Gender Predictions

I had my 16/ well actually 17 week appointment last Wednesday and all looks great with baby Ahlers  :)  I was hoping 16 weeks was the magic date and I could schedule my next ultrasound, but apparently 20 weeks is the goal, so I have to wait until December 30th.  I don't remember wanting to know the sex so bad with Graham, but I am dieing to know this time.  Maybe last time I didn't care because I didn't already have a boy, or maybe I just can't wait to be able to tell Graham it's a girl or it's a boy, but I am really struggling with the waiting this time.  After that slight let down, Dr. Wenzel and I just talked about the usual things and then listened for the baby's heartbeat, which was in the 140's, good and strong.

When I got home I got to thinking, maybe I could predict whether we are having a boy or a girl before the ultrasound.  I know, I know, but it's fun to look anyway.  Wasn't there an old wives tale saying something about the baby's heart rate predicting the sex?  I looked it up and yes, it is a "tale" but the tale says < 140 means boy and >140 means girl. 

Of course 142-144 isn't really much above 140 so I felt it was too close to call and began searching for another prediction site.  I read the Chinese gender chart next.  I was 28 when we conceived and we conceived in August, so... GIRL is what they predict!  Yay!

I'm sure I could have continued on to read a thousand more ways to guess at the baby's sex, but since I am sort of hoping for a girl and the first to predictions pointed to pink, I decided to leave the rest to fate  :)  Truthfully I would be more than overjoyed to just have a healthy, strong baby growing inside, boy or girl.  Baby Ahlers will be perfect in every way in my eyes whether or not it's sans wee-wee!

Holy Crap (Literally) A Christmas Miracle

I know Christmas is the season for miracles, but truthfully I didn't think this feat was even in the cards.  As many of you know Graham has been #1 potty trained since July, but when it comes for #2 the kid simply would not go.  We tried every bribe in the book, but no dice.

Over the last week Graham has been showing small signs of maybe being ready to try again, however, we've seen these signs millions of times before.  When Graham finally decides he just can't live without the bribe we are offering he starts "trying" to go potty until mommy's patients give out and we just give him the bribe so we can move on and stop spending hours of every day in the bathroom with NO #2. 

I honestly didn't think much of his "trying", but Tim took some interest two nights ago and talked to Graham for almost a half an hour all about when he was little and learning to go "poopers" and how at first it was scary and then he found out how easy it was etc.  Graham seemed to actually listen and told Tim how he was scared too  :( 

Apparently Tim must have somehow convinced him going "poopers" was not scary because after school yesterday Graham WENT!  He actually went #2 in the potty.  Holy Crap, it really must be true, a real Christmas miracle!  I set his little potty chair on the floor, turned Toy Story on and went up stairs to make lunch.  Ten minutes later I hear Graham yelling, "I did it mom, I went poopers!"  And he did.  The kid unzipped his jean, pulled his pull up down and went all by himself.  I cried... maybe it's the baby hormones or just the months of endless "trying" but I was so happy I would have given Graham the world at that point :)

As a congratulatory award Graham got to make a Build-A-Bear... he's only been asking every time we go to the mall for the last 4 months, so I figured it was a good treat.

Here is the puppy he picked out... he's in love with it, takes it everywhere, it's so cute!

For Christmas Graham would like.... a what???

For the past month or so I have been asking Graham what he would ask Santa for when we saw him/ wrote a letter for St. Nick to take.  And surprisingly he has been very consistent.  For Christmas he would like:
A scooter
Charlie Brown

Right... so a scooter I got.  He's going to kill himself, but at least with a helmet we might make it a week.  But a Charlie Brown?  What the heck is that?  My first thought was a movie, but Graham usually says Toy Story movie or Cars Movie, so when I asked a Charlie Brown movie?  And he said NO, I got a little concerned. 

What in the world is a Charlie Brown?  I'm sure they make a doll, but he's never seen one, so where would he get that idea?  Does he mean Snoopy, like at the Hallmark store?  Maybe, but when we go in there he calls those Snoopy dogs.  I'm pretty much at a loss.  And while I realize that Santa doesn't always bring EVERYTHING on your list... this is the first Christmas where Graham gets the drift of who Santa is and what is going on.  Plus the kid's list is pretty short, sweet and to the point, I think he might notice if one of the TWO things he asked for isn't present.

So I thought maybe I could get him to list some other things he'd like from Santa instead, kind of hide my unknowing with other gifts.  Yeah, not so much.  Graham told me he is 2, so two things is enough for his list, we can do 3 thing next year.  How can you argue with that?  I love that the kid is smart, but when I can't out smart him at 2, I'm really going to have no hope at 10  :(  So here's to hoping Tim and I magically figure out what a Charlie Brown is in the near future!  17 more days...Happy Shopping!

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My Favorite Christmas Tradition

There are hundreds of things I love about Christmas, hot chocolate, Christmas lights, old Christmas movies on TV, decorating the house... the whole shebang.  But I would have to say that my favorite Christmas tradition is St. Nick.

The tradition of St. Nick is celebrated in many different ways, (click here to read more about the holiday) but here is my version.  I grew up Catholic and to Catholics, St. Nicholas is the patron Saint of Bakers and Pawnbrokers??  Not sure why, but maybe it's because there are so many saints they ran out of general meanings for those who do good and give to the needy.  Anyway, the story goes that St. Nicholas was from a wealthy family and when his parents died he gave away his entire inheritance to needy families.  St. Nicholas did not want recognition for his good deeds, so he would secretly drop coin bags down the chimneys of the needy, the bags often landing in socks or shoes hanging by the fireplace to dry.  And so began the tradition of St. Nick.  On December 5th children all around the world hang up socks or put out shoes in hopes that St. Nicholas will leave them presents and treats in return.

Whether it's part of the tradition or not, my family goes a little further.  On the night of December 5th we write a letter to Santa explaining how we had been good that year and what things we were working on (being nice to siblings, listening to parents etc).  We also include our list of what we would like from Santa.  Our tradition goes that St. Nick fills our stockings and takes our Christmas letters to Santa's workshop... sort of like an elf or one of Santa's helpers.  Then St. Nick watches over our house from December 6th until Christmas making sure we are continuing to be good so Santa can come.

It's not the most detailed of traditions, but I always loved hearing about the story of St. Nick and how he gave to the needy.  I also liked writing letters to Santa every year and now looking back at the letters my mom kept.  childhood innocence is so sweet  :)  Happy St. Nicholas Day!

"Tis the Season...

For shopping!  Naturally I am not a huge shopper, but during the Holidays I just can't get enough.  I love to shop even if I don't end up buying anything, which, let's face it, with Graham in tow that happens more than not. 
I have to admit shopping for Graham is my favorite.  It's so awesome to pick out gifts you know your kids are going to just love and to think of the big smiles on their faces.  This year I took drug Tim out on Thanksgiving night to stand in line at Toys R Us to get some awesome deals for Graham.  We were in after an hour and got everything on our list, even one extra with the money we saved :)  There was a lot of grumbling about how ridiculous the whole process was, but when the 50% savings rang up on the receipt, Tim's attitude seemed to change... hmm!  Now I will do an hour in line, but the crazies that were out @ 9pm for the 5am Best Buy deals, those people need their heads examined.  Even a free TV isn't worth that kind of frostbite.
So far I am knocking off my list of people to buy for at a nice pace, but now we are onto the exchange names and those are a bit trickier.  I like to put a lot of thought into my gifts and try to find something I know the person will like, but as we get older I am having a harder and harder time.  We really don't NEED things like we did in college, but I'm sure I'll find something for everyone.
Happy Shopping!

16 Weeks

I am sixteen weeks today and man is time flying by this time.  I can't believe I am 4 months along, yet the belly is definitely growing/ showing so I am taking that as a good sign all is going well.

Only 5 more months to go.  Hopefully that time will fly by just as fast because I can't wait for this baby to get here!

Thanks "Giving"

While giving should definitely be spread throughout the year, it seems that I remember how fortunate we are to have all the things we do most in November and December.  This year with the state of the economy seeming to improve, or maybe it's just the fact the Johnson County seems to fair better than most other counties in Iowa when it comes to poverty and homelessness, I have neglected to give as much as we usually do. 

That is until I watched the news the other night.  One of the reports touched on the fact the homelessness in Linn County has increased 24% compared to this time last year.  The food pantry is really struggling to help all the families in need.

My extended family is hoping to do something special for Thanksgiving this year by creating a "giving" box full of food, toiletries etc.  Each member of my family is going to bring what they can contribute to our Thanksgiving dinner and then we are going to deliver the box to Waypoint in downtown Cedar Rapids.  Does your family have any plans to donate this year?

12 Weeks

I guess I am just one of those lucky people who gets to have lots of ultrasounds throughout their pregnancy  :)  Here are some more pictures of "Baby Rycin."  He/she is getting bigger!

Graham got to come along for this ulrasound.  He thought it was so cool... He shouted "She jumped mommy!" when the baby moved  :)  So precious!  He was such a proud big brother.

Newest Addiction

When it comes to books I am fairly hard to please.  I am not an avid book reader, so for a book to be "worthy" of my ever precious TV or sleeping time (because let's face it before bed is the only time I am alone to read) it has to be really, really good. 
I began my return to reading with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series... maybe a bit of a stretch as each of the 3 books were like 700ish pages, but totally worth every minute.  I loved, loved, loved that series.  When I was done I had a hard time finding another book that kept my interest as well, until I start this:
The Hunger Game Series

OMG!  I can't put it down.  I will read until the wee hours of the morning, because I just can't stop.  It's only been 2 days and I'm almost finished.  Granted it is not a super hard read, but since I read a near snail pace, this is quite impressive.  The book is like Gladiator meets Olympics only with teenagers forced into being the participants who must fight to the death.  And while that may seem a bit far fetched, it is completely realistic and believable.  You fall in love with the characters instantly.  So I am cutting this blog short to get in a few precious minutes of reading before nap time is over.  But definitely check this series out... so good!
Here's what's next:

Trick or Treat

This year I told Graham he could pick out his Halloween costume all by himself, yikes!  After saying it I thought for sure it would have been a mistake, but we happen to be browsing through Old Navy in September and Graham saw a 'Spot the Puppy' costume.  He was all excited, bouncing around telling everyone he was going to be a puppy for Halloween... but again we did this last year and 2 days before Halloween he refused to wear his costume.  I bought it anyway and the kid stuck with it.  For a whole month he told anyone who asked, and some who didn't, that he was going as a puppy for Halloween. 

Come the week before Halloween we tried on the costume and again there was bouncing and giggling.  He got to wear it to school for a party, to the North Liberty Haunted Happenings @ the Rec Center, to a Halloween Party at the country club and then again on Halloween.  Graham was in Heaven!  I think he would wear it every day if I'd let him  :)    On Halloween night I did start to get a little nervous because this was the first event where there were "big" kids with scarier costumes.  At first he wasn't really sure about the Ninjas or anything with a mask, but after a while he got used to it and he did great!  A couple of times he forgot to say "trick or treat" but at least he remembered to say thank you for the candy and usually gave them a "Happy Halloween" as he walked down the front steps  :)  I was so proud. 

Even though he had a ball trick or treating, handing out candy was far and away the our highlight of the night.  He heard me ask what the kids were dressed as and how I told them to have a fun night, so after about the 3rd doorbell he insisted on handing out the candy himself.  He told them to "take a couple" and then asked what they were "wearing" and then told them to "have a fun night kids!"  :)  So cute, we should have video taped it!  All in all Halloween was a great success... and all the candy Graham got is just an added bonus!

Whew... the secret can finally be out!

For 11 weeks I have done my best not to explode and scream my excitement from the rooftops, but today's ultrasound has given me the confidence to keep it a secret no longer.  Come May Graham is going to have a baby brother or sister  :)

So you still have to use your imagination a little bit in these pictures, but he/she is for sure in there and getting bigger every day!

I think we have a closet addict on our hands!

So I know I have blogged about this about a billion times, but seriously I am at the end of my rope... the kid WILL NOT poop on the potty!  I mean won't... we've tried bribes, threats, treats, toys, new underwear, cutting up new underwear and throwing them away, nothing matters. 

The second I stop watching Graham, like to heaven forbid pee or answer the phone, he poops in his underwear.  He hides in a corner of a room or behind the swing set in the backyard and poops... like some sort of closet addict.  How do I break this habit?  Is he really not old enough because he has been peeing in the potty with minimal accidents since the beginning of July.  He can sleep through naps and probably 6-7 nights a week with a dry pull-up, yet we still can't poop on the potty?  Come on!

He's not afraid because on the very, very rare occasion that I actually catch him in the act or he happens to be in the bath tub, he will sit on the potty and poop just fine, but outside of those rare times, nothing.  Someone please give me the solution because I am out of ideas and tricks and am ready to throw in the towel... one more pair of poopy underwear just might throw this momma over the edge  :( 

Poop fairy, please teach my kid to poop on the potty!

Sincerely,

 Kate

All or None

So if you've met Tim and I you know that we are sort of... all or none, in or out, when it rains it pours kind of people.  I'm not sure why, but between personalities and luck, that "stigma" seems to fit us well.  And Graham, of course, is also living up to his share of the "all or none" title, as the kid literally has no off switch.  He's either 90 miles an hour or sleeping  :)

When Tim and I found out we need fertility drugs to help us conceive, we sat down and mentally prepared ourselves for the possibility of multiples.  It just seemed like if the drugs were to work at all, most likely they would work with a bang.  So when our testing went from

this...

to this!

 

I pretty much assumed there was most likely a whole litter of children in there  :)

Today was our first ultrasound and this is what we saw

Looks like for once the Ahlers family is keeping things under control with only one little baby in there.  With how sick I have been I would have sworn there were seven or so, but it looks like only one little stinker is causing all this fuss.  So at seven weeks our baby is about the size one a grain of rice, isn't she cute?  :)  Hopefully we'll get to do another ultrasound in a couple of weeks to get a better view.  Now we just have to pray all goes well and that the next 5 weeks fly by... come on 2nd trimester!

How do kids do it?

Graham has had this awful cough/ cold for the last 3 weeks and somehow he still manages to run like a mad man and reap havoc on our entire house.  I, of course, caught this same cold last Thursday and I was down and out for 90% of the last three days.   :(   Tim, bless his heart, was amazing this weekend!  He took care of me and everything else including taking Graham to Sunday school and church.  I had to laugh a little though when he said last night "this is the first Sunday in as long a I can remember that I am actually kind of looking forward to going back to work."  Just a little taste of my life every once in a while does him some good I think  :)  But I was also more than grateful, I was in no condition to be helping with anything and Tim handled it like a champ including picking up the whole house last night.  I'm so lucky to have such a great husband who not only provides for our family, but who is such a great family man as well.  I love you Tim!

I know, I know....

I know I said I was going to do better at keeping up with my blog, but I am failing, miseably :( I swear everyday it's something that I must get done during nap time: cleaning, laundry, MOPS stuff, reading (BTW, the third book in the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series is awesome. Needless to say I have been slacking on my blog writing. I will keep trying harder, but no promises :)

Sigh of Relief

Yesterday marked the kick off to the 2010-2011 year of MOPS, and I lived  :)  This year I had been asked to be one of the Hospitality Chairs on the Steering committee, so I thought 'oh why not?'  As it turns out, the Hospitality position is quite extensive and as my luck would have it, my parter backed out... I know, I have the best luck!

So at least for the moment, I am the sole Hospitality person and of course the majority of my role revolves around the first meeting, theme, table decor, name tags, foyer decor, set-up/ clean-up, food... all that fun stuff.  Needless to say, the first meeting was quite a big deal and the fact that I lived through it with only a few minor hiccups, is a huge sigh of relief  :)  I only wish I had been on the ball enough to bring my camera to take "proof" of all our hard work... maybe next meeting!

Now I suppose it's time to start planning the February meeting that I am in charge of leading, yikes!

Maybe the best day EVER!

This past Friday was my first day, since becoming a mom, where I not only didn't have a child with me, but I also didn't have a schedule of events to occupy my day.  Tim's mom and dad were kind enough to give me a much needed break and take Graham Thursday night 'til Sunday morning.  I am so blessed Graham has such loving and generous grandparents who live so close and are willing to keep him every once in a while.  God bless Grandparents!

So we have taken Graham to one or the other of his grandparents' houses many times, but it was always for a weekend wedding or a short trip somewhere/ work obligation for Tim.  I've never gotten a whole day just to do whatever I wanted... until Friday.  It was so GLORIOUS!  I slept it, watched a little Ellen and got ready at my own pace.  I had lunch with a lovely friend and actually got to gab without constant interruption.  I ready my book and I even went clothes shopping, at the mall, for 2 whole hours BY MYSELF!  I can't even tell you the feeling of shopping by yourself... there are no words  :)  And then to top the day off, Tim came home and treated me to dinner and a movie.  I seriously think Friday is in the top 10 best days EVER  :)

Of course Saturday and going to the Iowa vs. Iowa State (Go Hawks!) game was fun too, just not quite as relaxing as a day of peace and quite by myself!

Eating Ourselves Out of House and Home... Literally

You know how even when you make a list, and actually remember to bring it to the grocery store, you always seem to come home with just a couple extra items.  Stuff that was on sale or the infamous 'I wonder if we have a box of _____?' only to find out you had 2 already in the cupboard.  Well this is our house to a T.  We had a fridge, cupboard and 2 freezers chalked full of food, yet somehow I still managed to find plenty more to buy at the store each week. 

Inspired by a blog my friend Leah wrote a while back on eating everything in your house, I decided to make September my month to give it a whirl.  My goal is to eat every frozen meal, every box of rice and every random thing in the cupboard during the month of September, only going to the store to buy perishables.  So far we have been doing well, no trips to the store... well except for milk and I caved and bought ice cream  :(  But it is only September 9th and we are already down to some pretty questionable combos. 

I think the main issue is I am stuck in my little box of what does and does not go together.  Like spaghetti and garlic bread... so if you don't have garlic bread, what do you make?  And burgers with baked beans, no beans, then what?  Looks like I am going to have to get creative because we have 21 days to go and lots of odds and ends to eat  :)  Here's to thinking outside the box... and of course planning out meals ahead of time, should be an interesting month!

Waiting

When it comes to waiting, I am not a patient person. I have a fair amount of patience for Graham, Emma or even Tim, but outside of that I AM NOT A WAITER! And it seems like lately all I am doing is waiting :( Answered prayers, waiting. A new phone with internet, waiting. Getting pregnant, still waiting. A million dollars, again, waiting! And about a hundred other things lingering are all still in the waiting.
I've tried occupying my time with numerous projects, volunteer positions etc, but all that does is add stress and at the end of the day, I'm still waiting. I know good things come to those who wait, but isn't there a time limit?

Go Hawks!

I'm pretty sure that's all that needs to be said :)

Dancing Queen

On our way back from Okoboji we made a quick stop in Minneapolis for one of Tim's good college buddy's wedding.  This is the first wedding Graham has been to since he was a baby and he loved it!  After the bride walked in the Pastor said something to the affect of "We are here today on behalf of Any and Jill..." and Graham yelled "YAY," causing an uproar of laugher and us to have to leave the ceremony :)   

But after all the serious stuff was over Graham was the hit of the party, dancing the night away (literally we left at like 11:15 and we had to tear him from the dance floor).  He danced with all the "ladies" as he called them and even found a dancing parter his own age... too cute!  

  

[caption id="attachment_564" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Check out those moves!"][/caption]

 

"The Flyer" and "The Squirter"

Whle still on the theme of vacation this week, I had to share a couple more pictures of Graham's favorite cottage past times:  "The Fyler" and "The Squirter."     

As you can imagine, there were a lot of bugs at the cottage, a lot more than Graham is used to seeing anyway.  So Grandma introduced the fly swatter.  You would have thought you bought the kid a new car, he was ecstatic!  In pure Graham fashion, he insisted on calling the fly swatter "The Flyer."  And of course once Graham gets an idea in his head, there is no changing his mind... ever!  We still call it the bath TUV, instead of tub, and Splash Water instead of V8 Splash.  What can I say, the kid is strong willed and is not big on being told he's incorrect, I can relate to that  :)     

[caption id="attachment_552" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Beating the Ants on the Swimming Pool"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_554" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Almost got 'em all"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Such Determination..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_556" align="alignright" width="199" caption="And no Fear at All"][/caption]

  

And then there was "The Squirter."  Ah, the fun a kid can have with a water gun.    

[caption id="attachment_550" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Notice the tongue"][/caption]

 

"Walter Producing"

Every summer my family does a family vacation to Lake Okoboji.  It's crazy to see how much Graham grows from year to year and to watch the new things he learns to do each summer.  This summer's major activity was fishing, or as Papa likes to call it "Walter Producing!" 

Before we left Graham and I took a special trip to Target to pick out a brand new fishing pole.  Of course, in the spirit of Graham's new found love, he pick a Buzz Lightyear pole  :)  But he got to pick.  His pole came complete with a little rubber fish to practice fishing with.  Graham couldn't wait, he was so excited for Papa to show him how to catch a fish!

Since his casting "skills" left a little to be desired in the beginning we had him start by practicing in the blow up pool.  I figured it might ruin the fun of catching a fish if we fell off the dock on the first cast! 



After a short lesson from Papa Graham's casting greatly improved and we were ready to head to the dock! 



Once we had the casting down we got some worms, or "snakes" as Graham insisted on calling them, and tried the real deal.  The fish were super cooperative.  They just hung out at the end of the dock and nibbled away at your worm until they finally bit the hook and you could reel them in... what more could you ask for?  Needless to say, there was some major "Walter Producing" accomplished.  Of course each fish was only about the size of your fist, but Graham didn't care, a fish was a fish  :)  He was so proud!







Each day, after feeding the ducks, there was some "Walter Producing."  And wouldn't you know it, each day we caught a fish  :)