On our second failed attempt at making bread together

So one of my special when-I-have-a-little girl fantasies is making all sorts of cookies and treats with her and teaching her how to add the flour and sugar etc etc.  Always wanted to do that and so we tried to make orange bread for the ladies I visit teach.  Here is a pictorial:

Cute huh?  Lizzie really dug it. I will cherish its memory forever.  Unfortunately, I was so entranced by our activity that I only added 2 cups of the 4 cups of flour needed.  The loafs fell flat and so I have eaten most of it but have no more "ganas" to make loaves again so I bought them all cute Christmas socks.  And so ends our saga.

On the flip side, I made these most delicious and pretty dulce de leche neighbor gifts.  Easiest gifts ever.  You simple bake condensed milk in the oven in a water bath for 90 minutes and it turns into dulce de leche.  Then, you package it with an apple for dipping and a cute card and voila!

I finally feel that I could put something up on pinterest and be proud of it.  Haha.

I am so pregnant!

That's right everyone.  16 weeks!  I don't think I've done an official post on it yet so here it is.  I'm pretty thrilled.  Wasn't expecting it so soon after sweet baby Moses but I'm excited now for sure.  In two weeks we find out the gender.  I think it's a girl.  We are so grateful for this blessing.

Christmastime is here

Yeah baby!  I LOVE this time of year.  Let me "write" you a photo essay.

Lizzie is getting more into it this year which is fun.  She is a special, wonderful, happy child and I love her dearly.  There is a blanket of snow outside and some cold temps lately.  I'm talking -8 and below.  Oh well.  We also held a neighborhood Christmas party which was wonderful.  Anyway, good times all around.

Moses is 8 months old!!

Our lil bundle of joy just hit the big 8 months and I can tell this is a pivotal month for him.  A little more about my favorite little guy:

Our primary student Nicola Rino holds his little pudgy self on Santa's lap

I LOVE this pic!  As you can see, he was not too much of a fan of this.  His lower lip was starting to curl a bit.   

• He giggles something crazy when I tickle him or blow raspberries on his belly
• He is starting to scoot backwards when I put him on his tummy and today I saw him lift his whole torso from the floor and almost bend his knees.  Little guy can go kinda quickly backwards.  You turn around and he's gone sometimes 3 feet!
• He is still the happiest, smiliest baby I have ever met and I love it soooo much!  
• He can feed himself baby "cheetos" which are sorta big and taste incredible
• He says "amamamamama" a lot.  Sometimes he shrieks too. 
• He could be a cherub statue on Versailles.  He is all round and rotund and yummy.
• He is starting to not like to be with anyone but mom, dad and Lizzie.  I guess separation anxiety comes up next.
• He sleeps from about 9:30 to 11 and 1:45 to about 3:30ish.  
• I can't tell you enough how lovely and happy and squishy he is.  I am sooo grateful for our sweet baby Moses.

Haha!  So cute

We had to try Mommy's hat on him, hehe

What I'm doing

Making :  Christmas cookies!!
Cooking :  Ummm, not quite there yet, just working on a meal plan first
Drinking :  Water, yeah it's my fave
Reading:  The Magic (so good and positive), Codependent No More and The Kitchen House.  I love that Kindle that Paul got me. 
Wanting:  A white pleated tennis skirt and anything by Lululemon
Looking:  Lovingly at our first Christmas card which arrived in the mail by my dear friend Amy Worthington.  She is a doll!!
Playing:  Harp music in preparation for the DMC Christmas party on Tuesday.  So excited!!
Wasting: Time reading other mom blogs.  I totally have a love/their life is so much better than mine relationship with them.  Mostly it's love though.  Amazing mommy Mormon bloggers out there. Seriously. It's like they read the book The Magic without having read it. 
Sewing: I sewed a button on Moses' sweater onesie just a few days ago!!  Proud moment.  But seriously is it sewing or sowing or sow etc etc.  Always confusing to me.
Wishing:  My home was about to be deep cleaned (in preparation for our White Elephant Christmas party) by someone other than me.  
Enjoying:  Christmas time and Christmas music and Christmas decorating.  I just skipped around the house with joy about the upcoming season!!
Waiting:  To be less tired.  Oh yeah, I am pregnant with baby #3!!  So excited.  So nervous but mostly excited.  I just got out of my first trimester but I still get plenty tired pretty quickly.  
Liking:  Where I live.  Just spent a few days in Salt Lake City and by the end I was ready to leave the hustle and bustle and return to our serene pastures.  The grass really is greener over here.  I love my home and the little community in which I live.
Wondering:  How to advise my friend who just texted me some sad news.  
Loving:  My life.  Yes I love my life.  
Hoping:  To have a great Christmas.  
Marvelling:  At Lizzie's good soul.  She has the soul of an angel.  She is quite sensitive to others' feelings and has a unique gift.  That of empathy.  Amazing little girl.  I love and cherish her so. 
Needing:  To find a new year's party that is fabulous.  Preferably with some dining followed by dancing.  
Smelling:  My Christmas candle - Winter Berries.  Lovely. 
Wearing:  Comfy sweats and my church top.  
Following:  Proud to say nobody.  I left Facebook this summer and have never looked back. 
Noticing:  Cobwebs between the logs of our log home.  Time for that deep cleaning I mentioned earlier. 
Knowing:  That we are gonna be okay.  Tight financially right now but I'm feeling a change in the future and I am just grateful we are healthy and happy. 
Thinking:  About how to be a better wife to Paul.  I need to work on building up his positive traits.  He has so many.  
Feeling:  So grateful for Moses and his sweet, smiley personality.  I think he is going to be a yellow.  
Bookmarking:  Amazon Smile and anything on how to live frugally.  
Opening:  All my Christmas tubs and decorating.  Sooooo fun!!
Giggling:  It's been too long.  It sure is music to my ears when Lizzie or Moses giggles.  Serious music of angels.