We’re headed down to Rockaway for the weekend. Taking my car, Tony’s mom, and a load of stuff. And hopefully a little timeto relax (for Tony especially)! He’s been working non-stop, school started for me this week, packing is weighing on both our shoulders, etc. I’m going to miss my ar when we leave it there…even though I only drive it a couple of times a week. We’re going to become a one car family which means a have to bite the bullet and learn how to drive a stick. Which I dislike both on principle and due to my tendency toward car sickness. Though, ifthat’s the case, I should prefer to drive versus ride in one anyway. Below; not the exact route we’re taking, but a general idea. Estimated time is 4 hours and 16 minutes to 5 hours. Not to sound awful, and I’m sure after one hour I’ll be bored, but that’s how much time I get to be alone! Anyway, we need to get out of here by eleven thirty and I still need to shower, pack for the weekend, pack what’s already packed into the car (okay, that’ll probably be more Tony), wake, feed, and dress the girl. You get the idea. So, if we’re MIA you know where we’ll be.

hint: turn your sound on.

Ali is such a daddy’s girl. In the last few weeks she has somehow become referred to as "Daughter," which has now been shortened to "Dot." Mostly by Tony, who’s known to nickname everything. Ali alone has more than I can remember, including: Tiny, Tiny Buns, Tiny Pants, Al, Sweet Girl, Alizabetta, etc. Here are a few moments between them the other day.

Yesterday Ali had an impromptu photo shoot with a flower. This morning I had some fun with Photoshop. Check out the obscene amount of shots in the newest album.

I’m never surprised at how little information from school I’ve retained over the years (most of it seemed pointless to learn at the time), but it seems I’ve lost knowledge of greater importance as well. Case in point is the above line from my retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk to Ali. I made it through Act I easy enough (Jack with the cow and the beans and his father, etc), but once Jack climbed the stalk, things got a little hazy. It happens all the time when I’m telling her stories or singing lullabies. I’ll get the beginning spot on, she’s lovin’ it, I’m in the zone, then its gone. So I end up taking the story half where I think it goes and half where I think it should go. Sometimes (as in the case of that "Hush Little Baby" song) we end up with radically different results each time. But as my Aunt Susie (an elementary school teacher / child development expert) attests: "As long as it rhymes, it doesn’t really matter what it is."

As for how we got to the pirate giant, I’ll just leave that to your imagination.

It should also be noted that Ali hung in there last week for the Hawks‘ disturbing loss to rival Iowa State. She stayed in my arms during the whole second half, keeping the faith alive. She also took her first loss in stride, shedding only a few tears before a big late lunch and a nap. It’s a ritual all of us football fans can appreciate.

Today we went to PRC and picked up some goodies. TONS of cute clothes for Ali (clothes are one baby buck each, when had over one hundred and spent eighty-five), mostly for when she’s bigger. I also got an electric breast pump, so expect a report soon on how that works out. Afterwards we when to my ob-gyn and I got an IUD put in. Technically a "goody," but doesn’t exactly feel like such. Feels like period cramps really. So, nothing too horrible but definitely unpleasant. It’s gray and raining here. I’m now in sweats and a hoodie so I’m ready to spend the rest of the day relaxing in our newly warmed house (we turned the heater on this week and, though it’s a low setting, it’s AWESOME).

This is Ali last night at Royal Palm taking a bottle from Billie. Ali’s type of goodies!

If you haven’t noticed the site got a little face lift this week. Check out the Pictures link on the right side of the page for albums…a new approach (via Facebook) that impact the number of pictures I post. Or, may not. The newest development was inspired by this blog, friend of a friend of a friend, that I happened upongst. Btw, if the pics have been slow to upload lately (like, the last three plus weeks) it’s because I’ve been using the high res ones and it seems to struggle everything. Sorry and we’re working on it!

Other news. BIG news. We officially have until October 17th to be out of our house. We’ll be headed down to Rockaway, Oregon where we’ll be living in my parents’ beach house for awhile. You know, saving money, paying off debt….lovely things like that. Though the move is going to be challenging and the small town a very drastic change of pace, we are super excited for so many reasons.

Ali is such a morning girl. Lately her and I have been getting up between six thirty and seven thirty. She eats and then I pump. I make breakfast and then eat it while she watches and talks and smiles. Then we go back to the front room and she’s either still happy, hungry again, tired but acting hungry because she wants to nurse to sleep, or just plain cranky. This is one of my favorite parts of the day….and should be because it has lately been putting me asleep before ten!

Ali took her first bottle Friday night from Tony. She ate (drank?) four or so ounces! I guess I don’t really know what she gets from me, but that seemed like a ton. She’s also turned into quite the little runner. Okay, not really. But she looks so cute in the "exercise outfit" Tony put her in while I walked with her in the Snugli.