Your First Christmas

Merry Christmas MY LOVE!

This is your first Christmas out of the womb! It's also mine and your father's first Christmas together (we spent Christmas with our own parents last year) so this is so wonderful for all of us!

On Christmas Eve, Dad cooked up a super tasty dinner: steak and lemon roasted asparagus. We had a fancy red wine to go with it. We tried giving you carrots and You LOVE your carrots. It was nice to see you finally eat solids well when lately, all you would do is nurse. You sat in your new fancy high chair that we opened early from Nann & Pops (thank you!) and ate right along with us. You nearly drank more water than me too!

Christmas morning comes no later than other mornings. We were all exhausted but it's Christmas and we are so happy to be together. We sat with you in the living room and let you "open" your presents. Ammie + Papa, Nann + Pops and Papa Steve + Mimi sent so many wonderful gifts our way for you and us parents too! Most of the wrapping paper ended up in your mouth (and in your diaper later-- oops!). You were amazed with all of the boxes and paper and all the noises they make.

Dad made his cheese danish for breakfast and served it up with a big glass of milk and a tall glass of eggnog for me. YUM. We watched "Elf" and lounged most of the day. Even when you aren't feeling your best, you're such a happy baby. You've started a "mama" phase in the last couple of weeks. It's gotten to the point where I can't leave your sight, you won't take a bottle (of anything) and are super picky with your solid intake. My heart hurts when I can't figure out what's wrong or what's changing.

For dinner, I made my first pot roast with veggies in the oven. It was so tender, it fell off the fork. Mmm. Not even close to as good as your dad's steak but it was pretty tasty if I do say so, myself. You ate sweet potatoes for the first time and they are definitely your new favorite. 

 I didn't take any photos of the dinner I made with my camera since I'm a messier cook than your dad. And I forgot to make something green..... gotta have those greens. Oops.

At the end of our evening, you were restless and I was getting a migraine so I fed you and laid in bed with you and we both fell asleep. Dad went to bed soon after. With all of this together-time indoors, we are going to have a bit of cabin fever soon. Okay, maybe just me. We three are so worn and tired. a little sickly but healthier than most this season. Still, our first Christmas was so special. One I will always remember. 

Love you darling.

Always,

Mama

Gemma Meets Santa

Hi Gemmie!

I thought to myself before you were born that I would never be the mom who loves doing all of the traditional, fussy things with my children during the holidays. The outfits, the bows, the sparkles, the Santa photo.... But here we are and I'm that mom. While I sigh at myself often, I'm not ashamed of it. 

I wanted to take you to have your photo made with Santa. We got you all gussied up in your sweet Christmas dress, tights, gold shoes and satin hairbow. You're such a smiley baby that I thought, "Gemma is going to have the PERFECT outfit. The PERFECT smile. The PERFECT photo."We get to the mall, put you in your stroller and BOTH of your shoes are gone. I find one in the car but the other has vanished. Did it fall out on the way out the front door?? Your dad and I frantically look all over the car for it. Your dad a little more frantically because he sees the needle on my stress gauge begin to reach new heights. 

We can't find it. Your dad was perfectly fine letting Santa hold you with your shoes. Me? Heck. No. But what can I do? Nothing. 

We have dinner and proceed to the end of the photo line. We were one of the last ones to be let in! It's your turn. I give you to the nice man in the warm red suit and you calmly sit on his knee. You looked straight at the stuffed reindeer the photographer shook and didn't crack a smile.....until AFTER Santa starting talking to you. He was enchanted with you and knew you are and are going to be a good girl. So he gave you a candy cane. You're 6 months. But I digress.... 

We leave the mall, dad puts you in the car and what do we find in the stroller...? YOUR OTHER SHOE. Oh man, I was about to lose it but your dad told me how this is how things go. Nothing is perfect, things don't always go according to plan, and we have to roll with it. He was so gentle in telling me, "You're acting crazy but I love you and I understand you. But you're acting crazy." 

We got your photo made with Santa without shoes on and it is one of the cutest photos of you to date. I was so concerned about being perfect that I almost missed out on the special moment we had. You were smiling and laughing at Santa and his mall elves. You reached for your dad when you were tired. Then fell asleep peacefully on the way home. 

Sorry I can be controlling and overbearing. I can't promise that will change but I do promise to recognize it and do my best to correct it. I love you baby girl. 

Always,

Mama