Christmas

The Henninger family had a wonderful Christmas celebration! On Christmas Eve we went to church with my side of the family and then to my sister's house to eat dinner. After dinner John, Heidi, and I went home to go to bed so we could wake up for Christmas morning!

When morning came we ate a french toast casserole and let Heidi open up her presents from us, her Gamma and Paw-Paw Henninger, Uncle Tres, Aunt Tina, and Olivia and Santa! Heidi is so very blessed to have family that loves her so much and to give her such wonderful presents at Christmas (and all!!) time. John and I do want to make sure that we keep Heidi in touch with more of the giving side of Christmas and not wrapped up in the getting part of Christmas. We have decided that we are not going to be ones that fill an entire room with gifts just for Heidi. When Heidi is older we plan on doing things for other families as ways to show her how much more rewarding giving can be and feel. This year, of course, Heidi was more into the wrapping paper than anything else :) She loved to eat it!

Later in the day my parents came over to eat lunch and then we let Heidi open up her gifts from Grandma and Pop-Pop Kirkland. Today we really started to notice how Heidi is such a big girl. She "big girl plays" as we like to call it. We can sit her down with her new toys and she will sit there and entertain herself. She's growing up so much! At some point in the afternoon we all ended up taking naps. I didn't know everyone else had until I woke up after I went and laid down with Heidi. Knowing they all napped did not make me feel quite as bad for falling asleep :) Next my sister and her family came over for more present opening. Hugh, Emily, and Georgia all opened their presents and so did us "big kids". Heidi opened up her present from them as well. We ended the night by playing Buzz Word and then after everyone left we relaxed and headed to bed! OH - Heidi now likes to pull herself up. She will pull up on everything! The only thing is she doesn't think she needs to keep holding on after she's standing so we have to watch her carefully!!

In a Year

Last year Christmas was hard. I remember every time the Pampers "Silent Night" commercial with all of the sleeping newborns came on I would have to change the channel or it would mean an hour sob-fest for me. I saw that commercial for the first time this season tonight and of course this time it was images of Heidi sleeping that filled my head. Time definitely heals the wound of a grieving heart - whether it is fast or slow.

A friend if mine shared this poem with me and I think its absolutely perfect.

I am spending Christmas in Heaven this year.

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

with tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting in the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,
for I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
but, the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

For I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
for it is beyond description to hear an angel sing.

I can't tell you of the splendor, or the peace here in this place,
can you just imagine the Christmas with our Savior, face to face?

I'll ask him to light your spirit, as I tell him of your love.

So then pray for another as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your heart be joyful, and let your spirit sing,
for I'm spending Christmas in Heaven and I'm walking with the King.

-John Mooney

Santa

We went to visit Santa and saw the Chic-Fil-A cow as well!!

Heidi - 6 Months

Heidi, today you are 6 months old! Can you believe it? I know I probably say the same thing each month, but I cannot believe how fast our little baby girl is becoming a little girl. She will no longer be a little baby anymore...

Currently you are trying so hard to crawl - you want to be on the move so badly! I know it will not be much longer until you will be following our every move by crawling under our feet. Clothes that fit you are mainly in the 3-6 month, 6 month, and 6-9 month sizes. Diapers are a size 3. We are still breastfeeding and you still love to eat :) I made a lot of homemade baby food (butternut squash, green beans, sweet potatoes) and you eat a "meal" about once a day, but you really do not care to eat anything but your milk. We have begun feeding you apples and bananas - and you think they are just "ok".

Each day you seem to grow more and more. I feel like tomorrow you are going to be going off to college! You are weighing in at 18 lbs 12 ozs and you are 24.5 inches long. You're a healthy little chunk! The doctors are impressed with your height and weight and your development. You have now celebrated your first Thanksgiving and we are so very thankful for you. You traveled on an airplane, visited your family in Pittsburgh and you stood in your first snow!

Trip to Pittsburgh

This weekend we made a last minute trip to Pittsburgh. John's grandmother passed away and we were able to make it up there to be with his side of our family during the funeral and family events. This trip was Heidi's first time to meet her Pittsburgh aunts, uncles, and cousins! The trip was also to be her first on a plane!! I was so nervous taking her on the plane - not knowing how she would act. We had a very early flight on Friday morning so we left Heidi in her pjs and headed to the airport. The first trip was so successful! Heidi slept the entire time! We made it to Atlanta and there we waited for our next trip and met up with Brad, Rebekah, Gavin, and Grace for the next flight to Pittsburgh. Heidi fell asleep on this trip as well - she was just perfect! When we arrived we were greeted by John's dad and Uncle Jim -as well as some cute little Steeler hats :) Throughout the week we visited with family and we were even able to play in the snow! Heidi was a big hit among all of her cousins and aunts and uncles. She had a great time!

We did start to see the beginning of her separation anxiety from mom. I was completely exhausted after this trip because Heidi only wanted to be held constantly by mommy - which I did not mind at all :) Our last night there we sledded in John's Uncle Jim's driveway with Rebecca and David. At first we started out with cardboard boxes and then the neighbor felt sorry for us and let us use a real sled! It was so much fun! The trip back was not as pleasant. Heidi was a little fussy on the first trip and then when we arrived in Atlanta we found out our next flight was canceled and we were booked on a later flight, but we were able to catch a flight that was earlier - which was great because we were hosting our Bible study's Christmas party that night! Poor Heidi had the worst time getting to sleep - its going to take awhile to get her back on schedule!

Journey

John and I volunteered (with our small group) to work as actors in the market place for our church's production of "The Journey". It is sort of like a "Walk Through Bethlehem". Our post was at the farm area. John had a great time holding all of the birds :) I think his favorite was the goose - the others were chickens and ducks! I loved the sheep!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankfulness

Last year John and I hosted Thanksgiving and Heidi was merely I little bean growing in my belly. I had this tree (which I forgot to get a picture of because I was stressed and keeping guard of being too happy) called the "thankful tree" and I asked everyone to write down what they were thankful for and hang it on the tree. It really looked so cute. I wrote that I was thankful to be given another chance to become a parent. Shortly after Thanksgiving is when we found out about the cystic hygroma and there went my hopes of having a healthy baby - of having a live baby at all. Now, look where we are a year later. Heidi is 5 months old and growing to be such a strong and healthy little girl. Its crazy to think there was ever a thought of something going wrong with her or her not being here because now I cannot imagine her not being here. Amazing how someone could be in your life for a short little while and once they are in it you cannot remember life without them. That's exactly how Heidi is for John and I.

The word "thankful" doesn't even cover how I feel. I don't even think blessed covers it. To say I am beyond thankful and beyond blessed would be an understatement. There is something about when you have lost something or you have to work harder than others for something that makes you more appreciative than others. If it comes easy to you then you miss out on the hunger, the pain, and the everyday struggle of living each day. During your time of "trials and wants" you have to watch as others get what you are so desperately praying and begging for day in and day out. You have to put on your happy face, pull your big girl panties up, and try your best to show that you truly are happy for others.

I can say with confidence that I feel more thankful than I have ever felt before in my life, that I feel more blessed than ever, and that I only have God to thank for everything going on in my life.

Friends

We met up with some friends for a night out! Only the second time mommy has been out since little miss priss was born. Luckily my mom was able to come and stay the night at our house while we went out. Toby and Christine (the first couple we are pictured with) came in town for Toby's brother's wedding. They (T & C) had a baby a month before Heidi was born - Ansley! The other couple we are pictured with are Cindy and Craig. Cindy and I went to Middle/High school together and Craig just got back from his deployment. Yay for him being home!! On Sunday Toby and Christine and their friends Julie and Bart - our friends too :) came over for a little cookout. Christine was able to capture some cute pictures of the girls!

Breastfeeding

I have a very close friend who is very passionate about breastfeeding. Not just about feeding her own child, but how breastfeeding in public should be part of the norm. I completely agree with her that mothers should be able to feed their child by breast just as mothers feed their children by bottle. I know I find it to be a pain to make sure I am covered up, but that is just my modesty. Not all mothers who breastfeed are shy and modest about it. Did you know that some people give breastfeeding mom horrible looks or ask them to stop feeding? I have never experienced this, but its true. Anyways - I am not the best to talk about the subject, but I did want to send you to a blogger who wrote an excellent post on breastfeeding.

Heidi - 5 Months

Heidi - today you are 5 months old! Everyday your little personality grows and its so adorable. You love to talk constantly. In the mornings I will hear you talking in your crib before I get you up for the day. When I peer over the rail to pick you up is when she flash your brightest smiles. I love that time in the morning with you. You are still in a size 2 diapers and you are wearing 3-6 month clothes. There are a few 3 month outfits you can still fit into, but not much longer! You are still breastfeeding and you are such a good little eater! I am so thankful that you are able to bounce back and forth between me and the bottle.

There are not any signs of teeth coming in, but you sure like to stick everything in your mouth! It hurts when you chomp down on our fingers! You love to grab your toes and you love to suck on them! Speaking of sucking....sometimes I catch you sucking on that little thumb when you are in your crib sleeping. Usually its after you are fast asleep and the pacifier has fallen out. Then again, sometimes you throw your pacifier across the crib - maybe its to get that thumb!

Heidi had her 4 month check-up a couple of weeks ago. This little chunk is weighing in at 15lbs 10ozs (82nd percentile) and is 24 inches (42nd percentile) long. I guess she gets the non-height from my side of the family :) The 2nd round of vaccines were given :( She had a fever and was really fussy when we woke up the next morning, so we knew that it would be best for me to stay home with her. I didn't mind, but I did not like that she was not feeling so well. John was off that day as well, but she really just wanted her mommy. By the end of the day the fever finally went away due to some extra TLC and a little childrens tylenol.

We were given the okay to start rice cereal and then in a couple of weeks to begin veggies! A couple of weeks ago was the first cereal experience! I think its going to take a lot of practice for Heidi to learn how to eat from a spoon! She kept trying to suck on it like a bottle :) I spent the past weekend making some baby food and freezing it into cubes. Heidi will soon be enjoying green beans, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes.

Heidi celebrated her first Halloween! It was spent at her boyfriend Dane's house along with a new prospect Jacob. The kids were so cute together! We hung out over there and watched the GA/FL game.

Our little Miss Priss is sitting up and hates to be laying down. She loves to play with our phones and will call me all the time now from daddy's phone. It is not a new thing to catch her rolling in her crib in the morning time - she thinks its just the greatest thing ever! Heidi loves to laugh and smile and pull my hair. Anytime we are holding something she wants to hold it as well - always reaching. Heidi can reach her arms out for us to pick her up and she can reach for things she wants to play with. It is absolutely amazing how much she is doing now and how much personality she has. It is easier for her to be in her own room now and the "checking on her" has gone down to a minimum instead of every 10 minutes :)