Merry Christmas From the Weigand Family!

There's always something magical about a baby's first of anything. But a baby's First Christmas is really something one wants to make as extra special and memorable as possible. A day for capturing Christmas magic, if there was ever a day to try.

When the sun rose on this Christmas morning, I had all these thoughts about how the day would unfold.  I thought Reece would wake up extra happy and fall in love with unwrapping his presents (and the wrapping paper too, of course) and spend all day between naps trying out his brand new toys. I thought we'd feast on Christmas food we'd cook together and dress up all pretty and take a bunch of Christmassy pictures. I thought we'd cuddle under the glow of the tree and read Christmas books and just bask in the Christmas magic that settles around the house every year on the very special day.

I thought a thought of things. But a lot of things didn't happen.

For starters, our entire family never got out of our pajamas. The entire day. And Reece didn’t care for his wrapped presents. At all. Not even the wrapping paper. All he wanted to do was rip ornaments off the tree and try to put jingle bells in his mouth. I will say that once some of his presents were totally unwrapped and out of the boxes, Reece would then sometimes act interested for short bursts of time, but then it was back to the ornaments.

And he napped a lot. Twas the night before Christmas seemed to last the entire day in our house.

Our Christmas Day may have turned into nothing I had imagined for us to spend the day doing . . .  but it was also simply one of the best Christmas's ever. It was truly the most relaxing Christmas I have ever experienced. Seriously, it was something to consider doing every once in awhile. No guests came over. No big dinner was cooked. In fact our Christmas feast we had planned wasn't even cooked until the following day. There was no need to rush through anything. No timeline to follow. Nothing to do but just enjoy each others company and live out the day simply.

Santa Claus is coming to town. Or our house. And he did!

Merry Christmas little one!

This Christmas Day was also the day for cuddling and sweet Christmas hugs. Reece ended up falling in love with his new tunnel and tent, and many smiles and laughs were made crawling back and forth, in and out. And little by little, he started to realize the joy of new presents and he started to get excited about some of the new toys his loved ones had given him.

It was a wonderful Christmas day filled to the brim with Christmas spirit and family togetherness. Definitely something to remember. I also know Reece probably knew something different was going on that day. I know he didn't know exactly what to make of things, but I know he could feel it. Because a lot of love was surrounding him that day. It was a Baby's First Christmas that was definitely first and foremost a Christmas filled with love.

Looking at the pile of presents dwindling under the tree.
And still not sure of what to do with them.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

A TRADITIONal Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is the day for excitement and joy and for imagining the special day ahead. It's a footstep before Christmas day, but all the built up wishing and hoping for the following day makes it a little bit more magical. It's as if Christmas Eve is a snow globe that gets shook up and all the glitter and snow and happiness are twirling around, excited, high in spirits and watching and anxiously waiting for everything to fall down  . . . waiting for the real thing, Christmas Day.

But I've always loved Christmas Eve. I've never wanted it to speed by and become the following day. I've always loved waking up on Christmas Eve morning, feeling the magic curl around me like a warm quilt, knowing I have a full day of Christmas time memory making ahead of me, with also the notion that it's only one more sleep until Christmas.

Having a Christmas Eve-y P.F. Chang's Dinner.

Bundled up for the Christmas Eve cold.

Smiling under the Christmas Tree.

Growing up all my Christmas Eves were centered around traditions. From where we ate to what we did to what we opened from under the tree that night. But our new little family hasn't quite got our traditions down yet. Meaning, we don't really know what we want them to be just yet. We want them to be special, memorable, something to look forward to and heartfelt. And one Christmas Eve from now, we'll have it all figured out, but for now we just know we want to have traditions.

I chose a few this year, ones that were passed down from my childhood, such as going out to eat at P.F. Changs and then coming home and opening two gifts: a new pair of pj's and a Christmas book. But I want to add more. Maybe a family Christmas movie, or baking something together, or looking at Christmas lights or doing something extra Christmassy.

And one day it'll all be perfect.

Playing with the Christmas Tree. And of course the
 ornaments. A Christmas favorite for Reece.

But for now, we'll take it one Christmas Eve at a time, one new tradition at a time, and just enjoy every second of everything. I still think though, the best tradition on Christmas Eve is being surrounded by family. And I know in my heart, we got that tradition down perfectly.

PRESENTS! PRESENTS!

Reece and Rumpa on that very merry Christmas Eve.

I spy a jingle bell?

Yes, eat the spoon. A little safer than the bell
from the Polar Express, I think.

The best family Christmas photo. Ever.

Reece in his new Christmas pajamas! So snuggly and soft.

Staring at Christmas lights . . .

Reading Reece's new Christmas book,"Biscuit's Christmas Eve."

Christmas tears. Or a Tiny Tim tantrum, perhaps.

Twas the night before Christmas . . . and it's about to begin.
After one more sleep.:)

Jolly Old Saint Nick

I'd like to introduce you to Santa. Or the one you'd meet if you came to our house for Christmas.

And let's see about this Santa and whether or not he fits the bill:

His eyes how the twinkle? CHECK
His cheeks were like roses? CHECK
His nose like a cherry? CHECK
He droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow? CHECK
He had a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly? CHECK
[He's] chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf? CHECK

See? Proof! Told you he was Santa. I always knew I loved that jolly man. :)

Ho Ho Ho!

It's Santy Claus . . . and his elf. :) 

A milk mustache. See, Santa loves cookies and milk.

My Santa Baby.

Making a list and checking it twice? Maybe.

Santa found an ornament.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town . . .

He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good. And he loves you even more if he sees you waiting for him at your bedroom window. Who says chimneys are all that matters? Santa likes windows too. 

Or at least I would if I was Santa. Especially if I saw that little face beaming out at me. I actually would come back a second time, even if it meant double the cookies. And having to squeeze down a chimney twice and get double the soot on my red suit. Sorry Mrs. Claus. 

If you want to know the truth though, this picture was actually part of my "window" photo shoot with Reece. Reece loves windows and some of his happiest moments are spent looking out at whatever he can see on the other side of the glass. Whether it's Ella putting her paws up on the sill and happily looking inside at us or watching a squirrel run or birds dance on the fence. Or perhaps it's just Reece's crazy camera yielding mother snapping photo after photo at the happy, precious little boy whose giggles can be heard all the way outside. 

But it doesn't matter. Because as far as I'm concerned, I just caught Reece looking for Santa. Because deep down, I really think he was. :)

Waiting for Santa . . .

A Special Moment With Santa

There are many milestones one reaches while growing up. But there's one that doesn't receive enough attention . . . and that that's when a little boy (or girl of course) meets Santa for the very first time.

There's the special moment when you place an innocent little one on the white bearded jolly soul and for an instant there's a magic moment. They look in each other's eyes and christmas spirit sprinkles down from above and there's no need for even a "Ho Ho Ho", because there's a bond of trust that settles over a little child who sits on that trusted Father Christmas.

And in some cases this calm and precious moment lasts. There's no tears or fear in the eyes with the look of "GET ME OUT OF THIS OLD STRANGER'S GRIP!" There's just carols playing, angels singing and that sweet question, "What do you want for Christmas, Reece?"

If I was asked what I wanted for Christmas, let's see, I'd want maybe a new car or perhaps a new coat or some pretty makeup or errr . . . world peace and good will towards men. Yes, that. But also just for everything to be as simple and special as the moment of a little boy sitting on the lap of a figure who will become such an important part of their childhood. And at first, he doesn't even know what's happening.  But you can just feel the connection between the two already and see in the years ahead all those magical Christmas mornings when little padded feet rush down the stairs to see what Santa Claus left them in their stockings and under the tree.

And there will be years for writing letters to the North Pole, baking cookies for Santa and leaving them on the fireplace, looking up the chimney and wondering how does he come down that thing? There will be years for wondering how reindeer fly and patiently waiting and listening on Christmas Eve to see if one can really hear sleigh bells and reindeer hooves on the roof, or see Rudolph's red nose as he flys by the window.

But in the beginning, there's no need for any of that. All there is is sweet staring and believing. And that really is the best part.

First stare at Santa . . . and then the connection happens. :)

This little boy already loves and trusts jolly Old Saint Nick.

Winter Steps

This winter, especially around the joy of Christmas came a new joy in our household . . . Reece's first steps. It was an early Christmas present to us. And to him as well. Because he loved each and every time he put one tiny foot in front of the other. He loved seeing our smiling faces and hearing our squeals of delight and pure parent pride in our voices.

Our little one was growing up. He was walking.

One morning we took a trip over to North Park Mall. We were going to see Santa, but couldn't see him until the evening so with some time to kill we found a beautiful courtyard and spent some precious moments with Reece and his baby steps. He loved every single part of that day. As did we.

Crawling's still my favorite at the moment.
I'll take some steps in a bit.

Modeling. :)

Proud of my little walking champ!

Playing with grass and leaves. Of course.

Step, step, step . . . And he's walking!!

Time for some celebratory flying. 

UP . . .

 . . . UP . . .

 . . . UP . . .

 . . . AND AWAY!!

Love this little one.

Leaf eating. Yum yum.

Walking again! He used the wall a lot for balance.

All smiles.

A big grin. Truly happy about his
accomplishment. Such a big boy now! :)
(And no, he did never let go of that leaf hah.)

So proud of my little happy baby.

And the day ended with smiles. Just as every day should. :)