Rockaway has a strange relationship with cloud banks. It seems they love us, and like to hang out all day. Then dissapate 6-8pm. Just in time for sunset/bedtime. Or, at the very least, the point of no return when the day has already been written off. The most frustrating thing is a mere mile or two away is sunny, warm, and gorgeous.

Tomorrow we better get some of this sun!

So today we spent some time cleaning/organizing the house. Something I’ve kind of tackled with my newfound time and freedom (new schedule = LOVE IT!). Like, unpacking boxes from our move nearly a year ago. Or clearing the table we haven’t seen the top of in months at least. Tony has been working on reorganizing our "office." And I’ve been finally filling some of the empty photo frames I’ve been meaning to do forever. We’re finding a need to change things up as Ali is growing more and more. Provide different spaces for her with the option for less supervision.

And that’s about all I’ve got right now. I spent a few days very, very engorged. To the point that I was getting clogged ducts but I think my supply may have adjusted to our three briefs feedings a day and I am very grateful.

Ali dressed for the Hawkeye game…and then wanted the bandana on when she was helping fold laundry. It’s better than the underwear she usually like to wear around her neck as if a necklace.

I put a bunch of pictures into an album for her, since she was so enamored with one that Billie had, and she is now obsessed with it.

Going for a drive in Fred Meyer.

We had to go to Garibaldi to get some sun.

Walking even in the sand!

Terrifed of the "men" behind her- she probably thinks they’ll try to hold her!

Hmmm, that’s a good question. We’ve been home for a week and two days now. We’re leaving again, probably Friday. Really it’s all starting to blur…

• The weather has been basically extraordinary. Probably a reason for my lack of blogging. There have been a couple grey and rainy days mixed in, which is okay because it allows appreciation for the days that aren’t.
• Ah yes, I remember. Early last week we were all sick. Well, had a cold.Ali seriously JUST got rid of her runny nose. It was her first really bad one and, geez! I can’t wait until she’s old enough to just blow the thing already.
• We’ve been going to the beach a lot. Once a day whenever it’s nice. Usually wading in the ocean and once even swimming. And boogie boarding. Which was so, so, so fun! I hadn’t really swam in the ocean in like eight or so years and it used to be all I wanted to do when we stayed out here. I love it.
• But, I tweaked my knee boogie boarding. I tore my ACL when I was 14 playing basketball and had reconstructive surgery placing a chunk of my hamstring in place of the shredded knee ligament. It’s really never been the same and gave me a lot of problems when I played sports in high school. It hasn’t bothered me since, but I’ve never been extremely active. So, that was Saturday and it seems to be getting more swollen by the day (weird). I can walk and function and everything, just have a limited range of motion and limp a little. Definitely something I’m a bit worried about.
• Trista is leaving for college tomorrow! She is just going about thirty minutes south to Newberg, OR to attend George Fox University. Last Saturday she came out to have a last hurrah with us until Monday morning. I know it’s the end of an era, and we will miss being able to see her so much.
• Friday night we attended a MOPS carnival in Tillamook. I registered for the upcoming year and am looking forward to meeting other moms and for Ali to be able to socialize with other kids. Also, while the moms meet childcare is provided so I hope it will be a good place to work on non-parental caretakers. Maybe the outcome of this will be….oh, I don’t know, a night or even a meal where it’s just the two of us?!?!
• Okay, I’m drawing a blank, so onto some pictures:

On one of the colder days…she looks so BIG!

I love crying pictures.

So sweet with baby buns.

On Saturday we found this extension to her Elmo house for $3. Complete with ballpit! Shall be great to whip out on the weeks when the rain doesn’t stop.

So cute in the sand.

Fun new game with daddy.

Pure, pure, pure joy!

Ali loves Trista.

• If you are so inclined, there are more pictures here and here.
• I can’t believe the kids are already heading back to school! The end of summer is so sad. Which is why I’m glad our summer will last as long as the weather does. And the light. Boo to it getting dark at 8pm.
• Oh yeah, Ali has been sleeping WONDERFULLY lately. Like, the last four or so days. She’s been crying when we put her in her crib (usually asleep from nursing but then she wakes) but falling asleep ON HER OWN. And, surprise surprise, she sleeps nearly twice as long this way. The night before last she slept from 8pm to 12:30am. Perhaps her longest ever. I am still sleeping in the bed in her room for part of the night though. We’ll get there I guess. Also, the last few days have been one-nap days. And it’s been a LONG nap (like 1-1.5 hrs) which she has never been into. For months she’s been doing two thirtyish minute naps. This is so, so much better. Especially when I can just set her down and if she cries, she cries. Today she went down just before noon (cried on and off for 30 minutes at least) and then slept until like 1:45pm. I had time to actually DO something. Ah, it’s amazing. I so hope this lasts, this is a routine I can deal with.

Hmmm. Status update much? If you don’t understand that then you really should enter the social networking arenta where the rest of the world (or at least my generation) plays 24/7.

We are all sick here. With some nasty cold that is hardest on Ali since she can’t take any meds for her stuffy nose and therefore can barely sleep. It’s exhausting.

We came home from my parents’ Monday night and I don’t think it’s stopped raining since. Which is okay. Because I’d rather be under the weather and housebound when it’s nasty out. And it’s cold too. Cold, cold, wear sweatshirts and slippers and turn on the heater cold. Or maybe that’s just us being sick?

Anyway, I have a ton to blog about but it’s expansiveness is overwhelming me.

We’re going back to the valley in just over a week.

Today it was sunny and gorgeous. Warm and only a breeze. Perfect, perfect. Hopefully we get to spend a bit more time enjoying it tomorrow. Assuming, of course, it is nice again. Which is something you actually cannot assume here. Anyway, we can assume that we’re in for some HOT weather when we’re in the valley at the end of the week. YAY!

Ok, here’s some catch-up pics.

Last week it was actually warm enough to get in the water a bit.

Ali reading about the new season of Sesame Street on the pot.

She has now discovered simulated phone usage. Which involves the phoneheld in the vicinity of her ear, and screamed baby-babble. Here she was specifically "talking" to Shayla.

Riding her bike…today! (Which means we’re up to date)

And more phone chats.

Nighttime is just as painful. She continues to wake uo every hour to hour-and-a-half with usually one three hour stretch. Isn’t that worse thanmost newborns?!?! I might call the doctor soon just to….I don’t know. Just to do something??? But that’s a whole other issue considering we’ve seen a different doctor every time (three of them) we’ve gone since moving here and we hear [hope!] there’s a permenant one coming soon but it’s hard having no established relationship.

I am working on drastically cutting down my caffeine intake because that could definitely be having an effect. Went from having two cups in the morning to mid-morning and one about 3pm to having one and half before noon and today having one about 10am. So we’ll see. No real improvements yet, but UGH. What a hard time to cut down on the stimulants. I kind of feel like a walking zombie.

Tomorrow we’re going to the Tillamook County Fair which is exciting. Next weekend we’ll be in the Portland area for the Lewis family picnic and for a wedding. Next week we are spending a few days in Off Our Rocker again. And by we I now mean Tony, as we discovered it works best if he just goes over there with his laptop and does his own work. I am working on enrolling for some classes in the fall through PCC. it has been especially difficult since I’m going to begetting financial aid (which involves tons of hoop jumping) and I’m finally transferring credits from three different colleges. I have to go next week to take a math placement test at TBCC (Tillamook Bay Community College), which I’m trying to study a bit for but it’s kind of depressing to look at stuff you know you know (or knew) how to do and realize you no longer have more than a faint inkling.

So we’re busy. And tired. And we’re had nary a sunbreak here since last Sunday! Which is so frustrating for me.

…a week and a half now? And we’re leaving tomorrow. Was going to be today but some things came up and now it’s tomorrow. Going to Portland. Well, Gladstone. Premise is my getting a wisdom tooth pulled. For which I am so, so, so excited as it’s been bothering me for like a year or something. And it’s going to be covered by insurance which at the last minutes was in question as I got a noticei n the mail Saturday saying our dental had been downgraded to emergencies only. Couldn’t do anything about it until Monday. Appt. was Wednesday and had been on the books for FOUR MONTHS. That’s a long wait. It was a hassle but looks at the moment as if everything is going to work out.

So we leave earlyish tomorrow and are staying until Saturday or Sunday…or Monday, whatever. We’ll see. Don’t think we ever even got fully caught up. Whatever than even means.

Rocking out with her new toy.

Before her check-up last week.

Ali did great with the shots. Didn’t really seem to phase her a bit. She’s teething though, back ones I guess (since she has all the others) and that has been hard on her. Cranky and crying through the ngiht and knawing on practically her whole hand. Hopefully that ends with a quickness.

Last Friday night we went to a Relay For Life event at the local high school. On Saturday we went to a craft fair in Nehalem and then out to lunch for Tony’s and I "anniversary" which was the day before. Two years since our first date. Also my parents…twenty-seventh? wedding anniversary so happy anniversary to them! Weekends are so fun here in the summer, there’s so much to do. Or, maybe just SOMETHING to do, which feels like a lot after the winter.

Ali at the restaurant.

And before bed.

We’ve also been playing a lot of Wii. Well, almost exclusively Wii Fit. Because we promised to return in to Jordan when we go back to town. Sad. It will definitely be missed. But we are so, so, so grateful for the loan. I’ve seriously seen such a difference all over fromthe strength exercises and yoga I’ve been doing. I’m now down SEVENTY pounds from my pregnancy peak (which was 214-yikes!). Anyone looking to buy us a present in the upcoming months, hint hint.

Some time when we finished feeding the seagulls.

And the last few are from today. More here.

Been having a lot of falls lately.

And having moments of "acting" babyish.

Tickle monster!

Ali had her’s today. It was scheduled for 2:45pm and we got there pretty early: about 2:30pm. Didn’t get called back until after 3:30pm and didn’t get out of there until like 4:30. Apparently they’re inthe process of changing from paper to electronic records. Ugh. Ali did amazingly well though, especially considering she woke from a nap between 12:30 and 1pm and was tired. In fact she still hasn’t slept (it’s almost 7:30!), though she was near sleep while eating dinner. This is probablythe longest she’s ever stayed up. 

Baby had to get four shots today. Two in one leg, one in the other, and the measles one (that is supposedly very painful) in an arm. She did well, especially whenshe got an Elmo sticker after the fact. I have to say her weight was less than carefully done; she was basically tossed on, clothes, diaper and all, and guesstimated at 19lbs. Which I’m sure isn’t so far from the truth but still. Very different experience than back when every ounce mattered. Her height was 28.5inches and her head circumference 18.5.

Which means she’s still tiny with a huge head. Ninetieth percentile for head circumference, 25th percentile for height, and 10th-25th for weight. Although I think the doc may have put her at 30th and 16th for the last two, respectively. 

It’s so nice out…warm even! Alas there is wind, wind, and more wind. The kind that whips the sand up so it hurts when it hits you. So we were all ready for the beach (there was an awesome really low tide at 2pm) and had to turn back. Even the pool in the front of the house it not enjoyable. *sigh* I’ve been looking forward to this heatwave all week.

At least yesterday was nice. And we had the sense to get out and enjoy it versus banking on more nice days to come.

We went to the beach around 11:30am.

This was after swmming in the pools that come out when the tide is low.

In the afternoon we got the pool out and played in the driveway.

And even caught a CLEAR sunset!

Tomorrow morning there is a parade in Tillamook that we are going to. And then an office opening afterward that…maybe? Haven’t confirmed that in a couple days. After that we hope to enjoy some nice weather and then….concetrate on finally getting ready for Iowa! That has been my plan for a week now until I realized there really isn’t much I can do. Except stay as on top of laundry, dishes, and cleaning as I can. Most things need to wait until the day of or before. In our case we are flying out of PDX at 12:30am Monday. We’re planning to leave four hours early (8:30pm Sunday) so that leaves an entire "day of" during which a lot can be done. I just want to leave a house I’m happy to come home to. Besides being packed, rested, and otherwise prepared that is my number one goal.

Where is this heat wave?!?! Grrr, it’s cloudy and cooooold right now.

After three one-a-nap-days Ali is now taking a very definite morning nap. Which means probably an afternoon one as well. I’m okay with that, trying to cut down to one has been difficult. Especially when it takes twenty minutes to get anywhere so she always falls asleep. Usually twice (there and back). And there goes nap time. I need a better break than that! And she needs more that 25 or so minutes of sleep a day. Yesterday that’s allshe had between 8am and 7pm. Though I must say it’s nice when she goes down so easy, so early.

Anyway.

Here’s the girl yesterday.

The sunset.

And my arm after having given blood.

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!