Halbach Homestead

Annabelle in December

2009-12-18T07:40:00.000-08:00

Hyatt Lost Pines

2009-11-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

I know 3 posts in one day!! It is partly due to a full nights sleep last night!! No Annabelle isn't quite there, but we have had some 7 hour stretches at night lately.

Ben and I took an overnight get away to Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, without Annabelle! Huge step, but I didn't realize how needed it was until we got there and had an hour long conversation without any interruptions!

It was such a great time to just be together, we got to talk alot, pray together, play frisbee golf, go on looong walks, pet horses, eat wonderful food, sleep in, get in the hot tub, drink wine on our balcony, do some planning, review our budget, all in 28 hours! It was so productive and relaxing!

Ben's parents came and stayed with Annabelle and she was great for them! And I only called a few times to check in.

We decided we needed to do this twice a year, it is just a good way for us to check in and get some great time together. Plus we loooove this resort! It is 30 minutes from our house, but feels like a world away! We are already ready to go back!

2 months old

2009-11-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

We are propped up on the chair!

And starting to slide
I cannot believe 2 months have past since our Sugar Plum, as we have nicknamed her, entered the world. I heard it goes by fast, and it sure does! In the last month Annabelle has learned to smile when she sees us! Will coo and even laugh when smiling. She has found her hand and will try and suck on it when she is hungry. She loves her bouncer and kicks her little legs which make the toys dance which she loves to watch! She has also begun to cry and it can get loud when she is hungry or tired....but come to think of it, I get cranky when I am hungry or tired too!
We just love her more and more each day.

She was looking at me as I tried to make her smile and Ben took the picture.

We couldn't capture one in this photo shoot....we will have to try again later.

But she sure looked cute in her new red dress from grandpa!

lately...

2009-11-10T16:12:00.001-08:00

Halloween: Ben is an obnoxious UT fan wearin everything brurnt orange in his closet. I am a new mom, with curlers in my hair, wearing pjs and a robe which Annabelle helped complete the costume with spit up! Kingston is the largest bumble bee you have ever seen and Annabelle is a ballerina. We only last 15min at the neighborhood halloween party because Annabella was screaming the entire time, turns out she was just hungry. But it wore me out so I was in bed by 9pm. We just left a basket of candy on our porch for trick or treaters!

Picnic at the capital!!! Here is our little family. Besides the perfect weather, the friends at the picnic are what made this so fun! Plus we got to see Dad in the middle of the day.

Here are all the dads holding their kiddos. Not quite sure why we didn't get a picture of the moms. We must of been trying to eat while our hands were free!!

Annabelle Ballerina

2009-10-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

Annabelle's playgroup meet at the pumpkin patch today all dresses in their halloween costumes!

1st month of life!

2009-10-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

Pictures!!!

Our first outing when Annabelle was 2 weeks old! Fun with Friends Reed & Aubrey, Ellie & Clarie and Amy!

Sleeping Beauty

On our way to church
Our furture Longhorn

I am one month old!!

New outfit from Gigi

I don't like my flower headband

But I do love my waa-wee

Ok Ok we aren't waiting anymore.....

2009-10-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Just really really sleep deprived! Thus the lack of posting since Annabelle's birth!

I want to post alot of pictures and for whatever reason this blog wants to post them all out of order and give me a major headache. So in the meantime you can see pictures of Annabelle's birth-day and her 1 week newborn photo shoot on my Friends Cat's blog:

www.peacock-photography.com

Click on Portraits site, Clients and the password is 090909

The past 3 1/2 weeks have been filled with family, visits and dinners from friends, walks in the stroller, a few trips to babies r us, and lots and lots of dirty diapers!! I think we have had to change the diaper gene 4 times already! And last night I got the privilege of doing laundry at 3am, because as I was changing Annabelle she decided she wasn't done going to bathroom, and well lets just say I was wearing #2 and so were my sheets, then she decided to go #1 as well, all while her diaper was off! It was awesome!!!! It is amazing how something so sweet and little can make such a big mess! Oh the joys of being a mom!

We have also had many highlights: yesterday was our first play group, we have been to church twice, bible study once, we have been lots of places shopping thanks to her grandmothers Honey and GiGi! We aren't quite sure of bath time yet, but I hear she will start to love it!

Kingston has adjusted pretty well. Only a one of Annabelle's toys is missing! He comes over and likes to lick her head, she doesn't seem to mind at all. We have been impressed with him, but we can tell he craves attention!

I am adjusting well too, just tired! The evenings are the hardest time of day, I am the most tired and she is the most hungry and cranky! Thankfully Ben is a huge help during this time!! He is a wonderful dad, I have been blown away!! I have fallen even more in love with him as I watch him fall in love with her! Such a sweet blessing!

Ok I promise it won't be another 3 1/2 weeks before I post! And more pics to come!!!

Waiting....

2009-08-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

What an interesting time we find ourselves in. Just waiting for this little girl to make her debut into the world. I am praying she doesn't inherit her mother's stubbornness, and come late. I was 3 weeks late, thankfully they won't let me go any further than one week past my due date. So we could have a baby tomorrow or as late as Sept 20th!

We are ready!!! I have washed every sock, onesie and blanket, organized the clothes by size, we have installed the car seat, I have packed her coming home outfit and my hospital bag, snacks for Ben and even candy for the hospital nurses & visitors! I have been monogramming burp cloths and blankets. And now I am cleaning out closets and drawers, nesting in full swing.

I told Ben the other night that this time period reminded me of getting engaged. Because it was a huge life-changing event that I had no idea when it would happen, what it would be like and had no control over. A day that I had dreamed and imagined for years. Not sure I have dreamed of child birth for years.....but have dreamed of having children. So we will wait for this day to come, whatever it may hold and whenever it is. (I am still praying she comes early...it has been a loooong 9 months!)

We are so excited to meet you, sweet Annabelle! I am ready to hold you in my arms and kiss your sweet face. And have you hiccup in my arms vs in my tummy!!! We love you!

Fun Baby Bump Pics!

2009-08-09T17:20:00.001-07:00

Sugar Plum Dreams is a store in San Antonio where I am registered. And they let you fill a bassinet with stuff you like. When a person comes into to buy you a gift they go to this room filled with bassinets and can pick something out. I am standing by Annabelle's bassinet!

Here I am taking full advantage of the "expectant mother parking" spots at Babies R Us!

I wish every store had this special treatment for pregos! Especially now when I am in full waddle!

Just when I didn't think it was possible to get any bigger, I did! And at 35 weeks, I still have 5 to go! Can't imagine what I will look like in a month. I asked the nurse about my growth spurt, which I am sure have nothing to do with the amount of Chick Fil A and snickers ice cream bars, she assured me I would only gain 5lbs at the most. We will see....

The past month...or so!

2009-08-09T16:40:00.001-07:00

I have had a few baby showers I just wanted to highlight. It has been so fun to be celebrated and to blessed with so many wonderful baby gifts!

Ft. Worth Shower
Here we are with "gigi" the hostess with the mostess. She not only had the shower at her house,

but also made homemade lasagna! Lots of Ben's family was there!
Here I am with "omee" and the wonderful, very cute chocolate cake she brought!

Here is a pic of my sweet friends who hosted a San Antonio Shower. They served fried pickles and ice cream! So fun! They are wearing the monogrammed aprons I gave them: Jill Altom, Lindsay Nahoum, Cat Hornberger, Caroline Sasser, & Kristin Stouffer.

Baby Carriage centerpiece made out of fruit!!
Neighborhood shower!

If you can believe there are 3 of us in my neighborhood all due in September.

Lisa is on the left, and we are both due with girls on the 13th. Kimberlely on the right, is having a boy and she is due late September. So our fun neighbors, Debbie, Joan and my Aunt Betsy threw us a dessert neighborhood shower!

Bible Study shower!

I have had the best bible study this past year! They were some of the first people I told I was pregnant back in January, which seems forever ago. They have walked through this season of life with me surrounding me with prayers as well as meals when I was really struggling with migraines in the middle of my pregnancy. I feel SO blessed to be a part of this group. And had the best time at the shower. They blessed me with some wonderful, very useful gifts!

I have to say this past month and half have been my favorite! Everything is becoming more real, as we prepare for sweet Annabelle. I love finding homes for all her goodies in her nursery. I can't wait for her to get to use, wear and play with all her shower gifts!!

I am huge!

2009-07-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am feeling very big these days at 33 weeks, 7 to go!

Annabelle's Nursery

2009-07-10T06:28:00.001-07:00

Miss Annabelle Katherine's Nursery!!!

This is the family baptism gown she will wear, and I wore as a baby! And the sweet pink dress is what she will coming home from the hospital. Her Halbach grandparents brought it back from Paris just for her!!!

.
Her monogrammed lamp shade!

The glider thanks to her Devine Grandparents, and her book shelf.

Her crib,thanks to her great grandmother Yaya. I still need to sew the bed skirt, for now the fabric is draped on the mattress! On the wall are pearl letters of her name!

Here is a more full view of her room, with her changing table and pink Pottery Barn rug, thanks to her Timberlake Grandparents.

We have the best parents and Annabelle has the best grandparents. We can't wait for her to me you all! Thank you all for contributing to making her room so special!

Leakey

2009-06-29T06:43:00.000-07:00

Ben and I just came back from the Timberlake Family reunion, in Leakey, TX.

I have so many fun childhood memories from Leakey, and as Ben and I swam in the Frio River we talked about how Annabelle will grow up with fun memories at Leakey too.

I wished I had taken more pictures, but I did get a great one of the 3 main men in my life, Ben, Dad and Henry fly fishing on the Frio. It is a great shot with the hills in the background! I sure do love you guys!!

We also enjoyed hearing highlights and lowlights of everyone's past year, playing a hilarious game of Onze, floating/walking down the river and of course a little girls shopping trip in town. Where I found this cool iron piece for my back yard!

It was a great reunion, and I can't wait until next year when Annabelle will get to experience Leakey all for herself!

28 weeks baby belly

2009-06-26T06:30:00.001-07:00

Here I am in Annabelle's room!!! My belly grows each day. And she moves around all the time.

But she does not perform on command! Each time she is moving and Ben is around I tell him and he sticks his hand on my stomach, and 9 times out of 10 she stops moving! She is a little stinker. Ben thinks she is just being stubborn...wonder where she gets that?

Her room is now my favorite place in the house! I will sometimes just go sit in the glider and rock. It is just so calm and peaceful in there. And it took an army to get it finished. Much thanks to Jim and Lisa who came down and put up a new fan and all the bead board. And then my mom, Betsy, Mark and Kellie all helped finish off the bead board touch ups and set up all the furniture! I still have to hang things on the wall and finish making her crib skirt, but you can see the fabric hanging in her crib!

At my 28week appt she is measuring right on track! And still very healthy. Despite my health during pregnancy there has never been any concern with Annabelle's health, we are so thankful! As the days pass on I am beginning to become more and more anxious to meet her! September will be here before I know it!

24 weeks pregnant!

2009-05-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Painting Annabelle's room Silver Sage by Restoration Hardware.

We are going to put up white bead board on the bottom half of the walls, that is why only half the room is painted. More to come on the finished product!
Annabelle's very girly Pottery Barn rug!
I love it, it takes up the entire room!

And here I am, this was take on May 21, our anniversary.

I also cut my hair about 6 inches. I was just too hot!

I am growing everyday! Just last week strangers are asking me when I am due! That is exciting because my tummy is finally rounded and popping out so I actually look pregnant and not just like all the Chick Fil A I have been eating is catching up to me!

We are getting Annabelle's room ready. In the past 2 weeks we have bought a rug and a dresser, painted her room, and cleared all Ben's clothes out of her closet.

Anniversary

2009-05-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Smithville & Bastrop, TX

6 mothns pregnant

2009

Eddie V's

Austin, TX
2008

Breckenridge, CO
2007

Eureka Springs, AK
2006

Last week we celebrated out 4 year anniversary last week! Each year we take a picture holding up the number of years we have been married. Fun to look at the years past!

Hard to believe we have been married 4 years. We always reflect on the last year listing highs and lows for us as well as major events. Some that topped the list for the past year:

Leaving staff with Campus Crusade
Ben starting a new job with Duff & Boynton
Ben helping to start new company Laureate Wealth Management
Sarah's migraines still a problem, but saw new Dr in Sept and started new medicines and for the first time relief from migraines
Sarah started Monogram Me, her monogramming business
we joined All Saints Church and love it
we both have new bible studies that we feel very blessed by
Ben and I were both in James in Clare's wedding
Sarah was in Jill, Christina and Elizabeth's weddings
And the biggest change, getting pregnant and preparing for baby Annabelle!

On Thursday Ben came home after lunch from work and we drove out to Smithville, a small town about an hr away, best known for the filming of Hope Floats! Ben had been there before and had talked about wanting to take me, we walked around the town and Ben let me look in every antique shop! I loved it! Then we drove into Bastrop and had dinner at a quaint cafe, where we took the picture. After dinner we headed back to Austin for dessert! It was a great day of leisure, shopping and good food!

We also discussed how this past year has been the best year yet for us in our marriage. We have grown as individuals as well as a couple in our love, communication and dedication to one another. I am so thankful that I am married to Ben. He loves and nurtures me so well. I can't wait to see what the rest of life will be like with him!

Baby Bump Picture

2009-04-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago Lisa Ben's mom drove down from Ft Worth and together we went to a huge Baby sale here in Austin. They has a shower before the sale for first time mothers, with door prizes, lots of samples and a photographer taking baby bump pictures.

It was actually quite fun. There were mothers there all due at different time, I was one of the smaller baby bumps there, so I was skeptical of how my picture would come out, if it would look like I was standing there awkwardly with my hand on my stomach. But to my surprise the professional photographer knows what she was doing and it turned out to be a very cute picture!

She of course wants to get your business, but I will be using my friend Catherine, at Peacock Photography for baby pictures of Annabelle!!

Back to the Baby Sale, we bought a bassinet for out bedroom, lots of maternity clothes for me,

some Baby Einstein CDs and DVDs, and some really cute longhorn socks for baby Annabelle.

It was a success! Lisa and I had so much fun looking at all the adorable baby stuff!

Easter Weekend Landscaping Projects

2009-04-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend Lisa & Jim, Ben's mom and step dad, came down from Ft. Worth to help us landscape and plant in our backyard. When we got Kingston we decided not to invest in any plants since we had no idea what he would ruin. So our backyard has been very neglected for 2 years.

And since we have a huge sport court cement slab, that I am sure someday our kids will enjoy,
but in the meantime basically our only view is cement! We are in major need of some green.

While the plants are small now, we are excited to see them grow over the next few years. We also planted creeping fig, an ivy that will grow over the fence! As well as a floweing vine on the fence outside of Annabelle's room.

Thanks to Lisa and Jim, for all the hard work, free labor and green thumbs! We couldn't have done it without you. And I also have to mention that not only did they come down to work
for the weekend they brought dinners and cooked them each night! Such a blessing! yeah for in laws!!

Baby Bump

2009-04-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have had many requests for pictures of my baby bump. And while it seems big to me (much bigger than my normal waistline) it still is small. This pic was actually take 2 weeks ago, so I am a little bigger now!

And.....drumroll........we have decided on a name...Annabelle Katherine Halbach!

She will go by Annabelle. We both just love the name and really love being able to

call her by name now at only 18weeks! She is the size of a bell pepper, and growing healthy,

Praise the Lord. We are so grateful for the blessing of her. Now we just have to make it til September to meet her!

It's a GIRL!!!

2009-03-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to be having a baby girl in September! I have been thinking this entire pregnancy that it is a girl, but today the Dr. confirmed my intuition!

I made extra sure that no little boy parts could be hiding anywhere, and he said it was a clear picture, 100% girl. We also got to see all 4 chambers of the heart, the 2 lobes of the brain, the stomach, the spine, ribs, hands, feet and little face. It was unbelievably amazing. I can't believe that little 5 oz life is inside me! She is healthy and growing right on track. Ben was tearing during the appt, and I had a grin from ear to ear, we couldn't be happier!

Later in the car Ben said, "Oh man, this means we have to pay for a wedding!!" I looked at him and laughed and reassured him we were quite a few years away from a wedding! I think we will be ok!

We feel so blessed to be entrusted this baby girl, and can't wait to meet her!

Welcome to our blog

2009-03-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have finally joined the band waggon, and started a blog.
So stick around to hear the latest in the Halbachs Homestead!
Today we are off to my 16th week appt! Today we find out the gender!
More to come.....