Trick or Treat!

We have enjoyed some great family time on this rainy and dreary day! We went out to lunch, ran errands, and played with our girl. We passed out 4 big bags of candy to the neighborhood trick-or-treaters and had to turn out the lights early since we ran out! Our little pumpkin missed most of the Halloween festivites since she conked out at 7:00.
So, we are now watching the Ga Tech vs. Vanderbilt game and enjoying last Halloween of not having a toddler on a sugar high!

Here is our little sweet pea in her costume!

Maybe next year, baby girl!

But don't worry - your mama ate enough mini-snickers for the whole family!

Six Months...

One year ago, I was three months pregnant with our baby girl. We had just gotten back from a trip to Italy where I was the sickest of my entire pregnancy. I still can't smell fresh basil (or the travel soap I used on that trip) without getting queasy. We spent days talking about this child and how thrilled we were to become parents. I knew then how much I would love and already loved the little being growing inside me, but I could have never imagined how fierce that love becomes once you know every noise, every facial expression, every need.

Our sweet Annabelle - you are six months old today!

In this past month, you have shed the last of your infanthood and are now all baby...funny, happy, determined, strong-willed, easily delighted, and so so sweet.

Your favorite hobbies include: making bird-like screeches, eating your socks, swinging in your new swing in our front tree, rolling all around the living room, trying to grab hold of Gabbie and Lucy, riding in your stroller, and laughing at your dad!

Here are a few photos of your day today!

Happy 1/2 Birthday, little one! We can't wait to see what the next 6 months bring!

Yard Sale!

We had a yard sale this weekend trying to sell some older furniture and clear out some of our tiny closets to make room for all of the baby gear! Annablle enjoyed snuggling with Jesse while we sold some stuff and chatted with lots of neighbors.

Enjoying a little down time after the sale ended. Yard sales always sounds like such a good idea, but they are so much work! I am still undecided about whether it was worth it or not! However, we did have some interesting moments...

People actually bought our old VHS tapes.

Several people wanted to buy the old towels (the towels we have for the dogs with chewed up edges) that we had out to dry things off after the morning drizzle. Really? Used, chewed up towels...but you aren't interested in the 25 cent books?

One guy picked up Jesse's travel mug (that was full of coffee) and asked how much it cost. Too funny!

Hope you had a great weekend, too!

It's a good thing he makes me laugh...

Men (especially my man) seem to have it pretty easy when it comes to losing weight. Jesse just thinks about losing a couple of pounds and his pants get too big. Those of you who know Jesse know that he isn't always the healthiest of eaters. He will eat anything healthy that I fix (and usually prefers it), but left to his own devices...things go downhill. His favorite food, which he actually considers to be a "food group" is fried chicken.

Anyway, tonight he was telling me that his weight has gone down about 6-7 pounds in the last couple of weeks. When I inquired to what he was doing differently, here was his explaination:
- He ordered cole slaw (obviously healthy, since it's made from cabbage) instead of mashed potatoes with his Popeye's fried chicken at the Atlanta airport this week.
- He substituted wheat bread for white bread on his sub sandwich.

If only we all had it that easy!

Weekend Fun...

We took a trip to Georgia for the weekend so that Jesse and I could go to the Ga Tech's Homecoming game vs. Virginia Tech. The little one stayed with my parents leaving us baby free for about 8 hours. We definitely missed her (A LOT), but it was so good to have a little time just the two of us (and our 50,000 closest friends) doing something that we have always done together pre-baby. I always love being back on campus, and it was especially great this weekend. It was a good night to leave her since it was FREEZING!

Before the game.

Mr. & Ms. Georgia Tech riding in the Ramblin' Wreck.

Having fun and trying to stay warm!

This is the field after our HUGE win, right before the goal post came down.

Enjoying our win!

We spent the rest of the weekend staying warm inside and having some quality family time!

Trying her first Acorn Squash off Nana's plate - I think she ate the entire piece!

Sharing her toys with Grandad!

Taking a little nap with Daddy.

Some thoughts...

First of all, it is just amazing how quickly babies change! Yesterday Annabelle was rolling onto her tummy and then getting stuck... and today she is rolling in circles all over the place and scooting her little heart out. I am so glad I have been able to have so much time with her to watch all of this developing!

On that note, I go back to work in a little over 2 weeks. I am just sick about it.

I cannot imagine dropping this baby off for the day and not seeing her for 8 hours.

In my head, I know all of the things that make this okay. I know that she will be fine (and thrive, even). I know that I am so blessed to have had 6 months at home with her. I know that she will be right next door, and I will be able to get to her in seconds. I know that I like my job and get a lot of joy from counseling students. I know that going back to work is the best thing for our family right now. I know that lots of families do this everyday. I know that I will have great support at work. All that being said... I am having a horrible time getting my heart on board.

So, now I am just praying. I am praying that the ladies in the nursery will just love her so much. I am praying that I just feel a sense of peace about leaving her. I am praying for her health starting daycare in the midst of flu season. I am praying for the strength to get it together and stop crying every single time I think about it. I am praying that I can get through the first few days of work with a little bit of poise. If you think about us in the next few days, send a couple of prayers our direction!

So, here is to enjoying the last days of maternity leave with my sweet girl and hopefully coming out of all of this a little stronger than before!

Just for fun...

We have been playing on the floor a lot lately, and Annabelle has learned to roll from her back to her tummy. One problem though...the girl cannot figure out how to get back over. She was doing this a couple of months ago, but not any more...now she just cries until I come rescue her.

I found this johnny jumper recently thinking she would love to bounce in it. She hasn't figured the bouncing out yet, but we have been enjoying playing with it anyway! Please excuse my voice...her laughing makes it worth it!

She's Crafty!

I have been admiring the bow holders at a local shop for a while now but I have been feeling like they were just too expensive. Jesse and I are both all about making things for ourselves whenever we can, so I decided to see what I could find.  I bought this cute wooden frog at Hobby Lobby, attached the ribbons on the bottom, and made the perfect bow holder!  Now we just have to get this girl to grow some hair for these bows!

Annabelle and I have been loving the beautiful weather.  I feel like I missed spring this year since I was inside with a newborn and recoving from the fabulous c-section, so I have been treasuring these gorgeous days.  We have had all of our windows open, taken at least one or two long walks everyday, and we have broken out the fall clothes.  Here is our cutie hanging out on the dining room table while I cleaned out her diaper bag.