As you must have noticed we are BUSY! For the holidays we spent time in both Gladstone and Seattle. We travelled through all sort of weather. We had a great time with family and friends but missed home. It takes a lot of adjusting after being gone for nearly two weeks.

School is back up again for me and will be much more work intensive than in the fall. We are also full-speed ahead with wedding plans! Booked a venue yesterday and my mom and I have been brainstorming bridesmaid dresses (yes, she is making them!!!). On the 18th of January we will be back in PDX going to bridal show. Now to begin the hunt for a dress…

Really the wedding stuff is much more exciting than I thought it would be. The main issue is time. Especially because I think we may be doing a lot ourselves to save money. So, swamped. We are also pretty much sure we will be moving to Portland in the spring. Moving. Soon. This term. Among crazy wedding plans and juggling a courseload and this other thing I’m not supposed to blog about.

Overwhelming.

Which is why I can’t go there. Only focusing on the here and now and the POSITIVE. Thus, I must go do some reading or math or something.

Gah.

If you recall from this post, we went to Ceramicafe for my surprise birthday party. The above mug is what Tony (and Ali) made for me. We didn’t get to pick up our stuff until Thanksgiving. Well, Alyssa picked it up for us, but it was at my parents’ and we hadn’t seen it. I made a frame but it’s nothing next to this beautiful mug that turned out so great. Here are my favorite thigns about it:

• It says "MOMMY."
• The handprint you can kind of see is Ali’s.
• Green is pretty much my favorite color and there are, not one, but three shades.
• It’s oversized! More coffee!!
• The inside is the EXACT color of my perfect cup of coffee. So I can use it as a guide for when to stop putting in the rather large amount of half and half that I enjoy.
• It was made, especially for me, with love from my two loves.

I think I’m developing ADD. Mostly because there just seem to be SO MUCH going on. Though a lot of it is in the distant to not-so-distant future a lot of thinking, deciding, and planning needs to occur in the present. There’s much to be done and now I feel the need to blog about it (versus DO it?). The next year[s] will be crazy for us.

• I’m currently going to school. As any regular should know. So I have 12 credits worth of work going on right now.
• I’m graduating from PCC in the spring and have had to line my ducks all up for that recently.
• Next fall I hope to attend Portland State University. Which involves SO many things. At the moment: applying (done), filling out endless scholarship apps (getting there), applying to the BSW program I hope to get into, making sure I take classes that will transfer over well and satisfy as many lower level requirements as possible. A lot of administrative stuff.
• And, further in the future: filling out a FAFSA pretty much on New Year’s Day, MOVING hopefully between winter and spring terms so I can take some on-campus classes my last term at PCC.
• Moving and all that that entails.
• We are getting married in July! And that is quickly approaching. Currently working on "save the date" cards, looking at venues next week when we’re in portland for Thanksgiving, trying to come up with some sort of guest list. Gah.
• The holidays are oh-so-quickly approaching. We blessed to be able to do some of our shopping early this year. Or at least consider it! Last year times were very tough for us.
• I recently started working out again. Which is great, makes me feel good about myself, gives me energy, etc. But that is yet another thing to add to the list of time-taker-uppers. And to feel guilty about when it doesn’t get done.
• Due to a cold/daylight’s savings time Ali shaved nearly and hour and a half off of her normal sleep time. Which means significantly less time available to do: schoolwork, kind of cleaning, exercise, BLOGGING, relaxing, and SLEEP. I think the lack of adequate sleep time (which, for me is 7.5 to 8 hours for sure I don’t do well with less and especially not for a few nights in a row) has been probably the biggest component to my feeling overly stressed and worn out/down.
• Just everyday things like dishes and cleaning have been seeming never-ending and insurmountable.
• Maybe this isn’t so much? I don’t know, but it’s frazzling me. Too many variables and outcomes dependent upon other outcomes. I hope to have some answers in the next couple of months so we will have a clearer direction.

Stress aside, this is a very VERY exciting time. The next year is going to be challenging and I don’t see it get easier after that. I’ll be in school (the Bachelors of Social Work provides the opportunity to get a Master’s in one year versus two) for quite awhile and somewhere in the mix is a sibling for Ali. Which, btw, I cannot believe it’s already something we have to think about! It’s a bit much.

So that’s it. Rather new-sy eh?

Ali being a "Monster" in one of Tony’s old sweatshirts.

And eating her first sucker today, after having to get a shot.

We’ve had a busy few days. My car has been in the shop for a week. Sunday I tried again (one year later) to learn to drive Tony’s stick. I’m just not good at it. Or sticking with it Monday morning I had to take my math midterm at TBCC (proctored, the class in through PCC and online). So Tony [and Ali] had to drive me in and drop me off while they ran errands. It was quicky, less than an hour, and went went grocery shopping at Fred Meyer afterward. Then I had my Speech class in the evening. Which I hadn’t been to in two weeks. So I had a midterm and my first speech. And no ride home. It was a little stressful.

But, all went well. I aced the midterm (despite only getting the study guide a few hours previous from a classmate when the teacher didn’t answer my emails for two weeks!) and apparently did well on my speech since Ms. Arvyn asked if I’ve taken the class before (no!). To be fair, the course is appallingly easy. And, I got a ride home from another student. All was well.

This morning, MOPS! Again, Tony drove Ali and I in. He worked and went to the YMCA. Ali had a rough time when she was taken from me (new procedure apparently) but I guess made a new friend with one of the helper ladies and wouldn’t leave her side. Last time (two weeks ago) she got so upset that she fell asleep on one of the volunteers. And it was nowhere near naptime!!! Lol, her reaction to the situation continues to crack me up but I’m so glad it’s a situation she is being put in.

After MOPS we came home and it was naptime. Then, across the street for shots. Which ended up being SHOT (singular) as there’s a national shortage on one she kind of needs (hib, I think) and we were talked out of a flu shot. Which was fine with me, it wasn’t our idea, we were told she needed it. Ali screamed bloody murder the moment the nurse called her name and didn’t stop until we left the exam room. Though she was fine for the thirty-plus minutes we spent in the waiting room. She’s really getting big that she has such strong associations.

Tomorrow we are back to Tillamook with Ali’s first dental apppintment. Besides it being recommended that all babies get a 12 month check (yeah, she’s late), she has a brown spot on one of her teeth that I’m worried is a cavity but Tony did some research and said it just a discolored area. So, we’ll see.

Also tomorrow, I get my car back! This evening we FINALLY got word of what was wrong with it….and also that it was ready! Just a missing fuse so we only have to pay for that and 1/2 hour of labor. But that only answers why is was stuck in park. Not necessarily why it died in the first place or why the engine light has been coming on for about a year. So I’m still nervous with it.

Yep, things are good. We are happy, happy, happy to be home and be able to stay for a bit for once. Last weekend was our first home in a MONTH and I figured out a coupledays ago that two to two and a half weeks is the longest we’ve been home, continuously, since…MAY?!?! Seriously, it’s been pretty crazy for a very long time.

Also looking forward to Halloween on Friday anda bonus community carnival/party on Saturday!

After the pumpkin patch we stopped to have lunch at Sonic(!), which was a surprise because I’ve only ever seen/had Sonic in Cali. There Tony surprised me with tickets to Weezer for that night! Apparently he’d bought them back in August. BEFORE Ali started sleeping through the night. Talk about optimistic.

The concert was fun, us getting out was even more fun. I guess Ali woke once when we were gone (we put her down and then drove to the Memorial Coliseum) and my mom went in to give her back her paci. And she didn’t freak out!

Sleep was in short supply for a few days though. Parlty because Thursday, my bday, Ali woke up at 4:45am and then I couldn’t go back to sleep and she woke up whne I tried to leave her in our bed and so her and I were up about 5am! Then she/we woke Tony up not long after six. so, after getting to my parents’ and before the concert we each napped separately (Ali has done all her napping for the day in the car). Then we got back from the concert about midnight.

Ali woke up just after 6am.

I was sleepy.

Friday we ran a lot of errands in the morning. Got out the door around 8:30am. Went to Walmart and then was at Toys’R'Us before they opened at ten. It was fun and exhausting to go in there with Ali .Then we went to Costco and after that we were all hungry and so tired. In the afternoon we went down to the high school to see the homecoming parade. We were about an hour early so we got to snatch Alyssa from school and walk down to the elementary school to play and then watch the parade. Something about having only one kid with you and being at the start  of the route, we had whole handfuls of candy flung our way. Nearly filled up Ali’s new Dora backpack. Of course most of it she can’t eat so guess who’s stuck with it!

After that we went to AT&T with Alyssa (who, seriously, made the whole experience bearable with her presence) and got new phones! Our contract was up with Verizon, as we’d signed a two-year one on my twenty-second birthday. It was a slow process but we finally got home just before Trista did! Jordan was there too so, once again, all four kids together!

Saturday I finally got to do all I’d really wanted for my bday, which was to go shopping. Alone. Well, I went with Trista and Alyssa which was the second best thing. I don’t have to carry/entertain them. We went to town at Old Navy and Nordstrom Rack and then wandered through the mall but didn’t find much.

Then Trista didn’t turn onto the freeway. Btw, my license expired on my bday (in Oregon they last 8 years. 16+8=24). And I knew something was up. But I had NO IDEA what. We went to this strip mall on Sunnyside and there was a place called Ceramicafe. And inside was….a party! Cass and Pete, Jordan and Backy, Tony and Ali, Trista and Alyssa, Cynthia and Shayla. And a CHEESECAKE :)

It was so nice and so fun. I had told Tony a day or so before that I was excited about getting together with my mom’s side of the family (our next stop) because I hadn’t had any sort of bday gathering in a long time- maybe since I turned 18. It was great.

After that we quickly went home to change and then went to West Linn to my aunt and uncle’s house for part II. Also a lot of fun. Ali has such a great time in those kind of settings, and that night was no different. Even though she was exhausted she got a second wind and just ate up all the attention. Though we meant to leave early (don’t we always?) and meant to be packed up neither happened. So we didn’t get out until past eight and didn’t leave my parents’ until 9pm and didn’t get home until 11pm. Ali went seamlessly from car to crib.

Sunday we never left the house.

Today we both got hair cuts. Well, I got my bangs trimmed. And my license renewed. We went grocery shopping. Then I prepared for the speech I was supposed to present tonight. But my car died when I was pulling out. In the middle of the street. Stuck in park. It took Tony about an hour and a half to be able to move it back into the driveway. And I didn’t make it to class. Because we’re going to be in Seattle until Tuesday next week I’m going to miss then too. Kind of a struggle. Anyway, that’s why I’m home and have found time for a rather extensive update.

That would be the day I was born. Meaning tomorrow is my birthday. And I will be twenty-four. No longer in the "early twenties." As I’ve been saying, I will officially be a "twenty-something."

Also tomorrow we are leaving. AGAIN! In the morning we are going to the Roloff Farm (seen often on the TV show Little People, Big World) and they’re pumpkin patch. SO EXCITED! I have seen every episode of this show and love their family. Even if I don’t get to see any of the Roloffs, seeing the farm should be just as good.

Then we are heading on to my parents’ where we will be until Saturday night. Now, I’ve only known of this plan for about a day, so it must have been a bit of a surprise. Which I think was spoiled by us having to go to Seattle last weekend and, YES, next weekend. We are heading up north again next Friday, until Tuesday of so.

And after that? After that we’re STAYING HOME until Thanksgiving. Maybe longer. We’re really going to need massive amounts of down time.

Can that be right? This month definitely flew by. Though I have a feeling October will fly even faster!

So, I started school last week and that is keeping me very busy. For the first time if my life and I not procrastinating and am actually about a week ahead anywhere I can be. Know that we’re going to be out-of-town to weekends in October has really lit a fire under me. But I am enjoying it so much! I haven’t taken math since high school and, while sometimes tedious and difficult to see as applicable to "real" life, I love being able to just solve a problem and be done with it. It’s so different that the social science classes I tend to find myself in.

I’m also taking a Computer Scince course which, thus far, is very, very, interesting and enlightening. It’s just stuff I take so for granted and I think Tony is getting a kick out of the class too. He never took one but have extensive knowledge from the field so…yeah. I don’t know, he’ll have to add how he feels about it.

The other class I’m taking is Speech 111 and that’s the one at TBCC. It’s….interesting. I don’t really have a problem with doing speeches so I’m lucky to have a large weight of my shoulders to that regard. Ultimately it’s a pretty good load that seems like it will work pretty well. After this term I’ll have all the credits and requirements I need to get an Associates of General Studies. But, I still will need 18 more credits to establish "residency" at PCC. Thus, graduating in the Spring.

Anyway, unless I decide to boycott dishes and laundry it will probably be the blog that suffers the most. SoI apologize ahead of time to all you loyal readers. I’ll try to get a post up now andthen but know you’re much more likely to see just photos or a video. But please stick around and keep coming back!

Edit: Also, I think I fixed the must-see pictures here!

Hannah posted these hilarious pictures in her blog recently. The first is me. The second in a good portion on the Lewis family, my parents, brother and I are in the middle.

School, for me, starts Monday. I’m taking 12 credits, two classes online and one in Tillamook on Monday nights. I’m sure this will be quite a shock to the system. Mine and ours. Unfortunately I don’t even have a financial aid award yet and am stuck in the system for 3-4 more weeks. Which will make purchasing books a bit of a challenge (I need three that are $94, $88, and $75) but hopefully not cause any kinks otherwise. Hopefully.

So, with that on the horizon I have been trying to fit in what I’m sure will have to give as the time crunches. TV. Excessive internet. Lounging. Getting 8+ hours of sleep. Etc. It just sucks that all the fall shows are going to come back just as our life speeds up.

We are going to my parents’ tomorrow. We’re driving first down to Newberg to pick Trista up and take her home for the first time since she left for college about a month ago. We’re going to leave at naptime (noon) and come home Sunday morning probably. That’s a really short stay for us, but I’m so hesitant to mess up Ali’s routine when it’s working so well. Also, I want to be home and settled Sunday for the craziness that will be the beginning of the week. Also also, the Emmys are on Sunday night and I cannot handle watching anything of importance without the DVR.

Lastly, it’s Fall now. With only Alyssa home (and between a very difficult school schedule and soccer five nights a week she’s got no free time) and both my parents working there’s not much reason to hang around into the work week anymore. Kind of sad.

Monday night will be the first time I’m not home for Ali’s bedtime EVER! It’s definitely bittersweet. As much as it’s a step toward freedom it’s also the end of an era.

I’m so excited to see Ali see Adriah. She’s seen a few newborns in the last couple of months and has had varying reactions, but the last two times she was very intrigued. Even more so, I cannot wait to see Shayla as a big sister and hear about her meeting Adriah. I’m just so ecstatic for the Edge family! Well, if Cynthia would ever change her name

Somehow Ali’s wake-up time has crept forward in the past two weeks from seven-fifteenish to anywhere from six-thirty to six forty-five. In turn, I am exhausted by 8pm, in bed by then or maybe 9pm (to eat ice cream and watch TV of course!) and asleep by ten-thirty, eleven at the very latest.  It’s a far cry from when I found mayself staying up until midnight waiting for her to wake, or sleeping fifteen minutes and then being up until past 1am.

So, there is a lot going on. Really it’s a lot to be excited about but in the days or hours before I always find myself apprehensive.

It seems the older Ali gets the more proud I, also, get. As her actions have become more deliberate, so has pride become more appropriate. I said recently that I was the most proud I’ve ever been when Ali slept in her crib all night. Which, btw, she is still doing! Well, today may have topped even that.

This morning was our first MOPS meeting. Which means is was Ali’s first experience with MOPPETS. Basically childcare, provided while the moms meet. Ali has been away from us very few times, once of twice with my mom and sisters (not successful if I remember right), and the same with Tony’s mom but these were all months and months ago. Also she’s been in the church nursery a handful of times but only for twenty-thirty minutes.

I went to drop her off a few minutes before 9am. She was in with the babies up to 18months. There were, like, four workers. Two of whom were reaching their arms out to take her from me. She shakes her head "No" and clings. Then I kneel down and point out an Elmo train. She is off and I leave.

I don’t come back until past 11am.

Then very, very, very, strongly discourage any checking on the kids.

They let them cry from 10-15 minutes before coming to get you. Which, yes, is great and exactly the right thing to do- for most every kid and Ali maybe even especially. This entire process is so very monumental and necessary. Still.

I WAS DYING TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

When I picked her up there was chaos outside and kids trying to escape tothier parents and caretakers standing around, some bouncing baby babies. And then there was Ali standing in the middle of it all in wonderment. And she was so happy to see me.

She was abolutely covered in graham cracker so I’m pretty sure that’s what they had for a snack. And I asked one of the ladies how she did and she said really well. I said she’s never been away anything like that and she seemed surprised and said that then she did very well. A couple tears but each times was easily distracted. Maybe they just said that to make me feel good? I don’t know but I was so proud of Ali.

Even more, she then dealt with a trip to the grocery store until noon (normally snack and pre-nap time) and though she fell asleep at 12pm almost on the dot, she woke when I got home and then went back to sleep in her crib for another hour.

I just wish I could she everything she did. Who she played with, how she interacted and reacted. Tony and I are already planning how we can nanny-cam my diaper bag some week. It’s like all of a sudden she has a social life we don’t know about!