Christmas was a little different this year from last. Last year was exciting because it was Benjamin's first Christmas. Even though he was only four months old and had no idea what was going on, it was a big deal to us (okay, to me). I made Nathan take a picture of Benjamin and I standing next to his first Christmas tree, we (I) picked out special Christmas pajamas for him, we each bought him special gifts and even wrapped them, knowing full well we would also be the ones unwrapping them. We stuffed his stocking full, sat him on Santa's lap, took him to Winter Wonderland, and sang him Christmas carols (okay, I sang them). It was a magical holiday.
This year was still exciting I guess, but in a different way.. Though he still doesn't get what is happening, he does understand the word toy. And I think after yesterday, he understands present as well! He helped unwrap most of his gifts and it was fun seeing his face light up at a gift he particularly enjoyed (such as the collapsible tunnel his Aunt Candy got him.) Shockingly, he didn't much care for the educational Montessori materials that I carefully picked out for him. I wonder why? Well, it doesn't matter. He will one day. I will make him enjoy them. I'm kidding...sort of.
He also enjoyed the cinnamon rolls that I made on Christmas morning, even eating the burnt parts that I cut off...such a sweet boy to do that for me. He was able to say "thank you" to his gift givers and play with his new treasures. He loved to turn the Christmas tree lights on and off each day and really loved all the ornaments on the tree as well! We only had to wrestle away the fire truck ornaments a handful of times before he figured out that he wasn't actually supposed to play with them. The concept of for decoration only is a hard one to grasp at that age...heck, I am still trying to get Nathan to understand that one as well! For example, the towels hanging in the guest bathroom are for decoration only...why don't men get that? But I digress.
This year there were no pictures by the tree. I didn't even want to get a tree this year, but Nathan called me a scrooge and insisted that we could not deprive Benjamin of such an important holiday symbol. No special Christmas p.j.'s. because I waited until the last minute and couldn't find ones as cute as last year's pair. He did sit on Santa's lap and I did enjoy filling his stocking, but some of the magic was missing. Maybe it was because it wasn't his first Christmas, yet he wasn't old enough to understand that it was actually a holiday. Perhaps next year I will get to see the anticipation in his eyes as he waits for the day to arrive...the anticipation that I used to feel as a kid. Maybe seeing it in him will bring it back for me too. Because right now, all the holidays mean for me is work. Nathan is right. I am a scrooge. But that still didn't keep me from taking a hundred pictures...so enjoy!
This year was still exciting I guess, but in a different way.. Though he still doesn't get what is happening, he does understand the word toy. And I think after yesterday, he understands present as well! He helped unwrap most of his gifts and it was fun seeing his face light up at a gift he particularly enjoyed (such as the collapsible tunnel his Aunt Candy got him.) Shockingly, he didn't much care for the educational Montessori materials that I carefully picked out for him. I wonder why? Well, it doesn't matter. He will one day. I will make him enjoy them. I'm kidding...sort of.
He also enjoyed the cinnamon rolls that I made on Christmas morning, even eating the burnt parts that I cut off...such a sweet boy to do that for me. He was able to say "thank you" to his gift givers and play with his new treasures. He loved to turn the Christmas tree lights on and off each day and really loved all the ornaments on the tree as well! We only had to wrestle away the fire truck ornaments a handful of times before he figured out that he wasn't actually supposed to play with them. The concept of for decoration only is a hard one to grasp at that age...heck, I am still trying to get Nathan to understand that one as well! For example, the towels hanging in the guest bathroom are for decoration only...why don't men get that? But I digress.
This year there were no pictures by the tree. I didn't even want to get a tree this year, but Nathan called me a scrooge and insisted that we could not deprive Benjamin of such an important holiday symbol. No special Christmas p.j.'s. because I waited until the last minute and couldn't find ones as cute as last year's pair. He did sit on Santa's lap and I did enjoy filling his stocking, but some of the magic was missing. Maybe it was because it wasn't his first Christmas, yet he wasn't old enough to understand that it was actually a holiday. Perhaps next year I will get to see the anticipation in his eyes as he waits for the day to arrive...the anticipation that I used to feel as a kid. Maybe seeing it in him will bring it back for me too. Because right now, all the holidays mean for me is work. Nathan is right. I am a scrooge. But that still didn't keep me from taking a hundred pictures...so enjoy!
Rocking the Christmas Sweater
Loved by his Grammy and Nana
Christmas stockings in Mom & Dad's bed
Grammy Barbara got him his very own chair
I got him some Montessori materials
He likes the Knobbed Cylinders, I think.
He made a special mug for his Daddy
Grandma Kris and Benjamin
She got him the biggest gift of all (it's an art easel)
His very own lawn mower
Tunnel fun
Loves to hammer...another popular gift
Al...this year for Andrew was big...he understood so much, got very excited about Santa, loves the baby Jesus aspect, and was able to ask for certain things that he really wanted for presents. He's almost 4...it might take that long:) Cute pics!
ReplyDeleteOh boy, two more years, huh? Well, maybe we should just have another baby real quick so next year we can have another "first" Christmas! I'm KIDDING. LOL.
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