Wednesday, December 29, 2010

7 Months!


28 weeks, approximately only 12 more to go!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Holiday Road: New Orleans

Matt and I made it back to the 505 late last night and after our week long adventure through the South, we're slowing getting back into the swing of things.

Our last two nights were spent in New Orleans, Louisiana. We were able to stay just outside the French Quarter and once we checked into our hotel on Christmas Eve, we walked over to Bourbon Street.


There were so many sights to see on Bourbon Street, including Jazz bands, street side singers, bars galore and unique architecture.








My Dad and Matt enjoyed Daiquiris from one of the many Daiquiri bars. Apparently Matt enjoyed his a little too much and started making friends with this wooden Indian.



After cruising Bourbon Street, we walked over to Jackson Square,




and then over to the Mississippi River.



Here's the 3 of us at 27 weeks


These human "statues" were all over the French Quarter.




Christmas Eve dinner consisted of Craw fish Etouffe, Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, Bread Pudding and Banana's Foster at the Oceana Restaurant, which was such a favorite that we went back the next day. It also happened to be one of like two restaurants open on Christmas Day.





We left full and happy!

That night we watched a Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life from the comfort of our hotel room.

Christmas Day was spent playing tourist. It was cold and wet, so that afternoon we decided to go on a 3 hour tour around the city.

Does that sound familiar?

Did we not learn anything from Gilligan's Island re-runs? It was one of the worst bus tours I've ever been on. I'm pretty sure my Dad slept through most of it and we learned more about the driver's history than we did about New Orleans. Although we were able to see the 9th Ward and Sandra Bullock's house, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

The next day was the last of our adventure. Everyone humored me by standing out in the cold to get a table at the famous Cafe du Monde where all they serve a these beignets, covered in powdered sugar and coffee.


So yummy, but so messy. The restaurant floor was covered in powdered sugar, my Mom even found some in her purse later that day.

After lunch and some more sight-seeing, my parents were finally sick of us and dropped us off at the airport.

Thanks for a memorable trip Mom and Dad. Love you guys!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas From Bourbon Street!


Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the streets of New Orleans!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Holiday Road: Orlando

After driving 6 hours from Orlando last night, we are enjoying a morning of leisure in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The two nights we spent in Orlando were a blast! We met up with our family friends who flew all the way from New Mexico to Charleston, SC to see my brother get married. All 7 of them! What great friends! They were relaxing on a beach while we were in Jacksonville and we were excited to reunite with them at Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure.

We all enjoyed getting to spend the day together and wished Perry and his new wife could have joined us. I'm sure they were having much more fun on their honeymoon in Jamaica.


This sign was on EVERY ride! Baby Danner and I will have to go back when we can participate in the fun.

While all of the adrenaline junkies stood in line to ride The Hulk and the Spiderman, I shopped and ate too much food with these lovely ladies.



I must have had a bad case of the Pregnancy Brain while packing because I failed to include a pair of comfortable shoes. My feet were sore and swollen by the end of the day. Thankfully, I had a nice place to rest that night.

We had the opportunity to stay in the beautiful Bohemian Celebration hotel, located in Celebration, Florida. 


Celebration is this cute little neighborhood in Orlando, created by Disney. The houses look as if they are hundreds of years old but were probably built in the 2000's. We walked around the square where it "snows" every hour and indulged in italian food and ice cream.


I loved the decor of the hotel and wouldn't mind having a couple of these items in my own house someday.


How cool is that chandelier? 


My photography skills don't do this room justice but I LOVE this long table with the different chairs around it and the beautiful hard wood floors. It reminds me of the Mad Hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland.

That's all for now. I'm going to get some R & R in before we pack it all up again and head to New Orleans to spend Christmas day there. 

Only 2 more days till Christmas!

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Holiday Road: The Wedding

Hello and Happy Monday from the Sunshine State!

Matt and I drove into Jacksonville, Florida last night with my parents after spending the weekend in Charleston, South Carolina for my brother's wedding. Even though it rained and we experienced unusually cold temperatures for that part of the country, the big event went off without a hitch and my little brother is now some body's wife!

Allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Perry Dunn.


This was technically before they became Mr. and Mrs. but it's the only photo I had of the two of them from the weekend.

Perry was a very handsome groom and he chose a beautiful bride. Both Matt and I were honored to be in the ceremony.


Someday we'll tell Baby Danner that he (or she) was there too, even though he may not remember.

As the newlyweds took off for sunny Jamaica, the four of us began our vacation with a little site seeing in historic Charleston.


The old houses were decked out for the holidays.



Can you imagine living in one of these? I would love to open a bed and breakfast in a quaint house like this.


Our vacation continues today with some golf and a little shopping in Jacksonville. Up next on our itinerary is Orlando, Florida!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

6 Months and Counting Down the Days

Happy December everyone! (A day late, I know)

We've started a few countdowns in the Danner home.

This photo was from yesterday, It's taken me awhile to get this post up

Christmas is only 24 days away and Matt will be done with school in ONLY 9 DAYS!!!!! Woo hoo, we're now in the single digits! He has been a great student, especially these past couple weeks, studying away for finals and working on his final paper. He's actually graduating a semester earlier than most of his class, I'm so proud of him!

And then of course there is the on going countdown till our bundle of joy arrives.

24 weeks/6 months

Approximately only 111 days to go!

There is definitely no hiding the fact that I'm pregnant anymore. Strangers have begun commenting, especially men. They sure are brave!

Setting up the tree seemed a little more exhausting this year. Little things like that have become quite the chore. I attempted to paint my toe nails the other day. They are still visible over my growing belly but bending over to get to them is a little difficult. I was able to remove the polish from one foot and had to ask Matt to do the other. Since Matt isn't the best nail polisher (one of his few flaws), I've had naked toes for about week. Just one more reason I'm thankful to be pregnant during the winter.