No, I’m not in labor. The baby is doing fine. We (some of us anyway) are waiting patiently, however excited to meet Samuel in person very soon. I am visiting the doctor every week now, and the kids went with me for my doctor visit this week. They both behaved very well, and David was excited to hear the baby’s heart beat. David wanted to see if he could hear a heart beat in his stomach! The doctor humored the kids and let them see if they could hear a baby in their tummy. 🙂 “Nope, sorry guys, no baby in your tummies.” 😉 Because the kids were well behaved at the doctor, they got to take a trip to the book store. They love going to the book store, and (no I didn’t buy them anything)  looking at and reading new books. David did pick out a book he wanted to add to his Christmas list. 🙂

David’s preschool went on a field trip this week to the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis. The kids watched the famous Peabody ducks march to the fountain, and then ate duck cookies. Andrew accompanied David on this trip and took some great pictures for me! (I went to have lunch with a very good friend that day.) Our conversation went something like this: Me, “Please take pictures for me.” Andrew, “I always take pictures.” Me, “Maybe like one…” “Please take pictures like you are mom.” I have to say I was pleased when he texted me several pictures before the end of the trip! 🙂 They had a great time, and I love my sweet boy and the Christmas tree! 🙂

David has been asking me for nearly two Christmas seasons to make gingerbread men cookies. They are not something I grew up making, and I’m not a huge fan of the actual gingerbread taste. However, I gave in and decided to make actual gingerbread men this year. While I’ve discovered I’m still not a huge fan of the taste of gingerbread, the kids had a lot of fun helping to make the cookies and decorate them! The recipe is super simple, and you can make the dough a day or two ahead of time. Just keep it in the refrigerator and when you are ready to make the cookies be sure to let the dough sit out long enough to become soft and workable. Here is the recipe for Gingerbread Cookies!  In this recipe it recommends rolling out the dough between plastic wrap instead of using a floured surface. I highly recommend following this tip! It keeps the cookies the color you want. Also, don’t be like me and think you can use wax paper instead. It doesn’t work! The dough will stick to the wax paper. Use plastic wrap, the pioneer woman knows what she’s talking about!

The kids had the most fun decorating! I put royal frosting in piping bags and had a variety of different sprinkles for them to use. It was messy fun! Even Andrew got in the spirit and helped decorate! I love his creative ideas! 🙂 Especially the “Don’t Eat Me” gingerbread man, and the one with the broken arm. 😉 Such personalities! If they last long enough, we might hang them on our tree!

We were blessed with a wonderful table shower for Samuel at church today! Our hearts are thrilled and amazed at the generosity of this wonderful church family. Thank you for being so warm and excepting to us! We are going to have a gift opening here at the house in a short while, and I know David and Emma will have fun.;) When David first saw the gifts on the table and were told they were for Samuel he became upset and jealous. I had to explain to David that the gifts for Samuel were baby items, like diapers and wipes. Things that he wouldn’t want, but that he could help open the gifts for Samuel. He was then okay with that, and wanted to help. 😉

Peace,

PK