PAIL Bloggers is 6 months old – which means I’ve been blogging for 6 months.  PAIL is near and dear to me because the creation of it is what got me to start blogging in the first place.  Thank you, PAIL!

This month’s theme post was supposed to be a VLOG entry – so that readers could see and hear us.

I failed miserably at this assignment – and not because I was hesitant to film myself.  The long and short of it is that I do not know how to make a video on my computer.  I can take a video with my phone (of other people) with no problems, but I wouldn’t know where to begin with my webcam, software, etc.  My tech support guy (B) has been very busy this week and working into the evenings, so the idea of even bothering him with it while he’s dealing with work stuff was a fleeting one.

But I will answer the questions – because I am a joiner (even if I have to do it in a weird way!)  😉

1) What country do you live in? If you feel comfortable sharing, what state or region as well?

We live in the United States – in the middle of it – in Iowa – in the middle of it – in Des Moines.

 
2) What is your favorite “ordinary moment” of the day?

This is an easy one for me.  My favorite “ordinary moment” of the day is when I go in to get Matthew up from his nap, and he chit chats with me, his Boo monkey, his Max monkey, and whatever kitties of ours are in the room.  He wakes up so happy from naps and that makes me happy!  He’ll sit in his crib for up to 5 minutes chatting me up and showing me all of his crib friends who napped with him.  It’s adorable.  I love Matthew’s voice more than anything and after his naps, he loves to use it.  It’s like he’s telling me all about his dreams or something.  It’s magical!

 
3) What is the first thing you do with your little one in the morning?

The very first thing we do is get his milk ready and then go in and pluck him out of his crib and bring him into bed with us to watch an episode of Curi.ous Geo.rge with the lights dim.  At least two of our three cats are always on the bed at a given time, so it’s the only time of day that our bed is truly a family bed.  We all love it – and B & I wish that Matthew would stay tuned into CG a little longer than just one segment.  Matthew snuggles up to B and they sit with their arms around each other, and I get random hugs and kisses from Matthew throughout the episode.  It’s great fun!

 
4) What has infertility changed the most about you?

Infertility has made me a better parent.  I truly believe this.  Our struggle to get Matthew taught me patience and the acceptance of lack of control, and both of those things have carried over into my parenting.  As I posted the other day, I am much more patient than I ever thought I would be and I accept things for what they are much more readily than I did in the past.  IF taught me that there are just some things we can’t control – and if we feel we can – then that is just an illusion of control.  I needed to learn this.  I make way fewer spreadsheets now than I did prior to IF.  What does THAT tell you?

 
5) What do you wish people knew about pregnancy or parenting through the ALI journey?

The second I read this question a week ago, I knew my answer.  And my answer is simple.  I wish that people struggling with ALI in the moment could know, and truly believe, that in the end, most of us get to where we want to be.  You could have told me this when we were struggling and I would have rolled my eyes at you.  But the statistics are in our favor – eventually.  Some way, some how, most of us get to be parents.  The road may be ugly, and it will never be forgotten, but most of us get there.