First Christmas

DECEMBER 2009
Our first Christmas as parents was so fun.  I really feel like once I started having children, my life truly began.  Everything that you experience is so much more amazing with kids!  Christmas was no exception.  It seems that Christmas was  little brighter, a little merrier, a little sweeter with this little babe in our family.  Ian and I started a tradition that we hope to continue as our family grows, that is: we give 1 present from mommy and daddy, 1 present from Santa and 1 stocking filled with goodies.  A few reasons we do this are we don't want the explosions of presents and the expectation of "things" to over shadow why it is we celebrate Christmas and the overall feeling of Christmas to me is enough.  Another reason was that we decided on "3" because there were three wisemen giving presents to the baby Jesus, so we thought that was an appropriate number.  Although it is hard not to want to spoil around Christmas time, I think the activities all month long are what make Christmas fun, such as looking at Christmas lights and baking cookies.  For years we have traditionally spent Christmas Eve with my Dad and Christmas day with my Mom, also as our family grows, I'm sure we will change these traditions.  But with Lorelai as a baby we continued this model.  Here are a few pictures from her first Christmas in 2009.

Opening presents at grandma Janette and grandpa Cordell's house Christmas Eve.
 I think she enjoyed the paper more than the actual presents!

Mommy and Lorelai (8 months)

Auntie Jamie Kalama Wood with Lorelai

Aunties and Cousins!  Lorelai, Mommy, Stevie McDonald, Jamie Wood, Kira Swan, Jamie Kalama

Daddy and Lorelai with her snowman stocking that grandma Susie bought her

1st Candy Cane!  Yum!  Lorelai is decked out with a bib, jammies and hat from grandma Susie