Wordless Wednesday...

The past two mornings Libbi has been sooooo tired that she has fallen asleep while playing.  I mean she literally just. falls. out.  One minute she's cooing and kicking, the next minute she's snoozing and drooling! 


I couldn't help but snap these pictures of her (I'm only a little obsessed!) because she looks so stinkin' cute!!

This was yesterday morning....

...And again this morning!

(do you think she has a favorite sleeping position - ha!)

There's really nothin' sweeter than a sleeping baby....

...except maybe a baby that wakes up SMILING  ;)

Where There's A Will...

...There's A Way!

Libbi has got to be THE smartest 3-month-old I know! She has already learned the virtue of perseverance - ha!


Since the weather is turning cooler and she doesn't like to be covered up, we put her in a "sleep sack" when she goes to bed. She wears her cute-as-a-button footed pajamas, you know, the kind that just makes you want to squeeeeeeze her - and then she wears her sleep sack over them.

Have I mentioned that she is a kicking fool? She will kick her legs and squirm around something fierce! We can hear her pounding her little heels against the mattress as soon as she wakes up (and even sometimes when she's still sleeping!)


Anyway, the other morning when I got her out of bed, I unzipped her sleep sack to change her diaper and noticed something a little odd....

I thought maybe in my middle-of-the-night-not-really-sure-what's-going-on-or-where-I-am-or-what-I'm -doing- fog I forgot to snap her pajamas after changing her diaper.

Um, actually no.


This sweet girl had wiggled her way THROUGH one of the tiny holes in between the snaps! She had kicked her chubby little leg all the way through and let me tell you, she was so proud of herself!


Future Gymnast? Cheerleader? Dancer? Contortionist???


Only God knows....but we hope and pray that whatever she does, she will work hard and never lose the determination and "kick" that she already possesses!

"Not Me!" Monday

Happy Monday!  It's my favorite time of the week....time to confess all the things I did not do!  Feel free to confess your own "not me's" or leave me a comment and let me know something that you did not do....you'll feel so much better getting it off your chest....I promise! ;)....

I did NOT set off the smoke alarm while cooking dinner this week.  I did NOT grab Libbi and make a mad dash into the garage and leave Jeffrey to deal with turning it off (and clearing the smoke) all on his own....

I did NOT get lost going to Paige's house for a play date.  I surely did NOT arrive over an hour late.  I was NOT bringing lunch with me (I'm sure Paige was NOT starving by the time I FINALLY got there).  I did NOT have to call her 5,000 times to help me find her house.  She does NOT live only 10 miles down the road from me...(sorry, Paige!!)

I would NEVER take pictures of my poor baby with a rash all over her belly.  I did NOT take said pictures just to prove to the doctor that it really did exist and that I wasn't losing my mind.  I did NOT drive Libbi crazy by undressing her one million times a day just to see if the rash was still there.  I did NOT bring my camera to her appt. this morning and show her pediatrician the proof in the pictures.  No, I am NOT one of those moms....

I did NOT email my mom and one of my friends (who is a nurse) the pictures of Libbi so they could try to "diagnose" her rash for me late last night.  My mom and I did NOT spend a good bit of our phone conversation discussing how unfortunate the rash was, because it would have been such a cute picture otherwise.  We are NOT that superficial.... (but it really is a cute picture! and she's fine, by the way...)

I did NOT hide on the couch with Libbi in tow when someone rang the doorbell at 8:00 one morning. I did NOT slowly creep upstairs (while shushing Libbi the entire way) to peep out the window.  I did NOT see a van in our driveway.  I did NOT call Jeffrey and tell him to "google" the name of the company on the van.  I did NOT stay upstairs peeping through the blinds until this van left.  I did NOT know that it was just the "meter man" and stay upstairs hiding anyway.

While we were NOT hiding and peeping through the blinds at the meter man,   I did NOT assume that Libbi had full control over her head/neck and allow her to headbutt one of the slats in the blinds, resulting in red mark across her forehead.   Unlike her momma, she is NOT yet skilled in the act of observation through blinds....

Finally, I do NOT hate unpacking so much that I leave my suitcase still packed for as long as humanly possible.  I do NOT continue to "live" out of my suitcase for days on end even after we have returned home from vacation.  I did NOT put off unpacking for so long that Jeffrey finally unpacked my suitcase for me.  There is NOT a full tote bag of Libbi's clothes from vacation still sitting in her nursery floor.  I would NEVER procrastinate so much, especially when it comes to laundry... Nope, Not Me!

Happy Monday from this adorable girl!

Baby Bulldog

It was a close game, but a win just the same!  Libbi was all decked out in her UGA attire, ready to cheer on the Dawgs.  Today she decided to wear the shirt that Aunt Mandie & Uncle Justin (my bro and sis-in-law) gave her for Christmas last year (when I was pregnant and before we even knew she was a girl!) 

Aunt Mandie & Uncle Justin

Here I am last Christmas (12-25-08 ) opening the present from Justin & Mandie...please excuse my cheesy smile....I guess I was just really happy =)

Here is our "Little Bulldog" right before the UGA Game
(09-26-09) wearing the shirt from above...couldn't you just eat her up?!

Oh goody, goody, goody....I just love Game Day!

She loved yelling, "Gooooooo Dogs!"

Libbi was not thrilled when the game was tied.... I had to remind her to keep her voice down when she was yelling at the officials!  Looks like we'll be having a lesson on good sportsmanship early on....

But, thank goodness the dogs pulled through with a last minute field goal...and we had one happy Little Bulldog on our hands!

Wordless Wednesday...kind of...

And....in case you were wondering....I will be otherwise occupied from 8pm-10pm tonight!
Wednesday is my NEW FAVORITE night of the week.

Why? you ask.....

Because of this

and this

Two of my FAVORITE THINGS...

And did I mention that

Wentworth Miller < *sigh* >

will be on SVU tonight?!?!?

Could I be any more excited?

Yes. Actually, I could.

Wanna know why????

SVU is coming on earlier....no more 10pm! Helllllooooo 9 o'clock!!

I am one early-to-bed-girl that is mucho happy about that!!

So, all that being said....or not said (since it's supposed to be "Wordless Wednesday"...oops!) don't be offended if you call between the hours of 8pm - 10pm tonight and you are promptly sent to voicemail. ;)

3 Months and Laughing!

Libbi Jane I can NOT believe that you are three months old today!! Here is a little bit about you in your third month of life:

• You weigh around 15 pounds (to the best of my measurements...I weigh myself without you, then weigh myself holding you...yes, it is just as fun as it sounds!)
  

• You wear size 2 diapers and most of your clothes are sizes 3-6 months. I had to buy you a few more onesies to get you through the last days of summer/warm weather, because all of your 0-3's no longer fit!
  

• You smile all the time now and it melts my heart each and every time. We call you our little flirt, because you are always "making eyes" and smiling at your butterfly and the ceiling fan. You flirt with the two of them all day long! Sometimes even when you're crying, you will lay eyes on that fan and break into a smile. If only I had the same effect on you - ha!
  
  

• You looooove to talk to your Daddy! You will coo and smile and squeal at him like no one else! If I try to join in, you will look at me like I am "interrupting" and then continue talking to Daddy!

• You are trying so hard to roll over from your back to your tummy and I don't think it will be too much longer. You make it from your back all the way onto your side and then run your little legs like there is no tomorrow, but just can't seem to get that last little "oomph" to make it onto your tummy.

• You love sitting up. You like to look around and take everything in. Your head is on a constant "swivel" as you look back and forth and all around at everything you can. I hate to say it, but you are a little bit, okay a lot, spoiled! We are in trouble, because we already can't say "no" to you!
  

• You have been to church and the church nursery (you did great...even better than I did!), you have also been to the grocery store and Target this month. You do NOT like being put in your car seat, but once you are strapped in you are fine and usually pass out in a matter of seconds.

• You took your first beach vacation! You did not like the beach very much, but you sure did look cute in your bathing suit and sunglasses. You are an awesome traveller! You slept the entire drive to and from Florida...only waking up to be changed and to eat. We were very relieved!
  
  

• You are really getting good at sitting in your Bumbo seat! You love to sit in it and watch tv, or the fan or play with your toys. I am so proud of how well you can hold your head up all on your own! I really think you are going to be Miss Independent (despite my smothering - ha!) because you are perfectly content laying on your mat or sitting in your bumbo and just talking to yourself. You do not like to be held all the time.
  

• When you do want to be held, you are such a cuddler! I love it!! You are so squishy and full of so many rolls....I just want to squeeze you all the time! There is nothing I love more in this world than when you put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep, or when you curl your little fingers around mine.
  
  

• You are an excellent eater! You never miss a meal, that's for sure! I love nursing you and the time that we get to spend together just me and you. Here lately you have started to notice that I am actually the one feeding you - ha! Sometimes you take forever to eat, because you keep stopping to smile at me or to talk to me...it is too sweet for words! You also love to rest your hand on my arm while you eat and you curl your little fingers in and out, in and out the entire time you eat. It tickles like CRAZY, but I don't mind one little bit =)
  

• You have decided that you prefer your fingers over your pacifier...this could be a good or a bad thing, we're not quite sure which one....

• And believe it or not, today on your "3-month-birthday" you did something new! You laughed!! It is music to our ears. Even better, I caught it on video!!

Libbi Jane you are the love of our lives and we are so thankful for you every day! Just when we think we couldn't possibly love you any more, we wake up the next morning and we do! My heart is so full of love for you that I think it could burst. Your Daddy and I thank God every day for blessing us with you....we can't wait to see what Month 4 brings!

*video disclaimer....please keep in mind while watching this video that it is content over quality - ha! I was holding a baby with one hand and a flip cam with the other just praying that her face was somewhere in view, not to mention that I was beside myself with excitement....*

Last Year ~vs~ This Year

We had the BEST trip to the beach last week. What a nice, relaxing (much-needed) vacation! It rained quite a bit, but honestly, we didn't even mind! We got to spend some great family time together and Jeffrey got to spend lots of Daddy-Daughter time with Libbi. He loved getting to see all of her good moods and fun times in the mornings and early afternoons that he usually has to miss while he is at work. He is an amazing Daddy and she loves him sooo much! There is nothing sweeter than seeing the two of them together!

While everyone warned us that this beach trip would be "different" from all the others since we were taking Libbi, we couldn't really comprehend how "different" it would be until we experienced it for ourselves. We were fortunate enough to have my parents with us, so I don't think we experienced the full effects of vacation with a baby just yet, because we had two very attentive and eager babysitters grandparents! ;)

I did however notice a few differences in last year's (pre-baby) vacation and this year's (post-baby) vacation. Hence, the title of this post,
"Last Year ~vs~ This Year"

Last Year...We still vacationed with my parents, but I rode down with just my mom and dad while Jeffrey stayed behind to play in a golf tournament and joined us a few days later. We drove my car, but I got to sit "shot-gun" due to my car sickness.
~VS~
This Year... All five of us crammed into my car and I was banished to the backseat (with no leg room) to tend to the baby throughout the car ride.

Last Year... I took two drammamine and passed out as soon as we pulled out of the drive-way. During our one stop to use the restroom, I'm sure people thought I was on drugs, becasue I was so oblivious to everything around me. I promptly passed back out and woke up 6 hours later to the sand and sun.
~VS~
This Year... I was blissfully awake during the ENTIRE 7.5 hours in the car....no drammamine for this breastfeeding momma. During our one stop to use the restroom, I'm sure people thought I was more than a little "trashy" since I had not showered, was basically in my pajamas, had a barefoot baby (who was in only a diaper at one point) and was breastfeeding in a parking lot.

Last Year... I took two suitcases - one full of all my cute beach attire and one full of the shoes and accessories to go with that cute beach attire.
~VS~
This Year...Jeffrey and I shared a suitcase, but we also took a pack-n-play, bouncy seat, box of diapers, boppy play-mat, beach tent and an additional suitcase of baby clothes.

Last Year...I had no problem whatsoever being photographed in my bathing suit.
~VS~
This Year...Everyone was threatened within an inch of their life if they so much even breathed the word, "camera" while I was in my bathing suit.

Last Year...I thought my vacation was "ruined" if there was a day of rain and I had to miss out on getting my tan on.
~VS~
This Year...It rained quite a bit and I could really have cared less. I was outside for a maybe a total of three hours the entire trip. In fact, even on some of the sunny days I CHOSE to stay inside.

Last Year...I brought any medications that I may need, a cell phone, and my cell phone charger.
~VS~
This Year...I forgot all my medication, but remembered the Baby Tylenol and the rectal thermometer. I forgot my cell phone, but remembered my (useless) charger and Libbi's toy cell phone.

Last Year...We loved sharing a room on our first vacation together as a "married couple."
~VS~
This Year...We slept in separate rooms/beds because we were more comfortable that way.

Last Year...We spent all day on the beach, then came in and showered, and went out to dinner when we were hungry.
~VS~
This Year...We planned our entire day around Libbi's schedule. We went to dinner immediately after she was fed so we could be home again before her next feeding.

Last Year...I took maybe 10 pictures our entire vacation.
~VS~
This Year...I took upwards of 400....Jeffrey may have even told me on more than one occasion that I was "embarrassing" him becasue of all the pictures I was taking when we went out.

Last Year...I had no idea what I was missing
~VS~
This Year...I cherished EVERY sweet moment with my baby girl.

Here are a *few* of the pictures from our vacation. Like I said, I took somewhere around 400 (give or take a few)....these are just some of my favorites that I made into collages. I could have posted lots more, but seeing as how this post is already long enough, I figured I would spare you - ha!
(Don't forget, if you want to see them larger, you can just click on them)

"Not Me!" Monday

I have NOT been using sample sizes of shampoo and conditioner since I took them to the hospital with me when I had Libbi...this should NOT be a reflection of how much I actually wash my hair....I have also NOT been using a trial size makeup that I bought during that time, too. Again, this should NOT be a reflection of how often I have been wearing makeup these days....

I did NOT just come back from a week at the beach where I spent all of three hours laying out (for the whole week!) It has NOT been so long since my pasty self has seen the sun that I am NOT peeling after my three combined hours of sun (even after lathering on 30 SPF...)

My husband did NOT ask me when I was returning to work. When I told him "on our anniversary..." he did NOT reply, "oh, on the 17th??" I did NOT re-emphasize, "NO...on our anniversary." He did NOT ask yet again, "I know, on the 17th...right??" ummm....no. Our anniversary is on the 13th....

I would NEVER go an extended period of time without cleaning our bathroom. It has NOT been since the day before our baby was born that it received a good scrub-down. I will NOT mention the date that our child was born for sheer embarrassment of how long it's been (but you can find the date somewhere on the blog if you're really interested...)

I did NOT wash two loads of laundry with what I though was liquid detergent. It was NOT actually just fabric softener. I did NOT deem these clothes as "clean" and wear them anyway...

While out to eat on vacation I did NOT ask my parents to pretend to pose for a picture so I could take a photo of the lady behind them. I was NOT taking her photo because her "coin slot" was in plain view. My parents did NOT happily comply and we did NOT look at the photo later and laugh. I am NOT horribly ashamed about this...and I will absolutely NOT post this picture...so don't even ask!

I NEVER ever pose my sweet baby in pictures...just because I can. I would NEVER use her for my own entertainment....especially while she is sleeping and just an easy target.

Speaking of posing for pictures, my husband NEVER puts special "hats" on Libbi. These hats have NOT included a diaper (it was clean!) or her own bloomers. He does NOT think this is funny....and I do NOT act mad, but then take a picture anyway.

Finally, we are NOT so spoiled by our king-size bed at home that anything smaller just feels cramped. When we went on vacation last week, after sharing the full-size bed for one night, we did NOT decide that it was just too squishy. We did NOT proceed to sleep in separate beds/rooms for the remainder of our vacation just so we could each "sleep better" and be more comfortable. Nope, "Not Me!"

Happy Monday!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to a Makeover!

This post has absolutely nothing to do with the yellow brick road or the wizard of oz for that matter, but it does have a little bit to do with makeovers.... This post is actually for some of my family members that are still confused as to how to become "followers" of my blog. So this is for them. If you are not a member of my family, but you want to read this and become a follower, feel free....otherwise you can wait until the next post (which, by the way, will be about the beach!!!)

I would love to know who reads the blog and I am always so excited when people leave comments....so all of you lurkers and secret stalkers....it's time to come out of the woodwork! - ha! Have no shame....I facebook stalk and blog stalk my fair share of people....I mean, that's what social networking is there for, right?! ;)

Anyway, there are plenty of ways to become a follower (all peer pressure aside), but I think using a google account is the easiest.

Go to http://www.google.com/.

Click on "sign in" (in the top right corner)

Then "Create an Account Now"

After that, follow the directions and set up your google account (all you need is an email account....yahoo, aol, bellsouth, etc....anything!)

Once your google account is created you can come to the blog and scroll down to "Followers"

Click on "Follow" and sign up using your new google account.

Finally, you can read all the posts you want and best of all....you can LEAVE COMMENTS!

See...it's really pretty easy.

Now that you know how, I expect to see comments from you on here (Mom and Dad....this means you!)

If you want to know how to find out when I have updated the blog...well, that is another post for another day (or you can just leave me A COMMENT and ask me how - ha!)

If you have made it this far, thanks for reading and I definitely think you deserve a little treat...so here is a sneak peak at what's to come in the beach post....I promise the beach pics will be up soon and you won't be disappointed....Libbi is happy in most of them - I just couldn't resist this "pouty" face!


Oh yeah....I almost forgot....my blog is getting a "make-over" so look for BIG changes in the next week or so..... Can't Wait!!

Auntie Biotic

Libbi and I had the pleasure of spending some time with my sister, Libbi's Aunt Missie...lovingly know as "Auntie Biotic" (sometimes referred to as "Auntie Septic" or "Auntie Histemine").

As some of you know, Missie has some developmental delays and some mild disabilities, but she is extremely high functioning and VERY independent. The name Auntie Biotic came about because Missie takes quite a bit of medication on a daily basis (or "meds" as she calls them) She is also convinced that she is constantly coming down with something, has a sinus infection, has hurt her back, has bad ankles, and who could forget her "spells" that she has or her heat exhaustion, and my personal favorite, when she pretends to lose her voice....

Anyway, since Missie LOVES Libbi (almost as much as she loves saying she's an Aunt - ha!) we decided to invite her over to spend some time with us. On our first attempt at a get together, I was told that she needed at least three days notice or it "just wasn't going to work" ooookay.
On the second attempt she was all ready to go and then skipped out on work for the day because she was "sick" (surprise, surprise) so she had to miss out on coming over because she lied about being sick.
I guess the third time's the charm, because FINALLY, on our third try, all the stars aligned, Missie's schedule cleared, her health returned and she was ready to come over!

Jeffrey graciously offered to pick Missie up on his way home from work so she could spend the night with us and get to spend some time with Libbi the following day. When Jeffrey picked her up she was a little frustrated because she'd had to go to a job skills class that day. According to Missie, she has no clue why she has to go to job skills class since she already knows all there is to know about jobs! (even though she doesn't really have one...she's technically just a "volunteer" at a nursing home two days a week...)

Little did I know that Missie is also highly informed on all things "baby." In fact, she pretty much considers herself an expert and she did not hesitate to enlighten me with all of her helpful information and entertain me with her insight ALL DAY LONG! Here are just a few of the juicy little nuggets of knowledge that Auntie Biotic shared on this day:

We began with Missie telling me that she knew another baby that was "little as a button" unlike Libbi who is "huge." (her words, not mine...)

The following conversation took place between Jeffrey and Auntie Biotic:
Jeffrey: Missie, isn't Libbi just the cutest baby you've ever seen?!"
Missie: (silence)
Jeffrey: isn't she???
Missie: well....I did know this other baby that was really cute....
Jeffrey: Just lie to us then and tell us that Libbi is the cutest!
Missie: But this baby had curly hair and she was really cute...Libbi doesn't really have much hair....

I was told by sweet Auntie Biotic that she had been "taking care of babies since she was 7" (I tried to tell her that baby dolls didn't count) so it's not a big deal for her to text while she is holding Libbi (aaahhhh!!!) She then proceeded to tell me how she likes to just "sit babies up in front of her and see if they can sit up on their own." I tried to explain that Libbi can barely even hold her own head up, so this sitting experiment was not gonna fly....not to mention the whole safety thing....
She was also concerned because Libbi's feet felt like "ice" and she had heard that "babies are supposed to be kept warm all the time....especially their feet."

Another interesting conversation, this time between Auntie Biotic and myself:
Me: Are you comfortable carrying Libbi downstairs or do you want me to?
Missie: well...I think I'll be okay. I've carried babies down stairs before.....
I have been falling down the stairs 2-3 times a day lately, but I think I'll be fine.
Me: I'll carry her.


I was asked repeatedly to "request her friends on facebook" so they can see pictures of Libbi (Missie does not have a facebook account). She has told many of her friends that Libbi looks like her so obviously they want proof of this....

Finally, one of my personal favorite Auntie Biotic moments....the way she loved to say that "things have really changed over the years" and "they have come out with so much more stuff for babies these days" or "baby clothes just aren't like they used to be..." (Did I mention that she is younger than I am and really has no clue how things "used to be!")

Not only did Auntie Biotic keep me on my toes all day, but Libbi was tickled pink to have her around! We can't wait for her next visit and of course we will make sure to give her at least three days notice! =)
Here are a few pictures of Libbi and her Aunt Missie....

{ Two sweet girls! }

{ IF she takes after her Aunt Missie in any way, I hope she gets the eyelashes...seriously, no mascara - is that fair?! }

{ Libbi loved her Auntie Biotic....she was cracking up the whole time! }

{ I love this one...it looks like they are sharing a laugh over an "inside joke" }

Wordless Wednesday...