Lots going on!

I forgot to mention that Annabelle and I started a new class. It's called Blast off for Babies on Tuesdays. It's similar to Gymboree but is more about free play. Gymboree is very structured. I like both! Structure and free play. So, we may have to sign up for a Gymboree class soon. I've noticed that Annabelle gets bored on the weekends. We may have to get a class on Saturday.

We start daycare next week on the 8th. It's actually more like pre-school. She'll be there 3 days a week. I am really loving the working part time thing. It's been a great balance for me.

On Friday I took Annabelle to get her Halloween pictures taken. My, that was an experience. I don't know if I'll try that again until she is able to follow directions like "stand right there" and "smile!" She just wouldn't sit still. She is a little ball of fire.

Yesterday we went to Todd and Blanka's house in Purcelville to celebrate their daughter's, Julia, first birthday. It was nice to see the family and to celebrate the special day with everyone. Pictures are forthcoming.

Here are some recent pictures.

Grandpa Visits

Paul's dad, Jack, came into town this week for business. He is spending tonight with us. He took us to dinner...sweet! After dinner we walked over to the playground and grandpa pushed Annabelle in the swings.

Here are a few pictures from today.

Grandpa and Annabelle:


Mom and Annabelle:

Cutie Patootie

We celebrated Paul's birthday this weekend. On Friday night we just chilled out at home with Paul's choice of dinner...pizza and wine. We decided we would go out for a nice dinner when we get a babysitter. On Tuesday we went out to eat with Goody and Poppy to celebrate. Paul's dad is in town this week too so we will get some celebrating in with him as well.

Annabelle loves to mop the floor....she has seen me do it a million times and now she mimicks me. Here are few recent pics of our girl.

Annabelle in Paul's favorite outfit from Auntie Mary:
"You can't spell Princess without ESPN"


Annabelle ready for her 'skins game!


Cleaning the floor:

No more binkys!

Well, we have decided to phase out the pacifier. She will be starting daycare Oct 8 and I don't want to have to worry about those when she goes. She was only using it for sleeping anyway. We tried it last night...she was fine without it. Whoo hoo!

So, by blogging this I'm devulging some somewhat strange behavior on my part. I like clean feet. I try to do no shoes in the house so I can walk around barefoot. I just don't like the feeling of dirty feet...weird, I know. Well, I have started to wipe down Annabelle's feet before naps so she doesn't get her sheets and/or sleepsack dirty. I've only done it a few times....I promise! Well, she must have picked up on it because she now wipes her feet with baby wipes if she can get a hold of the package of wipes. What have I created????

Annabelle cleaning her feet

Renaisance Festival

Today we went to the Renaissance Festival in Maryland. The weather was beautiful! We also went earlier enough so we didn't have to deal with the crowds too much. Paul threw darts and knives, winning a ceramic mug and beer to go in it.

We enjoyed some archery displays and jousting shows. Annabelle seemed to enjoy it although her nap was ruined and thus ended the day on a cranky note.

Here are some pictures...
Paul throwing darts...


Annabelle enjoying the scenery...

Teething, Tantrums, and Talking...

Teeth update: She has her top front four and the bottom front four. Additionally, she has 3 molars about half way out and the 4th one on the way. That makes a nice grand total of 12 teeth. Only 8 more to go.... :-(
She has actually been taking all of the teething ok. She's had a few days where she seemed a bit fussy, but overall you wouldn't know she had her molars coming in.

Talking, Talking, Talking...she is now saying "bye-bye" and "cheese". I've heard her say "milk" a few times as well. She loves to say "ball" and "shoe." She says "uh-oh" a lot too...most of the time it's at the appropriate time (like dropping something or falling), sometimes it's not.

Tantrums...yes, folks...she throws tantrums. I thought that these things did't happen until the "terrible twos" but apparently that's wrong. If she doesn't get what she wants, she throws herself on the floor and cries a bit. It's so cute...right.

Last weekend Paul headed out of town for some golf and I threw a baby shower for a friend on Saturday. I don't recommend doing that kind of thing with a husband out of town and not available to help. It all went off without a hitch, though.

So far, the working thing is going great. I actually look forward to work and I look forward to my days off with Annabelle. It's been a great balance for me so far.

Here is a pic of Annabelle throwing a tantrum:

Trip to the winery..

It's been a fun few days! On Wednesday we went over to Goody and Poppy's house to celebrate Goody's birthday. Peter cooked and Annabelle ate cake. It was a very tasty dinner.

For Labor Day weekend, Paul and I went to Charlottesville and went to some wineries. Goody and Poppy babysat for us. It was a very pleasureable weekend...as evident in our wine purchases. We went to 7 wineries...Horton Cellars, Barbouresville, Jefferson Vineyard, Sugarleaf Vineyard, First Colony Vineyard, and last but not least, Prince Michel Vineyard.

Annabelle has a new facination with mom and dad's shoes. It is really cute. She trys to put them on all the time. See a pic below.
At the Omni Hotel...


Paul at Prince Michel Vineyard...


I think Annabelle loves shoes!!!!