All-that-is-Christmas

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail when it comes to describing our Christmas this year.  I want to lock it away in this little chest of memories I've been storing in the back of my brain, memories to sit beside the day of our wedding, the beach lounging days of Mexico, and the days of and following Cruz's birth.  This Christmas ranks with the best of days and there just aren't a lot of words to describe it.  I only hope years from now, I look back and remember the love I felt, as well as the smiles plastered on the faces of our family.

Especially the sweet smiles from this little guy.     

Cruz loved Christmas.  The last couple of weeks, he's been so responsive to people, to noise, to lights, and to attention, a perfect combination to come at Christmas time.  His eyes were big as we opened brightly colored packages in front of him, and he smiled when he saw the surprises awaiting inside.  His favorite gifts this year were the books and light-up toys.  It's as if he knew they were especially for him.  Beau and I passed him back and forth all weekend, taking our turns experiencing this with him.  Our gifts, although very much appreciated and enjoyed, didn't compare to the gift of watching Cruz experience his first Christmas.  He was far more alert and into it than I ever pictured.  

What I will always remember about this first Christmas of ours...

...the snow.  The storybook snow that started Christmas Eve and didn't quit.  The big flakes that danced in the air and took their sweet time landing on the cold ground while I got the house ready for Christmas.  The giant icicles that looked better than Christmas lights, and the sparkle on the earth as we left the candlelight service at church.  I've never remembered a Christmas snow more beautiful than this one.  I felt like we were living in a snow globe!

...Orchard.  Our first Christmas Eve candlelight service as a family.  The dimmed lights, the incredible music, the white Chinese lanterns hung from the ceiling, and the Christmas carols sung in the atrium.  I will never forget snuggling with Cruz during the service, holding him tight as the Christmas story was read, and thinking about a cold night in Bethlehem, and a sweet little baby born two thousand years ago. 

Cruz slept through a good part of the service, but loved the candles lit at the end.  The peace and power that resonated in that building was incredible.  At the end of the service, before anyone could leave, Pastor Dave gave the congregation one last assignment.  He said that oftentimes, Christmas comes and goes so fast, and in all of our time with our family, we fail to hold them close and tell them how much we love them.  That was our assignment.  To have one, tiny little moment with our family before leaving to celebrate the holidays.  I witnessed 85 year old couples embrace as if they were 16 again, sons hug fathers for the first time in years, and little girls whisper, 'I love you,' in their grandpas' ears.   

...the way the house smelled when we got home from church.  It is tradition to cook a big, fancy meal for our own little Christmas.  Our Christmas menu this year included stracotta, an Italian pot roast with a red wine and porchini mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, and a salad with cranberries, toasted almonds, and a balsamic vinegarette dressing.  The (four) of us ate dinner at the table.  Our changing table pad has become quite useful and versatile, especially when it comes to meal prep and eating! 

...It's a Wonderful Life on TV, a glass of red wine, and a new pair of pirate pajamas for Cruz.  This was our first Christmas Eve at home, our first one as a family.  We opened presents, read a few books, and did our best to slow down time.  Cruz loved his interactive manger ornament, and plastic camera (go figure).  It was funny to open gifts I had purchased and wrapped just days before, but fulfilling to know it was the start of a new tradition for us.   

...So many cute presents for the Cruz man!  He was spoiled by his family, and since his presents are officially more fun than mine, I feel spoiled too!  I spent two hours yesterday reorganizing his closet and playing with his toys.  He is mesmerized by his laptop from Charly, and thinks his 'pillow pal' blankie is pretty snugly.  He got his first long underwear stocking from his Grandpa Ray and Grandma Mary, lots of Gap clothes and books to add to his collection from Grandma Kelly and Grandpa Curt, and a special rocking horse from Great Grandma and Grandpa Hoodjer.  The only toy he was a little skeptical of was a little drum that plays music.  After a total meltdown with big tears and all, we decided we better put that away for a few months!

...a long, drawn out Christmas at my mom and dad's.  We had to take a break in the middle of presents to let the little ones nap!  It was kind of crazy to think that last Christmas, Charly wasn't even born and I wasn't even pregnant!  I don't know how many times Mom commented that, 'this was the Christmas she always dreamed of!'    

...A weekend of a whole lot of this...

This morning (or afternoon now), as I sit in pajamas amidst boxes, receipts, spit-up stained blankets, and the remnants of all-that-was-Christmas, I know that all too soon, the Christmas tree with the little lights that Cruz has loved for over a month will get stored away, the presents will find a place, and I will be back to work.  And as another year begins and new resolutions are made, I hope I can keep all-that-was-Christmas a part of our family all year long.

Christmas ramblings...and a baby in a snowsuit

I love Christmas week.  I just made one of my final trips to the mall to grab those last minute gifts, a couple of bows, and a final roll of tissue paper.  I love the mall this close to Christmas.  I even love trudging through the slush in the parking lot and watching people pile in booths at Old Chicago.  The busyness, the anticipation, and the dwindling of the mittens on the fireplace mantle tell me that Christmas is comin'...

I'm trying my best to slow down time at my house this week.  Christmas comes and goes so fast every year and as soon as it's by us, my days at home with Cruz are numbered.  Yesterday, I took a nap on the couch with him as the snow fell outside, watched a movie, and read Green Eggs and Ham three times in a row.  By the third time, Sam-I-Am had morphed into a British lad with a ridiculous accent.  Cruz loved it nonetheless.  His attention span isn't very long when it comes to his vast library of books quite yet, but there's something about Dr. Seuss.  Maybe Santa will come through on One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.  I should let him know that Barnes and Noble has a 'buy two, get one free' sale going on this week...

Christmas feels different this year.  When it comes to Christmas shopping for Beau, I usually have all kinds of ideas for him.  I start early and try and outdo myself with surprises for him every year.  This year, besides a new big screen and a pair of footed pajamas 'just like Cruz's,' he's given me no help with his Christmas list.  And when it comes to my Christmas list, besides a Beaba` babycook, I am far from creative.  We've finally settled for the idea of taking a trip to the mall sometime, and helping each other pick out a new pair of shoes or a coat or something.  Definitely not creative and definitely not surprising.  

This year, presents and perfectly frosted sugar cookies and an immaculate house just don't measure up to the gift we've been given this year.  This tiny little person that's filled our lives with more love than we've ever known.  This year, it's about the little things... 

...like taking a break from wrapping those gifts to watch a baby and daddy connect during Monday Night football.

...or spending fifteen minutes bundling a baby in a snowsuit to spend five minutes outside in the snow.     

It's about the soft touch of a chamois sheet in Cruz's crib, the popcorn on his tree, and the twinkly lights hanging from his window.  It's about the coziness I feel when I lay him in his crib at night, and the excitement I feel when I pick him up in the morning.

It's about an afternoon of play in front of the Christmas tree.  A cute fleece outfit with matching socks, a first reach for a toy, and a smiley baby.



It's about a single glass of Milk Nog and a Christmas pair of pajamas.  New movies in the theatre, Christmas classics on TV, and a family trip to Famous Daves.  It's about dressing Cruz in red for five days straight, going to our first Christmas Eve service as a family, and watching his little eyes get big as we sing Silent Night by candlelight.  It's about a tiny little baby in a manger born thousands of years ago.

It's about the joy, and love, and peace I feel this Christmas week with my little Cruz.  It will be a Christmas I won't ever forget. 
   

A busy weekend...

Our official Christmas season began this weekend with two of our six family Christmases.  We lugged Cruz around more this weekend than we have since he's been born, and boy was he a trooper.  At times I feel like all we did was strap and un-strap him in his carseat.  He would get tiny little naps in the car as we traveled to and from, but the minute we were around the commotion, he was awake and observant to say the least.  Last night, at Aunt Becky's, I've never seen his eyes that big!  It was hard to tell if he was excited, or completely terrified.  We made it, though, and realized that Christmas is just that much better with a baby at our side. 

(The calm before the Christmas storm...Cruz chillin' in his pirate shirt)

Before our Christmases began, however, my family made a quick stop at the McLeod Center to watch me receive my MASTERS DIPLOMA!  Since I've been finished with my degree since last summer, I wasn't sure if I wanted to walk in the ceremony.  After all, I remembered all too well having to arrive at the Dome hours before the ceremony began, only to be forced to sit for an hour and a half wearing the world's dumbest ensemble (whoever invented the square hat anyways?).  But a part of me wanted the closure, a chance to celebrate the accomplishment of earning a Masters degree within the first two years of my profession.  As I worked hard to write papers amidst lesson plans, read textbooks amidst students' essays, and pull 16 hour days of school, planning, and night classes, I wanted one morning to sit back and reflect on the feat I had conquered. 

And after the near, two-hour ceremony, I'd say I had enough time to reflect! 

It was pretty amazing to look up in the stands of the McLeod Center and not only see my family there to celebrate, but my own nine week old baby.  Life is crazy isn't it?  While the hundreds of undergrads, in their trendy high heels and perfect hair-dos, text messaged their friends about the parties they would attend that night, I text messaged my husband to see if he remembered to put socks on Cruz.  I spent more time picking out his little UNI outfit for today's festivities, and chose to spend the extra minutes playing with him in his room instead of putting the finishing touches on my hair.  It's incredible what a few years and a little person can do to a life.  They change ya, that's for sure.  And although I loved college, loved my wardrobe, and cared immensely about my hair, I wouldn't go back in a second. 

It was torture sitting in those folding chairs for two hours when I had a perfect view of my little boy. 

And I couldn't wait for this. 

After dinner at Bourbon Street, we ran home to mix a broccoli salad, locate a couple of presents under the tree, and give Cruz a quick bottle before heading to Allison to the Henrichs family Christmas.  With five kids and spouses, 18 grand-kids and spouses, and 22 great grand-kids (with no spouses), this Christmas is loud, a little wild, but incredibly cute.  There are big people and little people, brown eyes and blue eyes, locals and travelers.  And in the middle of it all, there is one, 88 year old woman who had a hand in starting it all. 

Beau fell in love with our little cousin, Maddie, I ate way too much chicken wing dip, and Cruz loved his Care Bear book from his great grandma.  For being the newest baby there, Cruz held his own and was good as gold.  It was fun to have a little person to add to the mix of little ones...I wonder if there will be any new babies next Christmas...

(Cruz was more interested in his presents than I thought he'd be)

Yesterday, we traveled to Hampton to Aunt Becky's to celebrate with Beau's mom's side of the family.  Although the Sanders family is less of a herd than the Henrichs side, with three kids and spouses, seven grand-kids and spouses, and seven great grand-kids (with no spouses), this didn't stop them from creating a 'vibrant' environment that appealed to all of Cruz's senses: the sights of the toddlers fighting over toys, the smell of Duncan the Dog's breath as he checked out the family's newest addition, and the sound of Brody's adorably cute rendition of the 'Pants on the Ground' song.  We munched on delicious food, sipped Gina's pomegranate vodka and 7up, and exchanged white elephant gifts.  I don't know how I managed to snag my very first Scentsy out of a white elephant exchange, but now my kitchen smells of cinnamon and cloves and I'm thinking I made out pretty good.

(This is how Cruz looked most of the night...I've never seen his eyes that big!)

So far, so good!  With two Christmases down and four to go, we are learning all that goes in to the holidays with a baby.  Although there is lots of packing and unpacking diaper bags, changing dirty diapers on folding tables and nursing home beds, and late night pajama car rides home, we are learning just how much fun it is to celebrate family, and celebrate this season with our Cruz.