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.

First steps or no? That was two days ago and is about where we’re at. Or perhaps a bit further after tonight. She is so so sooooooooo close.

Speaking of tonight. We went to visit my grandma, uncle Don, aunt Yvonne, and two cousins (Micheal and Matthew) who were staying a Nehalam Bay State Park with Gladstone First Baptist on their annual campout. We just went for dinner, left after Ali’s woke up from her nap. We definitely wished we were staying longer, though maybe that’s just because we knew we weren’t? It was kind of cold and sprinkling off and on so perhaps one of those situations that looks better from the outside.

It seemed like Ali would really, really enjoy camping though. Especially if it involved bonus people around to shower her with attention and kids closer to her own age to provide 24/7 entertainment. Yes, she had a great time. And we want to borrow Matthew every night from the post-dinner pre-bedtime slot to wear the girl out. Which he was quite successful at!

This photo is so, so cute.

Ali had such a blast playing with Matthew.

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!

She turns seventy today! Also, my cousin Brett is graduating from high school tonight. So congratulations to them both.

• It been grey, rainy, even windy for the past two days. I can’t handle this weather. In JUNE no less.
• Tomorrow Tillamook is having a city wide garage sale event and I really want to go. Sure hope the weather permits.
• Next week we will be spending a few days in the Portland area for TRISTA’s graduation. I can’t believe she’s graduating.
• I can’t believe it’s been FIVE years since I graduated.
• I am started to get very excited for Iowa.
• And kind of nervous. Told Tony I need to start "practice packing."
• Some photos of our big 11 month old on the potty:

• And in the bath:

• And a few days ago when we had a nice one and got to spend time outside:

I few random things I’ve been meaning to post about but kept forgetting. The first was ages ago, but Ali made her first phone call. TO CASS! She loves to play with our phones (has temporarily disabled both of them by getting them wet either by slobber or other means) and one day somehow called Cass who then answered and was quite confused. Also, a few weeks ago Ali not only let someone hold her, but initiated it! This girl about my age, Megan, was in town working with the Obama campaign. She is the oldest of, seven I think? So definite baby experience. She liked Ali a lot and Ali liked her as well. The night our returns came in, May 20th, her and Kevin (also on the campaign) spent the night at our house. The next day at the office Ali once reached out to Megan and then allowed her to hold her for, I dunno, ten(?) seconds. Not long but that’s not the point. Then, again, she crawled over to Megan and let her pick her up. May not sound like a lot but anyone who knows this girl knows it’s pretty momentous.

Two instances that deserved being both mentioned and recalled.

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. 

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.

I’m not sure how we started calling each other that. Some time in high school for some reason that’s long forgotten (by me at least). Yesterday Karlin and Cynthia made the long trek up here to meet Alizabeth. In Friday rush hour traffic. And home late the same night. The kicker is Cynthia had to get up for work at five this morning. You two are amazing! Cass, you were missed but hopefully we’ll see you soon. We’re hoping to come down either Labor Day weekend or the weekend before.

Ali liked Karlin’s hair.

Cynthia is so a veteran mother.

Mugging for the camera.

Cynthia was in my kindegarten class and, Karlin, my first grade so I’ve known both of them most my life. Cynthia and I became friends during our years in Girl Scouts…Karlin and I sometime in seventh grade? We had a lot of mutual friends and both played the clarinet in band. We went on to become self-proclaimed "band geeks" throughout high school. Cynthia has a nearly two-year-old daughter, Shayla, and is a bevy of parenting advice. All three of us have gone through so much together and it sucks I don’t get to see them very much. Yet another reason to move to Oregon sooner rather than later.

Us and Ryan, the original "F4," on a beach trip in 2001.

Class of 2003.

Grad party. What is Cynthia doing to Cassie’s hair?

Cynthia’s 21st birthday - December 26, 2005.

Cynthia and Shayla - Mother’s Day Weekend 2007.

Also, yesterday Ali was ONE MONTH! I cannot believe it. Both that she’s that old and that we’ve only had her that long. Also that I’ve gone one entire month without sleeping more than five hours in a row. 

*sigh*

I feel like the last week has been so busy. Or at least free time has been lacking. Welcome to motherhood I guess! Ali has continued her insatiability…and coupled it with hours of crankiness for a number of days. Most notably was Monday and Tuesday, when Tony’s family from Iowa came out to visit us/meet Ali and I. We took probably a hundred pictures and, going through them, too many were too cute not to include. Since time is always of the essence when naps feel few and far between, I’ll let the pics do most of the blogging.

Meet Aunt Martha (left) and Aunt Georgia (right). They are thirteen and ten and cute as can be. Note Ali’s hat representin’ the Hawkeyes.

Anthony’s stepmom, Grandma Karen.

Tony’s dad and Ali’s grandpa. She’s screaming as was frequent. But isn’t the barrette cute?

What a striking family.

Monday evening we walked down at the waterfront in Edmonds and then had our first dinner out with Ali, at Anthony’s Beach Cafe. She slept the whole time and it was loud in there!

Tuesday we drove down to Gig Harbor for a picnic. This is Ali, gangtsa-style.

Screaming with Martha.

Daddy knows what to do.

Playing some football.

I love Georgia in this one.

She was good for a little while…looks kinda smiley even here.

They roasted marshmellows.

Ali nursed.

We went back to the RV park…look at everywhere they’ve been! This last trip they added Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Everybody needs to hold her before we leave.

Poor Georgia.

Ali looks like she’s expecting some food.

Three generations. NOT the happiest little girl.

Lastly, here are some VERY cute shots from yesterday…almost one month old!

Strolling through the neighborhood.

The park’s newest structure. Rather dangerous looking, right?

Friday night my parents and sisters came up to visit….and, mostly, see the baby. My mom and Alyssa (fourteen-year-old) hadn’t seen Ali since she was two days old, my dad and Trista (seventeen-year-old) had yet to see her. Friday was a really strange day, Ali was awake from four or so in the afternoon until just past nine. Every time she’d drift off it was just for a few minutes before she’d wake herself up as if she was determined not to sleep. She finally drifted off about fifteen minutes before everybody arrived and proceeded to sleep for a stretch, feed, sleep again…etc. But the night was weird. She ate around midnight, then at two or two-thirty, then was up from five to seven, ate again a little after nine….then I think Tony took her…and fed again after ten. Somebody is such a growing girl!

My brother Jordan, who has yet to meet Ali but hopefully soon, graduated college in June and got a super nice camera. If anyone is camera savvy, they may have noticed the high quality of our birth photos…my mom took them with that camera and brought it with her again so we were snapping pics the whole time they were here. Which, unfortunately, wasn’t for too long. Saturday we all ventured to Alderwood Mall, where my dad purchased Harry Potter (I’m more than half-way through!) and then they went to visit a nearby Business Costco. My mom made a bunch of scalloped potatoes and weeded our garden while the rest of us watched cable (my family has never had it). Then we all watched Red Eye and they headed back to Gladstone a little after seven.

Ali chilling, all ready to hit the mall.

The whole time at the mall.

Kids always love Trista.

They both look pretty crazy.

Trista and Tony tag-teaming.

It’s big, but the outfit is still super cute!

Aunties.

Everybody loves a baby.

Grandma and Grampa.

Probably the best picture I’ve seen in a long time.

Long time no post. We’ve been busy this week. Tuesday I had a dermotologist appointment in downtown Seattle. Tony and Ali came along. It’s been about five weeks since I’d been last (I’m in the process of getting a scar on my chin injected to flatten it), so I was very pregnant at the last appointment. First, they tell us the doc is running half an hour behind. Ugh. Then they take us out of the posh waiting room and leave us to wait in the exam room that whole time. Ugh again. UW (University of Washington) is a teaching hospital so you see much more of an intern then the doc there. Finally our guy comes in, and the hilarity ensues. Although, to those of you a bit less sleep deprived then we were at the time, it might be a bit less funny.

The intern walks in and says, "Mr. Lewis?" Tony and I say, "Uh, no….Ms. Lewis?" He then mumbles something about being from the south where Ashley is a boy’s name, turns to Tony and says, "Well, then you must be Mr. Ashley." This time it’s Tony that mumbles, "Um, something like that." Tony is holding Ali and the guy asks, "And who is this?" We say, "Alizabeth," and he says "Oh, Alizabeth Ashley." At this point we’re completely perplexed but whatever…names are hard sometimes and you know how in the medical field it’s always last name - first name (i.e. Lewis, Ashley) so maybe he just got confused. Also he was Asian so I thought he might now be very familiar with American names. Then he starts glancing through my chart and asking me all sorts of dumb questions they’ve asked every time I go in there (the joys of a teaching hospital). He asks me if I’ve been going to my OB appointments regularly (I was initially referred to the derm during by my OB because of the way some of my moles ballooned during pregnancy). I say I have and then he asks my how far along I am! I kind of glance at Tony, this did that just happen look and answer, "She’s two weeks old?" To which the intern looks confused, stumbles a bit and then comes back together, "Oh, so you already had your baby?" Tony just pointed at her in response.

The guy was then completely flustered the rest of the time. I was trying so hard not to bust up, but not doing the best job, which caused his to become more flustered. It was seriously the most awkward, unbelievable, doctor’s trip. When they went to do the injection he didn’t perform it, instead he observed the doc do it (a first…my other two injections were given by the interns, one observed by the doc, the other unsupervised) and when they went to lower the chair/bed thing he didn’t even know how to work it. It was then I remembered the warnings I’d heard about having a baby in July. All the med students graduate in June and, in July, new interns flood the medical community. I really hope that was the case with this guy and he learns a lot. Quickly.

Tonight my mom, dad, and sisters are coming up to see Ali. This is the first time my dad and Trista are seeing her, which is so exciting! Also, at 12:01am Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released. Not sure when I’ll get my hands on a copy, but I’m eagerly anticipating the seventh and final book of the series. Though it’s conclusion will very definitely be bittersweet.

Susie and family came over for dinner on their last night here.

Seventeen days old. Sleeping yesterday afternoon.

Big yawn on a walk last night.

She’s got some "baby acne."

Tony checks out a nearby playground.

I think his sunglasses make him look mean.

A rare picture of Ali and I. Me beyond my boob at least…