Baby's First Christmas

Harper's pretty Christmas dress from Grammy Sue

This year, Christmas was especially fun and festive, as it was Harper's first Christmas.  Dallin and I rotate our holidays so that one year we spend Thanksgiving with his family and Christmas with mine, and then switch the next.  This year, we celebrated with my family at my mother's home in Western MA.  So on the Friday before Christmas, right after Harper's one-month visit at the pediatrician (where our growing girl weighed in at 8 lbs. exactly), we got in the car for our very first road trip as a family of three.

Well, perhaps it wasn't quite so simple; having a baby on board means a LOT of extra stuff!  Between Harper's baby gear and all the Christmas gifts, our SUV was so packed that it was slightly reminiscent of the Beverly Hillbillies.  But we made it out to Western MA safe and sound just a few hours later, greeted by the cheerful barking of my brother's two small dogs.  I had been slightly apprehensive about the meet-and-greet between Harper and her canine cousins.  But it turned out that I needed not fear; Charli and Maple were enthusiastic to be sure, but they kept a cautious distance too.  We joked that my brother had his babies, and we had ours.

The boys with the babies:
Gil holding Harper & Ben holding Charli

Harper napping in Grammy Sue's arms

It was a cold winter weekend, and snow was already on the ground out there so we spent our time indoors, cozied up by the fire, doing lots of snacking, and watching some of our favorite Christmas movies--but Harper was, by far, our favorite source of entertainment.  She was cuddled and snuggled by everyone.  Unfortunately, Christmas Eve wasn't her best sleeping night, and she stayed awake half the night with colic--and her dad stayed awake with her.  She may have been bright-eyed the next morning, but poor Dallin wasn't quite so awake.

Baby and Daddy snuggling

Still, Christmas morning felt especially festive with Harper in our arms; she really is the most amazing gift we could have asked for. And she was quite spoiled too!  She had already received her first Christmas gifts from her Grandma Annette during a visit the week prior, and on Christmas Day, Grammy Sue gave her a lovely little bird ornament and a book about animals on the farm.  Auntie Annie got Harper her very first L.L. Bean tote with her initials monogrammed in yellow; Gil had given her an adorable polka-dot romper on Christmas Eve; and Uncle Ben gave her a gorgeous grey cashmere beanie that she has been wearing practically everyday since.

Our excited little baby on Christmas morning--

wearing her special Christmas pajamas from the Kelly Family

Enjoying the Christmas tree with Auntie Annie

Dallin and I have a tradition where we exchange Christmas tree ornaments each Christmas so, this year, Harper received her very first ornament too: a tiny glass teddy bear from Tiffany's (I maintain that every baby girl needs to receive their very first little turquoise box).  We also gave her an adorable pink Northface fleece jacket, and two Madeline books.  All in all, I would say that baby girl had a great first Christmas.  Especially when you add in the lights on the Christmas tree that she LOVED to stare at, as well as all the love and snuggles from her family.  While she may be too little to remember these moments, it was a Christmas that the rest of us will never forget.

Our favorite Christmas gift