Once Joaquin left for work, and baby Elise was fed and tucked in for a nap Miera tiptoed outside to finish her latest piece, a Realism painting nicknamed Cars, Fact Or Fiction?  When she called the appraiser to have it priced it turned out to be a Masterpiece worth over $3000 simoleons! 

That plus her previous savings of over $3000 surpasses the $5000 mark! 

– – –

CHALLENGE COMPLETE! 

[With eleven days until Elder status!  I gave her a personal deadline of the Elder birthday to accomplish all goals.] 

Grand Total: $14,228

Most Recent Bills: $320

Cash Left Over: $6,279 

– – –

That was fun– I might try it again at some point… with harsher rules and the Ingredients Required mod from the beginning, because I’m Evil.  ;D 

I may play her a bit more, to move Joaquin in and get Elise to the toddler stage.  [I may also use teen/YA Elise for a different challenge.] 

Her water finally broke while she was at the store; Joaquin couldn’t get there right away, so a friend offered to drive her home to pick up her overnight bag and then drop her off at the hospital. 

She had a little girl, named Elise in honor of their shared love of classic piano music. 

Joaquin missed the labor, but he stayed overnight in the hospital with them, and was there to take them home in the morning. 

With Maternity Leave came the much-desired chance to paint again.  She felt rusty and was glad to sharpen her skills once more. 

As the months moved on, Miera discovered that she and Joaquin were going to have a baby!  Thankfully, a lot of her job could be done from home, so a child would not hamper her ability to continue working. 

Joaquin came over every day, spending as many nights as he could with her as she grew plump and ungainly, and even tended her plants sometimes to give her a break. 

She often stayed at work late to help pass out flyers, draw up schedules, anything she could do she did.  Most of the time she got home with barely enough light to check on her garden before bed. 

While she had first used the easel out of necessity, she now missed having time to paint out her thoughts whenever she wanted.  The job was good to her though, and she had no intention of giving it up. 

Still, she hoped she could find the time to make something soon. 

The next morning Miera’s tummy rolled and gurgled.  Ugh.  Maybe she had too much tea?  How much was too much? 

She whipped up a few remedies for upset stomach, and felt better in time for work.