The past month or so...

It has been about a month I think since I updated, so this is going to be a long one!
I tried to update a few weeks ago but had exceeded my upload limit, so, I have been trying to fix it and was only just now able to.

#1: First, Leyla had her 3rd birthday and got exactly what she wanted: a Tasha Backyardigans piñata and cake. She had so much fun! I tried to put her down to nap before it got too late, so she would be in a good mood for the party, but she wouldn't sleep! I put her to bed and she played in her bed. Then when she came out she had changed entirely out of her clothes and had chosen the dress to wear for her party.

I made her a Tasha cake that I thought turned out really well! I was very happy, and I only came up with  the idea on a whim, when I couldn't decide what kind of cake to do. The main problem was she wanted a pink cake, but the  character Tasha is not pink! So I made a pink on the inside cake with pink accents in the icing. She was happy.

#2: Now, in baby news, I am now 29 weeks and in 3rd trimester! Hard to believe, but I am getting  more and more anxious and ready for this baby to be here. I can't wait to get to the US and relax somewhat, shop for the baby, and enjoy being with family and friends. These pictures are from about 27 weeks.

 This is his sweet little face! If you turn your head to the left, you can see it. Where it says "carita," right  underneath are his eyes, then his chin is on the right. I think the cord is running right in front of his nose, because there are a couple odd-looking stripes there.

 Pretty straight bones!

#3: Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! I don't know why some pictures won't rotate, even if I've saved them, but anyway, here is Leyla helping to decorate the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving lunch! I made a turkey and dressing, and we went to Joann and Dwight's to share a meal with some other friends. It was all very yummy.

  She put all the ornaments in the same spot, on the same branch.

 We went to Tegus for my birthday and to take advantage of Black Friday sales. Here is Leyla posing with the big teddy bear at the huge Christmas tree in the new mall. She loved it.

 We bought her a little table and chairs that she LOVES; she sits there to color, paint, create, eat, and watch TV. It has been great for her, and just what I had in mind.

 I also bought her this new bedding set and a curtain (should have bought another panel...). It looks a little grown-up so it won't need replacing, plus it ties in all the colors I have planned for the room perfectly. Not sure still if we will be able to paint the walls, but, the baby's things will be blue and green, and the furniture will be white with accents. The bookshelf is the only piece we have so far, with the blue inside panel. Next up is a changing table and a cube shelf-bench for the other wall for toys and a reading corner. I plan on painting it white and the inside of half the cubes blue, pink, and green. Can't wait to get it all done!!

Giving Thanks....since it IS Thanksgiving!

This month almost everyone is writing their "thankful fors" and blessings every day. I decided to make my own list because I do have LOTS to be thankful for in my life.

1. I thank God for giving me a loving husband who works so hard to provide for us and take care of us. I love that he is so motivated and passionate about what he does, always wanting to do the best at whatever it is! He is a wonderful father to Leyla and a wonderful husband :)

2. I am thankful for LEYLA! She is so cute and sweet and surprises me every day with something new she's learned, or some new expression or saying. She is growing up so fast! I think how different my life would be without her and can't imagine not having her. She is such a blessing to us and I thank God that he decided to give her to me!

3. I am thankful that God has helped me find happiness in Honduras. We have been here 2 and a half years now and I really believe I am fully adjusted to my new lifestyle. God has helped me find new hobbies and interests here as well as friends and family who keep me happy. I knew that marrying Marcos meant moving here and God has blessed my decision to marry and FOLLOW him as my husband. God has really blessed me and helped me make Honduras MY home too.

4. I am thankful for our jobs. Marcos has a wonderful job planting mahogany, cocoa, and coffee, and I have been able to earn some money teaching too. There are so many people here who live on less than half of what we make each month, so we are truly blessed to have the jobs that we have.

5. I am thankful this year that my mom is able to visit us here, to see how we live, to spend time getting to know her granddaughter, and to really see with her own eyes that we are happy here!

6. I am also thankful that my dad is going to visit in December for Christmas! Can't wait to show him everything about Honduras!

7. I am grateful for my husband's financial smarts that have allowed us to invest in land, coffee, and bulls that will help us in the future to buy a house, pay for college, travel, etc.

8. I am thankful for a mother-in-law who has helped me adjust to Honduras, gives me tons of useful advice, who loves to babysit Leyla :), who invites us into her home and shares her home with us, and who is a great Christian example and leader for me and my daughter.

9. I am thankful for Maria. She takes great care of Leyla and the house; even though we've had a few problems, she has been with us for two years now and has really become part of our family. Raising a teenager is challenging - and even though she's not my daughter, I feel like God has given me that responsibility. I am so thankful that she talks to me and trusts me; I hope that our relationship will continue to improve and that she will trust me as she goes through these difficult teenage years.

10. I am thankful for God's faithfulness - since I have been here I know He has never left me and has blessed us and will continue to bless us. I am excited for the future and seeing what more He has in store for us!

Just a few cute pictures of Leyla :)

 

 

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving was a pretty special day this year. First, it happened to fall on my birthday. This year was special too because I turned 24 on the 24th of November! Also, my mom came to visit all the way from Tennessee. So Thursday was a big celebration of Thanksgiving AND birthdays (Maria's was on the 22nd, too).

I woke up at 6:00 and had the turkey in the oven by 7:30 AM. Then I started making the fondant for mine and Maria's birthday cake. I can't remember how long that took....anyway in the meantime,

 Rudy and Maria helped blow up balloons!

 Leyla loves balloons so it kept her occupied.

 The turkey! I rubbed it with butter, rosemary, salt, pepper, and sage. I roasted it for about 5 hours, then left it in covered for another hour or so. It was really soft and tender, not dry at all. The wings were falling off the bone!

 Dinner included turkey, gravy, yeast rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade macaroni and cheese, and dressing. YUM.

 The finished living room! It looked really nice with all the balloons!

 Kyle carving the turkey!

 My cake :)  I love the little beads - they looked like pearls!

 We lit 16 candles for Maria, sang, and added 8 more for me, and sang again.

 

 Everybody stuffed and happy!