For example, an expanse of days at both my parents’ house and Billie’s. Ah, travelling. So invirgorating and yet exhausting. We do hate to love you.

Anyway, the need for a blog is nagging at me. So much that I am avoiding other, probably more pressing, things. So, no lengthy post on the joys of Thanksgiving or the time spent with loved ones. Not even a post dedicated to all that I/we are thankful for (hint: it’s a LOT). I will give a shout out though to all of YOU. This has been a long and, at times, lonely year. Blogging has been an outlet like no other. But the best part is the interaction, the feedback. So, a special thanks to anyone who ever commented. There were days when your words may have made all the difference.

I don’t think I took but a handful of pictures in all the festivities, so I’ll have to go with what I’ve got.

Ali and Tony at the Tillamook Cheese Factory some two weeks ago.

I ordered these shoes from The Children’s Place for under $5. But I think they’re too small. Ali is growing SO FAST!

Billie came down the weekend before Thanksgiving and we had our own little dinner. Thank you Fred Meyers !

Aunt Alyssa, pretty much Ali’s new favorite person.

From the left; Trista, my mom, and Alyssa. Getting in the line outside Walmart about 5am on Black Friday. Yeah, we scored big…

Adorable Adriah who is getting so big! I had the pleasure of spending a few minutes with her the day after T-giving.

Out to dinner for Cass’s birthday. And, of course, there is no group shot.

Tony and Ali on Sunday when we went to get our Christmas tree.

We did good!

Tuesday my mom and grandma came down! They actually spent a lot of time working really hard; weeding, doing yardwork, and chippping most everything in sight. My mom brought the trailor down (to bring the chipper and co. back) so we have happily found a bit more room and when my nana and grandpa move they will have a trundle bed to put in their extra room. Now, if we were just to get on getting rid of the bonus day bed and queen that remain. Then Ali would have an honest-to-God bedroom!

Wednesday was more working outside, a walking tour of Rockaway that was cut short as the air grew cold and damp. Before they left town we all went to dinner at The Mazatlan, a mexican restaurant north of us. Ali was the most well behaved she has ever been when we’ve gone out (and, really, we haven’t gone out much) so the whole thing was quite a treat.

Thursday is also kind of a blur. I think we just kind of hung around the house. I watched a lot of TV gearing up for the future when I figure I won’t have the time. Oh yes, and I waited impatiently for Miss Adriah Michelle to grace us with her presence. That’s right. I spent the day on pins and needles, unable to concentrate on much of anything except refraining from bugging Cynthia while in labor and all.

Friday we spent the morning getting ready to leave at naptime (trying to work all/most travel around the new routine from now on). Which worked out well as, when my mom was here, we decided that on our way to town we’d "swing by" Newberg to pick Trista up from George Fox for her first weekend home. Swing by being a relative turn because, while on the way, there is no good way to get there from here, so it’s kind of indirect. Anyway, Trista’s last class got out at 1:30pm, so it wouldn’t have don’t much good for us to leave much before noon anyway.

Ali testing random doors in Trista’s dorm.

In the half hour from Newberg to Gladstone.

One guess who gave her a bag of Cheetos.

Also on Friday we visited my grandparents on last time before they move into their new apartment. Ali was in a pretty good mood, inventing some hanger sorting game that entertained more than just her. Friday night Jordan and Becky came over for dinner. If my dad hadn’t been at work than we’d have had the entire family together but, nonetheless, all four siblings were there for the first time since we all reside in different cities. Also, sidenote, one of the cutest things I’ve seen in a looooooong time (except maybe Adriah which is coming up) was Trista and Alyssa running to hug each other. I don’t think they knew how hard it’d be to be apart. Friday night we all (well, the girls, Tony and I, my mom and, when he got back from work at 8pm(!), my dad) watched Baby Mama which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Saturday we headed to the PCC Sylvanis Campus in the morning (Ali slept TERRIBLE the night before, crying in her sleep most of the night so we got up a little late and were all tired) to get one of my books. We were happy to find it used and therefore $66 instead of $88. The night before Tony and my dad ordered my other two from Amazon because that’s where they were cheapest. My dad buys a lot from the site and gets free shipping so we had him do. Except he pushed a wrong button and accidently shipped it to their house versus ours so I’ll have to wait a couple more days. Either way, I should have all my necessary books by next week which is quite a relief. Especially to the tune of $175 instead of almost $300!

After picking up the book we walked around the very impressive campus, which Ali really, really, enjoyed. I think Tony took a few pics but they’re on his phone so I’ll have to get them later. Then we went back "home" for Ali to have a her snack-nap-lunch triple whammy andwait to hear that Cynthia was home, settled, and ready to be decended upon.

It didn’t happen. Poor them, Adriah was born Thursday morning and they didn’t get home until late Saturday evening because the discharge was soooooooo slow. We amused ourselves though, going to Value Village (oh, how I miss having one near) and Blockbuster to get two previously viewed movie for FREE because of some surveys Tony took online. We got Dora videos.

Then, after Ali went to bed, Tony and I ventured out to have a quiet, not-frenzied, relaxing trip to Target. It was great. First, because we so rarely get to go to any stores beside Fred Meyer and, second, because we never, NEVER get to go out just the two of us. And third because, now that Ali walks, she wants to always walk. Which is not always possible and rarely appropriate. So it’s complicated things a bit.

Ali waving bye-bye everytime someone leaves the room.

You can’t really see them but I finally got to buy Ali some legwarmers at Target. i LOVE them. They are super cute, were really cheap, seem warm, and are AMAZINGLY easy when chaging a diaper. I need them in every color ASAP!

This morning Ali woke up really early, like pre-6am. But, she slept better last night so it was ok. Also, I went upstairs and fell back asleep on the couch while Tony dealt with her. So even more ok! We ate breakfast, packed everything up, and were off to Cynthia’s by 10am.

I am still in shock over how tiny Adriah was. I cannot believe, or even fathom, that Ali was that small. We feel so lucky to have seen the newest addition sor early on in life and one more CONGRATULATIONS to the beloved Edge family.

From there we came straight home (timing it to naptime again), watched some of the red carpet Emmy pre-show and are headed down now to catch the ceremony. Since we had satellite, we get cable channels on the East Coast time, so there was three hours between the end of the pre-show and the actualy Emmys. Usually obnoxious but today agood thing. Leaves me time for absurdly long and in-depth posts like this one.

Something I fear I may not find/make time for in the immediate future.

• 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!

• 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.

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. 

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. 

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?