Much to write, but she could awaken at any moment, so just some pics:

From Monday, day two of steady rainfall.

And, yesterday, doing the candy cheer, in which she throws her arms up, touchdown-style, and yells "Na-Nee!" Was used in the same manner later in the night with "Ah-ma!"

Ok, well she’s been three for almost two weeks now. Happy Birthday Shayla! And labor day weekend we went to her b-day party at Pietros. And forgot the memory stick

But we attempted some photos on Tony’s phone. Which always takes me longer to upload b/c it’s kind of a pain and then last night Facebook wouldn’t upload them even though I tried over and over and over and over. And even YouTube was down so I couldn’t upload the video either. Really weird.

Today though, we are in luck. Shayla, we had such a great time at your part,y and were so glad to be able to see you in all your glory. Thanks for sharing some of the spotlight with Ali. Also, we know you will be a great big sister ANY HOUR NOW. Ok, not hour per se, but Cynthia was due with baby Adriah yesterday so lets get this show on the road already!

Shayla’s Go Diego! cake and glowing mama-to-be in the background.

Shayla pretty much kept at least one eye on Ali the whole time she was opening presents.

A tense moment? Ali busted out with "Ba-pa!" for backpack the moment she saw this and has been saying it ever since.

This is a video of everyone singing "Happy Birthday" and the followed attempt to blow out the candle:

The day after this we had a baby shower for Cynthia. While I made sure I had my memory stick I failed to take a SINGLE photo of her, her belly, of the big-sister-to-be. Sad! Cass, I know you took some shots, did you get any?

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.

She speaks! Actually, I think she’s probably been "talking" for a while now. I mean, she began babbling "mum mum mum mum" when she wanted to nurse at, like, three months. So I think I’ve been writing a lot of early words off as babble. Three of her earliest and favorite babbles: Mummum, Dadadadada, and Nigh-nigh.

But, the past week or two things have really progressed. And, if you’re a regular reader, you know this is true in oh so many areas. Is this the way it always goes?!?! It started with a "No"ish sound that sometimes went with the head shake. There’s also some sort of "B" sound she makes that almost always means nursing. I think it’s "Baba" but I forget. The cincher was a "Yesh" is response to questions. Sometimes we can get an "Elm" in reference to you-know-what. And then, two nights ago, out of the blue….

BWAP!

It means block (though since she got so much praise for saying it, it’s now being applied elsewhere. Anyway, see the whole thing transpire for yourself: