..:Ending 2013:..

              Christmas is my most favorite holiday!!! I get so excited about putting up the tree, the decorations, the present giving and receiving along with the holiday treats. I had a great Christmas! The food was so good! I made thit kho (sweet pork) and it was so darn delicious. I make it a certain way with a thicker sweeter sauce. I love the sauce with my rice. We had a lot of pork dishes this year. I was so stuffed, I didn't even finish my plate. I did end up saving it and eating again later in the afternoon. Every year for the past 5 or so years, my siblings and I have been doing secret Santa. We draw names during Thanksgiving, set a limit and write down 2-3 things we'd like for Christmas. This was we are getting and giving what we want/need. Everyone is pretty practical and fair about it. We've also started the tradition of The BEST Wrapped Present. My sister won last year. This year my SIL won. She received a $25 gift card. I wasn't even close.... I only got one got one vote. This year I asked my secret Santa for the Game of Thrones book series, bread dough maker and dumbbells. My youngest brother was my secret Santa and he got me the Game of Thrones book series. I am so excited to read them. Perhaps next summer when we are traveling and visiting PA. I wish I can start them earlier but there are a few things I'd like to do before baby comes in Feb.
           Honey and I agreed to not get each other presents since baby was coming, but he surprised me with a stuffed animal, Boo. He really DOES listen when I talk to him... Hehehe.. I have mentioned a couple times about Boo, the world's cutest dog, and how I'd love to have a puppy (and have it stay a puppy forever).
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Maternity PhotoShoot
              We decided that since we just got a new awesome camera, we'd take our own maternity pictures. I had to get them done before the babyshower. I waited til the weekend before the babyshower, so my belly would be bigger at 31 weeks. However, I was disappointed because my belly wasn't as big and round as I had imagined for the pictures. It took over 2 hours to take them! Honey was very patient. I only had two outfit changes. I decided to take bare belly pictures just to have. The pictures turned out very well. I am very happy about them. We did decided that I needed to take some more in 4-5 weeks. Hopefully my belly will be a lot bigger! I've also started looking into newborn pictures for when Emma is born. Most likely we will take them ourselves too. I already have so many great ideas and outfits to put her in!
              Baby and I have been really healthy and sleeping quite. Although I will not miss pregnancy itself, I will miss feeling her move and kick. Her kicks are a lot stronger this week and often take me by surprise! We have been making and taking time everyday to talk to her, feel her kick, read to her or just let her listen to music. I will miss this relaxing small moments that I have had with her.

31 Weeks Maternity Pictures,

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Babyshower
           We recently had Emma's shower over the weekend. It was a beautiful event! It's not so much about the decors, the food nor the gifts; but about the people who came to celebrate her. It's about the people who participated in the laughter, the smiles and the good vibes. For a hours, I felt extra special and happy. I am sure Emma felt all the joy that I felt too. We are very thankful and honored to have great friends and family! She is definitely going to born into a good and positive environment. This is heartwarming to say because it's a cruel world out there. Honey and I have talked about how this is a good time for her to come to us because we are ready. We have done it all; the traveling, the partying, the adventures and are very content in life. Yes, we are truly ready for her to come into our lives. There is this mixed feeling out there about whether you are ready or not, you have 9 months to get ready. True, but there are so many other factors besides the material things to be ready to have a child. It's a lifetime commitment! It is truly giving up the me to become the we!!
         My sisters threw Emma's shower. They worked very hard on it and I am grateful for their efforts. It isn't easy to host such an event. I know from doing my sister's shower. It can be so overwhelming. Like weddings, babyshowers come with so many options and cute little things. We had like a million ideas, but realistically only some can be done.
         Here are some pictures from our shower over the weekend:

Us with my mother. 

My two beautiful sisters.

Some goodies from the shower.