First, the odds and ends.

• Happy Birthday to my mom! And for the birthdays that slipped through my fingers…to my dad on the 6th of this month and my baby sister Alyssa on the 25th of April.  Happy [belated] Birthday to you two as well.
• Another product of our recent indoor time has been a marked increase in baking around here. Which has both an upside and a downside. I’m sure you can imagine.
• Last night was BEAUTIFUL and today became gorgeous around lunchtime.

Today. We were all sleeping in Ali’s room (as has become the norm? more on that to come) when we were awoken by a huge thud or whatever from next door. Ali slept on and I drifted for awhile too. I thought it was late as we’ve been getting up about 8:30-9:00. I opened my eyes eventually and Tony was awake too and we talked for a bit and then he got up. He handed me my phone and I checked my email and then the time. 8:00 exactly. The time in which noisemaking is allowed to START.

I tried to get up to pee but Ali woke up. Baby is finally fever free today! Now if only her crusty nose would dissipate as well.

An hour or so later I called the city hall and said I didn’t know who to talk to but I wanted to make a complaint about the early noise. She took it and said they’d send the POLICE down to talk to them. Later, when we were coming back from getting our mail (about 10:30am) when turned the corner just as the police chief was finishing up talking to Rodney. Can we say awkward?!?

Okay, now back to last night. Last night I met….the OWNER of the atrocity next door. His name is Mike. We were out grilling (well, Tony was and Ali and I were playing with toys in her [empty] kiddie pool in the driveway) and he walked over and introduced himself. Which was very nice and it was a polite conversation but…and I have to say it, SO self-centered! Maybe it comes with the business? He mentioned owning a number of properties, ones he does own or did own or whatever. And I’m sure I sound very self-centered but that’s because this is MY blog. IRL (in real life) I was cordial, if not a little cold, asking questions and making observations etc. Things he included in the conversation:

1. What a nice building it is going to be.
2. What a nice view of the ocean he thinks it will have.
3. How excited he is.
4. How QUIET it is here.
5. How many hoops the city put him through to build the thing.
6. That he showed my parents the plans for this place years ago.

Things that were NOT included:

1. ANY acknowledgment  of the effect his duplex may have of us (not even after I said it was noisy or that the builders were "definitely hard workers.")
2. ANY apology (I know, covered by #1 but still)
3. ANY gratitude(see above)
4. The fact that in the sixteen years he’s owned this precious land he oftentimes didn’t bother to care for it…also to the detriment of neighbors and the city as a whole.

Are we seeing a theme here? We did glean some info as to the structure itself: it’s stopping at two stories (the bottom one large enough for a garage that will house his boat and vaulted ceilings on the top), the roof will be flat and not have access; and about it’s usage: he will be keeping the unit closest to our house (though not full time I don’t think?) and renting the north one out to weekenders and such. I’m glad both won’t be rented.

Also today we decided to go have a picnic lunch at a park in Garibaldi.

And Ali tonight after scarfing a strawberry popsicle…

This sickness that is. Ali got warm last night. I didn’t take her temp but gave her meds when she woke up about midnight. Yesterday, as a whole, was quite odd. She/we slept in until 8:30-9am, then she took a long nap (hour to and hour and a half) until noon. Then another nap just after four-thirty…until almost six! I expected her to be up until nine at least but she fell asleep on me at eight. Definitely a sign of something not quite right. This morning she was warm again and temp was 103.2 under the arm. So, 104.2!

When Tony had this he was on-and-off sick for what seemed like EVER. Probably two to three weeks. I sure hope this is the final round. Also, the worst part about so many sick days (coupled with the less-than-stellar weather) is SO much indoor time. I think the last week or so has been spent mainly in the house, venturing out only a handful of times. Stir-crazy is one thing, but the construction is making us (or at least Tony and I) very aware of some violent tendencies. There is a constant urge to punch or throw something and anger/rage boiling very close to the surface. We need a vay-cay from our own home!

I have not been blogging. As you may have noticed. For a variety of reasons.

• I am currently spending way to much time READING a blog. I’m consumed.
• Ali is sick again. On the mend I think but that runny nose was struggling her real bad for awhile. She even had her first throw up a couple nights ago. Though it could have been a glorified spit up? I think it was because I had her sleeping kind of upright to drain some of the nasties and she coughed and coughed and then barfed warm stuff all over me. Whatever…I was glad to was at least out of her little airway!
• I also think she’s teething again. Or still maybe. She been biting me a lot. And the coffee table.
• I cannot handle the still wintery weather now that it is almost JUNE. It is NOT FAIR that we have had, like, no spring. NW winters are dark, dreary, and tolling enough. Lasting almost two months- or more!- longer than they should is driving me batty.
• I get headaches everyday. I blame the CONSTANT INCESSANT MIND NUMBING banging and sawing and whatever the f&^$ else next door.
• Also I have been kind of sick since mother’s day. But off and on. And kind of, which is the worst b/c it’s always there but never a high enough priority to receive enough attention to be remedied. And I keep forgetting to buy 7-up for my upset stomach.
• I got my hair trimmed on Monday. It needed it so, so, bad and I think I finally found someone I would gladly return to. That hasn’t happened in years and years and it always makes needing a haircut stressful and a big event if you don’t know where to go.
• Ali is getting too big. I’ve basically began referring to her as a one-year-old in my head so I can get used to the idea that she’s not a baby anymore.
• We’ve been working on standing but now she refuses and makes her legs go limp. So stubborn! But I’m okay with that, Her timing is alright, plus I’m just NOT READY for a walker.
• Some pics that never got posted:

• Ok, I’m off to make the most of the grey and dreary day. Or at least the naptime that Ali has blessed me with!

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.

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.

This last pic is a few days old. But notice the property line marked of by string a few feet from the foundation. And then how far their junk is strewn onto our side. Classy.

Also, we went to that MOPS auction tonight. It was okay. Ali was a doll and Tony won a cool "Girls Summer Fun Set" for four bucks. Afterward we were playing in the nursery with a few other kids and some, like four or five year old girl came up and kicked Ali ON PURPOSE right under her chin. Poor girl didn’t know what to do. And then she howled. And howled.

Hopefully something that won’t stick in her memory. Or ours.

Being her precocious little self. About a week ago?

Tonight we are going to a MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers) auction in Tillamook tonight. But we need to be at the Obama office at 2:30. I will be glad to escape the incessant noise from next door. yesterday they were there AND LOUD from 8am until nearly 7pm. They dug a, like, ten foot deep hole in the road in front of the house. A few of the walls are up. I’m glad they’re busy but it just kind of makes me feel crazy. Also, twice today I pulled the curtains back to find Shady staring at me. The first time I waved… to be friendly and because it was our bedroom window that looks right out where he is working and whatnot. The second I was checking the weather out our front windows and he was standing in the street talking on the phone. The lack of privacy is so off-putting.

At least I’m pretty sure it was. There was an extraordinarily young girl in a Fred Meyer uniform at the store today. And the contractor working next door had one of his little girls with him. So, Tony "took" Ali to work for a bit as well. Adorable, I know. Now, somethings that have been running through my mind.

• Ali’s hair is getting SO long. And it’s such chameleon hair too. Dark still on the ends from birth, with red and gold highlights. I’m so interested to see how it "turns out."

• The above pics were taken two days ago…on Earth Day. Ali wore her Oregon Zoo t-shirt from Hannah in honor of the event.
• I think Ali is teething again. A marked increase in drool, and general tendency to gnaw things I thought I’d taught her not to forever ago (like the coffee table) have led me to this conclusion.
• Last night was LAME.
• If I wonder why it’s sometimes hard to find the drive and energy to really work out then I probably should take the fact that it’s now been nearly ten months since I got a full night’s sleep into further consideration. Longer if you count pregnancy peeing. Also, I don’t think she’s slept more than four or five consecutive hours since about eight weeks old. That’s a long time.
• I hate being stuck indoors.
• For days on end.
• With a cranky baby.
• Who is struggling to nap because of construction noise.
• Yesterday is rained and rained and rained. Through the night and hard all morning. When I looked outside after 7am there was a large puddle. About four hours later we had a backyard lake! Crazy-scary but the rain soon slowed and the water went down quickly.

• Today we returned home from the store to find cement being poured next door. There were two trucks blocking our entrance but Shady was kind enough to have the guys move. I gave him a wave and he gave me a nod. Much appreciated. Still. Loud and obnoxious! I did feel so bad for the poor guy who worked alone almost all day yesterday. In the torrents of rain and 60mph wind gusts. I hope he is appreciated.

April 10th, early on

And later.

Today on the west side.

And the east.

• I’m glad people (Karlin!) like the one year ago today feature. It makes me wish I’d blogged more and drives me to strive for daily entries in the present.
• Ali is getting so big! She’s mastering skills on a near daily basis and constantly amazing both of us with her growth in all areas. Lately, she’s become Little Ms. Organizer. More onthat to come in the near future. Well, hopefully…
• Monday I have a dental consult in Portland. Well, Milwaukie. Here we call anything over the coastal range "Portland." Excited to go "home" even if it’s just for a short period.
• Trista is spending next week here! But not with us
• She’s a counselor for ODS (outdoor school) next week and Twin Rocks Friends Camp literally RIGHT down the street from us. We’re trying to hook up some sort of run-in but it’s tough because they’re not allowed to bring cell phones.
• I hate gas prices. Hate hate hate. Makes me feel even more stuck. Especially in the relentless cold and rain.
• I am  OH SO READY FOR SPRING.

Yesterday was the first time Ali was really affected by the going ons next door. She usually is awake in three hour increments. Awoke from morning nap at eleven (only down thirty minutes), so should have been sleepy again around two, maybe two-thirty. Went down close to three-thirty. The hammering (they’re working on the foundation…or something I’m no expert) was so loud we could hear it through the monitor. And she woke up after like half and hour. PISSED. It was a long night.

There have actually been a few long nights lately. Somehow I’ve spent the last three of them in Ali’s room. I keep meaning to get on top of the whole sleep in you own bed for most of the night thing. Followed by sleeping THROUGH the night. But she wakes and I take her out to nurse and then we’re both asleep.  And she keeps waking before seven. This morning though she randomly feel asleep before I thought she was even tired, like 8:45am. On me. So I just left her like that. It was pouring outside, like really hard, cold, nasty rain. So I just lay on the couch and watched Monday’s episode of Gossip Girl. And that was very nice. It’s like there’s a time and a place for sleeping on top of someone. And 3am ain’t it!

With so much going on (or maybe so little?) it’s easy to forget the nitty gritty of blogging about daily life. Or at least posting picture of "everyday." So…..let’s see. Weather has been crazy! Lots of hailstorms and even rain mixed with snow. Even some "sticking" or whatever you call it when you wake in the morning to a layer of frozen hail covering everything.

After a random "sunny" hailstorm yesterday.

Ali is doing well. She’s begun waving….kind of. But it’s something we’ve been working on and waiting for for awhile. She also finally started clapping today! Or something clapping-ish. It’s so funny how kids hit some milestones way ahead, others right on time, and yet there has to be at least a couple they lag on. Still sleeping really well in her crib. Until sometimes between eleven and one that is. Which is probably more my fault then anything because it’s easier to just take her if I’m going to bed or already asleep. Also she still wakes near hourly most night after she goes down. Will she ever sleep through the night?

Also, the last two mornings she’s woken up at six! YUCK and I hope that doesn’t continue. We’ve had a slight cold blow through around here. Why is there something so cute about a little kid with a runny nose? Maybe that only when it’s your own kid? And when it’s just a touch of clearish sheen, not any nasty green gunk. Yech, I’ll gag just thinking about it. Another recent development is some hardcore cruising. It’s kind of scary how quickly (so it seems!) Ali went from wobbly standing to confident climbing. Yes, climbing. She is trying to tackle our stairs but usually only gets just past halfway up (about stair seven) before going back down. Which, is fine with me. I’m glad she know how to get down because I don’t think that is always the case at first. Seriously though, we really need to invest in some baby gates.

Crouching to pick a fallen pacy is no big thing now.

Beyond that I can’t think of much. Tony is really busy. It was nice to have a weekend home. Alone. I really, really, really, want real spring to be here. I know I need to update on next door (Tony has been working on hooking up a web cam actually, if you are wondering what the new box on the right is). Hopefully will get to that soon. I am waiting on getting pictures situated. Basically, at the moment, the whole thing is a huge dirt lot. A portapotty was delivered Friday though, so I’m anticipating a lot of work this upcoming week. Thus far they’ve just been coming for a few hours in the morning and then peacing out. If anyone is there at all…

Ah yes, I did just remember something else. Ali’s new sense of exploration. Which is especially keen in the kitchen and has prompted a couple baby locks, some reorganizing and a whole cupboard and lower drawer designated for her stuff. One is full of all the jars from baby food that we’re keeping, and her cups and stuff and it is emptied out more times a day then I can count. Probably as many as it all gets put back in!