Before the baby craze hits...

Merry Christmas! We have just celebrated Libby's 3rd Christmas and it was so much fun!
Santa came and Libby was very good this year...but a little confused because for the past 9 months we have been telling her that baby brother would be here when Santa Claus comes...and we thought he would.

My due date was Wednesday the 22nd and he has yet to make his debut...unless something happens tonight we are going in tomorrow morning to be induced. I have mixed emotions about being induced, however I am confident in the decision we made in waiting until after the due date and letting God be in charge of the event...Libby was born a week early so I guess I assumed with this being a second baby he would come early too...shows how much I know.

We have been busy with Christmas and preparing for baby brother there has been very little down time.
Robert, Zoey, NaNa and the boys are all in town so, they will get to meet the baby right away and Jane will arrive on my birthday to spend a long weekend and help out. Mimi says this is the longest pregnancy ever (I think it is because we lived with them all summer and you know the saying about a "watched pot")

It has gotten to the point that I have to send a text saying I am not in labor, but I am about to call...because whenever they see our name on caller id they expect big news and when I call just to chit chat, it is very anti-climatic.

I just wanted to post a few more pics of the house and Christmas because soon it will be baby mania and who will have time to care about the house?!?

This is the view from our breakfast table - it is like watching the discovery channel...

squirrels, geese, ducks, a blue heron, people running on the golf trail with their dogs and those die hard golfers that are golfing rain or shine...I must say I am thankful I married a duck hunter and not a golfer...

Duck hunting has a short season but golf goes on year round.

Libby's "playground"

Where we spend the most time and one of the most "finished" rooms in the house, the den.

Libby's big girl room, the nursery, and the office are next on the list...

Libby - so grown up - look how long and skinny her legs are - no baby fat in sight!

So sad!

NaNa, Nathan and Libby - waiting to open presents

Jeremy, Uncle Buzz, and Pop - solving the world's problems.

Libby playing with Nate and JP's paper jamz...this present was the hit this year.

True, I have been a terrible blogger....but I have an explanation...

Okay, I have heard it from friends and family...everyone is tired of the Christmas in July post that has been up way too long with out any updates and I feel bad. I really do, but I feel like I have some great excuses.

 - we moved (while I was 7 months pregnant)
 - our computer is somewhat on the fritz - we got a quote from Dell for it to be fixed, however a call to India is not on the top of our priority list...
 - Libby is officially potty trained! (that took some time but I am so glad we are there)
 - I am very pregnant - baby boy is extremely strong  - this pregnancy has been tougher on me, having a toddler is not the most leisurely life (as most of you know)
But I feel pretty overwhelmed with trying to get things done for Libby's big girl room, the baby's nursery, making the new house more of a home, nesting, and Christmas - whew...just typing that sentence made me tired...

We spent the summer with Mimi and Pop (four months to be exact)...It was great; and after we moved out in September, it was nice at our new house with plenty of room - but it was quiet and we definitely missed them. We are 5 minutes away, but I got used to the adult company during the day and all the help with Libby. We moved out in late September and have been loving our new house.
I will post pictures soon...

Libby is very excited about welcoming her baby brother into the world...she knows that he will be here about the time Santa comes (or at least we are hoping he stays put that long).
She is extremely maternal and is obsessed with babies (not sure if that will be good or bad)...

Libby also started mothers day out this fall and LOVES it, I also enjoy the free time although I rarely take the time to relax...I have been blessed to be busy with clients and the house, so the days she is in school I am usually pretty busy myself...

Duck season is officially under way and Jeremy has been hunting twice - they had a great time and killed lots of birds - we are not sure what the next few weeks will bring...so I am I glad they have had a few good days of male bonding and shooting things.

I am planning to blog again soon with pictures of the house...until then enjoy the random pictures in this post!

Libby on her first day of school

Feeding the goats at the Church fall festival

(we now expect to see goats every Sunday)

Kitty cat for Halloween - her favorite part was the tail.

Planting pansies with Mimi at the new house.

Coloring with Callie & Mary Eliza on Thanksgiving

reading lots of books with Uncle Russell

Christmas in July

Since we are going to have a new addition to the family around Christmas and we were able to do a little celebrating last week when we found out that we are going to have a baby boy.

After finding out the big news we went to buy the baby a few things to "celebrate"

We couldn't believe how much we had to look before we found something we really liked.
I never realized how convienent it was to shop for Libby...let the search begin!

This is Libby the day of her birthday party - we are hoping there is this much excitement when her baby brother arrives!

A visit with my yankee cousins*

Jane (Janie), Julia (Ju Ju) and Maggie (Maggie Moo Moo) left Memphis today. This trip was unlike any other in that we were living with mom and dad during their almost 2 week visit.
It was great to wake up, go downstairs, have coffee with my mom and sister on the patio and watch the girls whine, fuss and be dramatic play together.
All kidding aside, it was great. They had their moments but the true test was today when we woke up and the house was quiet and frankly we were bored and missed them already.
Libby asked about them first thing this morning...and Jeremy missed not being greeted at the door by 3 squealing little girls after work.

They made it back to Ohio safely after a 9 hour drive, Jane is brave, I will give her that. Here are a few pics Jane took while they were here.

JJ and Maggie Moo Moo

A stare down with Aunt Janie

Swinging on the back patio

A day trip to Dundee at Jana's house

Sharing Mimi

This is what our mornings looked like.

Mimi brought out the perfect surprise for the girls...slippers that made the noise of the animal
LtoR - sheep, pig & chicken

This is story time with Pop

Serious concentration from all - Please note the title of the book: I was so mad
I don't think it is just by coincidence that Julia picked that book to read - Libby likes to invade your personal space, and Julia did not cope well.

* This post title reminds me of all of my cousins who would refer to us as their "yankee cousins" while we lived in upstate New York. We did acquire an accent, but not for long.

Motherhood has it's moments...

July Fun

We had a fun-filled 4th with Nathan, Jonathan, Robert, Zoey, NaNa and Papaw.

We rented a cabin in Heber Springs and celebrated the 4th together. We ate lots of food, went swimming & found lots of bugs (this was THE highlight for the boys and Libby).

It was great spending time together and seeing the kids interact.

Nathan and Jonathan are so sweet to Libby loved being around them. Here are some pics from the 4th and a few extra I included:

swinging by myself on Mimi and Pop's swing set

Libby accessorized to go help Mimi get the recycling bin -

*accessories include: apron, purse (including lipstick, 2 cell phones & mirror) & baby with bib

J.P., Nate and Libby swinging at the cabin in Heber.

Eating popcorn & watching a movie with the boys

About to make a mess...

Sliding with JP

Summer time!

Summertime has brought us almost unlimited entertainment...I say almost, because this heat is pretty much torture, but besides the scorching heat we are having so much fun with Libby.

This summer is so different because last summer Libby was not walking which is hard to believe because she seems like such a big girl now. This summer we can run though the sprinkler, catch lightning bugs, go down the slide, go to the sprinkler park and so many other things. Sometimes I think Jeremy and I are having more fun than Libby. Watching her experience things for the first time has been a great perk to parenthood.

Here are just a few pics of what we have been up to!

Watermelon is hands-down my favorite fruit.

T.T., NaNa, Mamaw & Libby Lu

Swimming with Ansley

Playing in Pop & Mimi's backyard...

So cute.

Driving the boat at Sardis

If I am not swimming in the water, the next best thing is bobbing for ice cubes...

Having a great Father's Day on the lake!

Fiesta Forever!

We just got back from a great vacation in Playa Del Carmen. We had such a good time and I am sad that our vacation has come and gone so quickly! There were plenty of things for Libby to get into. She LOVED the pool the airplane and the biggest hit was the "bus"  (the shuttle that took us to the resort from the airport).

Here are a few pics from our trip...

Mimi, Libby and Pop riding the "bus" into town.

My favorite time of day - when I get to have a pop-pop...

Mimi and Pop enjoying the pool.

Normally I am a beach girl - If there is sand and water, I am under the umbrella on the beach.

However, this vacation with Libby was different. The pool was so awesome with lots of shallow space, and lots of people watching, and perfect for a little one.

Momma and Libby enjoying our version of "happy hour"

Libby and Pop walking

Daddy and Libby taking advantage of the swim up bar.

Another big highlight - the jacuzzi tub on the balcony.

It is where Libby bathed every night.

Bathing beauty

Daddy and Libby exploring on the beach.

Russell and Callie were another crowd favorite.

They were so helpful with Libby and she loved spending time with them.

View from our villa

Bath Time!

Libby enjoying her "bus" ride while Daddy sleeps.