14 weeks

...is how far along I am. Yes, I am pregnant! Erik and I are both so excited and VERY surprised about this blessing. The pregnancy has been very different from my other two; one major reason being that I have been sick. I can finally relate to people who have these terrible 1st trimesters and let me just say ladies I get it! I feel for you and it really, really stinks!! I didn't mind sympathizing as an ignorant friend who never experienced morning sickness but now I can truly relate, which I guess is a good thing?! :)

The kids are so excited and are constantly talking about the new baby. It is really cute and I really think/hope/pray they will all be helpful come May 20th when I am due. Addie will put her hand on my stomach or other protruding body parts near the stomach region and say "I can feel the baby's hand in there." Parker thinks up the most "unique" names for the baby. And every baby thing Berklie sees she says "this will be so cute for your new baby!" I think they are more ready for the baby then I am. I often sit and look at my hectic, crazy, barely manageable life now and think, we are having another one? I hope I can mentally and physically prepare by then. I will have 4 children under the age of 6, which I know many of you have done, but I don't know if I can do!

Of course we are just thrilled to be pregnant and pray for a healthy baby, but if you have to ask, we would LOVE a boy to even things out. We shall see in a few more weeks!

Some pregnancy issues to remember:

My ER visit at 2 am for urinary retention... may not be appropriate to get into on the blog :)
A difficult and distressing decision to get the H1N1 vaccine
My cravings for salty foods and my distaste for all things sweet...anyone surprised!!! I haven't made cookies in 3 months!!!! Online it says if you crave salty you're having a boy.
The baby's heart rate was 170 which is supposedly a girl, maybe it's not a boy after all! :)
The sigh of relief I let out when he assured me there was only 1 baby :)

I truly feel blessed to be pregnant and adding another Ahlander to the family. At this point I am ever so grateful but truly overwhelmed on a regular basis...my children are hard and things don't change drastically in 6 months, thus they will probably still be hard and I will be throwing another beautiful, crying, bundle of love into the mix....AAAHHHHHH!!!! Hopefully by then I will have my sanity back!

Parent Teacher Conference...

Erik and I attended Parker's first Parent Teacher Conference in Kindergarten. It was such a rewarding experience and I just want to post a few highlights and surprises from the big meeting. She first focused on academics which I have talked to her about, as Parker is currently reading at a 3rd grade level. He goes to 1st grade for reading so he can be in a higher reading group and really seems to be doing well there. He scored 100 percent on all the state proficiency tests for Kindergarten. The teacher said she wished she could have tested him at a first grade level just for fun. She said his critical thinking is really amazing and relayed that earlier that day he had asked her what the very last number was. He knew numbers started with 1,2, etc but he wanted to know where they ended. She talked to him about infinity, meaning there is no end and he seemed satisfied with that answer as if he understood. What? I don't ask questions like that, I forgot infinity ever existed in numbers and still don't even comprehend that. But my 5 year old does? CRAZY!! I have known most of his academic news but was anxious to hear her share the behavioral, social, and emotional aspects of his report.

This is where both Erik and I were pleasantly surprised, and I mean really surprised. I knew that Parker's been good in class because he brings home a sticker everyday which means he didn't have to pull a card and did well. But I still wondered if he got feisty, crazy, active, or difficult. Mrs. P informed us that Parker is very disciplined and serious. He is organized and takes school very seriously. She said he is very quiet and reserved and very respectful to both her and other students. She said he is kind and loves to tie every one's shoes in class since he learned earlier this year. She said she urges him to be crazy, to let loose, to yell out...is anyone else seeing why I was almost falling out of my chair? She is encouraging him to "let loose??"

I told her how shocked I was to hear that and explained that at home he is very active, let's loose a little to much, yells, runs, etc. I asked her if he ever just runs through the classroom and knocks over a chair or blurts out, or tells her no. It was her turn to look at me like I was crazy as she commented "Parker? Oh no, never, ever." She said the other students really like him as well and think it is so cool he gets to go to 1st grade.

I could tell that she seems to like him as well and I could see all the work she is putting into him academically to make sure he is challenged. I remembered being a teacher and all the work that goes into it both physically and emotionally and literally I felt like my heart would burst with love for her. I couldn't help it and began the "ugly cry" thanking her for all she is doing for him and telling her how truly grateful we are for her and we couldn't be more pleased with having Parker in her class. Both she and Erik looked at me a little shocked as I struggled to get a hold of myself. SO EMBARRASSING! This wasn't a slight tear shed, this was eyes scrunched, mouth turned down, red face, ugly cry.

Surprise!!

I woke up today to Parker working away at a surprise for me. On my nightstand sat a family picture from Halloween he had propped up, a framed piece of artwork that he had done in a previous art class, a glass of water, a book, and a note. He said "surprise" and was so proud of his hard work. He also led me into his room where he had made and cleaned his room. My first thought was "I am so undeserving!" but I was flattered and thought he was so cute smiling from ear to ear, trying to do a little something for me.

I opened the note and found the above. Here is the translation, since it's a little messy and hard to follow:

"I hope President Monson will teach you more. (Thanks son, I need that! :))
I love you more than the electric company. (He informed me that was supposed to be the funny part, he was just trying to think of something that would be really funny)
I hope you have a beautiful day."

The picture on the right is me dancing with some disco balls hanging close by. (He must know So you Think you can Dance has begun and that I'm dreaming of the days when I used to dance.) I laughed so hard at the hearts he used for my body. I wonder where he saw that. Berklie asked why I was wearing a diaper, which made me laugh because I can see why she thought that.

I am such a lucky mommy and loved my little surprise.

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Yesterday Parker said "I love school so much" I told him I was glad and asked him why to which he responded "I just can't believe how much I love writing."

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The kids were drawing pictures upstairs the other day and Berklie came downstairs to get me. She wanted me to come see what they did. I was lazily resting on the couch and said "can you just tell me what the paper says?" She looked utterly confused and said "Mommy, it doesn't say anything, paper can't talk."

"You're Done?"

Parker was taking forever to get in bed tonight. He was talking up a storm dillydallying and just plain wouldn't get into bed. So I listened kindly, coaxed kindly, and finally told him I was done and he would have to get himself in bed.

I turned to walk out and he said:

Parker: "You're done? You can't leave, your the mom!"

I told him I wasn't done being the mom, I was just done waiting for him to get in bed. This had seriously been going on for 10 minutes of me standing by the bed asking kindly for him to climb in so I could tuck him in. I laughed out loud and went to tuck him in, since he had finally scrambled into bed. I turned to leave again and I heard:

Parker: "Mom? How bout a good night kiss?"

Again I laughed out loud and my heart melted as I cuddled in for some snuggles and lots and lots of kisses! Today I have had a good day being a mom! :)

Christmas Cards...

Anyone looking for Christmas cards? A friend of mine's sister in law does some darling ones for great prices. Check it out at lawschoolwidowlee.blogspot.com. I've gotta get my order in quick! :)

Just to Remember!

A few funny things my children have said and done lately, I don't want to forget:

Addie lately is always saying "excuse me," when she wants my attention. I can be in the shower and hear her standing by the door saying over and over, "excuse me, excuse me, excuse me." Or I can be on the phone and have her at my heels with the repeated "excuse me..." You get the picture. If one of the kids are talking she was continuously in a calm manner restate her infamous "excuse me...until someone allows her to speak. It is really cracking me up on the one hand, and becoming quite annoying on the other. :)

Addie: "When I was a baby I didn't like hot sauce, but now that I'm big I do like hot sauce, isn't that cazy?"

Berklie is always calling me "yiddo mommy" and calling Erik "stinky daddy" We laugh so hard because she just came up with this stinky daddy on her own and we have thought I wonder what someone is thinking if they hear her. Why would her dad be stinky daddy. Today in church she was telling the man next to us that "stinky daddy" was up on the stand watching her. :) So funny!

Berklie: During a prayer "please bless Paka (Parker), please bless daddy at work, please bless Jesus will come and marry us, I mean come and see us when he comes to our house."

Parker: Tonight Parker wanted to make a cake. I literally let him make the entire cake by himself and it was so yummy!!! He made homemade frosting and everything. He measured things out, cracked eggs, while I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. The girls stood on chairs next to him and watched his every move. He was loving the independence and attention from the girls and things were going very smoothly and happily in the home. As we sat eating the cake later Parker said:

"Mommy we've had a good day today! When we make cake and do things together and stuff and you know just are nice and everything I just feel like, so much...well so much... joy and like calmness. Like inside me I just feel like calm"

I pointed out that those feelings were the Holy Ghost and how good it feels to have those feelings in our hearts and homes. I also reminded him when we fight and argue we feel angry like Satan wants us to feel and we don't want Satan coming into our home. He said "I know mommy, you tell us that all the time. " Which made me stop and think we must have more discussions about Satan in our home than the Holy Ghost. I'll have to work on that one! :)

Then he said "mommy thanks so much for the cake!" I told him he had made it and he smiled and said: "Thanks Parker for the cake!" Then he responded "you're welcome buddy!" Such a funny guy! :)

Primary Program

Today was our primary program and as always I was not disappointed. We have a huge primary and even still it was organized, spiritual and very well done. Last year we were out of town and Parker missed it, so I feel like I really haven't seen him in one and let me just say, proud mommy moment. I literally cried the entire time and felt such overwhelming love and gladness for my little son. He stood so reverently on a little platform and sang every song with a huge grin on his face. He made eye contact with Erik and I the entire time as if he was singing his heart out for us.

I have to share this quick story about his part, because it cracked me up. His part was: 'When I read the scriptures with my family I feel... ' I read this to him and asked him how he felt when we read the scriptures to which he replied "sad." I inquired more and he continued: "Well I would much rather be playing as a family than reading scriptures as a family." I laughed inside and had to redirect him. But I did think how funny it would be if someone allowed their child to say something like that from the pulpit. "Hey, if that's really how he feels, let it be known! :)"

So I asked how Heavenly Father feels when we read scriptures as a family and how that can make us feel, knowing how happy Heavenly Father is.

Parker revised his part and came up with this finished sentence all on his own:

When I read the scriptures with my family I feel...good because there are important things in the scriptures that we need to know before we go back to heaven.

I thought it was so cute and wrote it down for him to bring to practice. When I tried to go over it with him the next couple of days he said "mommy, I know it I'm the one that made it up, I don't need to practice it." He would change it a little each time, but said it pretty much the same.

Sure enough when it came his turn, he held the mic confidently while smiling a huge smile and said his part perfectly. I was so proud and touched to see him obviously proud of himself, giving me a thumbs up. He was unfazed any other children that were yelling out the songs, nudging him, turning around or leaning on him.

Really words can't express how tender his little moment today was for me. I reflected on all of my interactions with him good and bad and felt so grateful in spite of my weaknesses and faults as a mother, he seems to be turning out pretty good! :) I love sweet Parker dearly and hope he knows it everyday!!