What I'm Loving Wednesday....{video edition}

This week I'm loving my big girl and how smart and funny she is!

Here she is showing off her skills while saying her "AB's" ;-)

I'm loving her sweet little voice saying all the letters.....

(you'll also get to see a little bit of her stubborn streak come through. ;-))

I'm loving this video, too! It is probably one of my favorite videos ever.  Libbi's newest "trick" is falling on the bed.  I don't know why or how it started, but she will cross her  arms across her chest and fall backwards on our bed.  This is such a fun game to her and she always requests to go "fall in momma's bed."  Jeffrey decided to film her one day with his phone, and she decided to change things up a bit and "fall on a pill-woah" instead.....too funny!  She is SO dramatic! :)

To see more of What I'm Loving, click HERE

To see what others are loving this Wednesday, head on over to Little Daisy May.

Happy Wednesday!!

weekend...

our weekend was low key.  and a little bit shameful....I'll get to that part in a minute.....

Friday we went to the mall.  We were in the market for some new shoes and some new pajamas (both for Libbi) - but we didn't find either.  It was okay though, because Libbi LOVES going to the mall. Since it has been so hot here we go to the mall at least once, sometimes twice a week.  It's a nice cool place where she can walk around (or run like crazy) and there are lots of free/cheap things for her to do.  She loves the merry-go-round, but she is content to just look at it (Free!).  She loves to see the dog in Old Navy (Free!) and to play on the little rides that are out in the mall (Free...because she doesn't want them to move - she just wants to climb in and out of them, so I don't have to pay a dime).  We usually get a cookie and sometimes a balloon and our trip is complete.

this is how our morning started out....

Libbi and her extended family. :)
 I love that I have to basically break her wrist to get her to hold my hand, yet she willing holds the hand of a random mannequin..... 

When we got home, it was time for naps.  I told Libbi that Mimzy was coming to pick her up after nap, so she went right to sleep without a peep.  Like a kid going to bed at dusk on Christmas Eve so Santa would hurry up and get here, she was down in her bed in a flash!  She woke up from her nap right after Jeffrey got home from work and as soon as he walked into her room to get her she said, "Mimzy's House!"  I swear that she has the memory of an elephant.  You tell her something once and she remembers it forever!  It's almost scary (and sometimes annoying - ha!) because she literally remembers everything you tell her!  She spent the night with my mom and dad while Jeffrey, Laney, and I went to Longhorn's for supper - so good!!

sweet baby laney

Saturday, Libbi came back from my mom and dad's around lunchtime and went down for her nap shortly after.  When she woke up, I was bored and a little stir crazy.  I was really wanting to get out of the house.  So I suggested that we go up to the Town Center.  Now, here's the shameful part of our weekend.  Yes, we went to town center, and yes, they were hosting a special event, and yes, it just so happened to be.... "Beerfest."  I'm ashamed to admit that I knew about this beforehand and I still packed up my two babies and took them to Beerfest at the Park.  Now, in my defense, when we drove by they had lots of bounce houses set up.  bounce houses, y'all!!  So of course I thought that it would be child friendly.  A lot of times the park hosts events, but they are family events.  I thought that this might be one of them.  I know that it was called Beerfest and any normal person might think otherwise, but those darn bounce houses just totally threw me off!

little sister was shocked!

So Jeffrey and I walked our two innocent babies through the park to the bounce houses (which were outside of the barricaded beer area, mind you).  Should I have been surprised that Libbi was the ONLY child at these bounce houses?  She had a great time :)

After Libbi got stuck and Jeffrey had to retrieve her, we decided to head over to the cupcake shop.  On the way there we may or may not have passed at least two people throwing up, one person having water poured on his head, and still another completely laid out on the sidewalk surrounded by cups.  I was mortified. Once inside the cupcake shop, we ordered our cupcakes (to go) but not before some guy came in carrying a bag of sand that he dumped on the floor much to his friends dismay.  I'm not sure what I expected from Beerfest, but it was definitely not this.  Luckily, Libbi was oblivious.  I was so embarrassed.  It's all those stupid bouncy houses' fault!  They totally made me believe that this was going to be kid-friendly.  I mean, seriously - why would you have inflatables if you don't want CHILDREN to jump in them?!?!

After that humbling experience, we went home and ordered pizza so I wouldn't have to show my face around town - ha!  Oh well, at least we got a cupcake out of it! :)

hopefully she's not still mad at me.... ;-)

Sunday morning we went to church (so I could pray for forgiveness for Saturday's fiasco - ha!)  I left Laney in the nursery for the first time and also got paged to come get her for the first time. :)  She was fine, just hungry; so I fed her in the nursing suite during the end of the service and then met Jeffrey and Libbi on the playground.  The Lord was gracious to us on this day and Libbi left the playground without any tantrums - thank you, Jesus!  Jeffrey cooked out when we got home and we had a nice Sunday lunch together.  We all napped and when Laney and I woke up, we went to the store and Jeffrey and Libbi went to the pool.  After supper and baths, it was time for bed.  Our weekend was a memorable one, but hopefully no one was permanently scarred! ;-)

trying unsuccessfully to get a picture together....

solo shot before church :)

cheeese!

our little lady :)

And finally, if you haven't already - you have to check out The Plum District for the latest deal on Erin Condren products!!  You can get $50 worth of products for only $25 (and if you enter the code: inwithnew you can get an extra 20% off!!!)  Click HERE for the deal. The Life Planners and Gift Labels are my faves!!! ;-)

Happy Monday!! 

libbi lately....

Libbi, you are 25 months old today!  I can't believe a month has already gone by since we celebrated your 2nd birthday.  I'm not going to write monthly updates that are so lengthy now that you are starting to get older (*tear*), but I wanted to write a little bit about what you've been up to lately, because you have just been SO much fun.

I feel like we are starting to see more and more of your personality with each passing day....and more and more of your stubborn streak - ha! :)  You are one hard-headed little girl (which I'm sure you get from your Daddy ;-)) but you can also be just as sweet as pie when you want to be (you get that from me - haha!)

You make us laugh all day long.  You say and do the funniest things now.  It is so entertaining to see what you pick up on and the different things that you are learning each day.  Here are a few of my favorite things that you currently do/say.....

If I ask what your name is, you will say "Bibbi....no Jane....Bibbi Pippins."  You do not want your name to be Libbi Jane, just Libbi Tippins - ha!

When we ask how old you are, most of the time you will say, "I TWO!" but every now and then you like to say you're three or five and then you always laugh like it's such a funny joke.  If we ask how old momma is, you say, "OLD!" (Thanks for that one, Daddy!) ;-)

Your favorite phrase is, "Bibbi help!"  You always want to help, no matter what the task at hand.  You are ready and willing to assist at the drop of a hat - this can be a good and a bad thing. :)

I have no idea why, but you are obsessed with this stupid game on the iphone.  It is some crazy app that your daddy found - it's called "Talking Tom Cat" or something like that.  Anyway, any time you see a phone unattended, you snatch it up and find the "cat game."  You BEG to play the "cat game" all.the.time.  We don't let you all that often, but for some reason, you just think it is the greatest thing (believe me, it's not).  It is a weird looking cat that mimics what you say, let's you punch him in the face, makes toot noises, and just stands there and blinks.  Don't bother looking it up y'all, because it is the dumbest game ever.  seriously.  If it weren't free, it definitely wouldn't be on our phones.

You love to have a pallet made in the floor with pillows.  One night, your Daddy was laying out blankets and pillows and I jokingly told you to close your eyes so it would be a surprise.  You were so excited and we had to yell, "surprise!" when he was finished.  Now, every night you request a "pillow surprise" haha! :)

You are all about putting on your clothes by yourself....even if they're technically not "your" clothes....You are also quick to undress yourself.  

This is helpful when we're getting ready for a bath.  This is not helpful when we're checking out at Wal-Mart :)

(Laney's pants....)

You love to wear your jewelry and check yourself out in your "moover." (mirror) A true southern belle with your pearls on already! ;)

You know all of the letters of the alphabet and love to point them out wherever we go.  You are so proud of yourself - and so are we!

You love, love, love your baby sister!  She is the first person you look for as soon as you wake up in the mornings and you are always checking to see if she is sleeping or awake.  You make sure to announce (very excitedly) "Lay-Lay's awake!!!" as soon as you see her eyes open.  It warms my heart to see you give her kisses and hugs without any prompting.  You always, always tell her good night and bye-bye no matter what.  You are such a loving big sister!!

I could go on and on, because there are so many things that you do that just leave me laughing (or shaking my head - ha!) but I'll save some of them for another day.

Libbi Jane, every day you are growing and changing before our eyes. You are becoming less of a little baby and more of a little girl!  I love that we can have conversations now and that you are able to express your opinions and feelings on things....even if you don't always go about it in the calmest manner - you're learning. :)  We love you more than anything and we love seeing you grow and become your own person.  What a blessing you are in our lives!!  

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." - Job 9:10.

a list....

1.  Libbi has "camp" this week at her preschool.  She LOVES it!  It's been nice for her to be able to play with some of her school friends, make crafts, and see her teacher that she adores.  When it's all said and done though, her favorite thing by far has been eating lunch at school - ha!  When she went to MDO, it ended at 12 so she would eat lunch at home.  Since she is a little older now, camp lasts until 1:30 so she has to bring her lunch.  Every morning she makes sure to tell me that she is going to eat at school (it's sometimes a fight to get her to even eat breakfast at home). And when I pick her up and ask her what she did at school, she lists everything that was in her lunch. :)  For all I know, she begs her teacher to eat as soon as she walks in the door.....

2.  We have ants.  I guess it was bound to happen.  Libbi basically leaves a "hansel and gretel trail" everywhere she goes.  I guess the blessing in disguise was that I found them during naptime Tuesday afternoon, so at least I was able to (attempt to) take care of them without any "assistance." I know it's not the worst thing in the world, but it just really grosses me out.  The exterminator came this morning.  Libbi has been intent on finding ants and yells out, "a ant!" every time she sees the tiniest speck. I've been itching ever since I found them and I keep having "phantom ant bites" where I swear I've been bitten or that they're on me, but they're not. (sorry if you are now feeling the same way) :)

3.  Laney has been more content the past few days.  Our pediatrician said that colic typically "peaks" at two months, so maybe we're turning a corner.  Either way, she's still the sweetest thing.  Since Libbi has been at camp, Laney and I have been able to spend our mornings together and she has just been smiling and cooing up a storm.  I forgot how much I love baby noises....well, the cute baby "noises" :)

4.  Libbi has started waking up in the night again.  I'm not really sure what to do.  She's always been a pretty good sleeper (unless she was teething or had an ear infection), but for the past two weeks (or more) she's been waking up like clockwork around 12 - 12:30 every single night (or is it morning?) We're not opposed to the whole cry-it-out thing, and we would let her, but she just doesn't calm down.  It gets so bad that I'm afraid that she will either a) throw-up OR b) climb out of her crib.  She is ADAMANT that she wants to be in "momma's bed."  I don't know if it's because she knows that Laney sleeps in our room (not in our bed) or if she's had a bad dream or what..... Of course, I know it's not helping that I give in, but it gets to the point that she is just so upset and we're so tired that we just let her get in our bed.  She falls right back asleep and about an hour or so later, I transfer her back to her bed.  I thought that maybe if I told her she couldn't have her paci and her lovey if she came into our room that it might deter her.  I also told her I would take her for ice cream if she "stayed in Libbi's bed."  We talked about it over and over and over and I thought that it just might work.  Last night, when she woke up and I eventually went into her room, the first thing she said was, "bye-bye pa-pa (paci), bye-bye love love (lovey)" and then she said, "C'mon Momma!" and started off for our room.  So I guess the old no paci, no lovey threat didn't work....

She goes to bed just fine, her nighttime routine is the same, and when I move her back to her bed she is fine.  It's just that small window in the middle of the night.  I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do or why it's happening.  Any suggestions????

4.   While we're talking suggestions, does anyone have one for a good stain remover?  I feel like we lose so many good outfits and onesies due to stains.  I try to treat them as soon as they happen, but apparently what I'm using just isn't working.  Jeffrey's suggestion was to quit buying cute clothes, but I'm not really leaning towards that at this point. :)

5.  I think I'm addicted to Pinterest.  I can't stop pinning! :)  I always sign off feeling more crafty and domestically inclined than I actually am.  I have a whole catalog of ideas that I will probably never do anything with; except look at and dream.  But, it's still fun :)

6.  I have a confession:  I love Toddlers and Tiaras.  Does anyone else watch it?  It's so bad that it's good.  Some of my all-time favorite lines are, "We'll worry about her education and schoolin' later, right now our focus is on pageants." Niiiiice!  And, last night when the three-year-old beauty queen was screaming at her mother, her mom proceeded to say that she "wasn't really embarrassed by the yelling, because she's still little and it's still kind of cutesy." Seriously?!?!  I just can't look away :)

7.  I told Jeffrey that Libbi and I were having "boot camp" next week.  His first reaction was to laugh because he missed where I said "Libbi" and he thought that I said I was going to boot camp (you know, like the kind where you exercise).  After he stopped laughing (I'm not really sure why it was so funny), I explained that we were going to start potty training and say good-bye to the paci next week.  We're going to attempt the 3-day potty training.  Has anyone else tried this?  Any luck?  I'm not sure if it's a good idea or bad to start potty-training and cut out the paci all in the same week, but I guess we'll find out!  So, if you don't hear from me come Monday, you'll know why! :)

Sorry for all of the random points today- there's not much going on at the Tippins House (unless you count ants, colic, camp, potty-training, no sleep, and the like).  Hope y'all are having a great day!  Happy Friday Eve!! :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday....{little fashionistas}

Happy Wednesday, Friends!  This week's What I'm Loving Wednesday is dedicated to the little fashionistas in my life.  Thanks to Pinterest, I'm able to catalog all the things that I am loving for my girls!  A girl can dream, right?!? ;-)

I am LOVING these dresses from Dolcemia Clothing.  How cute are they?!?  Here are some of my favorites.....

I'm loving these precious ones for summer and since it stays hot here for so long, the girls could wear them for at least another 3 months!

I'm loving these for Christmas - so sweet!!

images via

I'm loving these precious smocked dresses from Posh Pickle.  I am seriously debating on buying them for Libbi and Laney.  They just HAVE to have matching outfits for beach pictures :) And at only $20 - you just can't beat that price!!

The A-Line Whale Smock

The Alligator Bishop

images via

I'm loving Libbi's new style lately.  She's been all about the accessories.

I'm loving Laney's sweet smiles....they are coming more and more often.  And, she even gave a little laugh today.  :)

I'm loving zulily!  I have always been a zulily shopper, but lately they have been knocking it out of the park with some great sales and cute clothes for the girls.  I especially love it since they frequently have coordinating/matching outfits for my girls!!  Here are a few of the lovelies that I've recently ordered....

images via

I'm loving this bathing suit from limericki.  I have a couple of limericki suits from last year and I was surfing their site looking for a new one for this year when I saw that they now offer a girl's line!!!  be still my heart!

how cute is this rash guard with RUFFLES!!

image via

I can't leave off these precious fall dresses.... they would be perfect from Halloween through Thanksgiving

I'm loving the pumpkins.....but I'm also a little partial to owls this year, too! :)

images via

I'm loving Baby Toms!!!!  Enough said :)

Finally, I'm loving these precious jammies from Chasing Fireflies.  What could be cuter than personalized big/little sister jammies?!?!  My girls NEED these!  :)

image via

To see more of What I'm Loving click HERE

To see what other's are loving this Wednesday, head on over to Little Daisy May.

Happy Wednesday from the Fashionable Tippins Girls :)

**All opinions are mine and I was not asked to promote or link to any of these products.  I just love them and wanted to share :) **

motherhood

Being a mother is humbling.  to say the least.  just when I think I've got it all together and we're having a great day, boom....I'm put back in my place;  knocked off my high and mighty pedestal before I ever saw it coming. - ha!

Exhibit A:  Taking a Toddler to the Grocery Store.  

Normally, I don't let Libbi walk in the store.  I know I should, but when I have both girls it's just not practical.  Plus, Libbi is well aware of the fact that she can outrun me when I have Laney in the buggy and she uses this to her full advantage.  I'm left with the dilemma of, "Do I leave Laney hanging out in the bread aisle while I chase Libbi down and drag her back kicking and screaming while praying that Laney is still where I left her?" OR "Do I speed walk with Laney in the buggy trying my best to look menacingly at Libbi while bulging my eyes and saying her name through gritted teeth all the while trying to appear perfectly normal to all the other shoppers?"  It's just too much for me to handle.  

So instead, I put Laney in the basket, Libbi in the front of the cart and whatever small amount of groceries I can fit in between the two of them.  

The other night I had to run to the store to pick up a prescription.  I thought I would take Libbi with me and leave Laney at home with Jeffrey since Libbi and I don't get to go out just the two of us very often anymore.  She was excited since it was a special trip just for her, so I decided to up the ante and let her walk.  That's big time, y'all.  

Everything was going great.  She was walking beside me and enjoying looking at all the groceries.  She was checking out a few of her favorites and being all cute and sweet. We even got a few compliments on how precious she was.  It was shortly after that that I was reminded, "pride comes before the fall...."

"First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall."

Proverbs 16:18 (The Message) 

She found a sword.  need I say more?  And by the way, who in their right mind thought it apropos to sell SWORDS at the grocery store for crying out loud?!?!  

Anyway, she picked up this sword and began swatting at random items (nevermind that I have no earthly idea how she even knows what to do with a sword since we have nothing even remotely close to that at our house).  Let's just say that Libbi did not appreciate being told to drop her weapons.  A small scene ensued, but she thankfully recovered when I mentioned walking down the ice cream aisle.  At this point I thought the worst was behind us...

On the way to the frozen food aisles, she finds this dinosaur.  It was tucked behind the post of a display, but somehow she found it.  I agreed to let her carry it around for a little while (hoping to make up for the sword debacle) since it was taking longer than expected to fill our prescription.  She walked around roaring and enjoying herself, stopping every now and then to check a few things out.  I began to relax a little as she calmly growled and walked around until it was time to pick up the prescription.  

Apparently I have to "fall" more than once to learn my lesson....

When we approached the check-out counter, Libbi did NOT want to wait beside me.  In about .02 seconds she scooted behind the desk and the next thing I know, she's sitting in a chair in the "consultation room" (which, by the way we've been going to the same pharmacy for years and I never even knew they had one!) She was pretty comfortable in there and I could see her from the counter, so I just let her stay.  

And then I "fell" a little further...ha!  

As I'm finishing up my transaction, she waltzes out with a sucker in her mouth.  I almost died.  I freaked out thinking it might be some sort of medicinal candy or something. (although I briefly wondered if drowsiness might be a side effect...KIDDING!)  I immediately tried to take it from her and she was none too thrilled.  She dropped to the floor (only after yelling "MIIIIIIIIIINE!") and then she froze.  Some times Libbi doesn't have tantrums - she just freezes and goes boneless.  Those are almost worse.  I basically have to scrape her off the floor (which is no easy task) and sling her over my shoulder.  All the while she is completely limp, it's like carrying a dead fish...only 100 times heavier.  The entire time she has this knowing look in her eyes, just reveling in the fact that there is really nothing else I can do except try to pry her boneless body off the floor without making (any more of) a scene.  

Needless to say, I picked her up and we made one of the quickest exits known to mankind.  Those same employees that were once complimenting my adorable, well-behaved child were now looking at me with pity and (thankfully) understanding!  

I wrestle Libbi into the car, but not before holding her in a death grip because she was trying to walk in the parking lot, trying to buckle her in while she kicked up a storm, and then hearing her scream and cry because I will not turn on the DVD.  By this time, I am a sweaty mess and am totally wishing that I grew my own medicine (not the illegal kind) because that would be far easier than this!  Libbi meanwhile is suddenly content in the backseat and just as happy as a clam.  I hear her growling and talking to someone so I glance in my rearview mirror to see what she's doing.  Imagine my surprise when I see her playing with the dinosaur from the store....the one that she found and that we most definitely did NOT pay for!!!!  I guess in my haste to get her out of the store and into the car, I did not even notice that she was carrying a reptilian accessory.  And all because I wanted to take her on a trip to the store and let her walk....  

Have I mentioned that being a mother is humbling?!?! :)

"The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged."

 Psalm 69:32 (NLT)