Christmas!

December 31, 2012

Christmas!

Christmas 2012 was one to remember. Different....and special. Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a 2 1/2 year old is really quite something. This time of year was so much fun as a kid, but I think it is way cooler now as a parent. Being Santa and seeing your child's excitement over the littlest things (like candy canes) is one of the best parts of parenthood.

Brian's parents hosted a Holiday brunch on the eve of Christmas Eve, and we had fun being with extrended family and showing off Collier to everyone. Brian wasn't feeling great but wanted to make an appearance. You sure wouldn't know he was sick here...what cuties!

I kept Collier protected in the baby bjorn where he slept soundly.

Ellie cooked up yummy ham and cheese crepes and Brun entertained:)

Betsy Grace and Sutton playing with the collection of singing Christmas toys.

I made some strawberry Santas for the kids.

Ellie finally got a quiet moment to be with her new grandson.

Isabelle opened up an early Christmas gift from Ellie and Brun...a tutu, another piece to add to her dress-up trunk. Future ballerina, for sure.

Izzy asks to hold Collier often, although the second he cries she's ready to hand him back. She is constantly coming up to check on him and give him hugs and kisses. My heart melts everytime.

Christmas Eve was a weird day...Brian's sinus infection was so painful for him and he finally got in to see the doctor. That night I went without him to my parent's house for dinner. Isabelle had a ball, but of course I sat (in hiding) in the living room during most of dinner to feed the baby, wishing my husband was with us. I listened from the other room as my brother read "The Night Before Christmas" to Isabelle. Too bad the whole boob exposure with nursing kinda freaks out the men in the family, because that's the only thing that kept me from hanging around topless all night. The sleep deprivation and hormonal changes were starting to take effect and I would be lying if I said my night before Christmas was all "sugar plums dancing in my head."

My brother and Laurie...very soon to be bride and groom! Beautiful couple!

When I came home we got Isabelle down by 9:30 and fulfilled our Santa duties, filling stockings and assembling toys (the green toy was for Crockett, not forgotten). No matter your age, there is always an adrenaline rush on Christmas Eve!

Santa brought Isabelle a changing table for her dolls (much needed), a vacuum, and some other fun little things. She is certainly our little domestic goddess!

Christmas morning came and Isabelle woke up, eager to play with the vet kit that Cici and Granddaddy let her open the night before. I tried to slow her down and explain to her that Santa had possibly come. She rushed into the den without any expectations and was very happy to first see the vacuum that she had been asking Santa for all season. Then she noticed the changing table. She got right to work.

Both of her "big" gifts have been enjoyed daily. Santa scored bigtime.

This picture just makes me laugh. Isabelle's 3rd favorite gift from Santa is probably the toy phone at the bottom of her stocking. Her 5th phone. You can never have too many.

Anything else in there? Santa has to work hard to fill up the never-ending gigantic stocking!

Daddy gave everyone Carolina hats. Isabelle knows her tarheels...the moment she saw it she said "Go Heels!"

All grandparents came to see Izzy open gifts and to have some brunch. My parents waited a little while to tell us that a huge limb had fallen on our new car. Lived here almost 7 years, under a canopy of trees and we've even watched 2 trees fall in our yard, causing minimal damage. We've been through lots of storms, seen lots of branches fall.

Christmas day. Brand new car. Really?

I'm going to blame it on Santa's reindeer.

But that wasn't going to stop us from soaking up some Christmas cheer! One look at this little guy, and you are reminded of what Christmas is all about!

Family. Love. JOY!

We made an appearance at the Tucks later that afternoon which is always festive. One of these years, I'll get the group photo right...a bit out of focus.