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. :)

Little Feet, Little Shoes, Little Steps

Reece was bought his first pair of shoes.

And for some reason he really hates to wear them.  Every single time I wrestle his baby feet into them, he does look very precious and big boyish, but not a moment later, when I see him crawling across the floor he's down a shoe. He always manages to rip off just one and looks like some orphan child dragging his one shoe and one socked foot behind him. And he refuses to finger walk in them as well. So much for helping him learn to walk. :) But I know in time he'll get used to them and won't want to go anywhere without a pair of baby shoes on his teeny feet. (Or it may be another pair he learns to walk in, since it may take awhile for him to get used to the idea of having shoes on his tiny feet if he keeps up with ripping one off.)

But no matter, one day he'll love them. And for now, I'll just let him explore the world with one shoe on.

Almost just like Mommy's shoes. And before we
know it, he'll be running along beside me. :)

Our 2010 Christmas Card - You Better BELIEVE It

Here’s our 2010 Christmas card. The first holiday card with Reece’s beautiful face to grace its presence with. :)

I fell in love with this “Believe” card the first time I saw it. Because believing is really a big part of Christmas. Whether it’s believing in Santa and the North Pole, believing in the real reason for the season, or just plain old believing in Christmas magic and all the joys that come with it. And I really also just really love the word "believe". True story.

The picture for the card I finally decided on, was taken moments before Reece sat on Santa's lap, with the Christmas lights twinkling in the background and Reece looking absolutely precious. I was sure this card was going to set the bar for many years to come. I didn't think my card could be topped.

And I stayed happily impressed with how my card came out . . . until I had already sent many out and looked a bit more closely at the words I chose. I think I had a little too much love for the Wisemen this season, because upon inspection this is what the card said, “Wising you all the magic and joy of the season . . . “ Major misspelling and major whoops. And major embarrassment and WISHING I had looked a bit more closely. I should blame it on the eggnog or maybe the rushed making of the card late into the night. Or blame it on believing I don’t need to proofread.

But what’s done is done.  And our first Christmas card went out misspelling and all. I’ll just pretend the card was absolutely perfect, because me being a perfectionist (who would have thought due to my major mishap?) will dwell on it until I get the next years cards out.

But then again, Christmas isn’t all about being perfect. It’s about well, believing and enjoying the spirit of all things Christmas. And of course, a little Christmas magic. So I'll leave you with a few parting words: I wise you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. :)

The Spirit of Christmas Can Be Felt From Within . . .

 . . . And seen around your house in the form of decorations.

And I for one absolutely love decorating for Christmas. It's as if the magic of Christmas settles around your house once the stockings are hung, the tree gets decorated and everything else getting lovingly placed around your home. Because what is a house without "stockings hung by the chimney with care" or "the holly that will be on your own front door"? It's a house without decorations, a house without Christmas cheer, a house the Grinch and Scrooge would like. And that will never be our house.

This was the first Christmas spent in our new home, which meant I wanted to go Christmas decoration crazy and pull everything pretty off the shelves and run down the aisles screaming, "MINE MINE! That tree skirt is MINE!" I wanted to be the Crazy Christmas lady and have overflowing baskets and carts and bring all the Christmas goodies I fell in love with at every store home with me. But since I don't have an unlimited supply of money, and there was no Christmas miracle this year in the form of finding buried treasure or finding a tree that grew money, I couldn't be Crazy Christmas lady. But I could be her a little bit, just as a downgraded version.

Oh Christmas Tree!

This reindeer could pull the sleigh if he
wanted to. I just know it.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . .

This year I bought the pretty essentials, and for the next few years, little by little my Christmas decoration collection, as well as the Christmassy splendor of our house, will grow. But that also gives me something to look forward to. Each year I'll get to visit the stores with a fresh hope of finding the perfect front door wreath, or the perfect whatever to upgrade our Christmas mantel or whatever. Every year will be a little Christmas treasure hunt. And every year I'll be waiting anxiously for the calendar to change to December for the decorating to begin.

Pretty Tablescape. Finally used our wedding china!

My favorite Christmas decoration. :)

I know where Santa's sitting . . .

Tonight there's a star in the sky . . . 

I am in love with ornaments.

Christmas cards! 

Candles and SNOW!

Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, lit up like a star . . .
(I love Christmas lights. One of my favorite sights in the entire world.)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Everything about Christmas is just magical, and it only makes sense that it should start with your home . . . where the heart is.