This will be Elliot's second Christmas, but our family's first Christmas together in our own home. Last year, Elliot was in the NICU and Aaron and I were staying in the Ronald McDonald house. Needless to say, it was an extremely stressful and emotional time. My favorite holiday was just not the same. We did, however, receive the best Christmas gift you could ever ask for: we were able to hold our son for the very first time.
Last year:
This year, I want our Christmas to be really special. I haven't really made up my mind about how we are going to do things, but I do know this: I want to create some lasting Christmas traditions that (I hope) Elliot will always remember. I want my son to love this holiday as much as I do.
What Christmas traditions (or memories) do you treasure the most?
I'm making a list of things to do this holiday season. Help me add to it?
My list so far:
1. bake and decorate sugar cookies
2. cook a big Christmas morning breakfast
3. take Elliot to the mall to get his first pictures with Santa Clause
4. have a festive family photo shoot
5. send out Christmas cards
6. go to Christmas Eve mass
7. donate food to a local shelter
edited 11/3 to add some reader suggestions/ideas:
8. give Elliot a different ornament each year, so that when he gets married, he'll already have a whole box to decorate his tree.
9. cut down our own Christmas tree
I love Christmas too! My christmas list is pretty similar to yours
ReplyDelete:). Though not sure if we'll get to go to church yet. I can't wait to bring out my tree. I bought it in 2009 before Tristan was born but we never used it and didn't get to use it last year either. So this year we are! I just love everything about Christmas!
Umm... this totally made me cry! No, I'm not pregnant!!! I just remembered all of your posts about when Elliot was in the NICU and the thoughts and feelings behind them.
ReplyDeletei am the same way! LOVE christmas! if jer would let me i would keep the christmas tree up all year long. looking at the lights just makes me so happy!
ReplyDeleteSO happy that you all get to spend this christmas AT HOME together!
We love going to the local tree farm to go for a sleigh ride and cut down our own tree. Also, my parents started a tradition that we are carrying on. Each child gets a new Christmas ornament every year and when they get married, they get their box of ornaments to start their collection on their own family tree.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way! I love Christmas and honestly the things I remember most from past holidays were the family traditions. I love Jenn's idea about getting each child their own ornament each year, I think I will have to do that! I've already started preparing for the season and bought a few things I saw at Target today :) I'm also hosting a Blogger Christmas card swap this year if you would like to join, it should be a lot of fun and hopefully will spread a little Christmas cheer!
ReplyDeleteI am with you - We LOVE Christmas here! LOVE it! I can't wait either now that Halloween is over! :)
ReplyDeleteI nearly cried when I saw your first holding Elliot pics and on christmas day makes it even more lovely !
ReplyDeleteI am SUPER excited for xmas, as it is Joshy's first :D
We're spending it with my mum and dad for 2 night this year as Matt's working christmas eve and boxing day. hehe soooo exciting x x x
I love Christmas it is by far by favorite!! We also plan on making lots of traditions this year now that Lo understands it all. One that we are adding is watching all those Christmas movies such as the Polar Express, Rudolph, etc . It gets me in the holiday spirit.
ReplyDeleteAnother I want to start is buy Lo The places you'll go by Dr. Seuss and each year at Christmas writing something special in it about the past year and reading the book. It's not really a Christmas-y book, but I like the idea. Maybe a different book though.
we're having the same chrismas as you well kinda. its Philips second one too and we have our place to decorate as well. I love christmas as well especially as over the last couple of years the uk has finally had snow!!! and that has made it better every year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more this year. even though philip is too young to understand all about christmas i'm looking forward to him seeing the decorations in the house especially the tree but also leaving out cookies and milk for santa and making up my own christmas stories for him and making them into a little book so that he can keep it for as long as he enjoys christmas. xxx
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