug up a bit of the back story we're pretty sure that this is unlikely to happen. Nonetheless we don't get to start poking around until then (the end of January or so). In the meantime we'll probably drive by it three times a week, debate if we should rent it or sell it and watch the home depot fliers almost as regularly as our dads to see if the laminate flooring or gyprock go on sale :)

Fraught with Anticipation for the Tax Sale

Sleepless in Sydney

Frances has never slept very much during the day. She sleeps like an old man at night - anywhere from eight to fourteen hours - but the days it seems are for watching and learning and watching some more. I read that babies at her age should be sleeping six hours during the day. We're lucky if she sleeps one fifth of that.

Lately, this lack of daytime sleep has been catching up to her and causing bouts of the baby crankies. When this happens nothing seems to make her happy - not eating or being held or toys or smiles. When this happens it means we just have to stop and rock. And we rock and she falls asleep and I sit and rock some more.

And there's no television or radio or internet. And for some reason I don't plan dinner or make lists or solve all the world's problems. I just sit and be. Somehow even though I have less time than ever I finally have the time to appreciate the stillness.

Sure I could put her down and get to getting things done. At this stage, with her feelings on daytime sleep, putting her down pretty much guarantees a wide awake baby in five minutes or less. Maybe this will change as she gets a bit bigger. Maybe it won't. For now I think I'll embrace her sleep particularities as the perfect excuse to take ten minutes and just do nothing at all.

Swing Low

Falling For Fall

Today for the first time in a long time there was a crispness in the air. Frances and I went out for a late evening walk and it was beautiful and rejuvenating with each rustle of the leaves ushering in thoughts of fall: knit sweaters, scarves, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie and county fairs. If there was a season pageant I know fall would give the best speech. Until then we've embraced this short heat reprieve as an opportunity to don our long sleeve sweaters and our long sleeve jams:

Lessons Learned

After our first eight weeks together I now know:

1. I don't mind touching another human's poop

2. Feeling rested is relative

3. I am pro-pacifier

4. Baby fingernails grow fast

5. Baby smiles melt my heart