A Different Story

Last Christmas found Brian and I the brand new parents of a beautiful 2 month old baby girl.  We had both decided with the flurry of having a new baby and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays, that we would hold off on getting presents for Christmas for each other and Kate.  (I am actually quite embarrassed to even admit this.)  After all, getting presents for everyone else was going to be enough AND, to be honest, Kate was the best gift of all, so there was nothing else that either of us really wanted besides our brand new babe!

That was, until Christmas morning.  I was in tears all morning because I had legitimately convinced myself that I had ruined Christmas.  AND, Kate's FIRST Christmas, nonetheless.  Way to go, Mommy.  A great start to being a parent...cancelling Christmas.  Kudos for that move.  These thoughts played in my head over and over and over.  (I semi blame the post-pregnancy hormones still surging through my body for my extreme emotional state, but I also take full responsibility for my actions...Never will I ever cancel Christmas again.)

I have since moved on from that day, and we more than made up for the lack of gifts for Kate on Christmas morning throughout the year, trust me, but it is my vow to never make such a silly decision again. Never.

So this Christmas was a different story...and it was a complete 180!  (Thank goodness!)

Brian and I (and Santa) were sure to coordinate gifts for Kate, Jack, and each other.  Come Christmas morning, there would be ribbons, there would tags, there would packages, boxes and bags.  And this Christmas we did not fail!  On Christmas morning it was evident that Santa had stopped by!

We spent our Christmas morning at home.  It was our first Christmas on the adult/parental side of things. And, beyond all other words, it was truly magical!  Watching Kate opening her gifts gave both Brian and I more joy than we ever could have imagined.  It was a gift in and of itself.  Now we both understand why parents get so much satisfaction watching their wee ones open gifts on Christmas morn!

We then headed to Brian's Mom's for a lovely Christmas brunch and topped the day off at his Dad's for yet another Christmas!

Click for more Christmas!

Despite the drawbacks that we experienced the previous Christmas, I think we are on the right track for future Christmases.  Scratch that. I know we are on the right track!  Merry Christmas to all!