Spring Has Arrived

We are so happy Spring is finally here!  With Spring comes pollen and we have definitely felt the pollen.  Our allergies have all acted up but that has not stopped us from being outside nonstop, something Miss Libby LOVES!  She could live outdoors and we basically do.  These were taken outside while the Masters played inside on the tv - Sunday Masters, one of Matt's favorite days of the  year!

If we ask Libby where her baby sister is (sissy) she lifts up her shirt and points to her belly. 

We saw this house and had to get it for Libby.  She LOVES it so much!  Matt put it together in a few days, we had to dig a hole, add rocks, sand, and woodchips.  The house is adorable and we're eating outside and just enjoying being outdoors!

I am 35 weeks pregnant. HOW did that happen??  Feeling really good - just getting crowded inside now.  I don't remember feeling this tired with Libby, but then again, when I was pregnant with Libby I could just go home and eat m&ms and lay on the couch watching SATC reruns, and now after work I'm playing with Libs.  Not complaining at all, but I can honestly say we do not sit down until she goes to bed after 8 PM! She is a busy busy bee, and she makes us laugh. 


Only four more weeks of our family of three.  Blessings abound.

How to Cure Libby's Virus?

So I did what every mom does with their 21 month old daughter, we went for manis and pedis.  The ladies love Libby.  She picks out her color, no joke, right when we walk in. She knows what to do.  She literally rides past the nail salon and holds her hands up and says "Nice" - and then looks at her toes.  I have created a precious little monster, but it's times like these that I absolutely cherish and adore!  Sweet girl time that I look forward to having for the next fifty or more years with my little baby girl, soon to be GIRLS!!

Easter Sunday, 2010

We had a great Easter this year, hope everyone else did too.  Libby and I had gotten in from SSI Saturday night, after 10 PM since we had gone home to spend some awesome time with the family and celebrating Baby Jackson's birthday weekend. So much fun!

On Easter Sunday Libby and I slept in until 9 AM and had to rush to get to church.  It was a really neat outdoor service that was held on the lawn, with a brunch, singing and crafts for the children.  Very different and we enjoyed it as we were able to sing and play too! 

Then we headed home for our Easter lunch that Matt made, and it was just delicious!  While he was cooking Libby and I went to the park for a little while - it was SO hot outside.   Libby loves the park, and she loves swinging on her belly now.  It's adorable. I had to put her dress up with my rubber band. :)

We had a great day, took a very long nap and then walked to the park late afternoon for a little while, then home for leftovers.  All in all, a wonderful day with the three (almost four) of us.  Love you all!

JACKSON IS BORN!

Jackson was born at 10:19 AM on April 1, 2010. He is such a blessing and we are all in love with him. So thankful to God for a healthy baby boy to add to our family! He is sooo precious! Melissa is an amazing mom already, it is coming so naturally to her. She just loves little "Jacks" so much (Libby calls him Jacks). So cute. Libby did NOT like it when I held him, not one little bit. She cried and said, No, Mine. I'm a little nervous about how a baby sister in the house is going to affect her. I am just praying so hard for her to be ok. I know she will be, but it's going to be a big adjustment. We are really happy for Melissa and Brad - and we are just loving little Jacks so much. Congratulations my littlest Sissy!!

As always, click the image to enlarge.

Already 32 Weeks, Hard to believe!

I am 32 weeks pregnant with baby girl number 2 - is that not just crazy!?  We cannot believe she'll be here so soon.
 I had an appointment this morning and they checked her out via ultrasound, she is already almost five pounds which put her above average for the weight!  She may be a big baby on May 21.  Also, something I loved hearing, was they told me that her stomach/diaphragm was allowing her to "breathe" well, which showed no signs of distress in the womb and that she is a relaxed baby in there.  I love knowing that.  But, she needs a name.  I find it really funny that I am carrying soooo much different with her than with Libby.  Like, 100% not the same.  I'm all belly with the darling now, and with my Peaches I was ALL over, and by all over I mean, way big.  It proves to me that you can't go by what the Old Wives tales are!! I am just still in shock and feel so happy to know that Libby will have a SISTER.  I am obsessed with my two sisters even though they drive me nuts most of the time!  I don't know what I'd do without the two of them, so I love knowing Libby and baby girl will have each other.  God really gives us what we need/want.  I'm so nervous but really excited about our family growing to FOUR!  Just seven weeks to go!  Insanity that it's almost here.  I'll be posting pics of their rooms soon. Two of my good friends are doing the artwork for each room and I am so honored and excited to see their art in our home!

Seven weeks and counting - thank you Lord for a healthy bundle.  Libby is going to be such an amazing helper and big sister.  I am blessed blessed blessed. I am reminded of that everyday! 

Go DADDY GO! Run Run Run!

So we woke up on March 21 to a cold, rainy and yucky day in Atlanta. Daddy had already left the house to get on Marta so he could be at Centennial Park for his start time. I had to wake Peaches up out of her warm bed so we could be at the Decatur square early enough to watch Matt run by! Once I woke her up and she realized what we were doing, she was beside herself.
Libby - "Daddy run?"
Amy - "Yes baby Daddy is running this morning"
Libby - (making the run motion with her hands and arms) "See Daddy run?"

You get the picture...she was SO excited about going to cheer Matt on for the ING Marathon. She has seen him run just one before, and I guess she honestly did remember that! It was SO cute. She was so excited, so we hopped in the car and headed to the square, about a two second drive. Went and parked and walked to Starbucks, she got her croissant and her chocolate soy milk and we stood outside in the rain and cold to see Matt run by! It was so much fun, watching her cheer and yell for Matt made me cry, then when he ran by, he hugged us and kissed Libby, which made me cry even harder (30 weeks prego at a Marathon was insanely emotional for me!!!) and then when he started running again she practically chased him, she didn't understand where he was going and all she got was a peck on the cheek from her favorite person (besides me) in the world. :) Matt did an amazing job finishing at 3 hours 39 minutes. We were SO proud! We spent the rest of the day at home warm and playing. He's signing up for the Disney Marathon in January 2011 and I'm already counting the days til we get there! Libby and her sister will be at Disney loving it just like I do!

Go Matt!

Trip to SSI to see family-March 2010

This was the weekend of March 6 for Helen's baby shower! We had a great weekend surrounded by loving family and friends. Melissa, my youngest sister, is in the first pic. She is actually having her little boy IN TWO DAYS!! We are SOO excited!
Helen, in the next pictures, is having her baby sometime around April 18! Another BOY!! What blessings and we are all so thankful that these cousins will all be the same age, in the same grade for school, and we are looking forward to a lifetime of memories to be made. I am in constant prayer for Sissy & Helen! April is going to make me burst with excitement at these two little nephews for me and two new cousins for Libby!!! AHHH!!
Libby loves her Granddad Certain, too, as well as Miss Vicki! They make her laugh because they play so sweetly with her. Love you all!!!!

EggCellent Saturday at Church 2010

What a fun Saturday we had last weekend! The weather was semi warm, we were just happy it was sunny and not snowy or raining! We went to the "eggcellent" Saturday at church, it was so much fun. Pops came for the day and had dinner with us, Libby is in love with her Pops, that is for sure!! We had a great day with friends and family and Libby loved the Egg hunt! She loved the bouncy castle the most though!

A Day Off With Daddy

I love this picture of Libby.  Matt had the day off today for the Holiday so they had a big time together.  This was them on their way to Leapin' Lizards for some jump time.  This was after a wonderful breakfast at Evan's where Matt said she was people watching for 20 minutes.  After that they hit up Publix, then the Lizard, then they headed home for lunch and a nap.  Matt is the greatest dad ever.  I am so lucky and so is Libby to have him!  Thanks Daddy for a great day off together!

SNOW SNOW SNOW!

Libby was a big fan of the snow this weekend! She had a great time playing in it and thankfully we were able to just stay home and be together. No cabin fever, really b/c the roads were cleaned and salted and we were never really stuck there so that was nice. I love my little family more than anything in the world and I am just so thankful for the simple days we share together. I am so very blessed. Libby is the most precious child and we fall in love with her more and more every single day!! She is so funny - lately her communication skills have really blossomed. She repeats everything we say and she can respond to our questions. Matt and I both feel that we are able to talk to her and she really does understand. It's so much fun to be able to know what she's thinking and know what she wants now. Our little girl has turned into a real toddler! She speaks very clearly now with certain words (not all, of course) but she’s learning so much all the time. We are so proud of you, Elizabeth Parker Certain!

We still have not chosen a name for Libby’s sister, I think we are just going to wait until she’s born because we really can’t decide. If any family members have any name suggestions that are part of our family please email to me b/c we are definitely doing a family name. We have a few that we’re thinking about but nothing set in stone. I’ll be at the doc this week and they’re going to schedule the c-section this week so we’ll know her birthday soon! I am feeling good still – very tired and I love the weekends. I love them because I am home with Libby and Matt, which is where my heart is. I love them because I can nap with both of them, too. I am really tired in the afternoons and this work thing is not for me anymore. I am staying positive because I know this is how it is for now and I am thankful to have this job but I no longer have a passion for my career. All I care about is the safety and well being of my child, soon to be plural, and of course my husband. I long for the day when I can cook dinners and do laundry during the day and have playgroups and paint and color and read to the babies. I am just a MOM now! These are just such precious years and I am enjoying her to the fullest. She makes me laugh, her personality is so funny and quirky. Last night she literally ran in circles in the kitchen naked after her bath. For ten minutes. Then she got her purple ball and screamed, “READY” as loudly as she could so we played ball for an hour. She is so sweet, she cuddles all the time and just wants to be loved on. I don’t deserve her but I am so thankful God gave her to me! Matt and I only want the best for her and the love we have for her cannot be described! Having two is going to be so much fun – twice the love and twice the fun to be had. They will be best friends and I cannot wait to experience two little girls.



Here are some pictures for you all to enjoy. Love!

 pointing and telling matt where to throw the snowball

 laying in bed before school watching super why having a vanilla milk

 assessing the snow situation

 blurry but she was so excited about her valentines day party at school.  excited, until i left her there solo.  hurts my heart.  uggghhh....

look daddy i have a snowball too!  it was so cold!

January 2010

Is January really over?  When did it start? I can't believe how fast time is flying by.  That must be my mantra as I say it every single day - but wow!  When I was younger I never realized how quickly life goes by.  Here we are in the second month of the year already, and I can't believe it.  The past few weeks have been hectic and very hard.  We have been making some changes in Libby's daycare options and for the time being, we're set.  We are in a very temporary situation until May when her sister arrives, and my heartstrings have been torn at, ripped at, and broken at times, too.  But, as usual, God is absolutely giving me strength to make decisions with my sweet husband and pray, pray, pray. That is all one can do.  Our situation has really allowed Matt and I to grow as parents and as a couple.  Daycares in Atlanta are HARD to come by because of the wait list - as are good, reliable nannies.  Nothing beats a mom being able to stay at home but until that day comes for our family, we're doing the very best we can for our Libby.  We are on wait lists for some amazing places that I am actually very excited about!   Here's hoping the next few months fly by quickly, and without incident.

This is a picture of Libby and I at the mall the other day.  We had just had a root beer float.  She ate most of it, and when I tried to get some, it was "Nooo mama it's miiiiiiiiiiine!"  Scary.

Here we are heading to the park - the temps reached 48 and you would have thought it was 90 degrees outside based on the crowd outside.  We are all so ready for warmer weather it's not even funny!  Bring it on!

Baby Girl #2 is going to be a mover and shaker just like her big sis!  She's all over the place these days, I am once again housing a human jungle gym.  We haven't decided on a name, we're going to just wait until her birthday.  However, Libby is calling her "Sissy" - and that is with the most adorable little lisp.  Matt and I are toast with two adorable daughters.  We've completely replaced ourselves, and that is just the way we like it.  Thank you Lord, for continuing to watch over us and I thank you today for good FRIENDS.  I have really been able to lean on a few wonderful friends up here and today, I simply feel very blessed.

A few minutes in our house...

As always, click the image to enlarge.

Yellow Yogurt

Here is a little video of Libby trying to say "yellow yogurt."

Enjoy





As always, click the image to enlarge.

22 WEEKS!

Well, today I am 22 weeks pregnant!  It is so hard to believe how quickly this is going by.....we are so happy. Yesterday I had another appointment and all looked good.  She is moving alot, constantly, and I am savoring each little kick and punch because for now, she is safe and she is all mine.  In May I'll have to share her with the world but not for now!  Her sonogram picture from a few weeks ago was so cute - she has my feet bless her heart!  I cannot wait to meet her and see my two daughters interact.  I still can't believe my Libby will have her very own sissy.  I am so happy and blessed beyond measure.

Libby Libby Libby - our little amazing PRINCESS!  She gets sweeter every day!  I know I sound obsessed, and that's fine because I pretty much am.  I am just amazed by her.  Her new words include:

Taint Chu - Thank you
Nana - Banana
Cheeths - Cheese
MoA - More
ReaTeee- Ready
Set-Set
Go - Go!
Waatr - Water
Side - Slide
Sing - Swing
Peas - Please
Yaaah - Yeah
No - NO
Mine - MINE

These last two are VERY easy to decipher.  She wakes up and says, NO, MINE.  It is so funny and so normal but wow....she says it all the time.  Last night I heard her say No in her sleep!  Not kidding.  I love that child.  And of course she does her signing still and is very good at that.  More, No More, Milk, bye bye, hi, etc.....it's very helpful!!

Her language is really developing.  She is repeating things that we say all day long and she is really understanding and grasping what we say.  It's like all of a sudden, she gets it.  Almost 19 months old, it's absolutely insane to me how big she is.  Her 18 month doctor appointment went very well, she's gaining weight normally and she's going to be tall like her Daddy!!  She has grown over two inches since 15 months.  She's eating pretty well, her favorites this week include bananas, black beans and Pirates Booty chips.  She loves Mexican and not sure where she got that from - yeah right! 

We love playing with the ball, she'll say "ready!?" and grab my hand with one hand and have the ball in the other, and we'll roll the ball down the hall for hours!  She still loves to be outside, sometimes we'll just go out and walk the neighborhood talking and picking up leaves and pinecones.  It is a very simple life, and I am so happy and thankful for these small things and life's tiniest little pleasures!

It has been arctic here for a month, but just this week we have had a break and the temps are in the 50s and 60s so we've been outside as much as possible.  Today though, it has been rainy so after work we'll head to Leapin' Lizards, another jumpy place.  I'll post come pix tonight.  Love to all!

Baby SISTER!!!

We are so happy and feel so blessed to announce that Libby will be getting a little sister in May! AHH! We are so very excited. Friday was our appointment for the anatomy ultrasound...this pregnancy is just flying by. It snowed last Thursday night with loads of ice and sleet, so most companies and offices were closed, or you were given the option to stay home. Our nanny wasn't able to make it in on Friday morning due to her icy situation so we took Libby with us to the Doctor. I was a little nervous but she did perfectly and it made so much sense to have her in there with us. The tech asked if we wanted to do the anatomy first or the gender, and of course we said gender - and wouldn't you know, she grinned at Libby and said, "It's another girl!" - we had some squeals and a few tears and a very happpppppppy moment to relish in the fact that we will have two daughters! I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out this time, we didn't with Libby but for some reason I was just so curious to know what the family dynamics would be this time - and we are so happy to know now!!! Of course, having a boy would have been great but I'm so excited that Libby will have a sister!!


Baby Girl #2 is looking very healthy and we cannot wait to meet her. I'm measuring to be 21 weeks pregnant, so I'll hopefully and God willing be able to deliver her the middle of May. So hard to believe, that will be here so fast. We are still thinking of names - we're getting close to deciding I think and hope!

Libby is going to be an amazing big sister. She'll love having someone around and she has such a sweet countenance so I have faith that God will help us with the big adjustment. Baby Girl #2 is kicking all the time, and it's really fun to feel those movements, I loved it with Libby as well. Thank you Lord!