the mahal year in review

I can't believe that 2012 is almost over. Phil and I have decided that 2013 is going to be the year of the Mahals! We have so many things we'd like to accomplish that we have dubbed it our year!

In 2012 we...

• did a little and by that I mean alot of fishing.

• had a lot of cabin time. It is something that both of us really look forward to year in and year out.

• had a little heartbreak. Phil and I experienced the ultimate joy and subsequent let down. The best part? We have a little blube angel watching over us.

• apparantley took a lot of pictures of beverages. i admit it, i'm a strange one.

• had some softball injuries. there is a reason my nickname growing up was Grace.

• started a garden! it was really fun to watch the amazing veggies grow. i also learned that mint is a weed and i never, ever, want to plant it again!

• had heated and sometimes civil discussions about a campaign. between the amendments in Minnesota and the presidential race there was always something to talk about.

• celebrated three years of wedded bliss

best wishes to you and yours this holiday season and into the new year. wishing you all the best in 2013!

xo - the mahals

christmas 2012

well, my favorite day of the year has come.. and gone. Phil and I had a great couple days with family and will follow it up with the Mahal Christmas in a couple of days.

hope everyone had a great time with family & friends.

 

my new ice fishing rod from phil

 

tools from grandpa

throwback thursday

my pops & i

number one

the cover of the sports illustrated this week

five things friday: 11/16

Friday, finally.

First Friday in a long time that there isn't football on the docket for tonight. It will be a little strange to not be happy hour-ing, bundling up and heading to Laker Field. I asked Parker last night, 'would you give your left nut to play another season on High School Football?'. The answer: 'hell yeah'.

Anyways.. here are my five things!

ONE: I made our list and am checking it twice. I can't believe I am going to start Christmas shopping this weekend. It's November 16 - only 38 days until Christmas Eve.

TWO: I am busy planning my BFFs baby shower, November 30. I can't believe the shower is almost here and the baby.

I  can't wait to snuggle that little muffin. Her Aunt Amanda is going to spoil her sweet (not rotten - because she won't be).  I have already altered my drive home starting mid-February to take a detour through Apple Valley every.single.day!

THREE: My brain isn't working today... Good thing it is Friday because I wouldn't make it through another work day.

FOUR & FIVE: Notre Dame Football vs. Wake Forest this weekend. Even if the Irish win out they most likely will not be in the National Championship game. Undefeated and competing for third place. The hope right now is that K-State and/or Oregon lose one of their two remaining games.

have a great weekend, all.

xo-

Amanda

I made this picture my FB profile picture and put on instagram but I can't get over how young Phil and I look. I am guessing this is circa 2006-2007 and Phil was trying to be cool by not smiling. ahh, young love.

clearly

....i have more christmas/birthday items to add to my list :)

My lovely co-worker Allison and I have too many of the same clothes, scarves and taste in everything! So, naturally when she showed me this iphone case, I had to have it too! It has convenient little card holders for credit cards/id and the color is so rich and beautiful. must. have!

This adorable little ring from Madewell (which is opening at Southdale this week!)

And, a shot out to my husband.. I'd take one of these for my next six birthdays & christmases. hint, hint.

my christmas list

Christmas Eve is only 41 days away (not that I'm counting). My top wish list items this year:

1- The Madewell Transport Tote. The ruggedly cool carryall is softly worn leather. Now I need to decide if I want to go with the black or english saddle. Decisions. Decisions.

2- The marled Turtleneck Sweater from The Limited. I looove cozy sweaters and this print is classic.

3- Again, a classic. The Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. These are as cool and hip now as they were when originally released in 2007.

4- There may be a theme to my coziness. Next is the Fair Isle shawl cardigan from The Gap. Its cool and comfy for a chilly MN afternoon. A must have.. in my opinion.

5- The Mercer Zip Wallet from Stella & Dot. I love this color and the tassel. It's the perfect wallet to use year round.. bright color to fit right in with Spring/Summer and to brighten up those gloomy days of fall/winter.  

Well, there you have it. My top five gifts for Christmas. This week. It will change at least seven times before Christmas actually gets here!

i'm a bit behind...

I haven't blogged for a while and lots has happened. I will catch up, bullet point style.

The Lakers made it to State for the second straight year to play the conference rival Lakeville North. It didn't end the way the town of PL would have hoped but it was a wildly successful season and one that a lot of folks didn't see coming. I am beyond proud of little Parker and his accomplishments on and off the football field.

the laker captains doing the coin toss before the start of the game at the dome.

Parker Anderson on the tackle.

The election is OVER. While I am the first to say that I am a political junkie. Absolute junkie. I am thrilled that I don't need to see the mud-slinging advertisements anymore. I am happy that we re-elected our President but I am even more thrilled that Minnesotans shot down two constitutional amendments.

The first was the marriage amendment. I think we're going to look back twenty years from now and realize that we were about to put something in our Constitution that would really hurt and segregate a population of our state. The same thing that we did to blacks just a few short decades ago.

Now it is time for Congress to get their act together and make some adjustments and changes to ensure that we don't lose all the progress we've made.

I have tons more I can blog about.. Christmas lists, great Thanksgiving recipes, my BIRTHDAY.

xo- Amanda

five things friday

happy friday!

here are my five musings for this first friday in  november:

ONE: I have already started making my Birthday & Christmas lists for this year. Call me crazy. I recently added a beautiful brown saddle tote from Madewell. It's too expensive and I probably won't get it - but, a girl can dream right? If you would like the link, I would be happy to pass it along :)

TWO: Phil and I are not TTCing (Trying to conceive) until the New Year. We found out this week that the doctor wants us to wait a big longer until we give it the ol' college try again. This just means that I will be enjoying lots of wine during the Holiday season. And when I say lots - I mean lots.

THREE: Related to #2, I was a little upset that we having to wait to TTC again but not as much as I thought I would be. This just gives us a chance to get our ducks in a row... that, and drink lots of wine!

FOUR: Phil is hunting this weekend. Don't get me wrong, I will miss my husband but I love sleeping in the middle of the bed, watching trashy television and leaving my shoes wherever I take them off. It's the little things. I also despise hunting, especially for deer. I secretly (well not so much, I guess) hope he doesn't get one.

FIVE: Tonight the Prior Lake Lakers play their last game at Laker Field. The last time 'little' Parker will have a football home game in High School. I can't believe it. Time has gone by so fast.

The Lakers play Woodbury and when/if we win, we're on the Dome for the second straight year. What a career for little brother. Fingers crossed for a 'W'.

pictures from last fridays victory:

Two bonus things: The election is on Tuesday. VOTE!! And the ND Fighting Irish play on Saturday and neeed another W. Whoo!

Have a great weekend, everyone.

XO-

Amanda

friday!

It's FRIDAY. We have a busy weekend ahead of us, but all starting with the first round of the Section Tournament at Dan Patch Field. Go Lakers!

Final debate: Obama, Romney take on the world

Final debate: Obama, Romney take on the world

I am a political junkie. Literally, junkie is the only word that can be used to describe me this time of year. I'm tuned into broadcasts, following whack nuts on twitter, and am glued to the television during all the debates [even the vp debate - waste of time].

Last night was the third and final.. check out this awesome article on the MPR website (my other crack).

Enjoy

Xo- am

the beginning

This is the first. My first blog post. My first venting session. The first....


Background: Philip and I met in May of 2005. He was the cute golf shop guy and I was the bev cart girl. We carried on a flirtation until he finally asked me out on our first date; June 29, 2006. We went to Champps in Burnsville. He opened doors for me, paid for my meal and gave me a hug at the door ;). I was probably in love already. Fast forward 14 months and we're engaged - Fast forward another 14 months to the best day of my life: Mr & Mrs Mahal.


We have the kind of relationship that can't be put into words; we drive each other bananas, love crazy, love the silliness and are each other's best friend - good times & bad. 


Trying to Get Knocked Up: We knew that it was going to be difficult because of my health background. I have PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) or as Phil calls it P-Cos, kind of gives it the rapper name feel. This basically means that we are going to have to try extra hard to have a little one. When we finally decided to start trying, January 1, 2012, I saw my doctor and she wanted to run a bunch of tests and blood work - everything came back great. I started Metformin and prenatal vitamins. We crossed our fingers and got to the fun part. 

After three months on Metformin and seeing no change in my body my doctor prescribed Provera. This is a drug that builds up the progesterone in the body and causes Aunt Flow. I was on Cycle Day 135 and not looking forward to the next couple weeks. After the round of pills, 7 days, we waited and waited.


The best, most random, day EVER!: Nothing happened with Provera but I was feeling the symptoms. So crampy, tender everything, hungry all. the. time., and exhausted. On September 11, I came home from work and decided to just take a test. "Why not", I thought to myself, it will probably be negative and I will call my doctor and say another thing didn't work. 

 

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. It's positive. That's a line. Holy Cow. Where's Phil?

 

I ran upstairs screaming "PHILIP JAMES". I showed him my pee stick, assured him that I cleaned the pee off and that we were going to be parents. Literally, the happiest I have been since the aforementioned May 30, 2009. I was uncontrollably crying and could not compose myself. 


Pregnancy: I started being my normal worried, freaked out self, and called every single OBGYN in the metro area until someone agreed to see me the next day. I finally settled on a great place and my first appointment was that afternoon. "you're super healthy". "everything looks great". "there's nothing to worry about".  I had my first blood draw that day. 

The test results were rolling in and my HCG levels weren't increasing as much as the doctors would have liked so I was scheduled for an ultrasound. The little Blube (short for blueberry - as Phil and I affectionately called it) was so tiny. They determined I was 5 weeks 5 days and my due date would be May 16, 2013 - three days before daddy's birthday. I saw a little blip of a heartbeat, but nothing measurable. 


One week later, with Phil, and Blube had a HB of 113; still a little low for 6w 5d but it was increasing.


One week later - another ultrasound. I was feeling nervous but confident that our little Blube was going to be stronger than ever! This is the part where I may get a little teary while writing my first ever blog post: the heartbeat was gone. Just like that.. gone.


We met with the doctor who laid out the options. Honestly, it's all a blur. All I know is that Phil held my hand, delivered me kleenex after kleenex and was the rock that I needed at that moment. 


Now What: On October 3rd I had a D&C (you can look it up if you want - but, don't). It wasn't pleasant, I had a panic attack in the hospital. I actually did smile though when Phil jumped out of his chair panicking along side me. 


We're thankful for the opportunity to have an angel looking over us and to have been so happy for the time we were. The story doesn't end here.. it will keep going and when we get our BFP (big f**kin positive) we will be the best gosh darn parents we can be.


Back to the doctor at the end of the month to ask her this same question; "now what". 




That's our story, our background... stay tuned for more, I suppose.


xo- Amanda