Splish Splash

Yesterday evening we wanted to have some *free* family fun so we headed down to our riverfront splash pad park and had ourselves a great time! I feel like we're one of the few who take advantage of this fabulous play place, or at least we're some of the only ones who take advantage of it in the evening hours. Really though, that is the best time to go. It's the perfect temperature, and you don't have to worry about sunburn! Sometimes we just go down there to let the kids play in the water, but last night we brought our swim suits too! There's nothing like feeling like a kid while you're playing with your own kids...especially when there's water involved! The evening was complete with the riverboat cruising off into the sunset...

Animals, Art, and Amazing Music

The fantastic spring-like weather was a sign that we should take a break from our usual drudgery to spend some quality family time at the zoo.  We spent the morning admiring the diversity of creation.  After eating our sack lunches by the chimpanzees, we played on the playground and finally enjoyed a relaxing train ride.  Luckily, all of this expended enough of the kid's energy that we could work on Etsy orders back home while they napped.

Bookending the day was an art party in a grand antebellum home out in Coosada, AL -- who would have thought? (Thanks again Henson's for bringing us along!)

On display was work from local artists surrounded by a crowd of interesting people.  Luckily, there was also land and other children for Noah to play with while we hung out... he even got a hold of a light saber.  Then there was the music, which was well worth the wait.  Spirits of the Red City, composed of bass, cello, banjo, guitar, accordion, percussion, and fantastic vocal harmonies, were phenomenal.  It was a treat to watch them live.  Their slightly creepy marionette show was just icing on the cake:

Pure Joy

I am so incredibly thankful to God for my family.  It is such a wonderful thing to hear the words, "Mommy, I love you" come from a two year old. I try to soak up the conversations that I have with my little boy.  Just last night he was handing me a "present" and I asked him what it was.  He said, "It's a Cindewella dwess for you, and I'm the prince.  I will dance with you."  I cherish those moments.

It's an amazing thing to have a tiny little babe depend completely on you.  To be able to make her laugh and gurgle when I blow raspberries on her tummy.  To watch her grow and change so much in such a little bit of time.  To see her eyes light up and a big smile come across her face when she sees her daddy and her big brother.

Ah, motherhood. Tis a pure joy.

When I got out of bed this morning and came into the kitchen, I found a jar with beautiful flowers and a card next to it. It was the sweetest and most special card I have ever received.  I didn't realize it right away, but when I went into to kiss Nick on the cheek to say thank you, he asked if I looked on the back of the card.  I turned over the card and it said "hennstudio."  My sweet sweet husband stayed up last night and handmade me this card.  When I read those words now, I can hear his voice reading them to me.  It means so much for a wife to have the approval of her loving husband.  Thank you, my love, for everything.

Life as a Family of Four

Where to begin? It’s wonderful, exciting, joyful, scary, busy, exhausting, happy, amazing. We are truly blessed. As my mind tries to peer through the fog of the last few weeks and realize what just happened, I’m overtaken by the sweet moments we’ve had together as a family of four.

The first is when Noah came wide-eyed (even though it was almost 11 at night and he’d been sleeping) into the delivery room just half an hour after Olive was born. He was so excited to meet his baby sister. He climbed up onto the bed with me and couldn’t take his eyes off her (that is, until he spotted the nurse’s latex gloves and just had to have some)!

The second is when we came home from the hospital. We all rode home together in our little car. Noah was being so sweet, and Olive slept the whole way home. Then, we walked up the steps and into our “humble home on wheels” just the 4 of us.  Noah was so excited to show Olive his room and his toys. It was special.

We’ve had some rough moments too- Noah had so much attention from grandparents the first 2 weeks that when they all left he apparently forgot everything we taught him the last 2 and a half years. But, now that we’ve had some time to adjust he’s done really well. He’s been really sweet to Olive the whole time though- and protective of her. When other people hold her he usually gives a scowl and says, “That’s my baby sister” in a gruff voice. It’s kind of sweet, actually.

The last few weeks have been sort of a blur, but I’ll never forget the very true words that someone once told me, “It’s amazing how your love can grow.”

Meet Olive!

Recap of 2009

Here’s a little recap of 2009 for us:

• Went to Kentucky for cousin’s New Year’s Eve wedding
• Noah was ring bearer- 15 months
• Visited friends in Cincinnati
• Nick turned 22
• Noah said, “I love you” for the first time-18 months
• Took Noah camping and hiking in Pine Mountain, Georgia
• Found out we were expecting baby #2
• Visited Chicago
• Celebrated our 3^rd wedding anniversary
• Nick completed his interior architecture thesis program
• Found out it’s a girl!
• Visited Saint Louis
• Nick began 5^th and final year of architecture
• Noah turned 2!
• Went to Kentucky for Henninger family reunion
• Brooke turned 23
• Noah became Peter Pan
• Nick finished his second-to-last semester
• Spent Christmas at our home here in Auburn

It has been a busy year for us as I’m sure it has been for you. We are very excited for what’s coming in 2010. Here’s to a blessed new year!

Merry Christmas from the Henningers

Here it is…our 2009 Christmas picture!

It’s been awhile since our last post. Our camera has been in the shop. Thankfully, our good friends let us borrow their camera so we could go ahead and take our Christmas picture. I was 35 weeks in the picture and am now 36 weeks! We officially have less than a month until baby Olive joins our family! Here’s a couple more favorites from the photo session.