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ANSWERS! (Part One)

Several of you asked the same questions, so instead of copy/pasting each individual question related to that topic, I am going to answer in categories.

HOME PICTURES

Alrighty, so many of you want me to do a home tour of my home and my mom's. There are several pictures of my house (and hers) floating around on this blog, but there isn't one post devoted to it solely. I may do a video blog (VLOG, BABY), of my house and hers if that is something y'all would be interested in. Just let me know and you can see our homes and hear my little hick voice.

MONEY

Wowza!! SO MANY of you asked about this, which kind of made me laugh. But then I realized that a lot of you are facing the same situation as we are (with schooling) and you are truly interested in how we do it and how I am able to stay home with Levi. Totally understandable! :)

First of all, Husby and I are planners. We planned for this a six years ago. When we first got married, we knew that when Husby went to Medical School, we would likely start a family during the middle of it and knowing my desires, I would want to be home with that baby. Husby was a Forensic Scientist - Drug Chemist for two years straight out of undergrad, and I worked at an insurance company. For those two years, we lived completely on his salary and we saved mine. We tucked it away so that we could not touch it until we absolutely needed it.

He started Medical School and I got a new job at that time AT the school. I worked for his first two years (we lived on that, of course) and then had Levi right before his last two. I quit my job and we whipped out that savings and lived on that for these last two years. When it ran out, we took the "living expenses" loan from the school, typically taken out from Day 1 for most students. In a nutshell, we are glad we did what we did six years ago! :)

Concerning Mom's Holiday Budget:

This is something I do not know at all. I do know that she gets lots of steals and deals at Hobby Lobby and that saves a lot of cash. Some of you wanted to know what she does with the things from each previous year and concerning the decor, she reuses it. Concerning the table decorations, she gives them away. My mom is one of the most generous people in all the land.

BOTTLE FEEDING

I remember you mentioning FOREVER ago how you bottle-fed Levi as opposed to breastfeeding him. As a fellow bottle-feeder, I would love to know why you chose that for your family. I feel like all I ever hear is "why you should breastfeed", but never hear anybody talk about "why it's perfectly acceptable to bottle-feed". (Which is my opinion) I'd love your opinions as well! :)

I nursed/supplemented/pumped for four days with Levi. We had our fair share of problems with the whole shebang. I cried and cried and felt like it was something I HAD to do. After a doctor's appointment one day when I was made to feel like The Worst Mom On Planet Earth from Levi's pediatrician because of my nursing problems, I burst into tears right in front of her and could NOT stop sobbing. I looked over at Husby and his jaw was clenched and my Mom had steam coming out of her ears. We left the appointment and my Mom took me by the shoulders in the parking lot and had a heart to heart with me. She encouraged me, and point blank told me that how I feed my child has nothing to do with being a good mother or not. Then and there, I decided to solely bottle feed Levi and I can honestly say it was the best decision for our family for so many reasons. Levi thrived and did not have one problem with formula. All this to say, IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE TO BOTTLE FEED and you should not feel bad about it in the least. You have to do what is best for you and for your child. And no one else can tell you what that is.

Oh, and Levi was quickly switched over to a new, awesome pediatrician. :)

BOOKS

What are your favourite books and what genres do you like to read?

I love to read, and I really like all genres. I'm not too picky as long as it's clean. I recently finished The Help and that was captivating for me. I absolutely loved it. That's probably my most recent favorite. I'm also taking recommendations on new books to read.

HOUSE Q's

I did want to know how many guest bedrooms/bathrooms your moms house has. I know we live in totally different worlds but my guests sleep on a fold out couch in the living room and use our 1 bathroom. (although along with clean towels I've started buying little gifts like your mom does)

When my brother and I were living there, they had one guest room. Now, there are three since our rooms are free. There are two guest bathrooms. One is a half bath.

I'll second the book reading question as well, but also do you do any gardening at all? I know if you did you'd probably post pictures but your house LOOKS like it has a garden somewhere.


I am NOT a gardener, though I wish I was. My grandma is the most incredible gardener I know! Husby does the flower bed and he recently overhauled it and it looks awesome. I wish more than anything I had a vegetable garden, though. That would be so amazing!

Expanding the Family

Several of you want to know when we want more kiddos! We decided long ago that we would not begin thinking of child #2 until Levi was two and until Husby was in and established in residency (paychecks should never be underestimated). No, we are not currently trying for a baby. :) We are waiting for a few things before we give Levi a sibling, considering the wildly crazy intern year Husby (and I) will go through next year.

HUSBY

Husby is going into a Family Practice residency that begins July 1 (our anniversary). !!!!

HODGE PODGE

When you realized your husband was "Mr. Right" how exactly did you know? I am so scared I will make the wrong choice one day....

Whew, that's a toughie! It sounds cliche to say, "I just knew", but really, after a year of being friends and several years of dating, it DID just happen that way. It was a slow realization though. The real kicker was when I would think "could I live happily and contently without him?" -- the answer was always a BIG FAT NO!!! So, then I knew. And, I poured a LOT of prayer into that question. A lot.

:)

Okay, there's the first installment. I will answer the rest later this week (hopefully!) :)
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. A vblog would be awesome of your house and your moms! Sounds kinda creepy but you two have such beautiful homes we all want to see them :] ha

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  2. I totally agree with you about bottle feeding. I couldn't feed my oldest as he was premature, but I breastfed my second child for 5 months because it was the 'right' thing to do. I hated it and I can honestly say that it negatively affected the bonding process. I wish I hadn't worried so much what people would think of me! With my third baby, I was sitting up late one night having had her attached to me for the better part of three days and I just thought 'I'm not putting myself though this again'. I decided then and there to bottlefeed and it was definitely the best decision for us.

    If we had another baby, I would definitely bottlefeed from the outset because I know how I respond to breastfeeding, but for a first baby I think it never hurts to give it a go. You can always stop if you don't like it.

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  3. get your Vlog on gurl!!!! Can't wait to see the pics!

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  4. I appreciate your honesty, especially on issues such as money, breastfeeding etc etc. :)

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  5. A Vlog house tour would be awesome! I'll totally reciprocate :)

    (although where on earth did you get the idea you sound like a hick???)

    Also, I figured your old bedrooms were guest bedrooms now, just I think you mentioned your parents built their house? So knowing your mom loves to entertain I wasn't sure what the situation was.

    You should TOTALLY start a veggie garden!! I LOVE gardening with kids, and teaching them how fruits and veggies grow. Plus garden fresh veggies are a whole different level of fresh!

    I read like crazy, I'll pass on any books I think you might like.

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  6. This was fun to read. I enjoy your blog so much.

    Congratulations to your husby on Family Practice. I have many FP dr friends and a few of them run a residency (forget the term right now) and it's becoming less and less that medical students are willing to do FP! I have a feeling that he's going to be a great FP dr (our area needs some good ones so too bad he won't be here).
    And for the person who questioned bottle feeding...I second everything that you wrote. Being a good mom has NOTHING to do with how you choose breast or bottle. I wish I would have had your mom to tell me that with my first.

    Christi

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  7. I had very similar experiences breast feeding our daughter. I lasted 6 weeks but felt like I was having to perform a magic show at every feeding. It was exhausting, I was feeling resentful of hubby and my daughter and I knew that wasn't right. We switched over and never looked back!

    It really grinds my gears when people judge other moms for formula feeding. Its a personal decision and I did not hurt my child by making the best decision for our family!

    I'm glad to see that you're somewhat of an advocate for all of formula feeding mamas!

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  8. I have also recently read The Help and loved it! I grew up in South Africa during apartheid and so it was particularly interesting to see the parallels between the US then and South Africa in the 80s and 90s.

    Thanks for a great blog! :-)

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  9. Congrats on finishing med school to you both! And YAY for family practice- my husband is graduating in June from a family practice residency! Good luck with intern year. Hopefully with the new hour restrictions it won't be as bad. Thanks for answering the questions. It's always fun to get a glimpse into someone else's thoughts.

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  10. I always love Q&A posts. I want a small vegetable garden, but without the work. Maybe I'll buy a topsy turvy tomato thing. Or just raid my parents' garden. Ha!

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  11. Thanks for answering our questions Whitney! My husband and I have been having the one income discussion here lately because I want to stay at home when we have children, which we're hoping to start trying for in about a year from now. I think that living on one income and saving the other is very smart and was obviously a good move for your family. I really pray that we'll be able to be successful in this area as well :)

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  12. ahh, got to love getting the kid question all the time!

    I'm guessing he'll be doing the In His Image residency. My mother in law went through that one and loved it! Truly a great program.

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  13. Thanks for the breastfeeding answer. I went through a very similiar experience when a very rude pediatrician tried to make me feel guilty for not solely nursing/pumping for my premature child. I almost lost it, and my mother stepped in and said "enough is enough". She was backed up 100% by my ObGyn. I thank God for mothers that have enough sense to set their hormonal, stressed out, exhausted, new mother daughters straight :)

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  14. I want to see this Vlog!
    Also, I read The Help not too long ago. It was amazing!!! I recommend Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. It's hilarious and clean, and I thought it was much better than the movie. Her other books are funny too, but not as clean.

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  15. Thank you so much for the answer about bottle/breast feeding. I've been trying to decide whether I should switch to the bottle for my daughter, and it's so good to hear someone say "it's okay."

    I loved The Help too. I was totally hooked from page 1 and couldn't put it down. I've had a hard time finding a book to read lately. If you come across anything good, let us know!

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  16. My husband is also a student (working on his PhD) and I am able to stay at home with our daughter too. My husband is able to student teach while he's in school which brings in some money, plus we get a parent grant that helps supplement. On top of that, I watch my friend's daughter during the week (she's the same age as my daughter) because her parents work full time and they pay me for that so between all of those things we are able to get by.
    It's hard, but I love reading your blog, your story is so similar to ours!

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  17. Love all of your answers. I can't wait to see pics of your home and your moms! Even though I don't actually know you and your hubs, he seems like the type that would be wonderful in family practice. Those docs just have such a wonderful bedside manner and great personalities, which you describe him as having. Such a great thing!! Congrats!

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  18. I am so happy your husband chose Family Practice!! I've seen my family doctor since I was six, I'm now 32! We were his first patients at the practice he was first at and followed him when he started his own practice. I've heard not many MD students choose FP anymore, so I think it's awesome your husband did! He will be great and many, many families will be blessed with a great Doctor!

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  19. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Money can be such a personal thing but appreciate you giving us some answers :-)

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  20. I have a ? for next time. You own your own home if I recall correctly. Did you buy that at the beginning of your marriage. I don't remember seeing anything about your home purchase/packing/moving etc.

    thanks
    Ro

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  21. Yes on the Vblog - love your hick voice ha

    Agree with your mom on the nursing - have to do what's best for mom and baby and you are a great mom

    Love your $$$ strategy - very mature decisions

    Hobby Lobby is the best -

    Also I'm waiting for the rest of the Love Story :0)

    Side note: your support of your hubby and lack of whining when it is tough is refreshing!

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  22. Whitney, I just wanted to say that your blog is one of the few that I read regularly. It is always nice to read your posts and you seem like a really genuine, honest and friendly person. Keep up the good work :D

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  23. Oh I can't wait to see the vlog on your & your moms house!! Work on that PRONTO!! :) :) Yay for Husby's graduation!!

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  24. Vlog of house would be awesome! I am one of your readers that loves the pics of you and your mom's holiday decor. Your mom's tablescapes are truly amazing!

    And not that you don't hear this enough, Levi is the cutest boy!!

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