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We had so much fun with you this Christmas, not only the day of, but all the days leading up to and all the days since. Christmas has always been Daddy’s and my favorite time of year. Then, you were born December 3, 2009 and doubled the fun. We love that your birthday is one of the things that kicks off the great month of December. Fun times all month long!
Although it wasn’t your first Christmas, it was the first time you got to interact (since your first Christmas consisted of you pretty much just staring at the ceiling, occasionally wailing, eating and sleeping.) This time you got to do all kinds of things and be, in general, the star of everyone’s show.
Your Mima bought you so many Christmas dresses, we had to take some back (although it was hard because she has excellent taste!) But this one – THIS ONE – Mima and I found while we were shopping together. This is one of those items that it didn’t matter to me how much it was. I love this outfit on you so much, I doubt I’ll ever find another Christmas dress I love as much as I love this one. I love it because it’s different, it’s cute, it’s whimsical, it’s old-fashioned, it’s feminine and girly and sophisticated and unique. It suits you so well. And man, I cannot tell you how much we giggled watching your little butt wiggle around all Christmas Eve under all that red tutu with your little lacy ankle socks.
You had a good time too with Papi and Mima and Tia Carmen and your Daddy and I all there to cheer you on. You loved the bowl of plastic Christmas Balls I kept at Adela height for you to play with and the bowl of oranges that wasn’t techinicaly for you to play with, but were played with none the less. All those little oranges ended up a little squishy from all the tossing and dropping and teeth nibbling they endured Christmas Eve.
I almost put tights on you, but I’m so glad I didn’t. You have the prettiest little legs in the world. And have I mentioned that you love your Mima? And she adores you.
And then, Christmas morning… You and Daddy and I started off the morning with just the 3 of us. We made coffee, barricaded you in the downstairs living room with us, grabbed our stockings, and took a minute to read the Christmas story. Then, we threw on Momma’s favorite Christmas album on the record player and you helped us open some of our presents. We saved yours for when the rest of the gang showed up so that you could entertain them with your first Christmas unwrappings.
But you did help Daddy and i tear the paper on some of our presents. Daddy did a good job explaining to you what to do. You love your Daddy too. He got lots of Christmas morning hugs. Your favorite part of the morning was sampling your first goldfish crackers, one of your stocking stuffers. Oh man, you LOVE them.
After your morning nap, the rest of the family showed up to help cheer you on as you checked out the significant pile of presents with your name on them.
Some of your favorite presents were the “Poodle Dress” your Mima got you (you tried to put it over your head as soon as you saw it), the little car that Mima and Papi got you (that Daddy loves to push you on), the Cabbage Patch Doll named Merrilee Marianne that your Aunt Steph got you (whom you attempted to feed with her bottle as soon as you opened her, without any prompting from us!), the Elmo Purse that Auntie Steph got you (you love “putting on” the lipstick, and jangling the coin purse), the electronic Baby Einstein books that your Granny and Grandpa bought you (you love pushing the buttons), and the Activity Table that Granny and Grandpa T got you (so many buttons to push and songs to dance to, it keeps you entertained for long periods of time). We actually stowed away a bunch of your unopened presents so that you will have new toys to play with in upcoming months. Momma is still trying to figure out how to best store all these things. You are spoiled – I mean – blessed. Somehow we’re going to have to find a little bit of balance. We all love you so much, it’s hard to let you want for anything (you Don’t want for anything), but I’d have to say this Christmas was a little excessive. Are you too young for chores and allowance? Just kidding. I guess there’s time to teach you the value of earning things. For now, we’ll enjoy being able to spoil you… for just a little while.
And finally, here’s just a couple of my favorite Christmas photos taken earlier in December. I knew it was going to be crazy the day of Christmas so i wanted to take some photos exploring your “baby-safe” tree before the big day.
Christmas also afforded you your first taste of chocolate which I gave you wrapped so that you would keep your Santa hat on. Little did I know (until I noticed your quiet contentment), that you sucked right through the foil. But hey, it worked! You kept the hat on and we got these adorable pics.
And in this last one, I caught you trying to open your presents a week early. You tried to deny it, but those innocent eyes didn’t fool your Momma. 😉
Merry Christmas 2010, Baby! One for the books…