Where did August go???

Wow! It's been a busy month. We're sorry we haven't posted sooner! I promise the blog entries will get more plentiful once I'm back at home after the baby comes...it is so hectic working and being a mommy.

August has a been a fun and busy month! I took a girl's weekend with some mom's group friends on the first weekend. We ate, slept, watched movies, and even managed some shopping and spa treatments. It was very relaxing. The rest of the month has been spent getting ready for the baby! I thought that wouldn't be a whole lot of work, but it's more work than getting ready for one! We had to get Annabelle's new room finished and that meant transitioning to a big girl bed...a cute little toddler bed. Annabelle took what was our guest room, so we painted the room and the furniture that was in it. I am still working on getting things for the wall. Annabelle had a few rough days transisitoning to her new room but she is good to go now! Then we had to get down all of the baby clothes out of the attic and wash them and get ready for the baby. There are just a few more small things we need to get done and we will then be ready!

Other times in August have been spent spending time with friends and family. We recently celebrated Goody's birthday. Annabelle's vocabulary and her ability to communicate with us is expanding at fast pace. I'm shocked everyday by the new things she says or does. She loves taking care of her babies, still loves to read, and generally wants to stay at the playground 24/7. She can sing her ABCs and count to 10. Another favorite song is twinkle twinkle little star and Happy birthday. In the morning when she wakes up, before you go into her room, you can hear her singing ABCs and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

September promises to be no less busy with the impending arrival of Annabelle's baby sister. We plan on starting a new blog that fits this new phase in life and we'll send out the link to that when it's time. We are doing our best to get Annabelle ready but I have a feeling she won't really understand until she's here. I think Annabelle's biggest adjustment will be no more daycare. Fortunately, we have her enrolled in preschool which will be two mornings a week. That way, she'll still get some interaction with kiddos her age in a school like environment. I think it's important to get kids socialized and she seems to flourish with this type of thing.

Here are some pictures from this month:
Cleaning up her baby's poo poo (she said it, not me):


Big Girl Bed

Busy July!

Sorry for the delay in posting! It's been a busy month. On the fourth we celebrated with Goody and Poppy with fireworks and yummy food! We attempted to have a party on the 5th, however, rain put a damper on that but did have a few friends over anyway.

Then we prepared for our trip. We were gone Saturday the 12th through Sunday the 20th. We decided to drive and make a fun roadtrip out of it. Surprisingly, Annabelle did really well and all we had to do was reach behind and give her ducks, bunnies or milk or anything else she dropped over and over and over again. We arrived safely in Maine on Sunday afternoon. We went out to eat with Goody and Poppy where Paul enjoyed his first lobster of the trip. On Monday, Jack and Christina and Betty her puppy Boo Boo arrived. We spent the week toodling around the area and even took in a house tour in lovely Camden. We did some kayaking on Tuesday which was interesting being 7 months pregnant. Paul played a lot of golf with Poppy too. The trip also included some lighthouse sightseeing and lots of seafood eating by everyone except for Celeste. Next year, she vows to try lobster! On Saturday we headed home and stopped in New Haven, CT for the night where we walked around the Yale Campus.

Paul had a golf weekend this weekend and Celeste is going on a moms getaway weekend next weekend. After that, we are on the homestretch for preparing for the new arrival! Yes, we have a name but we aren't telling!

Here are some pictures:


Annabelle in Camden


At Owl's Head lighthouse


Jumpin!


Buddies

Weekend in Tampa!

We were in Tampa last weekend to visit Paul's dad for Father's Day. We got in on Friday and came home on Monday. The airplane trip went OK...Annabelle liked kicking the seat in front of her. We did everything we could to stop it. She is definitely into her terrible twos. If she doesn't get her way, we get a scream...and a loud one at that. Once we got to Tampa, we had a good time visiting with Grandpa, Susie and Uncle Jack, too.

On Saturday we went to the Tampa zoo. If you ever get a chance to go to Tampa, go to the zoo! It was great for the kiddos. Annabelle rode a pony and camel and fed a giraffe and some fish. There was also a very large petting zoo. She also enjoyed the primates exhibit and merry go round. On Sunday, we took a walk and fed the ducks. She enjoyed that as well. Later, Susie took her for a swim lesson. Some friends of Grandpa and Susie came over later that day for a Father's day dinner. On Monday, we headed home. It was a fun trip and we think Annabelle really enjoyed all of the animal interaction.

Below are some pictures.

Petting the llama:


On the merry go round:


On the Pony:

Fundraiser!

We've had a couple of more busy weeks. We did the fundraiser for my friend's daughter on June 1 and time has flown by since then! The fundraiser went off great and we raised over $50,000 for Morquio Disease...thanks to those of you who donated! Auntie Mary flew in for the Sex and the City movie and also the fundraiser. It was nice to have her here again!

Last weekend my friend Heather and I did the Susan B Komen race for the cure...we walked it! It was only a 5k, but the heat was killer. We brought along the kiddos and they did OK for the most part. We went to IHOP afterwards which was interesting with two hot, hungry, tired kiddos.

This weekend we fly off to Tampa to see Paul's dad and Susie for Father's Day. Will post about that after the weekend.

In Annabelle news, she moved from the toddler room to the 2s room at daycare. She is now in a room for 2-3 year olds and the difference is noticeable. She already has a lot more to say and LOVES her new room. It seems she is learning from the big kids which is great!

Here are a few pics from the Mad Hatter Tea fundraiser.

Birthday Weekend!

Annabelle had a very busy birthday week/weekend! Tuesday, May 20th was her birthday and daddy wanted her to open her tricycle and golf set right away. She loved both! She celebrated with cupcakes and goody bags with her daycare buddies. Apparently, Annabelle was the only one who didn't eat her cupcake.

On Friday, we had Annabelle's birthday playgroup with all of our mom group friends. Everyone ate and played to their hearts content! Annabelle and her friend Belle celebrated together as their birthdays are close together.

On Saturday Aunt Betty got in from New York. We all went over to Goody and Poppy's house for dinner. On Sunday, all of the prep started for the birthday party. We got the fruit and cupcakes done along with the dips and burgers. We were glad Aunt Betty was here to help! The party started at 2pm just as Annabelle was waking up from her nap. We had most of the Kover clan here, along with a few Crutchfields and Goody and Poppy too! Uncle Mike (Annabelle's Godfather) and our neighbors Chris and Theresa made it here as well. It was a lot of fun and Annabelle got some really nice gifts.

Here are some pictures from Tuesday:

New Tricycle:


New Golf set:

Very Busy Month!

It's been a very busy few weeks! I went to Houston the last weekend in April to visit my newest little Godson, Jackson...then May happens to be, with the exception of the holidays, the busiest month for the Crutchfield household. We celebrate our Anniversary, Mother's Day, and 2 birthdays. This year is extra special because Paul and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Among other things, Paul is rebuilding our deck.

Our Anniversary is May 10th, which we celebrated with a night out to a terrific dinner in Georgetown. Poppy babysat so we could enjoy ourselves sans Annabelle. On Mother's Day, we had brunch followed by a massage for me. Later that night, Goody and Poppy came over for dinner. It was a nice weekend and the weather was beautiful!

On Monday, May 12th we had the ultrasound of baby #2 and found out it will be daughter #2! Paul will definitely be outnumbered in this house!

This weekend we went on a little anniversary get away to St. Michaels, Maryland. Goody and Poppy kept themselves busy with Annabelle back at home! Thanks Guys! The little town is very cute and the hotel was fabulous...probably one of the best we've ever stayed in. We had lovely weahter on Saturday. We did lots of sleeping and some good eating!

Next weekend we celebrate Annabelle's birthday (which is actually the 20th!). The weekend after that is a fundraiser that I'm helping with.

Here are some recent pictures!

I like yogurt!


I like to color!


Paul and Celeste at the Inn at Perry Cabin

Potty Training!

That's right folks! We have started potty training. Annabelle seemed interested in it so we are slowly introducing her to it. So far, she likes to sit on her new Elmo potty but that's about it. Nothing has come out yet.

I am going to Houston this weekend to see my newest little Godson. I wasn't able to make it to the baptism so I am making a trip now! Paul will be on his own all weekend with Annabelle...that's a lot of work! She is a little firecracker these days.