Ali has a fever. I think she had one most of yesterday…she felt kinda warm…but, except for a having unusually long naps (yes!) she acted fine. Then she woke up after 6pm hot. Taking her temp under her arm it read 101.4 so we gave her tylenol and it brought it down. She still seemed okay but her temp maintained just under 100. Though, I must say, I don’t really trust themometers. Anyway…

Woke with a fever. Called the doc but they aren’t in the cilinc across the street today. Decided against going to t-mook as long as she acts fine and the meds help. Today she’s more struggly, super clingy and really wanting to nurse. So, we’ll see. It’s so sad to watch your kid be sick! 

Though a little cloudy today and yesterday, the weather here has been gorgeous. Tuesday I spotted flowers blooming out front and plucked one up to put behind Ali’s ear. The niceness has allowed use of Ali’s new stroller which she seems to really enjoy. Also….BIG NEWS! The least two nights Tiny has fallen asleep in her crib! Stop and take a sec to listen to celestial cheering.

The frist night, Tuesday, I spent two hours in there with her. At first, about quarter after eight, we started on the trundle but she’s been increasingly just clinging to me, which defeats the purpose. She she was sobbing anyway and I decided to just stick her in her crib. Which, she totally surprised me by being okay with. She played for a loooooong time, so joyed atbeing able to pull herself up and then trying over and over again to figure out the get down part. I sat on the stool next to her bed until I was too tired and then I sat on the floor. Even after she was too tired to keep her eyes open she kept climbing up, until she fell asleep standing. Whenever I’d lay her down she’s scream (I think more b/c she though I was picking her up) but finally she had no fight left and fell asleep. It was 10:20pm.

She woke less than an hour later and wouldn’t got back to sleep so her and I slept on her trundle (for the second night in a row). Last night she feel asleep faster, woke up again about an hour later, but this time I was able to get her back to sleep w/o picking her up. That was probably nine-thirty? She slept until 12:45am! It was amazing. Tony and I went to bed at ten we were both so tired. Ahhhhh. I can only hope this trend continues. When she woke up I just picked her up and took her down with us though. I’d promised Tony we wouldn’t abandon him again and had no clarity of mind to deal with it.

Other progress. On the potty! Again, a poop this morning. And she loves it! She’s happy to get on, begins to push right away, doesn’t want off until she’s done and then makes it very clear once she is. This can only be good. Also today we’re beginning the implmentation of baby sign language, beginning with signs for "milk," "more," "toilet," and "eat." Will update on how that goes.

Also yesterday. Tony and I gave blood. His first time ever, my first since high school. Let’s just say he struggled a bit, but we are so proud of Father Bear! He even managed to talk about a future business deal before the color returned to his face. Ali, also, was amazingly good. She sat on my lap the whole time, didn’t even grab at my arm or anything. The blood drive was at the Lions Club right across the streetso there were a lot of older people there that really enjoyed Ali’s presence. a few even came up and thanked me for bringing her. As if we had a choice!

Our poor blog is being neglected! And it’s not for lack of things to write about either. Chalk it up to us being busy, out of town for about 72 hours, and my trying oh-so-had to implement a new sleeping routine with Ali. Okay, backing up…

Friday morning we drove to my parents’ house. We hadn’t been there since Christmas and needed to make a trip. We also were in dire need of a Costco stock up. And a Target visit. My grandma was moving out of the apartment she’d lived in for nearly twelve years and, temporarily, in with my parents and we wanted to help. After helping clean the house a little we ventured out to visit my Nana and Grandpa. Nana had a new stent put in a heart valve last week and is still recuperating (very well I might add) but was as happy to see us and we were to see her. Ali was on pretty good behavior and even let Nana hold her for awhile. Which she wouldn’t let my dad do! She cried the first time she saw him. Ah, the joys of spending 24/7 with your parents.  Then we went to Costco and blew a lot of our recent earnings. Is it possible to get out of there and NOT do so?

Trista was gracious enoguh to volunteer to baby-sit for us Friday night. Although I’m pretty sure my mom helped a lot and Alyssa too. Tony and I have had a gift certificate from my Uncle Bill for Olive Garden since before Ali was born and we finally got the chance to use it! The food was good, the break was great, but going out as parents is definitely a whole different thing than going out as a couple. We are so indebted to everyone who was home because Ali cried, probably mostly scream-cried, the whole hour and a half. She dropped off to sleep just as we hurriedly headed home. And then woke up an hour or so later…

By then it was past her bedtime and she was up for awhile so her new "schedule" was kind of busted. Which I knew it would be, leaving home a few days after first implementing it. But, as Tony said, there’s always a reason not to start. Eventually you just have to do it. Though the girl got to stay up pretty late for a few nights, I was impressed with how quickly she fell asleep…and I think almost always without nursing! There were even a few good by herself naps. Next time though, I’ll definitely take the baby monitor. Spending the whole nap running back to peek in the door because I’m paranoid about her crawling off the bed (she’s done it before!) makes the whole thing pretty pointless. At least for me.

Saturday we convinced Alyssa to come to Babies’R'Us with us. One the way there we drove by this firefighter training burn. I have such a fire phobia but, still, this was cool! Anyway, we’ve been needing to get an umbrella stroller ever since lugging the high chair around became mandatory. With a little car, those two items take up too much room. But then we got swayed by the nice strollers. After a day of thinking on it (realizing it made no sense to buy a cheapy one now and a better one later) and a coupon hook-up from BRU employee Ms. Jennifer Dower, we returned the next day and purchased Ali’s new wheels! Mother and Father are stoked and Ali is currently asleep in it.

After perusing what I mentioned felt like a baby factory, we stopped to visit Cynthia at work across the street. We so do love to surprise but not be surprised. Cynthia has a bump!!!!! It’s so cute and I am so excited to find out if it’s a boy bump or a girl bump. In the evening we went over to my aunt and uncles to have a lasagna dinner after everyone got my Grandma moved. Once again, Ali was showing off all her new tricks. Aunt Yvonne brought out some new toys which were a bit hit.

Sunday we went to chruch with my family. During the service I took Ali down to the nursery. We’re trying very hard to expose her to new people as much as possible and yet…as controlled as possible. I’m sure it’s very probably much of the problem is us I stayed down with her, she had no intention of letting me leave. There was only one other baby, two weeks older than Ali, and neither of them had been around babies much before. They were soooo cute playing together. Sarah, the other little girl, had two clips in her hair. But Ali crawled all around her until she pulled both of them out. Which basically proved my theory that the only reason she leaves clips in her own hair is because she doesn’t know they’re there.

In the afternoon Trista snuck us into her palce of employment, the North Clackamas Aquatic Park, so we could take Ali swimming again. And, again, Ali loved every minute of it. Even though it was so crowded and so noisy she just had a blast. Afterwards she was so tired but so calm. I’m not sure it even hit her until Monday when she had some mega naps.

We were going to come home Sunday but after swimming we also were exhausted and decided to just leave early Monday morning. Btw, early for us = like ten or ten-thirty. We got home about twelve-thirty, got everything unpacked (our car was absolutely STUFFED) and…back to the daily grind. Amazingly, Ali has THREE poops in the potty yesterday. She’s been on a two days w/o poops, one day with a lot schedule. But, she’s also kind of struggling. I still think with those top teeth. She’s had a mild fever since Sunday and last night had that cry, the one where you can tell that something hurts. Her and I ended up sleeping up in her room last night and she seems to be feeling better today.

Alright, now the child has woke and her andI need to hit the road to Tillamook to get groceries. The hope was to have them before lunch but she feel asleep on the walk to the post office. So, lunch may have to be a bit late. Hope everyone had a good weekend and has a great week! 

Warning: Non food friendly image below.

This morning Ali pooped in the toilet. She’s been peeing for months now, though we’ve slacked a lot of putting her on it. Then, as if to somehow prove it wasn’t a fluke, she did it again in the afternoon. both times almost immediately after having been put on. This whole thing is really more Tony’s deal than my own, but he is too busy to post. He is SO PROUD of his tiny pooper.

Yesterday I finally was able to pick up the crackers Kari recommended. Baby Mum-mums and Ali absolutely loves them, just as we knew she would. The way this kid has been interested in food, especially crunchy things like popcorn and even carrots, there was no question she had been just waiting to sink all four of her teeth into something. I tried a bit and they are really good too. Definitely a step up from rice cereal. Though the girl has been trying a lot of stuff lately. Tiny peices of pickle, grape, apple, pancake, pineapple. Mostly she just likes to pick them up and drop them down her front.

Today was another beautiful day at the coast so we decided to let Ali get out and get real dirty. She getting so mobile, which is such a trip but also so scary and stressful. It seems like every time I leave her for a second there’s a bump and a scream…today there has been more than I can count. Once she awoke from a nap on the trundle in her room and crawled right off the bed. *sigh* I’m not sure how to avoid that since she won’t sleep in her crib and now SCREAMS everytime she’s even close to being put in it (she used to like to play in there) since we spent a couple nights trying to get her to fall asleep in there. Last night though I did get her to fall asleep kind of "on her own." I laid in the bed in her room with her but didn’t interact with her or anything, no nursing or singing and I would close my eyes whenever she looked at me, until eventually she fell asleep. It took over an hour but other than that the hardest part was not laughing when she was being so cute and razzing on my arm or "singing" or whatever she was doing. Of course she woke up less than an hour later and I just took her down to our bed, but it was something. Anyway, she’s smacked her head so many times today I’m watching her pupils because I’m worried about a concussion of something. At least she had a very good time scrambling around in the sand.

Wow. It’s been a few days. Unusual for this blog. But, we have been busy, busy and the result is hopefully worth your wait. Friday a good protion of my day was spent cleaning the house. Tony’s mom, Billie was coming down from Seattle on Saturday and I wanted the house to be clean for her as well as for us afterward! I also baked a big batch of zucchini bread.

Saturday morning I finished cleaning the house. Tony ended up driving forty-five minutes each way to Seaside to cash a check at an open bank (the joys of living in a small town). Between one and two he returned and Billie arrived. Ali was very suspicious of her Grandmere, as she’s not used to anybody but Tony and I anymore. She showed off some new tricks: sitting and crawling, both old hat; and pulling herself up to a standing position and cruising, new in the last few days. These recent developmnets are terrifying. Nothing is safe and so many scary tumbles! Everytime I hear a cry I imagine blood pouring down her face and really can no longer leave her alone. 

Since it was such a gorgeous day we walked on the beach, stopped at Thundercade (the new arcade in town), visited the playground, and stopped in to see a fewl ocal store owners.

Tony and Billie playing basketball.

Ali’s first time down a slide.

So clingy these days.

Warming up to Grandmere.

Trekking through our town.

 Let’s see, that night Tony made chicken wings and we watched some TV we’d been saving for Billie. Sunday morning we got up and packed and headed south to Lincoln City to shop at the Tanger Outlets. It had been a long time since we had gone, or could go, shopping. The number one thing I needed was a new bra. Where am I going to buy a nursing bra out here? And it’s not exactly something you order online. Since the last time I’d gotten one was when Ali was less than a month old I knew mine was too big, but I didn’t know how much too big (four inches around) or what a HUGE difference and correctly fitting bra can make. Sorry if that’s TMI for some people. Anyway, we stopped at an amazing thai restaurant beforehitting the shops. Then we trounced through Old Navy, Gap, KB Toys, Children’s Place, Carter’s, Maidenform, Jones New York….it was invigorating! I was very happy to get a pair of pants that fit and Ali got a swimsuit that she would use shortly, as well as sunglasses, new shoes, and an Elmo doll (toy?). She was SO CUTE when she saw it, it was as if Elmo had stepped out of the TV and right in front of her. It’s a Stretch Elmo, or something, so when you pull on his arms or legs he talks and that’s for sure her favorite part.

Enjoying keys while we wait for thai.

After shopping we drove the twenty or so more minutes south to Depoe Bay where we were staying in a WorldMark timeshare of Billie’s for the night. We were originally suppose to stay in Seaside but at the last minute (like, less than a week) they called and changed us. Billie was told it was an hour and a half south of Seaside, but in actuality it was a good two hours and fifteen minutes at least. Lame, but the Depoe Bay resort was beautiful. It was huge, with multiple swimming facilities. It was on a cliff overlooking the water. Our only complaint was that we couldn’t stay longer. We swam Sunday night, then came back and Tony got Papa Murphy’s, which we ate and watched A Mighty Heart, with Angelina Jolie. Monday morning we went swimming again, since Ali absolutely LOVED it. We were all on the road by ten-thirty or so. Billie, four the five and a half hour drive back to Seattle, and us for the hour and a half home to meet Jordan, Becky, and Trista, who were on their way over the mountain to the beach.

First time seeing her swimsuit.

Out the window of our suite, so sunny over the water.

In her cover-up, with her Elmo.

Cool cat. Daddy has to hold her hands down or else she’ll take them off.

Stepping in.

Getting comfortable (which means splashing!).

She was so unbelieveably happy.

The second swim.

Giggling with Grandmere.

Monday we got back into town just after the other three. They had Papa Murphy’s (which we had also had for breakfast) and a bunch of other junk food (two huge bags of M&Ms, chips, cheetos, soda, potato salad, etc.). We went to the arcade with them too and then came back and watched Project Runway reruns with Trista. Jordan and Becky went to dinner at the Beach Bite and then they all left about 8pm. Needless to say Ali was absolutely worn out and slept past eight-thirty this morning.

Today: grocery shopping to do, dishes, laundry, catching up on others’ blogs and emails, etc. But it was so, so worth it. I hope you think so too. Of course, more here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Now, that being said. I’ve never been a huge fan of this holiday. Single or taken, it’s always felt kind of lame. Well, from middle school on anyway. I liked it as kids. My parents always got us little v-day bags and stuff. But then all the couple-y stuff starts and it’s just kid of nauseating. So, this goes out to all the childrens still in school, forced to be there on a fabricated holiday such as today. Our thoughts are with you.

Now, that being said. I am very happy to have two special valentines today. We are celebrating by doeing exactly what we do everyday…which is perfectly special to us. And wear some red and pink. Um, and chocolate. But other than that…Happy love day to you and yours. May your love extend beyond a greeting card sanctioned date and into the rest of the year.

It’s sunny today!!! Ali is still being very weird, clingy and cranky and stuff. I’m not sure if she doesn’t feel good, if she’s having some separation anxiety…whatever. I’m lost and trying to be patient. Which is not my strong point. Maybe she’s just got a bit of cabin fever because she sure was happy to go out on the beach for awhile today. It was pretty windy but she tends to like that, sticking her tongue out and such. She’s such a little ham right now

More…

Last night was rough. Ali was really struggling…we think it’s with teeth. I mean, it’s obviously with teeth when she won’t let anything get into her mouth and it takes, like, ten minutes to even calm her down to get her to open up for medicine. But we think it’s the top two. Which, I imagine, would hurt like a bitch coming in. So, she had a rough night and then we all did. A lot of nipple biting which makes me scream (and, on some occasions, cry – once, sob), falling asleep only to waking up screeching minutes later, crying her way through a bath, etc. etc. 

In the end only Elmo would calm her down. It’s like this crazy, scary (and all to often very delightful, for me) trance she goes into. Finally a bottle of water and Elmo lulled her to sleep just after eleven thirty. But she woke up hourly after that. Which, to be honest, is not such a stretch from normal.

She wakes up a LOT at night. If she sleeps from, say, nine to eight, she’ll wake up four to six times. but since it’s neverbeen, like, full on awake wake ups (she just kinda tosses and turns until I switch her sides and then she either goes back to sleep or nurses) it’s hard to feel like it’s worth really tackling.

But the last few weeks have just seemed brutal. My body aches for some extended period of uninterrupted sleep and I don’t know how to get it. It’s so hard to be patient or motivated or energetic. I get overly emotional and/or pessimistic and the weather doesn’t help any. Last night topped it at hourly intervals from the time she went to bed until just after eight. Ugh.

And yet, it’s hard to complain too much. Tony was up until four in the morning working! So, at the moment, nobody has it easy around here. But Miss Alizabeth does seem to be feeling much better today.

Yeah, she is. You know, tummy off the ground, and the like. She’s also "standing" when she has something to hold onto. Scary! I can’t think of anything good to write about. Same old, same old around here. Tony’s getting work done, Ali’s getting taken care of. Days are passing, which makes me feel as if a post is in order, even if there’s little to say. At least there are always pictures.