No elfin' way!

Yes elfin' way!

christmas tag

CHRISTMAS TAG!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper most of the time
2. Real tree or Artificial? Definitely a real tree. There is nothing more fun than being able to pick out your own special tree, and then smelling the yummy pine needles throughout the holiday season!!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the first week of December
4. When do you take the tree down? January 1st or shortly thereafter
5. Do you like eggnog? Eggnog is only the bestest drink EVER!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My pink and purple poggo ball!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My daddy!!
8. Easiest person to buy for? Paul
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we got a wonderful one from Paul's brother Rob and his family
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? MAIL!!!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Let me get back to on this one.. I honestly can't think of one bad Christmas gift I have ever received

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A tie between Smurfs Christmas or Charlie Browns Christmas! I'm cheesy, I know! :-)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year was the earliest I have ever started.. the middle of October.. but I am still not done! Usually I start the middle of December though!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I would have to say definitely the Norwegian sausages and open faced sandwiches my Mom makes for Christmas morning breakfast! Oh.. and eggnog of course
16. Lights on the tree? Definitely.. as long as they are either white, green or red!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary did you know

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both.. stay home, and travel around Utah visiting family
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Of course.. but I wont.. don't worry

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I prefer an angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Can open one on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas Day

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? All of the expenses

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I really enjoy the nativity ornaments
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Stuffing, yams and rolls!! And the Norwegian rice pudding

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A relaxing day with my husband and family

Pregnancy week 28

PREGNANCY WEEK 28

11 1/2 WEEKS TO GO!!!

WOW!! I can't believe that we have already hit week 28! I think that the time has really been flying lately, especially with the holiday season. Just a couple more months and he is here!! I need to keep reminding myself that 11 1/2 weeks is really nothing and that I need to enjoy this pregnancy as much as I can because it will soon be over!! I am so incredibly excited to meet this little guy! I just love him so much already!! I am feeling soooo extremely pregnant lately! I feel sooo huge!! I have finally resorted to wearing Paul's clothes when I am home... haha! They are so baggy and so comfortable!!! :-) Here is a picture of me at week 28 sporting Paul's comfy clothes!

I had a really fun experience with my little guy the other night. Before I fall asleep, I really like to at least feel him kick once.. for some reason this comforts me in knowing that he is ok. I was lying in my bed for what seemed like forever, and he wouldn't kick. Finally I put my hand on my stomach and I said out loud "Sweetheart, will you please just give me a little punch or a kick just to let me know you are ok". Not even a second later he kicked SOOOO HARD exactly where I had placed my hand on my stomach. It was so halarious. It was like he had actually heard me and understood exactly what I said. I couldn't stop laughing after that. I thought that was kind of neat!!

The pregnancy is continuing to go pretty well. I have definitely been lucky with this pregnancy. I am now sleeping soooo much better than I was just a couple of weeks ago. I am still having troubles with my hip and butt hurting while I am sleeping and usually have to switch sides every hour, but at least it is a lot better than it was. I think the pain is just caused by the pressure of having so much extra weight! PREGNANCY PILLOWS ROCK!! I am sure by my last month, the only comfortable way for me to sleep will be propped up in a chair! The only other complaint I am having is my acid reflex.. it is pretty bad, but that is to be expected with the baby constantly pressing against the stomach. Tums are now my bestest friend!! My appetite is amazing! HAHA! Last week Paul and I went out to eat at The Golden Corral! It is a huge buffet which means that I ate tons and tons. I was so full afterwards, but about an hour after leaving I honestly felt starved and all I could think about was downing another big meal. I guess baby Craven is a big eater already! :-)

Well here are some facts on week 28:

Welcome to the third trimester. By 28 weeks pregnant your baby is 15.75 inches or more! He weighs in at about 2 and a half pounds! Your baby should also be sprouting eyelashes by pregnancy 28 weeks, which will blink repeatedly if you were to shine a bright light on your belly. By pregnancy 28 weeks your uterus measures at least 3 inches above your bellybutton, or is approximately 28 cm tall. You should be steadily gaining weight from pregnancy week 28 and beyond. The baby is busy adding new skills such as blinking to an already impressive repertoire of tricks like coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths. Your baby's sleep now includes the REM (rapid eye movement) phase — and that means he could be dreaming already. Also, their industrious little bone marrow is now a major construction site for developing red blood cells, while their super-cute adrenal glands are actually producing androgen and estrogen—which will stimulate your hormones to begin milk production. His brain tissue continues to develop folds and grooves on what was once a smooth surface. Even though he's bigger, he still has plenty of room to flip around, so whatever position he's in right now will likely shift over the next three months. The lungs are capable of breathing oxygen now, but your baby would struggle to breath properly if born now. About 9 out of 10 babies born now will survive with intensive care services and the help of medical technology

I found this recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com/ (my favorite recipe site) and tried making them a couple of days ago...and they turned out soooooo yummy!! I think this is now my favorite chocolate chip cookies recipe. I doubled the recipe..and still they were gone within a couple of hours of making them. I will definitely try these again!

Best Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.