General Women's LDS Meeting

So my darling friend Maddie Martins from Brazil (I used to be her Young Women's leader when Paul and I were first married in Sugarhouse) got me a ticket to the 2014 LDS General Women's Meeting.  She was singing in the choir.  It was such a treat to be there!  It was historic because it was the first time 8-10 year olds had ever been in it with them.  It was sooo cute to see little girls with their moms everywhere.  I just cannot wait to take my little girls to it someday.  Sister Wixom and Oscarson talked about how important women to women relationships are and how we need to have a lot of compassion for each other.  I have come to value my relationships with other women more and more as I grow older and am so grateful for them.  President Eyring talked about how the Lord has given us tests that are uniquely designed for us.  We all sang I am a child of God and other lovely hymns and I felt so in tune with the spirit there.  Anyway, just thought I should share this.

30 weeks preggo

I realized lately that I haven't posted many pics of me pregnant with this cute lil girl on the way.  Haha I just realized this picture shows our bedroom in disarray, oops.  Oh well.  Anyway, back to my belly.  Our little one (who is still nameless) is coming right along.  The doc says all is well and healthy.  I have gained 23 pounds and feel pretty good.  I guess I am just a touch anemic so I'm taking some iron pills to help with that. I feel more and more tired with each week into this trimester but that's to be expected.  I always have a ton of tasks to do and need to constantly remind myself to rest cause I'm cookin a baby!  She is moving around more these days.  Paul is busy working on the basement and turning the big room into two rooms so we'll have space.  Spring is here and I think she'll come a couple of days early.  Just sayin.  Life is good.  Can't wait to meet you baby girl!!  I love you already.

So uh yeah about that detox

So we did it!!  Well, mostly.  Paul lost about 5 solid pounds and I didn't gain any weight but weight loss or gain was not my goal.  I'm a little ticked at myself because I was so darn near making it and then Lizzie's birthday came around and I just had to make homemade dinosaur sugar cookies with Lizzie because it was one of those mommy dreams of mine and so we did it and they were incredible (especially the ones burnt around the corners) and she had a lot of fun doing the shapes but then I ate some and they were so good.  I don't regret it and I have really loved this detox.  It made me happy to exist on and I don't crave sugar the way I used to.

I really enjoy eating a simple grapefruit or green apple in the evening which is a lower sugar fruit.  Paul found it a little meat heavy and I agree to a certain point.  I think my favorite was an amazing chicken and chives dish I made.  The dishes were truly incredible.  Paul agreed on that for sure.  The dish above is pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon.  Naughty huh?  The diet left me incredibly satiated and I definitely love the paleo way.  I've gotta say it.  Anyway yay for us! 

Lizzie you are three!!

Lizzie baby happy birthday!  You are 3!!  Such an age.  You are 39 inches long and weigh 35 pounds. Lizzie had a fabulous birthday weekend.  First, we woke her up to look at the presents (see below).  I put together a plastic nursery for her and Paul got her a great sleeping bag and we also got her an Ernie puppet and some new shiny tennis shoes and some musical instruments.  I think it was the perfect amount of toys for a kiddo her age.  

Then, Moses and Paul got haircuts.  It was Moses' first haircut and he cried like the dickens.  Adorbs!!  Paul also made Lizzie 2 dinosaur cakes.  Then, we drove down to Thanksgiving Point and met her cousins at the Dinosaur Museum.  It was lovely there.  It was a bit overwhelming but Moses sure liked crawling around the T-Rex bones and Lizzie really enjoyed the way Paul took his time explaining everything to her.  I got her a really special birthday dress at Kid 2 Kid.  It's all in white with pink trim and has smocking everywhere.  She looked heavenly.

Then, we went back to Dave and Tiffany's home and had pizza and cake and Lizzie loved jumping on the trampoline with her cousins in her squeaky shoes.  So cute!  Then we rushed to Paul's mom's home and put Moses to bed and then rushed off to a jazz game.  We sat at the very very last top row and Lizzie enjoyed it more than I thought she would and Paul and I were bored as can be.  We eventually made it home and Lizzie went right to bed.  What a lovely day she had, I think.

The next morning, we drove home in time for church where I taught a lesson.  Then, we came home, took a quick nap and then Lizzie's other cousins Jemmy and Jeidy and Carlos and their kids all came over and we had another cake and Carlos made us the most incredible food on our grill.  Fresh carne asada and chorizo and grilled zucchini and green onions.  Wowee!  I was pretty darn happy.  Lizzie had a ball playing with her boy cousins and we ended the evening with a nice big fire.  At the end of the night, I let Lizzie go out and visit her dad and chat with him as the fire died down and I smiled everytime I glanced out there at them.  I bet that will be a wonderful and special memory of theirs for years.  Chatting by the fire, I mean. 

Anyway, our sweet little one is 3.  So proud of her and her loving spirit.  I love you so much Lizzie!!

On Lizzie

 Can you believe my little, sweet baby girl is almost 3??  What a bright, sharp little one.  She loves life and is very observant.  She is very excited to go to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point for her birthday with all her cousins whom she adores.  Also, I adore her.  She's just starting to test out the "no" waters and is trying out some boundaries but nothing too crazy plus we recently took a love and logic class so we are gonna nip that in the bud (fingers crossed!).  She is such a good big sister to Moses and loves him and loves to be with her dad and do anything with him.  She lately really wants a "big big playground" and a sandbox.  She loves for me to push her on the swing and is quite social.  She loves playdates and isn't that much into TV, which I like.  Although she will watch Thomas the Train for a long while.  My favorite thing to do with her is snuggle and read books.  She also really likes to color and do arts and crafts. She is so excited about the "baby in mommy's belly."  Well, there you have her in all her loveliness.  Lizzie I love you.   Love, Your Mommy.