• Bedtime is going great. It’s the middle of the night that’s a struggle. I can only do about one wake up where I put her back down because it takes me forever to fall asleep again. The second time I’m right back in bed with her. Only thing is, we put the trundle Ali and I usually sleep on away and bought the rocking chair up (now it feels like an actual nursery!) so it basically seems like I’m bedless.
• Last night Ali went down at 8:30, woke up at 9:30, 11:00, 1:00 (and cried with Tony for about 25 minutes before I went up. At this point he had yet to go to sleep and I had just fallen asleep about 12:45), and then whenever I went up there and stayed. Probably two-something. She woke up this morning before 8am. UGH. Luckily her and I napped this afternoon. Well, evening. Until nearly six!
• I feel like a new parent again except one-year-olds (thirteen months tomorrow!) need much less day-sleep than newborns. Should have tackled this endeavor then…
• Ali has now discovered the toilet. And the joy found in dropping this in it.
• Yesterday we met Oregon Senate candidate Jeff Merkley in Tillamook. He was a very nice guy.

• Monday and Tuesday next week I am subbing at Off Our Rocker across the street.
• Tomorrow we are hoping to have a picnic somewhere for lunch. Hopefully sans wind.
• I know I have more stuff to update from our trip up north last week. But here are pictures.
• We are getting very, very close to having a toddler. There have been a number of shuffle lunges and even a few step, step, lunge. Any day now.
• Tony and I are about to do an exercise video. Good, because I love exercise and am looking forward to getting back to it. Bad, because I don’t think either of us has done much (besides some walking here and there) since we broguht Jordan back his week. Over two weeks ago.

Today was the much anticipated parade. We left here at ten (Tony had a usabilty for 8-9am this morning and I had to shower so that was as quicky as we got ready). We got there about a half hour early and it was packed! At least downtown where we wanted to be. We were lucky to find a small spot between two groups and I was glad Tony talked me into bringing only a nlabket (versus chairs and a stroller). The parade was an hour and a half! It started at 11am and didn’t get done until 12:30. We were in the sun the whole time and it was bordering on hot (big change for around here).  Even though we all put on sunscreen I was worried. Luckily no one is obviously burned.

After the parade we spent a half hour or so at the grand opening of the Democratic office (once known as the Obama office) even though niether of us are Dems anymore. Then we had to stop at Freddies for some last minute trip items (more SPF, shampoo, deoderant, snacks, etc.). Ali fell asleep in the three or so minutes it took to drive there. And stayed asleep while Tony took her out of the car,carried her throughout the whole store, AND put her back in. That is one thing this child has NEVER done. She was that exhausted. Besides the sun and excitement I blame it on all the parade food (there were Tillamook Cheese Factory samples, candy, otter pops, and even beef sticks!). After that (by now 2pm easily) we went through the Subway drive-thru for lunch. Then she woke up and struggled the 25-30 minutes home. Amazing how much longer the trip is when everyone and their mother is in town.

We hoped to get some time at the beach today but missed low tide by almost an hour. We got down around 4pm and spent an hour mostly lounging. Everyone is tired. Ali would have fallen asleep in her high chair a few minutes ago if I hadn’t actively kept her awake. Now to run around doing this, that, and the other.

Look, honest-to-God pigtails!!!

She loooooooves to suck on ice.

Keeping hydrated.

I don’t know even where to begin anymore, so I’m trying to look back through pictures to guide my way. These first ones are from the day we left Portland, last Friday. It was pretty warm, whenthe sun was out but there were spotty clouds so…well, isn’t that the NW? Anyway, we almost always leave in the morning but this time were waiting around in the hopes that Trista would be able to join us. Trista has never driven down here before so my mom has always said that she has to drive first with someone to get the experience. Unfortunately matching schedules has never actually happened.

On this particaular occasion, Trista had graduated the night before. Followed by an all-night grad party (hosted by the school) until 5am. Then Trista had to work at 8am! She was supposed to work until 4pm but actually got off at three. And thought she could just follow us, no problem. Oh Trista, we love you, but you’re such an invincible teenager. We ended up hanging around (and letting Ali "swim" outside in an old baby tub) until my mom got home from her last final (she had one ever day that week I think). Then we all went out to Teryaki. "We" being Tony, Ali, and I; my mom and dad; and Trista. Alyssa had flown off to Nashville early, early, that morning to visit a friend and Jordan was….at the church? I don’t know, Jordan mvoed out so he is now hard to keep track of.

Then Trista drove and I rode with her and Ali rode with Tony. True to her word Trista had no problems, but I think my engaging conversation may have had something to do with that.

Saturday morning we had a big picnic to support Obama in Tillamook. We were there from 1-4 (though Tony went earlier to set up) and it was gorgeous. No rain, sunny, and so, so, sooooooo windy. So that was lame but I guess to be expected at the coast. *sigh* A quick sidenote: I am quickly learning that the typical summer weather I so covet and long for is generally not to be expected on the coast. I’m not sure I’ll be able to learn to live with that fact. We shall see. Right now I’m just holding out for a week in Iowa for a dose (however small) of summer.

Afterward Trista and I went grocery/Father’s Day shopping at Fred Meyer. There was an amzing sale on Young Men’s clothes so that’s what Tony got. And Weezer’s Red Album. Is that awful that I bought him clothes? I mean, it’s so wifey… And yet, it’s what I felt like he needed and wouldn’t by for himself. And it’s what I would want?

Father’s Day was good. Trista went home in the afternoon. Made it herself without a hitch (her words). Here’s a picture of Ali and Tony and a pair of his new shorts:

Ummmm, the rest of the week in kind of blurring together. Weare borrowing Jordan’s Wii and Wii Fit and have been both playing that every night. It’s a lot of fun and a really good work out. I mostly like the yoga and strength training. I’m trying to eat really good foods for the next two weeks (well, this week and the next - until Iowa) and do the Wii Fit and see what happens. So each night after Ali goes to bed we do that. Which means are DVR is filling up, but that’s okay. We also have kind of an ant problem in the kitchen so I’ve been making a point to clean it each night (as opposed to in the morning) which usually leads to further straightening and maybe even some laundry. That’s made waking up in the morning a lot more pleasant!

The weather has been pretty good, but cloudy in the mornings. So the burn off always feels like a gift and we don’t hesitate to get out while we can. Here are some pics from the past few days:

We keep trying to sneak out to see a sunset by there are always clouds.

Set up the baby pool yesterday, though it wasn’t real warm she didn’t much care. Climbing in and out was the funnest part!

We are all still recovering around here. It’s been a busy, crazy, and stressful few weeks. We lost our county by 31 votes. Which is basically 16 undecideds.  While heartbreaking, it is really a victory considering  we are in one of the poorest, whitest counties in the state. Typical Clinton demographics.

Anyway, anyway. We are glad to be taking a little break from all that. So ready for the GD house next door to just be built already. some days I near tears because it’s seems a little too much to take. Bleh.

We’ve been working on summer plans. Trying to figure out schedules to include people here, there and everywhere. It’s going to be a crazy couple months. I think a purchase of airline tickets made be made soon. Even tonight…

Not looking forward to flying with such an active D.

Today, May 20th, is Oregon’s primary. The first that will matter in a long time. Definitely the first in our lifetimes (our being mine and Tony’s…and Ali’s). At least for the democrats. So, if you’re a registered democrat and haven’t yet turned in your ballot….VOTE! Turn it in to a drop box tonight by 8pm. I don’t even care who you vote for as long as you do.

And if you’re not an Oregonian, watch our great state get some limelight tonight on CNN. We are almost surely going to be swinging for Obama on a statewide level. Did you hear about the 75,000 person gathering held on the waterfront Sunday?!?! Our county, Tillamook County, is likely to go for Clinton though. But we shall see.

And you should too.

I am currently in a BLT and sugar induced energy crisis. So, just some pictures with a little explanation. Hope everyone ,in the NW at least, has enjoyed the beautiful, beautiful weather. If not a bit too warm. So weird how this year it all about the extremes. We have been getting out as much as possible (which means less posting!) and Tony and I have the sunburns to prove it.

Thursday night my mom spent the night here on her way to Seaside for a conference and she passed through again yesterday. Yesterday Billie also came down for the weekend so Ali has been very much enjoying catching up with her grandmas.

Oregon’s primary is Tuesday so Tony has been very busy canvassing and working hard to support Obama. Don’t forget to turn in your ballots Oregonians!

This weekend was the Kite Festival in Rockaway. So besides being busy b/c the weather was so nice…well, it was busier. And that’s what all the kites were about. The adorable outfit Ali was wearing yesterday was made by Karen Carroll and Ali got SO many compliments on her adorablness.

As always… more and more. 

 I only have a quick chance at this. Our internet went mysteriously down Saturday and was supposed to be back in 24-48 business hours. Whatever that means…

Yesterday morning I got to sleep in! But, Ali was feverish all night and only got worse throughout the day. We did a little canvassing in the afternoon (that actually turning into quite a walk- like an hour and a half or more) and I don’t think the sun helped. Even though she was doing better then. By nine her temp was 104.7 under her arm and we called the nurses’ line. Found out we’d only been giving her 1/3 the dose of baby tylenol she should get. After that she improved dramatically. Sure wish the doctor had told us when to increase her dosage and by how much. The scariest part was her crazy pant-breathing and these weird full body tremors she kept having that we had to question if they were or were not seizures. 

I sure hope I don’t get sick!

Today we were supposed to be interviewed by a guy from the Oregonian but he cancelled. Bill Clinton is in town, speaking in the Tillamook Cheese Factory parking lot(?) at 12:30 so we’re going to catch that if Ali is still doing alright. Let’s hope our internet is back up soon, as a) that’s how we make our living b) that’s how we keep you all informed and c) oftentimes, it’s the way I stay sane.

Happy Belated Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there!

Alas, this is two days belated. Which is something I actually stress greatly about and Tony has to tell me this is the last thing I should be worrying about. Which is true. But still….

At the moment they are pouring my concrete next door. Ali is sleeping (how do they always time it like that?). I was downstairs with the water on full blast AND music [here Ali awoke and now three to four hours have passed] and could here the beeping of backing up trucks above it all through the baby monitor.

So, where was I? Ali was ten months old on Saturday. That same day there was a grand opening party for the Tillamook County Obama office in the afternoon. In the morning Tony was off working so Ali and I were hanging out and we ended up having a "fun bath" and blowing some of the bubbles we’d won at the auction the night before. She was so cute, trying her hardest to eat one and not understanding the concept of popping.

There was an older girl at the party, Fiona, who seriously wanted to eat Ali up. But it was SO Cute. Ali was all kissing her and stuff and pointing and clapping. Good for her to have a positive interaction. She would do so well with an older sibling-type person. We need more Shayla time!!!

Sundau was very nice, but very, VERY windy. Today is too. Sunday though Ali and I went down to the beach for awhile. She wore her snowsuit to stay warm and we hid from the wind in a little nook. She so loves playing in the sand and is getting very creative in her quest to eat as much of it as possible. For example, sprawling face down, spread eagle, mouth open. It’d be funny if I wasn’t her mom trying so hard to teach her NOT to eat sand.

This morning I had to be at the dentist at 8am. Which is about a twenty-five minute drive. Randomly Ali had slept until 9am the two days beforehand (yay!) so I think she’d have slept longer had she not woken when I tried to get up. After getting my root canaled tooth permanently filled and a small cavity on it taken care of I was off to grocery shop…BY MYSELF. How crazy. I think it was two and a half hours of alone, out of the house time. And I was home before 10am. Very nice.

Amazing.  What a beauuuuuutiful day. And we definitely made the most of it. This morning we went on a long walk/hike up to the height of Rockaway. Then we got the mail. On the way we found a planner which we tried to leave at the police station but it wasn’t open. Ah, small towns. We were able to turn it in at the post office because there was a receipt for a PO Box purchase in it. All in all we were out from 9am - 10:45. I was wearing a tank top (well, actually two) and was fine. Warm, even! There was a southern breeze that you could almost describe as warm. It was great.

Then we went to the Obama office we are helping open in Tillamook to clean up for a few hours. It was sunny and warm and there were SO many people. the season has definitely begun. Dot fell asleep on the way home. Nap #2 for her, as she slept most of the way through our walk. So Tony and I sat outside while she slept in the car and ate a snacky late lunch. We put swimsuits on and waited for her wake up so we could go to the beach.

At the beach it was so pleasant. Not even so windy that it feels cold like is so typical. We went in the water a bit. Ali is such a little water baby. Be it bath, pool, ocean, she loves it all. It’s insane. the ocean, of course wasn’t even warm but she wanted so bad to get down and crawl in it. She’d lean over and try to get down and back in it when she was taken away, even though she was shivering.

I saw on the news tonight it reached eighty in Tillamook. That combined with all the time we spent outside and it should be no surprise that Tony and I are a little red. At least we’re good parents and sunscreened Ali all up. Btw, she was exhausted and went to bed before 6:30!

Tomorrow we’re spending the night at WorldMark in Seaside, regretfully  without Billie. Enjoy your weekend!