Great Grandma Holligan

Ali met his Great Grandma Ruby and Great Aunt Shirley over the weekend. I think it is the coolest thing that he got to meet his Great Grandma. She's 90 years old and still vibrant with life. Ali adored her and when she talked to him in her Southern Alabama drawl he was all smiles. Here's some pics from the weekend.

Giants play the Reds

We took Ali to his first baseball game last night. Greg's friend Steve had scored club level seats right behind home plate so how could we say no? Ali did real good and hung in until the 7th inning at which point he promptly let us know he had had enough. That was fine with us since it was 9:30 and we knew there was a drive ahead of us. At guest services they gave us a certificate that said "Baby's first Game" and printed his name on it. It was so cute. And as we left the park a black man on the corner playing saxaphone went into his own jazzy version of rock-a-bye-baby as we carried our sleeping baby through the city night.

He has a social security number and one Giant's game under his belt, Ali is officially and American kid.

West Cliff

Uncle Matt came for a visit on Monday. I was worried that Alistair and I would not be very interesting company for him. Our day consists breastfeeding, cleaning the house, watching daytime television and if we're lucky, going for a walk. On Monday we were lucky, we got to get a walk in. While on our walk Uncle Matt pointed out that another pedestrian was staring at us. I realized it was a certain aquaintance of mine (who shall remain nameless). She obviously recognized me but I felt compelled not to address her due to a strange conversation I recalled having with her before Ali was born. (Funny how as a new mom a fierce and protective tigress is born within us and is fearless to do battle with anyone who is a perceived threat to our child.)

Aquaintance: "Kate, I didn't know you were pregnant."
Me thinking: How could she? This is not a person I ever call, email or even think about, just a person I happen to know in passing.
Me: " Oh."
Aquaintance: "Do you know if it's a boy or girl?"
Me: "A boy."
Aquaintance: "Yes. More boys are always born in times of war."
Me thinking: We have been in war for awhile now and just a few years ago everyone was having girls, there is no relevance here.
Me: "Huh. That's interesting."
Aquaintance: "Well hopefully you raise him to be a spiritual warrior."
Me thinking: It is really none of your business how I raise him.
Me: "Hmmm."
Aquaintance: "Are you still with the same partner?"
Me thinking: What the hell is this lady talking about? Same partner since when? If she is reffering to when I may have met her for the first time in graduate school 5 years ago then no, but I did not have a "partner" then. And the way she used the word "partner" struck me that perhaps she could not recall whether I was gay or straight.
Me: "Uh, no?"
Aquaintance: "Everything always happens for a reason."
Me thinking: Then what is the reason for this conversation?
Me: "Uh-huh."
Upon realizing she was not getting the reciprocation she was fishing for my aquaintance friend decided to wrap it up.
Aquaintaince: "Okay well, it was SOOOOOOOO good to see you. Take care and be well and I hope that you have a speedy delivery."
Me: "Thanks."

Grandpa Holligan and Alistair James

I love this picture!


Alistair loves to go to Mimi and Poppi's house. If he's crying in the car on the way, his tense and screaming little body relaxes as we come through their front door. He smells the cool sweetness of their foyer and he knows he is at that good place where his every whim is catered to and he gets lots of loving. Not that he doesn't get it at home but the relationship between an grandparent and a grandchild is so special, so pure, so uninterrupted by obligation. And Greg and I are so lucky to be able to have a mommy & daddy night once in awhile. These days that's priceless.

Morning time with my favorite little guy

I left my heart in Folsom

Last weekend we made our first overnight trip with Ali. I feared the worst because in the days leading up to our weekender, Ali was a wreck, crying and fussing every waking moment. But we discovered baby Gas-X in the nick of time and he was back to his happy little self instantly. (On a side, he now seems to have a bit of constipation I believe in part to the Gas-X, so I wouldn't recommend using it long term).

We had a great time visiting with Ali's grandpa Jerry and grandma Donna, cousins Jaylin and Kennedy, sister Kristina, auntie Heather, and uncles Jay, Kevin, and Jeff. Did I miss anyone? Lucky Ali has a big family.

Highlights from the trip:
1.) Playing with Zha Zha, grandpa Jerry's ferrett
2.) The countless face offs and jam sessions on Guitar Hero (Jaylin reined Champ).
3.) Watching Ali smile for his auntie Heather.
4.) Stoney Ihop family breakfast
5.) Singing songs and making faces at Ali all the way home to Santa Cruz.

Labor Day Weekend

1.) The Leonard Family Charlie, Jessica, Charles, Mason, Mason's friend & Ali

2.) Jessica, Charles and Ali

3.) Charles and Ali

4.) At Capitola Beach

Labor Day Weekend Cont.

We had a fantastic labor day weekend. On Saturday Ali got to meet even more of his big beautiful family when we went down to the village in Capitola and hooked up with Greg's cousins and their kids. We checked out the sand castle building contest on the beach but mostly Ali just wanted to chill in the shade and stare at Greg and I.

On Sunday Mimi and I took Ali for a walk down by the water in Capitola to check out the begonia festival. There were not many floats on the river yet but the ones we saw were so vibrant and alive.

We have been working on getting Ali to smile voluntarily and so far it has just been a slew of gassy grins. This morning though, Greg was making faces at him on the couch and he did it! Seeing your baby smile is the best thing in the world. I wish I'd gotten a picture.