Alison's Big News...

Alison has big news to share with her friends and family. She is very proud to announce that she started crawling on Sept 13th. Just a few "steps" but definitely a crawl! She was surrounded by Nana Pat, Grampa, Mom and Dad when she decided to go for a little stroll.

Big news, right? Well, guess what, there is more! Tonight (Sept 16th) mommy and daddy went in to check on Ali in her crib after she was put down to sleep for the night and she was sitting up in her crib smiling at us! She has been sitting up on her own for a while now, but this was the first time she went from lying down to sitting up all on her own! The smile on her face said it all..."ta-da!"

Well that is the big news for now...we are in awe of our little girl. She is growing so fast and getting stronger and stronger every day!

Oh, and by the way, here is a couple recent pictures just for fun...

Sea Dogs and Pea Pods...

Here are a few more cute pictures to admire. Ali went to to a Sea Dogs game with Nana, Papa, Auntie Kelly, Auntie Cindy, Mom and Dad...and got to meet Slugger!







The next day she asked if she could try on her halloween costume, and it is a good thing she did, because it won't fit her in 6 weeks. So, halloween came early for us...don't worry, Ali will find a new costume by Oct 31!





Looking as cute as a button in purple...

Labor Day Weekend with Nana and Grampa

Alison had a wonderful, beautiful day with Nana and Grampa. We all met down in Kennebunkport where Ali had some yogurt while the rest of us had lobster and clams (Sorry Ali!) Then we sat by the water and Ali put her feet and hands in the sand for the first time. She loved the feel of the sand, but couldn't figure out why she it kept disapearing from her hands. Then she sucked on a rock for a little bit and then lounged around with her loving family. Check out some pictures below...

Some good times in August

Alison had some good times in August with her first days at the beach. Here you will see Ali with Daddy sitting in the shade (she is not much of a sun lover...just like her dad!)



Cute toes...



This is the first day Ali swam in the water! We went to Range Pond in Maine with Nana, Papa, Auntie Kelly, Auntie Cindy, Uncle Seth and Mom and Dad. We had so much fun!



Alison has been having some fun with Nana!

OK, where were we?

OK, so this took a little longer than expected, but we're back with the rest of the intrepid Alison Erica's trip through Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany...(go to the previous entry for Part 1 of the adventure)

When we last left off, Alison had just arrived at the top of the Cliffs of Moher. It was there that the entire family had brought some of her Uncle Eric's ashes as part of a memorial to a wonderful man (and yes, Alison's middle name is in honor of Eric).

Here's a picture of where he is...



But after raising a glass of good Irish whiskey in his honor (Alison didn't partake :) )we continued on with our adventure. That evening, we cooked steaks out on the grill and had a family dinner...though Alison, much to her chagrin, didn't have anything but her usual breast milk...



We also had time to relax in the wonderful house we rented....here's Ali enjoying some time with her Daddy in the sun porch one morning (for anyone wondering, that's Diet Pepsi in the glass in front of Daddy, not Guinness :) )



We also took a family portrait in the back yard--LOVED that view!!!



The next day, we headed out to tour the Burren, the rocky, mountainous section of Ireland on the West coast, near where we were staying...we saw a really cool ruined church that contained Celtic crosses that were hundreds of years old, a structure that was an ancient tomb older than Stonehenge and more beautiful scenery that you could describe....

Then we took Alison spelunking as we explored Aillwee Caves---this place was cool-it had pits created by bears centuries ago (bears are extinct in Ireland) and Alison loved it--even when they shut off the lights and it was so dark you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face....

Here's Alison (with her Mommy and Aunt Kelly) deep in the caves...



The next day, Daddy went off to Dublin while Alison and Mommy stayed behind---a good time was had by all....

We then all met at the Dublin Airport to head to Amsterdam...the night we were there, we took a great boat trip of the city, had dinner and then walked through the city's infamous Red Light District...all I can say is wow. What a sight...good "window shopping" though...

No pictures of the Red Light District, but this picture of Alison sums up all of our reactions...


The next day, we were off by train to Zeddam (on the border of the Netherlands and Germany) for the family reunion....

Alison was a little hungry at the reunion, so she tried to eat her cousin Billy's finger....

Mommy, who is this holding me?? (A: Cousin Billy---and Maureen's Cousin Mike is on the left)


Alison with her Mommy, Cousin Katy and Maureen's Mother's Cousin Wolfgang


Ahhhh...her father's daughter, Alison goes straight for the beer--don't worry, she didn't get it--we know, not until she's 12...



OK...don't get hysterical--that was a joke--remember kids, underage drinking is bad...

Auntie Kelly, Alison and Cousin Nate


The next day, we went to visit the family farm in Germany...and we went in style :)



Mommy, what is this???? And where are we going???


Getting the grand tour of the German family farm with Auntie Laura




But all good things must come to an end, as Alison takes "getting yourself packed" a little too seriously :)



Well, that's all from here...goodnight!!!!

Did you miss us???

OK...so we're back.

Sorry it's taken so long for an update, but life has been hectic since we got back from Europe...but enough of that---let's get on with an update....

First of all, the big news, on July 31, Alison ate her first solid food---we mashed up some avocado and she seemed to like it...here's the evidence:







Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm



OK--let's take a look at some scenes from Alison's European Adventure...(we have tons of pics-1,499 to be exact- but since this is "Alison: A Life Examined", we'll mostly stick to a few Alison-centric ones)



First, she took some time before we left to show off her Red Sox hat

We took off from Portland (to Newark) on the overnight flight to Shannon, Ireland on July 3--Alison flew in style--with her own special bed...

OK--after arriving exhausted in Ireland--we took a day to rest, and on Sunday we went to Ennis for some shopping, pub hopping and sightseeing. Here's Alison and Mommy enjoying a street fair:


Here's her Daddy enjoying a nice cold pint of Guinness


Yes, we had a baby...in a bar (actually a pub)--but she seemed to enjoy it


So the next day--we headed into Galway, but first we stopped at Dunguaire Castle an about 600-year old tower right on the water---it had a beautiful view from the top--but the walkway was EXTREMELY narrow--here's a picture of Alison, Mommy and Cousin Jasmine as proof



So then we headed into Galway--but naturally it started raining as we got there--but as intrepid travelers, we quickly improvised a way to keep Alison safe and dry...pretty fashionable, huh?

Skipping ahead now--we spent the next day at the Cliffs of Moher--where 800 foot cliffs drop off into the sea---the pictures can't do it justice, but here's one anyway...


Here's Cousin Jimmy dutifully pushing Alison to the top of the cliffs


OK--the hour is late--so we're going to end here--but don't fret--look for part 2 tomorrow (or Sunday at the latest)!!!!

We have been away so long...

Oh it has been a while since we have update this blog. But that is not to say that we have not been doing anything. The last weekend of June, Alison got to visit with cousins from Mass,Texas and Pennsylvania at cousin Lisa's beach house in NH. Although Ali did not make it out on the boat, her mom and dad did and Ali got to spend time in a beautiful house and on the beach of the lake. Check out some pictures... and coming soon, a look at Alison's European Adventure!!!


Ali and Cousin Katie

Mike, Carolyn, and Marsha with Alison

On Lisa's boat...