Road Trip

We went to Uncle Randy's in Blacksburg, VA this weekend. Future Aunt Ashley had a family emergency out of town, so we only got to see her briefly (unfortunate, but understandable). Uncle Randy was a great host and kept us entertained and well-fed despite the lousy weather. We managed to get out to the duck pond and walk the path beside the VT farms, so Alison could see ducks, cows, horses, sheep, a hawk at pretty close range perched on a fencepost, and, of course, "daws." Woof. Alison also loved making laps around Randy and Ashley's main level, trying to get at their collection of cute knick-knacks, and torturing poor Jessie, the Heflin-Shew family pooch. Randy and Ashley were gracious hosts, setting up a cute crib for Alison in the guest room complete with baby seal and heirloom quilt (!), putting mints on our pillows, making hot hors d'oeurves and generally being very cool, and we had a terrific time.

On the way back from Uncle Randy's, Alison stayed in her first hotel. She loved the plastic cups in crinkly cellophane wrap and ran around the room waving them and beating them into each other. Jeff also took her hiking around the parking lot-- it's a great age where really simple things like pebbles and leaves rock their world, and it's a nice Zen time of life that won't last long, so we're trying to savor it-- and re-learn to notice the little things as well.

Anyway, that night, Alison saw herself in the full-length mirror.

LOVE at first sight. "Who is THIS adorable baby?"

She sat there laughing at herself for the next twenty minutes. I even caught her kissing her reflection. Oh dear.