Baby's first Christmas

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, Oliver! We had such a great holiday season as a family but it was over before I knew it. We tried our best to make your first Christmas 'memorable' amongst the chaos of our crazy-busy lives...I know you won't remember, so here's a quick recap...

We kicked off the season with a kids Christmas Play at Stages Theater in Hopkins - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Pa bought all of the grandkids tickets to the play - Rae, Rowan, Skylar, and you...and all of us big kids, of course. The play was a dud (Pa actually got free tickets to another play because it was such a dud!) but you and Skylar had an absolute blast in the seats - putting your hands in each other's mouths, laughing at each other hysterically, and banging your arms on the armrests...it was almost like a lightbulb turned on and you both figured out that the other exists at the same time - it was so much fun! There's a cute picture of all four of you below.

Ama continued your holiday events by taking you to "Reindeer Days" in her neighborhood the following weekend. She bundled you up like a snowman and took you in your stroller through the streets of Linden Hills. You got to "meet the reindeer," as she likes to say and, of course, you loved every minute of it. You should know this was an extra special treat for Ama because she got 'alone time' with you and we weren't real excited about giving you up for the day....we like to take advantage of any chance we get to hang out with you on the weekends!

Grandma & Grandpa Hormann came up the third weekend in December for Hormann Christmas and we did lots of celebrating. We all went downtown Minneapolis to the Macy's Holiday Display - this year's theme was "A Day in the Life of an Elf." You were very patient waiting in the long line and you had so much fun looking at everything. I re-lived my own childhood memories of our annual trips to the Dayton's Holiday Display with Pa, Ama, and Auntie Cortie - this was one of many holiday memories that let me re-live the past this year through your eyes...what a rewarding experience as a parent.

You met Santa for the first time at daycare and both Dad & I were there for the big event. All of the kids and parents crowded into Mary's lower level to meet the star of the show...it was quite a scene! Unfortunately your first visit with Santa didn't go over very well - the picture below is absolutely priceless and captures the moment perfectly. You sat on his lap for a grand total of 5 seconds, starting sobbing, and then we swooped you up to head home. At least we can say you met him, although I think you would've preferred not to meet him at all!

We spent Christmas Eve with Pa over at our house. Dad made his famous Wild Rice Soup and we all spent a nice evening in our basement around our tree. Speaking of the tree, we somehow packed away all of our Christmas decorations so I had to buy generic ornaments and decorate like a department store. I was so bummed because I was determined to keep Christmas 'normal' for you...as if you would've known the difference!

We all trudged over to Auntie Cortie's new house for Christmas morning with Ama this year. It was a lot of fun to all celebrate there together. There was a HUGE snowstorm on Christmas Eve so it was quite the adventure getting everyone there. Ama's car even slid down the driveway and Uncle Sam chased it with Dad! Everyone spoiled you like crazy and you actually started to enjoy ripping open the gifts after getting so much experience the previous few days.

I'll never forget celebrating our first Christmas with you - I remember thinking last Christmas that I couldn't believe I would have a 9-month-old the following year. It's amazing to think how far we've come since you first arrived. It truly feels like a different century and here we are in a new year. You have been such an amazing gift to both Dad and I - we feel incredibly blessed to have you in our lives...here's to a great year ahead!