amy answers...part 3

Here is the *final* installment of "amy answers" :) 

Feel free to check out part one and/or part two if you missed them....

Do you think y'all will have more kids, or are you going to be done after two? I would LOVE to have more!  Jeffrey says if this baby is a girl then we are "done" because he doesn't think he can handle being outnumbered any more than he already is - ha!  He also thinks in terms of how many weddings he'll have to pay for and two is his limit - haha!  I think he is afraid that we would be one of those couples that keeps trying for a little boy and five girls later we still won't have one ;)

But, Lord willing, I would love to have a least one more, if not two.

What bedding will you use if it is a boy? 

aaah.....the big question.  I honestly can't decide!  I posted my girl bedding here and I am pretty much 100% committed to it if we have a girl.  The boy bedding is much harder for me.  I had originally posted a couple of pictures that I liked, but since then I have found more.  Here are two sets that I am really liking right now....and I think I'm leaning more towards the plaid/tan set..... I know the green seems more "babyish" and even more kid-friendly, but I feel like the plaid would go better with the two golf prints that I want to use in the baby's room (if it's a boy).  But, obviously this could all change depending on the day....or the hour :)

custom bedding from javisdavis.com

also custom bedding from javisdavis.com....funny enough the name of this print is, "doggy days" and if you know me, you know that i am the LAST person to do a "dog theme" - ha! :)

Are you nervous about being a mommy to two kids?YES!!!

What makes you the most excited/nervous about life with two?

I think that the "logistics" of having two kids makes me the most nervous.  Things like, how will I get two kids in and out of the car safely and by myself?.....Will I be able to grocery shop/run errands with two?.....What will I do if we're out in public and Libbi is pitching a fit, but I can't pick her up and make a quick exit because I have the baby in the carrier?.....When will I sleep?.....When will they sleep? :)  I worry about Libbi, too because she is such a creature of habit.  She is very attached to her schedule and so I worry about what will happen when (not if) the new baby causes us to have to change some things.....

I am a little nervous about what to expect with Baby #2.  Libbi was such an easy baby.  Don't get me wrong - she is a mess now - but she was actually a calm, easy baby - ha!  We really didn't have to do anything.  She was happy, she ate well, she slept well, and pretty much set her own schedule and stuck to it.  I know that the chances of that happening again are slim to none... ;0)

I'm most excited about finding out what we're having!!!  Just kidding (mostly) ;)  I am excited for the moment Jeffrey and I find out together when he/she is born and I'm excited for Jeffrey to be able to tell the rest of the family - what a fun "job" :0)

I am excited to see Libbi with her new brother or sister.  I can't wait to have another baby to love on and to be a part of our family.  I know some people are not necessarily "infant" people....you know, they love babies, but much prefer a toddler.  I am completely and totally an "infant person" - I love love love new babies!  I love every stage (and it really does just get better and better), but there is just something so perfect and irresistible about a newborn baby.  I can't wait to hold him or her!!!

What name ideas to you have for baby #2?

We have a few different names that we are tossing around, but nothing that we can agree on just yet.

We know that if the baby is a boy he will be named "Jeffrey" (after Jeffrey - duh - and my dad who is also a "Jeffrey") but he will go by his middle name.  That is where we are undecided.  We have two middle names picked out, but Jeffrey really likes one and I really like the other.  The only reason he is not a fan of "my" name is because he has a friend that has the same name.  He thinks it's weird.  What do y'all think?  I don't think it's strange at all.  It's not like we're naming the baby after his friend and it's not like he's the only one in the world with this name, either.  Plus, they're not BFF's by any means.... he still thinks it's weird, and I don't.  I would love to hear your opinions on this.

As far as girl names go, I really want to use an "L" name for a girl, but Jeffrey is not sold on any of my favorites.  My two favorite names (as of today) are Larsen and Lanie, but he is not convinced.....yet. :)  We will use "James" for a middle name.  James is another family name (my Grandad's name) and I like it for a girl - I think it's different, but not too different. :)  I don't know why I am so adamant about an L name for a girl, but not for a boy (even though there are a LOT of L boy names that I love.....Logan, Lucas, Luke, Landon, etc.) 

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Thanks again for all of your questions - I hope I answered them all!  If I left anything out or accidentally missed your question, feel free to ask again or send me an email! :)

28 weeks....

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 28 weeks

please ignore Libbi's pajamas in the background... :)

Size of baby: According to Baby Center, Baby Tippins "weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his/her head to his/her heels. He/She can blink his/her eyes, which now sport lashes. With his/her eyesight developing, he/she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He/She's also developing billions of neurons in his/her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world."

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am within the healthy/recommend limits of weight gain - and that's as much as I'll disclose ;)

Maternity Clothes: yes, please! :) I wear mostly maternity jeans and pants, but a few of my regular shirts still.  Some of my dresses have now turned into shirts - ha!

Gender: Only the good Lord knows....this week I've been thinking boy.  I don't know why, but I have had a "boy feeling" all week......

Movement: More frequent and more definite.  Mostly at night and in the early morning.  I think I just don't notice it as much during the day since I'm moving around so much chasing Libbi. :)  Last week I said that Baby Tippins never got the hiccups and I guess this week he/she decided to make me eat my words, because he/she has had them multiple times a day, every day since!

Sleep: non-exsistent. I had horrible insomnia when I was pregnant with Libbi, and it looks like the trend is continuing (BOO!) I have slept a little better this week (if I can get 5 consecutive hours, I count that as a successful night's rest!) :)

What I miss: Sleep! caffeine (I still allow myself one can of coke a day (okay sometimes two if it's a REALLY bad day, but that is a considerable drop from the caffeine intake I'm used to), Changing diapers without dry heaving, and being able to carry Libbi upstairs without feeling like I'm going to pass out/hyperventilate. 

  

Cravings: This week I've eaten a lot of Frosted Flakes.  When I went to Publix last week to do our grocery shopping, they were BOGO and although I don't usually buy them, they just sounded really good!  I have gone through two boxes since then :)

Symptoms: insomnia, shortness of breath, and really bad acid reflux - ugh. :(

Best Moment This Week: finalizing our plans for moving everything out of the guest room (bed, dresser, computer, etc.) to start getting it ready for a nursery!  I'm ready to start setting things up for Baby Tippins! And....I'm excited to be in my third trimester - I'm officially in the home-stretch! :)

**Btw, I posted the 2nd part of "amy answer's" 
right here if you want to check it out :)

amy answers...part 2

**If you missed part one, you can find it here**

Since I'm from Canada, I'm curious: what do you like most/least about living in the South?

I love living in the South and don't think I would ever want to live anywhere else.  I love all the "southern" traditions, foods, and accents :)  (but, I don't always notice the accents since I speak "southern" too - ha!)  I love that people say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" and "yes sir" and "no sir."  I could probably list a million other things.... but I'm at a loss right now.... :/

How did you become OSU fans living in the South?

Karen, you are going to laugh at this (hopefully) but we're not OSU fans.  Jeffrey actually HATES them - haha!  He has a love/hate relationship with OSU.....he follows their football team (and sometimes basketball) but mostly to root for them to lose - ha!  I have no idea why..... I think it has something to do with how crazy their fans are on the OSU messageboard - I think it is entertaining for him when they are all up in arms when OSU loses.  (Hope you're not offended!) ;0) But, we do watch all their games on TV and even have a few OSU tshirts that we sport. :)

Do you cook every night?  I try to cook at least 4 or 5 nights a week.  (hopefully Jeffrey is not laughing or rolling his eyes at this).  I typically cook Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  Wednesdays Jeffrey plays tennis so Libbi and I will have chick-fil-a since he's not home for supper.  I am not a huge fan of leftovers (although there are a few exceptions) so I've really been trying to cut our portions in half and use what I have to make two meals instead of one big one.  For instance, if I make ground beef, I'll use half of it for spaghetti and save the other half for tacos the next night, etc.  This has really helped save money (and cut back on the food that we throw out!)  Saturdays we tend to eat out and Sundays are a free for all (or as Jeffrey just calls it "hodge podge") :) We'll eat anything from frozen pizza to cereal for dinner 

How do you like being a SAHM?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE staying home with Libbi!  It is seriously the BEST!  It is definitely harder than I thought it would be and more work than I anticipated, but it is all worth it.  I love watching her grow and change each day and I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with her.  I am more than thankful for Jeffrey and how hard he works to provide for our family and the sacrifices that he makes so I can stay home with our baby(ies).  I feel like it is such a privilege, yet an awesome responsibility to be a mom - no matter if you're a working mom or a stay at home mom.  I recently read this quote in my devotion, "Mothering is not the ultimate goal of being a mom, revealing Christ to the children is." (From "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed") Wow!! - what a gift to be the one that shows my children the love of Christ!! On the days that I struggle with feeling like my accomplishments are few and far between, I think of that quote and know that what I'm doing is not just for the here and now....it very well could have an effect on Libbi (and my future children) for all of eternity.  I pray that I am worthy of such a charge.  

Do you ever miss teaching?

Yes and no. :)  I miss all of my friends that I worked with and I miss the sense of accomplishment that I sometimes felt.  I loved working with kids and feeling like I was making a difference.  But, I don't miss all the paperwork, pressure, and stress that comes with it.  While it is an amazing thing to be able to teach a child (that is not my own) a new skill, it is also comes with a great deal of pressure.  I don't miss the testing, the grading, and all the "have to's" that were required during the school year.  I do miss the hugs, the sweet notes, and that unmistakeable look on a child's face when they finally, "got it."  

What's your dream vacation?

I honestly don't have one.  I am such a homebody....I know, BOR-RING! But, I would love anywhere that I could just relax, do nothing, read a good book, eat good food, and maybe get a tan in the process. :)

What's your favorite movie?

Again, I don't really have one.  I am just not a "movie person" and I never have been.  We go to the movies maybe twice a year??? and I will watch one on TV every now and then.  I typically have movies that I like (such as Notting Hill) and will just watch those over and over when they come on TV. 

Do you have to pay for your snazzy blog template?

Yes, but it's totally worth it (if you ask me!)  I could spend hours doing it myself and probably still not be 100% pleased with it, so I would rather just pay someone to do it for me and smile every time I see it instead of roll my eyes at silly mistakes I've made. :)  Leslie designed my blog for me and she is AWESOME!  She always makes sure it's exactly what I want and I have never been disappointed.  If you are looking for a blog makeover/update - check out her site by clicking here.

(btw, she is about to do another makeover for me....looks like I'll soon need to update things!) ;0)

I'm sure you've done this before, but I'd love to see lots of pictures of your house!

I will do a house tour one of these days (when it looks halfway clean and when I have time to take some pics) ;)

The final installment of "amy answer's" - Part Three - will post tomorrow!  

amy answers....

I loved reading all your questions!  Thanks for playing along.  :)  I tried to break it up into different posts since there were some questions that referred to similar topics.  This first installment of "amy answers" will include most of the questions about Libbi.  Part Two will feature questions about me, and Part Three will be questions about Baby #2.....Hopefully it's not too boring!


Do you and Libbi get out of the house a lot during the week, or are you more of a homebody? 
We are definitely homebodies! But, we usually get out a couple of times a week.  Most of the time it's just to go to Target or to the grocery store.  There is a "Toddler Time" playgroup that meets down the street from our house on Tuesday and Thursday mornings that we try to go to every now and then.  Before she started school, we went to storytime at the library on Mondays, but now it conflicts with her school schedule.  She goes to school on Monday and Friday mornings from 9 - 12 and we go to Bible Study on Wednesday mornings from 10-11:30.  Other than those regularly scheduled events, anything goes.  We usually stay home one day a week.  Libbi loves to go, go go!  Now that the weather is turning warmer, we are definitely headed for the park more often! :)


What's Libbi's favorite food?
Chick-fil-a and cookies - ha!  Seriously, she would eat chick-fil-a chicken nuggets every day and cookies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (I have NO idea where she gets that from!) ;0)
Unfortunately, she is a picky eater and she is VERY specific with her likes and dislikes.  She is also very finicky (which I guess is normal for this age) and some days she will LOVE a food and the next she'll act like it's poison.  We never really know.  


She eats a waffle and yogurt (or a banana) for breakfast every morning.  She drinks a cup of apples juice with her breakfast and that is her juice allotment for the day. (Even though she BEGS for it all day).
She eats a snack around 10 each day - anything from teddy grahams, to fruit, to goldfish and a cup of water. (with ice - she's very particular about this - ha!  I'm surprised she doesn't also request a lemon!)
She is typically not a big eater at lunch time....she'll usually eat some type of cheese, fruit, (raw) veggie, or cracker.  She mostly just "samples" a little of everything. She drinks whole milk with her lunch.
She eats a snack when she wakes up from her nap - anywhere from 3 - 4pm.  same as the morning - it can be anything from teddy grahams, applesauce, goldfish, etc, and a cup of water.
Suppertime she eats what we eat (sometimes)....if it's something that I know she won't eat (like roast and potatoes) I'll make her some macaroni and cheese.  She drinks whole milk with her supper, too.  


She typically will always eat spaghetti, chicken and dressing, chicken nuggets, lasagna, and macaroni and cheese.  Everything else has a 50/50 chance.  Oh, and chips and queso - that girl loves her some "dip"...sometimes I can get her to eat new things just by giving her something to dip it in (she'll eat ketchup, bar-b-que sauce, polynesian sauce (from cfa), salsa, dressing, etc.) She also loves goldfish, all fruits, yogurt, and any kind of "snack." 


Did you have to do any "sleep training" with Libbi, or did she sleep good on her own?
Honestly, she was a good sleeper on her own.  I read Babywise while I was pregnant (because everyone said that was THE book to read) and while I did come away with the eat, play(wake), sleep sequence, there wasn't much else that appealed to me personally. We were really blessed (and at the time didn't even realize it!) because Libbi was such an easy baby.  I've always heard that chunky babies are better sleepers and that held pretty true for Libbi. :)  She was always an EXCELLENT nurser and would sleep through the night early on.  She wasn't a great napper for the first year of her life, but she consistently slept through the night, so I wasn't too worried about it.  Most of the time, she still sleeps great unless she's teething or sick.  She is VERY dependent on her schedule though and if it is altered, it tends to interrupt her sleeping.  So, as crazy as I may seem, I try really hard to stick to her schedule, because it really just makes life easier for all of us.  "Sleeping" is one of the things that makes me nervous about Baby #2....Libbi was such an EASY baby, that I'm worried this next one will give us a run for our money!  I honestly will be at a loss if this baby #2 doesn't want to sleep at night..... I might be begging for advice in a few short months :) 


Where do you like to shop for Libbi's clothes?
everywhere! :)  I do a lot of online shopping (etsy, ebay, and zulily) but I also love to shop at a few boutiques around our house.  Jeffrey thinks I am crazy, but I am very particular about what I do/don't like for Libbi to wear.  He thinks it's absurd, but I know there will come a day (all too soon!) when she has an opinion on what she wears, so until then, I enjoy dressing her in what I like for her to wear.  Some of my favorite sites/brands are Kelly's Kids, Vive La Fete, Remember Nguyen, castles and crowns, orient express, and I could go on and on and on.  We love matilda jane and even more so since it tends to grow with her and last at least a few seasons. I also love a good Target deal, too!  They have some cu-ute clothes!! :)


What are Libbi's favorite toys right now? 
Right now, she loves anything that she can stack or nest.  I bought her these cheap little nesting blocks at Walmart and she will play with them forever!  Of course, she does get quite upset with them when they don't cooperate and she will chunk them across the room from time to time. :)
She loves her kitchen and all the pretend food and dishes.  She has just started to really pretend to eat things and serve us - it's really cute (but a little dangerous sometimes as she will stab you in the face with one of her forks if you're not careful!)
puzzles and books
stickers
anything that resembles items that we have/use (i.e - hairbrushes, brooms, makeup, dishes, pots, pans, vacuums, etc.)  
She also likes things that she can push and/or throw (her play and learn little school bus or any kind of bouncy ball).


What keeps Libbi entertained? (also, see above)
any of the toys I listed above tend to keep her entertained for a small amount of time.  She could also stay outside and run around aimlessly for hours.  She likes to watch Elmo and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but we try to limit her amount of TV.  When we're in the car, I have a CD that she loves to listen to.  It is an old CD that I used to play in my kindergarten classroom.  It has lots of popular children's songs (wheels on the bus, old macdonald, if you're happy and you know it, etc) and she requests to listen to it every time we are in the car.  It tends to keep her relatively happy.  

Are there any activities that the two of you do together that keeps her attention?

She really likes to read books, but she has to be in the mood for it.  When she is, she will sit in my lap and we will read book after book. (that's one of my favorite times!) She likes to put stickers all over me - ha!  She likes to play "kitchen" and let me pretend to fix her food in her kitchen.  Sometimes she'll fix it for me, but mostly I'm the one doing the "cooking."  She thinks it's hilarious to pretend to "spill" what I've made for her and then we pretend to clean it up.  This goes on for quite awhile. :)
She's really gotten into helping me lately.  I'll let her help me put laundry in the basket.  When I'm folding clothes, I'll tell her to get all the socks and she'll collect each sock one by one (which gives me time to fold the other clothes!)  When we go to the grocery store, I will hand her the items and let her drop them in the cart - she thinks this is a great game!  I've really found lately that involving her in things instead of trying to distract her into doing something else is really much less stressful for me and much more fun for her!  There is a lot that she can do that I didn't give her enough credit for!  

What does your usual day look like?
On the days that we do not have school or Bible Study (T/TH) here is our typical day:
8am - Libbi wakes up - she watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I fix her breakfast
8:30 - breakfast
9:00 - get Libbi dressed and I will shower and get dressed, too.  I used to put her in the pack-n-play in our bedroom and put Elmo on while I jumped in the shower, BUT....now she refuses the pack-n-play. :(  So, I just block her in our bathroom and make sure there is nothing she can get in to (i.e - the toilet - yuck!) while I take as fast a shower as I can.  She likes to help me put on my makeup (and she pretends to put some on, too). There is a basket of toys/books in our bathroom, so if she's being cooperative and playing, then I'll dry my hair, but otherwise it's just a ponytail and we're ready to go!
9:45 - 11:30 - If we have errands to run or something to do, this is when we get out of the house.  If not, we usually just play inside or if the weather is nice, we'll go out in the neighborhood and do bubbles or sidewalk chalk.
11:45ish - she likes to watch Elmo's World on Sesame Street while I start to fix her lunch.
12:00 - Lunch
12:30 - we play and read books
1:00 - naptime
While she naps, I usually do my bible study, blog/read blogs, and try to clean-up.
3:00 - 4:00 (any time in between) Snack
4:00 - 5:30 - this is our "witching hour"...the time when she's cranky, I'm trying to get dinner ready and we have too much time to play, but not enough time to leave the house before Jeffrey gets home.  I try to keep her occupied, because it is really getting to be a hassle to have her in the kitchen with me when I'm trying to cook (plus it's dangerous, because she can reach all the buttons/knobs on the stove and/or the pots and pans) but she can't be trusted to play elsewhere without getting into trouble.  This is my most stressful time of day.
5:45 - Supper
6:30 - Bath (she LOVES baths with "bu-bu's" and would stay in there all night!)
7:00 - Play, Read, Wheel of Fortune :)  Libbi does pretty well with playing independently at this time of day.  Fortunately, Jeffrey is home and ready and willing if she's looking for a playmate :)
8:00 - bedtime - books, prayers, and nite-nite!
8:00 - 10:00 - Jeffrey and I spend time together, watch our shows, decompress, etc.  And some days, I go to bed at 8pm as soon as I put Libbi down - ha! :)


How did you decide on Libbi's name?  
Believe it or not, Jeffrey came up with the name Libbi.  I had wanted to name her Olivia and call her "Livi" but he wasn't a fan.  One day he suggested Libbi and, after recovering from the shock that he actually came up with a decent name, I knew it was "the one."  I debated on "Elizabeth" (my middle name) and calling her "Libbi", but we ultimately decided to go with just Libbi.  Her middle name is Jane after my Nana.  


Hopefully I didn't leave anything out....
I'll post part two tomorrow with answers to the questions about me :)

20 questions....

A fun little game of 20 questions on this February 22nd....

1.  Is this person a girl? YES

2.  Does she weigh roughly 25 pounds and wear size 24 month clothing? YES

3.  Can she eat her weight in macaroni and cheese? YES

4.  Will she eat green beans, carrots, or any kind of peas?  NO

5.  Does she love to slide, swing and play outside SO much that she will completely lose her mind if she is asked to come in?  YES!

6.  Does she cry when she goes to school or the church nursery? NO

7.  Does she love to say, "ta-da!" and "woo-hoo!"? YES

8.  Is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (especially "Pete") one of her favorite shows? YES

9.  Does she make it through the day without pitching at least one fit? NO

10.  Does she have a mind of her own?  YES! (see #9)

11.  Is she very particular about what she will and will not wear (right down to the character that is on her diaper)? YES

12.  Does she ever refuse a snack? NO

13.  Does she enjoy getting dressed? NO

14.  Would she go naked every minute of every day if she could? YES (see #13)

15.  Can she take off her own clothes and diapers? YES (see #14)

16.  Are her favorite things to play with babies, puzzles, stickers, and her kitchen? YES

17.  Does she enjoy saying, "no!"? YES

18.  Does she have dance moves like you've never seen before? YES

19.  Has there ever been a cuter, sweeter, funnier, more joyful little girl? NO (at least not according to her momma and daddy!)

20.  Is this sweet girl Libbi? YES!!!

Happy 20 months baby girl, we love you! ;)

beware....

the bouncy seat SHRINKS.... ;0)

And it appears that the Bumbo is "shrinking", too!!