With Christmas only a few days away, I flash back to being a kid again. Putting up the Christmas tree and wishing Mom would replace the decorations. They are so old! Looking out the window as I lye in bed staring at the beautiful colors flowing through my window from the large bulded lights that circled the house. Watching the stack of wrapped gifts under the tree grow because Dad finally got his stuff under there. Having a Sleep-in with my brothers under the Christmas tree, with the lights on! Going to my aunt's (or grandma's) Christmas Eve and spending time with my cousins. Looking for that red light in the sky as we drove home. Those are such great memories!
I look forward to the yeard to come and the great memories I hope we make for the Girl for her Christmases.
I wanted to share a little bit of our Christmas fun so far this year.
Driving Santa
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
Mr. & Mrs. Claus are ready for bed. These are from my childhood.
This beautiful Angel sat atop my tree as a child. I am so happy to have her watching over the beautiful ceramic Christmas tree my mom made in the background.
Better picture of the tree. It is an iconic piece in my Christmas decorations.
Our Nativity scene this year. I had to dig Joseph out of the toy box and found Mary behind the tv.
It just isn't Christmas without Milk and a Little Debbie. :)
One of the Litte Sisters of the Angel above. She and her twin hung on each side of the tree growing up. This year they adorned the tree.
Every day, we roll through life just working to move on to the next thing. A typical day starts,... get up and get ready, but I better hurry and get things done that I need to before it is time to get the Girl up, get her dressed and out the door so I can drop her off at daycare on time so I can get to work on time.
It leaves very little time for enjoying those first moments with her when I walk in her room to hear her awake and talking to herslf and playing. I call out to her. She hears my voice and quickly sits up with the biggest smile looking for me, and I get a giggle. HeHe! She is such a happy little girl and we sit in the rocking chair and cuddle for a few minutes as I get her out of her pajamas. Her hair is everywhere and there is sleep in her eyes, but as she looks at me with that grin, my heart melts. I just want to sit here an play with her all day. It is that grin that keeps me going through the day. That keeps me pushing towards my greater goals. To be able to work from home so I can be with her.
This morning, I dressed her for her first Christmas Party at daycare. Santa was even coming to visit this morning! Oh how I wish I could be there. She even kept the bow in her hair. It usually doesn't last more than 10 seconds. Although I am sure it is currently in the side pouch of her bag because she has yanked it out and either thrown it, or tried to eat it. At least she let Mommy get cute pictures. :D
Although when we got to meet Santa this weekend, we weren`t exactly a fan.
We sat on Santa's lap....
And then she realized who she was sitting with....
And said, "Forget this!"
But when I say "It's the little things," that is what makes your heart melt. The Hubby has been slightly disappointed because of the Girl's attachment to Mommy. When he gets home in the evenings, he kisses me, and goes in to give her a kiss. Like with nearly everyone right now, she turns away. However, this Saturday as he was keeping her entertained while I finished getting everything ready to head out to our first Christmas family gathering of the year, I hear him yell with glee from the other end of the house. I hurry back to the living room to see the two of them laying on the floor playing. The Hubby says, "Watch this" and puckers up to the Girl and makes the kissy sound. Without hesitation, she leans down and gives him her first kiss!
I think he is still on cloud nine! It truly is the little things...
I am sure we have all heard the Christmas song, My Grown Up Christmas List.
I was driving home from work yesterday and heard this on the radio. (Yes, I am one of the nerds who listens to the Christmas Station.) I have become very weepy and sentimental since I found out I was expecting my daughter. Needless to say, when I truly listened to the words of this song, I choked back a the tears. I am such a sap! As I thought about they year I have had, I realized just how these wishes had come to fruition or were something I was still praying for.
I was the kid in school who loved to believe in Santa! I remember being sad the day I figured it out, but excited I still got to fake it for my younger brothers. There was something magical about Christmas when you really believed in Santa. Watching out the car window as you drove home Christmas Eve to look for Rudolph's nose and running to the living room when you got home to see if he had visited while you were away (obviously he never did). I am looking forward to seeing the magic of Christmas in the Girl's eyes when she is old enough to grasp the concept of Christmas. :D
On to the lyrics:
"No more lives torn apart" and "Time would heal all hearts" really speak to the Dad coming back into my life after being gone for 6 years. It's a long story (that I can't rehash without bursting into tears) but seeing him, and speaking to him the last two months have been great. Every little girl has a Daddy shaped hole that only he can fill. Mine was empty for a long time and it has been so great to feel that void closing. Santa already gave me a Chrsitmas gift when I saw him playing with my daughter for the first time. As a little girl, I loved hearing him play the guitar. That twang still sings in my head. He was introducing her to that same sound and again, I choked back tears. (Uh oh, here I go again...) This year I am very thankful for thousands of answered prayers to have my Dad back!
"That everyone would have a friend" makes me so greatful for the wonderful friends and family we have. At the Girl's birthday party this weekend, I had to take a step back and realize just how many people cared about my little family. The Hubby and I are so blessed, and we know it! It makes me think about a song from Girl Scouts back in the day, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold." That has been my year. We have made great new friends in our Sunday School class and I love hanging out with them. At the same time, I got to hang out with my best friend of 20 years (wow, that makes me sound old) this weekend after it being nearly a year since we had seen each other because of crazy schedules. It warms my heart to feel the love of friends who might as well be family. (I love you, J!)
"That love would never end." Does that really need explaining? I love the Hubby, the Girl more than I ever thought a person could. My prayer is for it to continue to grow exponentially. For the love of my Savior to continue to grow in my heart. For my family, ... for my friends,.. for their relationships. I know things aren't perfect, but what life is? It's the imperfections that make it great!
Oh, and to add to my grown up Christmas List, I would like:
new clothes (Losing weight post-pregnancy is great, but now nothing fits right);
shoes (because I tend to wear one pair until I can stick a toe through them);
a sewing machine (I have a champagne taste on a RC cola budget when it come to the Girl`s clothes); and
for a buyer for our house (I have been asking for this for a while now, stupid housing market!)
I can't feel my hands typing while sitting at my desk;
I drink 5 cups of coffee just to stay warm; and
I look out my office window to see this...
Are you kidding me?! This is the fountain behind St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of Spring Hill College... in MOBILE, AL! It is not supposed to be this cold!
Now, can some one bring me two cups of coffee? One for each foot. Thanks!
"That love would never end." Does that really need explaining? I love the Hubby, the Girl more than I ever thought a person could. My prayer is for it to continue to grow exponentially. For the love of my Savior to continue to grow in my heart. For my family, ... for my friends,.. for their relationships. I know things aren't perfect, but what life is? It's the imperfections that make it great!