I'm still alive! I think.

First of all, do I even keep this going?  I mean, what's it been, 4 MONTHS?  I figured that Austin Ali would just shrivel up and die... after all, there's no more Austin in the Ali (omg! total porn alert!) but I figured I'd at least give one more HOLLER AT YOUR MOTHER in case you never hear from me again after Friday.  'Cause in all likelihood, you won't. 

BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN BABY LAUREN ARRIVES!!*

AHHHHH!  Someone asked tonight "are you feeling ready?  Excited?  Nervous?"  And my answer was, "none of the above."  It's really weird.  I'm not sure if it's complete denial, or I'm just too tired to feel anything.  And no, I AM NOT READY.  But what I do know is I can't wait to get my paws on this little lamb!  So maybe that would qualify as excited.

Baby Lauren decided to hang out breech like Logie, but then out of the blue at like 35.765 weeks she decided to do a little FLIP.  That wasn't uncomfortable or anything.  So, the last two weeks have been, "shit.  Do I do a VBAC?  Willis, should I do a VBAC?  Everyone else within earshot/in my contact list, should I do a VBAC?"  So here's the plan.  If she decides to try and make her debut before Friday, I'm going to try.  If not, then scrub me in for the c/sec.  8 am Friday is the last day for Austin Ali to be prego.  EVER AGAIN.  Tie those babies up, too.  I'm done.  Shop's closed.  (Just FYI in case you were wondering about my birth and/or future children plans because I know you all were.) 

Let's recap the last few months, shall we?  Oh!  We made it back to MA in case you were wondering.  Like 4 months ago. 

Here's about where I think we left off. 

A big truck came to take away our car.
We got the bug morgue spot right in the front.
Oh and then those assholes stole our ipod.
Too bad it was like the first ipod ever made, losers.
Enjoy.

Packed light for the plane.  It wasn't as bad as I thought
it would be, traveling alone with Logie prego. 
ps I'm lying.



1 of the 4 minutes Logan wore his harness
on the airplane.
 

Logie got to experience his first town car ride from the
airport because he's a baller (and his mama is too
paranoid to have a Boston cabbie drive him)

 

Lots of QT with his buddies nat nat and bobby since
we stayed at their wonderful house for like 157 days (poor things)
(Logan tormented them and drooled all over their toys)

OH someone also GOT CUTER if that's even poss

had some fun at an extended stay

more fun in the hotel

THEN THE MOVERS CAME WITH ALL OF OUR SHIT!

oh and this?  This "contract pending house sale?"
This went on for 68 days.  Instead of 30.  68.
I was a freak with worry and drove everyone around me crazy.
EVERYONE.

I had a picture of our house here but got creeped out that a stalker would like Google map it or something.

OHMYGOD IF I KEEP UP THIS PACE I'M GOING TO BE SITTING HERE UPLOADING PICTURES WHILE LAUREN GOES OFF TO COLLEGE. 

Let's fast forward.  In no particular order, here's what's been going on as of late.  As of late?  wtf?   

Logan grew a mullet

FIRST SNOW!



First haircut!  I cried.
And saved his hair.  pyschoooo

got cuter AGAIN

 

I'M NOT COMFY!

Logan is going to miss his fave pillow
(Lauren's butt)

Just another morning in labor and delivery...
FALSE ALARM!

Don't we look Amish here?
I feel like we look Amish.

after nap cuddles in bed only every day
because I'm too flipping tired to do anything.
DEAR GOD DO I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE
I CAN WEAR BESIDES THAT RED SHIRT?!



In case you don't know how to tell time,
that's AM.  As in 4:53am. 
Someone is very excited to meet his baby sister
so has decided that sleep is for pansies.
KILLMENOWOMG.
 

trick or treat.  in Willis's office building, since
we were in Maine hiding from hurricane
Sandy during the real deal....

just about sums up the last 2 months or so.

cousins....

Willis only has 1/2 a face now.  It's totally weird.

lots of time locked on the deck

destroying the pantry, per usual

slumber party

I heart new england

AARON AND CATHERINE HAD
A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HI CHARLOTTE!
10/3/12

new park.  where's joey?  ethan?  teagan??? HELLO!?

auntie duty!!!!!!!! 
omg I am wearing that shirt again. 
this is getting embarrassing. 

I mean..............

one of the last mullet shots.

lookin good Logiebear

So, there you have it.  Aside from missing my friends (and their babies) in Austin terribly (well, most of them anyway AHAHAHHAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING, OF COURSEEEEEEE) and the ability to drive 12 minutes and be at any store imaginable, it's good to be home. 

T - 2 days until this family of 3 becomes 4!  Maybe you'll hear from me again.  I CAN'T QUIT YOU!!!!!


*Guess I better get used to pink. 

oh shit

Flying alone with a 19 month old while 23 weeks pregnant isn't my idea of the most relaxing time.  Oh wait, it's actually my definition of hell.  Well, there ARE worse things like not having enough ice in your margarita or having a cigarette and no lighter (from back in the day, OBVS), but I digress.  Geez, I must be missing my partying days.  THOSE DAYS ARE OVER, ALI.  FOREVER.  GET OVER THEM.  NOW YOU GROCERY SHOP AND WIPE SNOT AND BUTTS AND THAT'S IT.

Anyway.

I'm DREADING having to haul Logan's monster 5,523 lb carseat (which is the equivalent of a la-z-boy* as far as I'm concerned) onto the airplaneS that we are taking in a short 12 days (YAY!  12 more days!!!)  So, Roomie called me this morning to give me a pep talk about using the GogoKidz wheelie thing with the carseat, (yes it's a PITA but what choice do I really have, etc.) and I figured that's that, done deal, GogoKidz + major PITA here we go.  Roomie also said I wasn't allowed to pay the extra $40 for the meet and greet that the car service offers to haul all of my crap to the car that's at the curb.  But I digress.  Again.

Just FYI this is a picture of Logan's carseat

Until this afternoon when I met this bad boy:

What asshole would pay $75 for some jankus straps?
This one.

So I thought I was just the biggest genius of all geniuses, and immediately started harassing people with their thoughts on why this would or would not work.  I've had mixed reviews.

So, I decided we'd take it for a test drive.

Please note Willis's belt as the waist strap.

Here's how it went:

fail. 

Don't be fooled.  That is not a smile.  That is Logan pre-tantrum flailing around like he is sitting in a bucket of biting mosquitoes.  Grunting.  Weaseling his way out of the bottom because whatever dumbass invented this didn't put a crotch (hate that word) strap, thus making it easy for wild neanderthal babies to escape.

And guess what?  I still think I'm gonna risk it.  Stay tuned.


*when I was little and out to eat with my parents I asked if we could please eat at that restaurant called La-Z-Boy.  I honestly thought you got to sit in a big ass recliner while having your dinner and I thought it was the coolest concept.  My dreams were crushed when I was informed they didn't serve food.  

WE MISS WILLIS!

This is what being alone with an 18 month old for 3 days while 20 weeks pregnant looks like:

Austin Ali.... now Boston Ali! (Costin Ali in another 3 years? Get it, ABC?)

T - 25 days.  

Kari* asked the other day, "when are you going to tell your fans about Austin Ali becoming Boston Ali?"  

Good question, Kari.  

I've done a terrible job at keeping my fans (and by fans I mean Kari... and JANET?  Janet, are you still there??  Oh and Moyer, I know you're still around, too) informed of our new adventure.  Well here's the deal, yo.  

August 27th: One way ticket... AUS-BOS for Logie and Austin Boston Ali = booked!  OMG!  Willis and Sox** will be driving buddies and meet us up there a few days later.  Step on it, Willis!   

You see, when we decided to do the move to Austin I COULD.NOT.WAIT to get out of Boston.  Every day Willis would hear, "STUPID BOSTON, EVERYONE IS ALWAYS RUSH RUSH RUSH, I HATE THE GRIND, OMG, THE GRIIIIIIIIIINDDDDDDDD WILLISSSSSS, THE COMMUTE, THE 502 BUS, OMG THE 502 BUS IS MY NEMESIS, THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN SLOGGING THROUGH THE PRU EVERY MORNING, BLAAAAAHHHH!!!! THANK GOD WE ARE MOVING BLAAAH!!!" and now I absolutely CANNOT.WAIT to go back.  Willis told me at the time, "just because you are dating someone new doesn't mean you have to bash your ex."  Oh Willis, you are so wise.  And it's true.  I honestly have no bad things to say about our soon to be ex-city.  I will miss Austin and only look back on our ~3 years here with fond memories.  

But, it's time to go back... 

In no particular order, here are a few things I am beside myself giddy about:

-Fall.  An actual, for real, legitimate FALL.

-Driving to a family member's house for a holiday as opposed to flying.  "WE'LL BRING THE STUFFING!"  OMG.  We'll bring the mother f*cking stuffing because we can since we are DRIVING.  

-Being with old friends again (who might as well be family at this point).

-Logan (and unknown baby #2) playing with cousins.

-Everyone always being rush rush rush.

-Trees that change colors all around you (see Fall).

-LOGAN'S FIRST SNOWFALL OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.  Oh and unknown baby #2 seeing snow, too.  Sorry unknown baby #2, you are kind of getting shafted here on the excitement but I don't mean to. And, I know it snowed when Logan was born but that was like 1 inch of fake snow.  I digress.

-Sledding.

-Being by a fire to get warm.

-Hunkering down for a snowstorm.

See you soon, Boston!  Some oldies but goodies to get you in the spirit....  

MAMA I'M COMIN' HOOOOOOME
(well not really since my mama lives in FL, but you get the idea)

necessary to walk to the packie for booze during a snowstorm.

Willis's nemesis.  Snow on cars.  

Just watch -- I'll be bitching away during the first snowfall we get.  NO I WON'T.  I SWEAR I WON'T.  I MISSED IT SO MUCH.  -schizooooooo  

*the only one who still reads this blog

**another thing I failed to mention to just about everyone I know is that our dear Daisy is no longer with us.  Don't ask, it is too sad to discuss.  Carry on.

Dinner date

Logie's got game.

come on over a lil closer, lady.  look how strong I am.
  

did someone say cheese?  

Sigh.  I get all verklempt when I think about leaving yet another wonderful Austin family!  Cue the violins.

hello

Can you believe I'm back after not even a whole month??  I do this for you.

I thought I'd share a pic of Logie's macaroni hair from dinner last night:

everyone can feel a little safer now -- Superman is here.

(I think I'm single-handedly trying to eat at every last restaurant in Austin before we depart, which isn't good for my cottage cheese arms.)

So we FINALLY did our wills last week (morbid alert!) and when I was filling it out it asked something along the lines of, "do you have any final words or wishes?"  ummm.... do I?  I thought about writing, "peace out, homies" but thought that might be too casual...?  What the hell else are you supposed to write?  "It's been real."  So I left it blank.  But maybe that's even worse?  Gonna go stew on this now......

Logie and Margot

I know I'm the world's worst blogger ever. SO SUE ME.

Check out Logie and Margot after dinner, where we had to make a quick getaway from the restaurant because Logan was doing his new screeching routine.  It's really quite remarkable.  Every time he starts it up, I immediately think of this scene from Splash.

Anyway, I digress.

Look how cute these lil buggers are!  Logie is demonstrating his new screech in the very beginning.  Also notice how Margot busts out "see you later" just like it's no big thing.

My heart breaks every time I think about having to leave this fam.*  Now I have the sads.  :(

*in case you've been living under a rock and haven't gotten the memo, we're moving back to Boston! More on that later...and by later I mean never since I don't blog anymore.

HELLO!?

Are you there?  Where have you been???  I've been looking all over for you.

I've missed you.

What's been going on with me, you ask?  Well, remember when I was joking and told you I was prego?

Well it turns out, I WAS.

OMG.


I was as astonished as I would've been had this shown up at my house:

So, I've been doing a lot of this:

And this is what I look like most days:

But, at least Logan doesn't really seem to notice:

We are obviously beyond excited (this happened once I allowed myself to stop hyperventilating into a brown paper bag), and baby is already scheduled to make his/her* arrival on the morning of December 17th.  Merry Christmas, Logie, Santa brought you a wild animal!!


*the ultrasound tech guessed last week that is was a GIRL!  OMG xs 1,00000!!!!!!!

Logie's Tunnel

Logan's Billboard: Update

It was a hit!

aw mom, I sure am cute.

who's THAT handsome devil!?

It almost ended up being a total disaster because there was one little part on the top that I just HAD to mess with because it didn't look even.  It was taunting me.  So I started cutting.  And Xacto-knifing.  And cutting some more.  It started looking like total shit so I ended up at Michael's framing counter to have them fix it with their big cutting machines.  For the bargain price of ZERO DOLLAHS!  woot woot!

don't do this if you decide to make a billboard of your child...
this free hand cutting business.

One more tip........

once you are done, don't leave the hammer in the crib for your husband
to find when he is putting your baby down for his afternoon nap.
BAD MOM ALERT!