Gabe's first Christmas

Our first Christmas with our Gabrielle has come and gone. It was by far the best experience Adam and I have had in a while. Even though her favorite present was the wrapping paper and the ribbon, it was so fun. Centering our Christmas around our child was such a great joy, despite the fact that she had no idea what was going on. Having a kid around brought back the exciting anticipation we experienced as kids. It made the holiday season the best. We are so excited to teach her so much about Christmas in the years to come. 

We started this year with off with our Christmas Eve traditions. We had our turkey candlelit dinner, which turned out great with our homemade rolls and twice baked potatoes. Gabe enjoy chewing on the Green Bean we gave her. (I didn't cook it enough and it was still crunchy) Following dinner we read the story of Christ's birth in Luke by our warm fireplace. As soon as Adam started reading Gabe started talking and talking. She was trying so hard to get Adam's attention. She wanted to have a conversation with him. We like to think she was excited about the story. It was so funny. So we might not have gotten as much out of it this year, (partly because I was holding her and couldn't hear half of it) but we think it's an important thing to do none the less. We usually watch the Nativity movie, but since Adam gets up early we waited till the next day. We like that our Christmas Eve's focus is around Christ and not so much Santa coming.

 

Adam carving the turkey

Our candlelit meal

Gabe trying to shove it in sideways

So Christmas morning our daughter woke up unnaturally early and wouldn't go back to sleep. We thought because she is still little we should enjoy sleeping in, it didn't happen. HA. It's like she knew. It was raining when Adam did his paper, but turned into snow when it was time to get up. So we woke up Daddy and opened some presents. Gabe of course needed a little help with the paper, but once we showed her how to rip it, she went to town. After the present was open, she still wanted the paper. Too cute. We had to take the paper away to get her interested in her gifts. We opened our stockings following that. GRETA stood by her stocking the whole time, cause she knew what was waiting for her. She snuck in on Santa when it was being filled, so there was no stopping her excitement. Plus I think she remembered last year, and she loves Christmas too.

 

Watching the snow fall outside

The wrapper was on, but after a while I noticed the red smeared.

 That was her Christmas treat for a minute.

Her new jacket from Nanna and Poppa

Opening Grandpa and Grandma's present. 

She really liked any wrapping paper that was blue for some reason. 

Good choice guys!

Thanks to everyone who spoiled us this Christmas, it was an amazing year. The rest of the day we ate goodies, played in the snow, watched movies, and played games that night with some friends. Gabe got to get her own sled ride through the snow once it calmed down. We stayed out there only a few minutes. Her heavy coat is still too big so she looked like the younger brother on the Christmas story. She couldn't put her arms down. Greta couldn't get enough of the snow, so Adam was out in it a little longer. We know we didn't get half as much as some of you, but it was nice to have a white Christmas. We hope everyone's holidays were as good as ours!

Adam shoveling the walks and throwing the snow in Greta