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]