Abigail Mae is 4 1/2!

My word. I might be a little obsessed with this one :)



Abigail is just fascinating to me. I just want to shrink myself and be carried around in her pocket for a day, lol. I can't even put my finger on it. I just love to watch her talk, think, interact, and play. I seriously cannot get enough of her!

She is so smart. She knows how to get what she wants, but she also knows when to back down. She is passionate and loves fiercely. She has attitude and sass and can be unpredictable.



She has matured so much. Last school year she would cry when I left her at home. Now she just asks that I wake her up before I go so she can give me a hug and kiss :) HOWEVER, she has just recently reverted back to being sad....see? Unpredictable!



She's still a terrible listener. Completely selective. You can call her name 10 times and she won't acknowledge you until she wants to. Even when you *think* you have her attention, she'll say something completely unrelated to whatever you were just talking about. So frustrating, yet so funny (sometimes.)



She's become so good at drawing. I think she's learned a lot of technique from Audrey, but she definitely has her own flair. She really likes to write. She can spell her name and simple words like mom, dad, love. She likes to play with her princess toys, Minnie clip on set, and dolls. She loves to read, especially her e-readers and Violet read to me books.



She enjoys playing outside and taking baths. She is early to bed and early to rise. She can be very particular when it comes to routine, just like her momma. She really loves school and is excited to go every day. I seriously cannot wait until she's in kindergarten with me and Audrey next year.

She calls Audrey, "Audge." How cute is that?? I die every time she says it, lol. They spend hours together in her room playing. They are best buds. She is just the BEST big sister to Anne. It's one of my most favorite things about her.



Abigail has our hearts and we love her more than words could ever say.

Week 17: PSD and Front Door Debacle

Early in the week they painted our front door. Yeah, it didn't come out the way we expected.

On Thursday I left school early with Audrey and we met Chris and our project manager at the house. I was hoping the door would look better in person. It did not.

Chris sought some other opinions and Miss Melanie came up with a much more muted color. Fingers crossed! It needs to look good on the exterior and interior, because we really wanted that pop of color in the entryway. Grandpa is coming to paint everyday next week except Thursday :) I'm glad it will ALL be done before we close on the house!

Other than that, the walk through was awesome! So glad I didn't skip it. But I really didn't want to leave. It was sooo hard to leave :(

We're adding more sod, plants got put in yesterday (Chris took pics on his camera and it all looks lovely), and it has to be painted. I finally got around to ordering curtain rods. We close NEXT Monday and then the fun of moving begins!!! All this week I'd say to the girls, "This is our last school Wednesday in this house!" or "This is our last Friday on 95!" I packed most of my clothes last weekend after I figured with Jeans Week and my days off I only need 5 school outfits. I'm so giddy right now.

We only have school 2 days next week, so I probably won't go to the house again until we move. Chris, on the other hand, will probably go every single day and send me pics :) Actually, he's lucky to have off Wed-Fri so we'll be getting a tons of packing done. We can't wait!!

Week 16: quality inspection

Not too much to report on this week! We had some rainy days which threw off the driveway and landscaping plans. Chris ordered all the area rugs and finalized the custom paint colors.

Only a few pics. I didn't go by and probably won't until our pre-settlement demo this week. Chris said they did the driveway on Friday and *maybe* the landscaping will be done by our PSD. I'm really excited to see the front door once it has been painted...I'm hoping it turns out like the rest of the house...better than we're expecting!








There's a heart on our island counter :)




Patio...where I'm sure Christopher will be spending many nights with a beer in his hand :)


Driveway is nice and wide, which is awesome because I have the WORST spatial awareness. I definitely hit another van back in June while trying to park. In our current house I turn right into the garage. I joked with Chris that I wouldn't be able to turn left (Zoolander!)

I can't believe this is our last full school week in the house! After that is Thanksgiving week, then closing/moving week! Yipppeeee!!

Week 15: IDK, a bunch of stuff!

I was able to stop by on Tuesday after school. It was a work day and I brought Abigail with me because Chris has had TWO one-on-one days with her recently and I was getting jealous :)


That is some crazy afternoon light coming in!


View of the kitchen from the playroom door


Hood stack is done! I love the kitchen now, but I can't wait to see it with the new paint!


I had to take a picture of this light. Might need to buy more curtains!


Dining room light.


Stairs hadn't been finished, can you spot the mistake?? It has been fixed, thank goodness!


Master shower, love the gray and the size and the window!


Master vanity. I'm glad we have the side-by-side mirrors instead of the one large piece...less to clean!


Sweet Abby in mom and dad's room :)


A better picture of the carpet.


Anne's room


Upstairs hall. One of the first things I noticed and LOVED about the Emerson model was how wide the hall was. I just see a lot of playing and tackling and tickle fights in this hall :)




Can't wait to see the door painted!

The lighting is in and all the floors are done, but they were covered. Mirrors are up, too. I was SO excited to check out the upstairs...and I was extremely happy with the carpet. It's gray and it looks a lot lighter than the sample we looked at. I think it will look really good with all the different colors we're painting the bedrooms. We now have a mailbox and number sign above our door.

CORRECTION: I just learned our counters are NOT granite, they are quartz. I had no idea until Chris and I were talking about how to care for them. Good to know.

On Thursday we met Chris at the Emerson model for the Atlantic Builders chili cookoff. I hadn't been there in awhile, and I've never been there at night. It was so cool to walk around and know that in just a few short weeks we'll be walking around in our own!

The house was cleaned on Thursday and now I'm dying to see it. Our pre-settlement demonstration is in 2 weeks and originally I was going to skip it, but I'm too excited to stay away, lol.

Chris ordered a ton of tools this week. He's got big plans :) I finally ordered a bed for Audrey. Now I need a dresser. I want to check out our local thrift/antique shops because I LOVE the hand painted furniture they have. We also need area rugs for the living room, kitchen, and playroom. We're having a big area rug/runner made for the foyer that matches the runner on our stairs. I wish we could've left the stairs uncovered, but with 3 little kiddos that would be asking for trouble! I also need to order a bajillion curtain rods.

We've been trying to plan out our week of the move as far as things to get done on certain days. That includes having the house painted. We have our closing date, furniture delivery date, and moving date. Chris took off the entire week, I took two days off for unpacking. Seriously cannot wait.

Our awesome project manager worked all day yesterday on touch ups because QI is coming up this week. I'm not clear on what the schedule is for the next few weeks as far as driveway, landscaping, etc. I just know that after this weekend we only have 3 weekends to go! I'm so glad Thanksgiving break is our last week in this house- it gives us plenty of time to REALLY pack and Chris will be home with us :)

Week 14: counters, backsplash

The kitchen turned out to be just as beautiful as I imagined. The mix of gray and white looks so classic and fresh. Chris chose gray cabinets for the pocket office and I'm really loving how it looks with the countertop! I did ask for the under cabinet lights and I'm glad I did- they are so cool!



The appliances are there. The induction cooktop and hood look great. The microwave had a dent so it's going back. I wonder what we'll cook first?





They were starting to lay the hardwood when I was there on Friday, and they'll work on the stairs this weekend. Next week they'll install the carpet, pave the driveway, and lay sod.

It will pretty much be done. Whoa.

Chris hired the movers. It's starting to get really real. I'm not even stressed, I'm excited. I love packing and planning.

We got a bunch of stuff for the house this week. I ordered a new Christmas tree (that bad boy is going up ASAP!) Our bedding arrived. Chris ordered me a robe hook ("Merry Christmas!" he said, lol!!) I picked up our living room curtains, a table lamp, a couple of decorative mirrors. Chris bought a TV so we can put our current one in the basement.

I still need to order a bed for Audrey. Abby will get Audrey's current bed and Anne will get Abigail's bed but we'll put the railing back on so she can kick it crib style for awhile longer (until she's 5 ;))

This week was hellish as far as our commute. Every damn day there was a traffic issue that either had me late to work (walking in 5 minutes before my babies!) or getting home late. I am so over it. I tried to give myself and the girls a perspective check, though; better to be stuck in traffic than part of the accident! Hard to imagine 4 more weeks of this, though :( I know it will fly by, especially with only 3 1/2 weeks until Thanksgiving break!

Week 13: tile and cabinets

A lot was done this week in addition to the tile and cabinets: drain field and well, sidewalk, patio, metal roof, closet shelving, measuring for countertops, garage door & openers.




I went by TWICE this week because I was so excited about the cabinets! They arrived on Monday and Chris was school-girl giddy about them, lol. He asked me to go over after school on Tuesday to get pictures. He said that he was SO glad I pushed for the white kitchen. He picked the gray island, and I LOVE IT! I absolutely love the pulls that he picked, too. I am really looking forward to seeing the countertops and backsplash.






powder room


master bathroom


Anne's bathroom


Audrey & Abby's bathroom

On Tuesday he only had Abby so they spent the day together and he took her to see the house first thing. She got to see her room and she's so excited. He picked up Audrey early from school on Wednesday (she had a slight fever, wasn't feeling so great), and he took her by, too. She got to see everything plus how they dug the well. She was fascinated :) I hope the girls can appreciate how much work goes into building a home. We're the first house on our street. I'm excited for them to see the other houses being built over the next few months.


Thursday afternoon






Pocket office, easily one of my favorite features of the house!






Master shower

Next up is wood flooring, countertops, appliances, electrical and plumbing finals, and driveway. Whoa!! Chris is meeting with a landscaper this morning...I'm giving him free reign over that project! Busy week for sure!

Only 5 more weekends in this house after today! Mixed bag of emotions all up in here. Luckily I just don't have much time to dwell on being sad and sentimental. And "home" is wherever I am with Chris and our girls :)