Christmas Picture

This year John and I decided to dress up like elves for our yearly Christmas card. Hunter was our little reindeer...

Christmas Party

Vicki and Hubert's Annual Christmas party

Bridge Run 5k

Holly and I walked/ran for photo ops in the Enmark Bridge run today - my feet and calves hurt so bad....Holly is 3 months pregnant and of course you know I am 24 weeks!! Don't be jealous of my green jacket - Holly called me a gummybear...*photography by Vince Becker Photography*

Trip to Pittsburgh

The past few days we were in Pittsburgh for John's grandfather's funeral. There were two days of visitations and a family gathering of watching Steeler football - watching them WIN no less. This is the first funeral John and I have attended together - my first Catholic funeral. Even though we were there for a sad reason it was nice to see all of John's family while we were there.

Tres' Surprise Birthday Party

This weekend my brother turned the big 4-0...yep, my brother is 40. My sister-in-law, Tina, planned a special surprise party at a Japanese steak house. Our family went early to decorate and help Tina while she kept brought him later. We all had a great time - John wasn't able to make it because he had to work, but I brought something along for him to make it in the pictures. I also had a chance to pass out the pictures of our little BOY! After the party we played on the Wii that Tres got for his birthday and then went to bed. The next day we went home. All in all it was a great time!

I did a little video tribute to Tres by interviewing all the guests and asking them to give him a birthday message. John and I just got the new video camera and video editing software, so I figured this would be a great time to practice! Knowing us we will have that video camera on non-stop videoing our little one's every move!

It's a....BOY!!!!

Today we went to our doctor to see what parts our little tree frog was given. Immediately we went into the ultrasound room and then we say how big our little one had gotten - huge! The nurse said that we needed to prepare ourselves because this little boy was going to have a lot of girlfriends! Secretly I know John and I both were praying for a little boy, but we would have been happy with whatever our baby turned out to be. You could tell by the look on John's face that he was quite proud of himself! There was no doubt that the tree frog is a boy - you can see for yourself from the pictures. It was crazy to watch him move around - he kept "bobbing and weaving" on top of my bladder. I guess he was telling me I need to go to the bathroom more because when my bladder is full it takes up some of hi swimming room!

Toni & Brent's Wedding

Tonight was GA/FL - but instead of watching the game I was at Toni and Brent's wedding - yay! I have been so excited; as much as I love football I LOVE my friend's weddings so much more. I had to go shopping to buy a new dress because baby bump H is growing so fast! I did find a cute little black dress that was perfect! *Photo to left by Donna Von Bruening*

Toni and Brent had a full military dress wedding - it was gorgeous and I absolutely thought it was amazing. The church was spectacular and the reception was gorgeous. John had to work, so me and little Baby H headed to the wedding ourselves. Once at the reception I was able to sit with Cindy and her boyfriend, a girl that I have met before Kristen and her husband (who recently found out they are expecting!) and another girl and her boyfriend. We had such a wonderful time and enjoyed every moment of the wedding!

After the wedding I went to my friend Danielle's house where they had been watching the GA/FL game - they weren't too happy because apparently UF slaughtered UGA. Then I went home and went to bed - John and I are ready to get this week started because we find out if we are having a Henninger boy or girl!!

Halloween

Happy Halloween! Hunter got to dress up this year and go to PawParazzi to a Halloween Party. We had a couple of different costume options for him and then settle on "Batdog". He really got into character and enjoy the little party - of course we bought him pig ears, his favorite!

The table of treats at the Doggie Halloween Party

The other option for Hunter's Halloween costume.....

John and I went to Danielle and Dustin's for a little party and I wore part of my old clown costume from when Danielle and I went trick-or-treating back in 4th grade...who would have guessed, almost 20 weeks pregnant wearing an old costime =) John was not into the Halloween spirit and dressed up as a ghost.

Toni's Bachelorette Party

Tonight I went to Toni's bachelorette party - she will be getting married in two weeks! It was a great night with the girls. We started the night off at her house with a shower and some games - including Rock Band. Next we headed to Club One - the best little drag show club in town. I ended up leaving after the show while the girls continued with the party. Little baby H needed to get to sleep and so did his mama! Here are a couple of pictures from the night.

The group with the "main event" - it was this dancer's last night...

Toni and I

Sorority celebration, Homecoming, and sneak peek of our baby!

This weekend I went "down to the 'ol stoppin' grounds" back to my alma mater for homecoming and a celebration of my sorority's 50th year on campus. It was such a great time! John was unable to go because at the last minute his work won a trip to Miami where apparently they win all sorts of free stuff - so far he was gotten an HD touchscreen camcorder, a laptop, video editing software, a blueray player, and other things! I guess it was worth it - especially for the camcorder! That will definitly come in handy in a few months. I enjoyed seeing so many of my sorority sisters - some I had not seen in ages! We went to a "check-in" and then a Sister Hazel concert on Friday. I bunked with a couple of sisters at the hotel I worked at when I was in college.

Saturday we had a brunch and then tailgating (yeah, I tailgated with my big belly!), and then dinner. On Saturday I also went to John's old fraternity house (where a few friends would be as well) and visited with all of them. It was a little awkward being "the pregnant girl" at the fraternity house, but it was fun to see some old friends. I think some of them were wierded out seeing me pregnant with John's baby =). At the dinner we also had a live band and I learned the Cupid Shuffle - a new favorite dance. I love to dance and I am determined that my little one will be a dancer. I figure that I can install some rhythm in him/her now!

Sunday when I was about to leave I went by the hospital to see a friend/sister because she told me to come and we could see if we could get a sneak peek of the sex of little baby Henninger. I went to the ER and the little rascal would not open his/her legs! I guess baby H wants to wait for both mommy and daddy before the unveiling!

Tea Party

Happy Birthday to me! Today my mom, my sister, a family friend of ours, and I went to a tea house to have a tea party - it was the Whimsical Teacup. We had such a fantastic time!

Enchanted MAiZE

John has informed me that he has the opportunity to go to Miami for some trip they won for work. He is supposed to go the same weekend that we had planned on going to my sorority function - an event we have been planning to go to for a YEAR! I told him that I would not be mad at him if he took me to see the Enchanted MAiZE. Now, I have been talking about this maize for years - since the summer of 2004 to be exact. Another couple went with John and I to Chattanooga to visit Rock City and all these other little places and I became obsessed with this maize. Unfortunately the maize is only open in the fall - its a corn maize. Every fall since then I have checked my calendar and tried to make a trip to the maize - failing each year. Finally, I was going to have my chance!

We took a weekend trip up there for my birthday, stayed with my brother, shopped, and then went to visit John's family as well. We were in the car all weekend, but it I knew it would be worth it - I was going to the maize! We got there and I was so excited!! We walked around the maize a few times - following the enchanted clues to figure out which way to go. Thinking about it though, how much fun could you really have running around in the dirt through dead corn stalks?

After the tromp through the maize we headed back towards my brother's house and saw a big wine tasting event going on. Of course I made John stop thinking there would be some fun things to do that didn't involve drinking wine. I LOVE wine, but of course I am not able to drink it anymore. They had grape squishing contests and all sorts of events, but we didn't get to do that stuff because I didn't want to pay to get in....oh well, maybe next year!

8 Weeks - first Doctor's Visit

We had our very first visit today! We got to see our future baby and checkout the heartbeat. I have had a fear that I really was not pregnant and everything was just a dream, but its for real! We saw our little baby Henninger and he/she is perfect! The nickname is "tree-frog" because that's what our baby looks like! We did not tell anyone about the news, except my parents so immediately we began to tell others of the exciting news. My brother and sister were mad that I did not tell them before, but we wanted to wait and do things our way. Its such a scarey process and I have always heard you need to wait before you tell anyone. We are going to Newnan next weekend to tell John's family so we have one more week of holding in our exciting secret!

Peyton & Brooke's Wedding

This weekend I went to Peyton and Brooke's wedding. John wasn't able to go so I made the little drive by myself. Of course no one knows that a week ago we found out we're expecting and I was bursting at the seams to tell everyone! So, baby H attended his/her very first wedding! Knowing me he or she will be attending MANY more weddings. Here are some pictures from the night!

Peyton & Brooke

Kappa Sigma Wives Club - me, Brooke, & Christine

With the groom!

The test!

Today I came back from a "girl's weekend" that was at St. Simons Island. The week before the trip I had been exhausted and I thought it was due to lack of sleep during a vacation the week prior. During the weekend at St. Simons my stomach felt queasy; not its normal self. On Sunday afternoon I drove back home from the weekend trip and went to the mall to pick up a few last minute items before the week began. Once again I had a wave of nausea so I grabbed a Sprite, which made me feel a little better. When I got home I took a test - just to see. I really thought it would turn out negative, but the little plus sign "positive" came about. Was I really pregnant? It was around 6:30PM that I took the test and John was not going to be home until around 10PM. I paced the house for house until he got home. After he arrived I told him I had an early anniversary present for him and handed him a card which had the details that we were having a baby. He looked up and said, "really?!?". After that all he could say was "wow" and that I needed to take another test. So, we ventured to Kroger, bought another test, took it, and then the same result came - it was official.

1st Annual Henninger Vacation

We just got back from the 1st annual family trip - I say first because this is the first trip that we have all been on as a family. John and I started our vacation on Monday (his birthday!!) and headed to our old college town to see some friends and celebrate his birthday. We stayed with Doug and Lexi and hung out with them for the night. On our way to Valdosta we had some horrible news. Our dear friend Lance's mom passed away that morning. She had battled cancer mulitple times and this was her final battle. Lance and Stacy (his wife) had moved into the house with his mom to help her and to be there for her. I absolutely cannot imagine losing a parent - our thoughts and prayers are definitely with them and the family.

After our first night of vacation at Doug and Lexi's house we had planned on staying with my Great Aunt Kathryn and Great Uncle Bill - two very amazing people. My mom called the night before to say that Aunt Kathryn had not been feeling well and that it probably would be better if we did not stay for the night at their house. They had been so busy with my Great Uncle Q that had come into town for a weeks that I know they needed some rest. So, John and I decided that we would continue on to our final destination and find a hotel somewhere. Everyone else was planning on being there the next day. So, after we left Doug and Lexi's house we made a quick trip to Lance and Stacy's which was on the way just to visit and get Lance out of the house for little and to basically let them know we were there for them.

We left Lance and Stacy's home and then went onwards to our final vacation spot - Biloxi, MS. The trip did not seem to last very long at all and we had a fun time hanging out in the car together. John and I always have so many good conversations when we're on trips so I always enjoy going places with him. We finally made it to Biloxi and found a hotel - a Super 8, cheap and clean, and a good place to sleep for the night. We checked in took our stuff inside and then headed into the casino. John and I love to play cards so we had a fun time hanging out doing something we enjoy. After we tired of the casino we went to the our hotel and went to bed.

Early morning came and we were still waiting for the rest of the Henninger clan to arrive. John' parents (Tom & Nikki), John's brother/family (Brad, Rebekah, & Gavin) and John sister Rebecca and boyfriend David. While we waited we took a little side trip I wanted to make. We went to see (brace yourselves now)...the world's largest ROCKING CHAIR!! I was pumped, but I am sure you have realized it does not take too much to excite me. Once we finished with the chair we went ahead to the condo to check in and then waited for the rest of the group to arrive; which actually wasn't too much longer.

The next mission was to go get some groceries. Each couple had their own day to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner while we were on vacation. After grocery shopping we went back to our condo and hung out. During the course of the week we layed on the beach, went to the pool, went to the casinos, the boys played golf, played catch phrase, and basically relaxed and had a great time.

The last full day we were there we all went to New Orleans, LA. John and I had never been so we were very excited to go! Um...we won't be going again. We went to the main area of Bourbon Street and that whole area and it was smelly. My flip flops were disgusting on the bottoms and I don't want to even know what was on them - they were so sticky. Every other store was an XXX store of some sort - not really my "cup of tea". It was nice to go and experience New Orleans, but we will not be making a special trip to go there again. While there David and Rebecca treated us to an authentic Cajun restaurant - they both had some interesting dishes...frog legs, alligator.

After New Orleans we headed back to the condo for our last night on vacation. David and Bec went ahead and left that night because they had a long trip to go and wanted to have a day to relax before getting back to work. When we woke up on Sunday we all packed and got ready to head back home. John and I drove straight through without stopping on side trips and made good time the way back. We will definitely make another trip to Biloxi - we had such a wonderful time. Once again John and I did not want to come back to reality, but here we are back at home! Until next time!!!

John's Birthday!

We celebrated John's birthday a day early at my family's house because we leave for our vacation tomorrow. We grilled out steaks and had birthday cake!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!! Today John and I went to St. Simons Island - John went to play golf and I spent the day at the beach with Amy and Patty and their friends. I apparently have not seen the sun in a year and blended in with the sand....

After golf and the beach John and I watched the fireworks on the pier - they were beautiful! I love to watch fireworks, maybe that's why this is my favorite holiday. In a couple of days we leave for Biloxi, MS for our first Henninger family vacation!!

Chuck & Jessica's Wedding

Saturday we traveled to Valdosta for Chuck and Jessica's wedding. Chuck and John are fraternity brothers and Jessica was also a friend of ours. I know I say this in every single wedding blog, BUT we LOVE going to weddings and seeing our friends. I really wish we would have a wedding every single month so that we could see our friends more often.

John and I just traveled there for the day because he had to work the day after; luckily it is not TOO far of a trip so we were able to make it a day trip. Once again we took our "Kappa Sigma Wives Club" picture - a tradition at each wedding we go to. Well, at least I know I make sure to get a picture of all the wives at the weddings I attend! It's still so amazing to have such a great group of friends - first meeting everyone at college and then watching them meet their future wives/husbands and then being there when they get married. It is really such an awesome experience and feeling. We are really lucky to be able to go to all of these weddings and see the new chapters in our friends' lives begin. It's going to be fun once everyone starts expanding their familes and when we can all take family vacations together!!

John and I

The Wives

Kaley's Baby Shower

This weekend I went to Kaley's baby shower for her little girl Selah. Kaley and I cheered and ran track together in high school - we were the twins =)

Karen & Clay's Wedding

This weekend we had the festivities for Karen and Clay's wedding. Karen is a childhood friend - one I have known since we were 4 years old. Last summer Karen caught the bouquet in my wedding and now she's getting married - isn't that fun? The summer before I got married I caught a bouquet - it has a long history =)

Friday we began with the bridal luncheon and then on to the rehearsal dinner. The wedding itself was held at the Methodist church - this church is so beautiful for weddings. During the rehearsal dinner Clay told a story about how he and his roommate would have "toothbrush wars" and do weird little things to each other's toothbrushes - like tie a little noose to it, have ketchup trailing from one, have one drowning, all sorts of strange little things. As bridesmaids the 5 of us decided that we would each hand Clay a toothbrush as we walked down the aisle. It was priceless! Prior to the wedding I was put in charge of getting the luggage to the hotel - I was good and did not do anything to the luggage, even though my mom suggested we should! I did put some sweet little treats in the bags though!

The wedding was beautiful and included a family of girls - 5 or 6 that all sing and play instruments. They did such an amazing job. The service was officiated by a preacher from Alabama - he was in charge of the camp that Karen worked at. After the service we went to the reception and had such a wonderful time! There were many childhood friends there and it is always such wonderful to have a chance to hang out with them. Karen and Clay will be taking a honeymoon up to the mountains to hike and do all sorts of fun things!

Karen and I

Bridesmaids

Childhood friends

The Family

Pet Carnival

Today I took Hunter to the park for the Doggie Carnival - raising money for the animals. He had such a great time! Hunter participated in a derby race where he got 2nd place, a biscuit eating contest, had his picture taken, and an IQ test. Here are some pictures from the day.