You turned 7 months old on Christmas Day, you are getting so big! You were able to sit up and help open your gifts. You love paper (you will play with a Post-It note for 10 minutes!), so the wrapping was a big hit! We had to watch that you didn't eat the paper, but you snuck some in your mouth and gagged a couple of times on it!
We had our Christmas celebration and cookie day at Great Grandma Phyllis' house early this year because she went to Florida. There was so much to look at and so many people to see! You got a savings bond and a Lenox first Christmas gingerbread boy ornament from Grandma Phyllis. Aunt Vonnie got you a shape sorting bucket, vibrating strawberry teether, board books, baby toiletries. Aunt (cousin) Melissa got you a toy that you pound with a hammer and an outfit. Aunt Lisa got you a Mountaineers t-shirt and a toy. The labels are blurring in Mama's head so I know I forgot some things, but you had a very nice Christmas. Grammie brought a book about cookie baking, a Rudolph book, a little wreath with a gingerbread boy and a tiny Christmas tree for you.
We went to mass on Christmas Eve with Daddy's family (and your uncle-to-be Pat! He proposed to Aunt Lauren in November) and Grammie at the Mercyhurst Chapel, where Mama and Daddy got married. Next year maybe you can go to the alter when the priest calls for the children to come forward. After mass we visited baby Jesus in the Nativity. After mass, we made dinner at our house and opened gifts with the Eighmys and Skyped with Uncle Patrick, Aunt Pamela, Charlie and Sebi. We sang a few songs together and the boys opened their gifts from us so we could watch. Everyone was so generous! You got Mega Blocks, outfits, and a taggie blanket and book from Grandma, some spending cash from Grandpa. Aunt Lauren and Uncle Pat added to your gift (Gap sweater romper that we had your Christmas picture taken in and sweater outfit with a corduroy cap) and got you an argyle vest and driving cap with ear flaps like Daddy's!
On Christmas Day we opened presents at home as a family! We always start with stockings in the living room and then have breakfast. Santa stuffed your stocking with finger puppets, Mother Goose board books and FAO Swartz ornaments. You and Mama made white chocolate, macadamia nut scones. Then we opened presents under the big American tree in the back room. Santa brought you a big radio flyer wagon with a sun canopy, Daddy can't wait to take you to the zoo and pull you around in the wagon! Mama and Daddy got you a baby toboggan, little people school bus, books, a Christmas glow worm and some teething toys. You napped while we got ready to head to Grammie and Grandpa's house.
On our way to Corry, we stopped at the Donoghues to see Auntie Nellie and Sidney! They finally made it home from England. You and Sidney checked each other out and we gave Sid part of his gift. It was so nice to snuggle with Auntie Nellie!
Uncle Ryan and Kristy were already there with Riley and Zeva when we arrived! Grammie and Grandpa got almost 90 inches of snow this winter! Grandpa is looking forward to building you guys a giant snow slide when you get bigger! Mama and Uncle Ryan had a blast doing that together when we were little! There were so many presents under the Christmas tree that Riley was climbing over top of them. Soon you will be crawling everywhere too! Uncle Ryan and Kristy got you a little ride on car and a talking kitchen! Grammie and Grandpa bought you a first Christmas ornament, lots of books (Mama Llama Holiday Drama, Owl moon and the entire bag of Mama's Golden books with a buyer's guide and the ValueTales collection of stories)a toy remote control and a buffalo plaid outfit(now you can be just like Grandpa!), a Semester at Sea onesie and a toy TV with Paula Dean's picture on it (you LOVE to watch FoodNetwork!) and so much more that the Pilot was FULL of stuff! We created hand prints in clay and added pennies to Great, Great Grandma Lewis' pickle jar. You and Riley had such a blast wading through the wrapping paper, watching the festivities and playing together that you passed out cold and cuddled with Grammie.
Mama and Daddy have begun a new tradition reading the story The Spirit of Christmas by Naney Tillman to you. "Remember, this all began with a child. Because it took nothing but love to begin it, it's not really Christmas if love isn't in it. ...And so then, my darling, wherever you roam, may you always be safe... may you always come home. For as long as the world still spins and still hums, wherever you are, and no matter what comes, the best part of Christmas will always be... you beneath [our] Christmas tree."
You are our greatest gift, we love you baby Eoin!
Eoin,
ReplyDeleteYour first Christmas was busy - coming and going everywhere! The week before Christmas we had every day together while Mama was in LETRS class. We started your first Advent calendar. You were very intent as we added a new character to the nativity set and reviewed all of the ones we had put on days before. Grammie was sick with the flu and you were such a prince about playing and snuggling. You scooched backward in your Pack and Play and pulled yourself up to chew on the railing.
You were so good Christmas Day with all of the activity of presents and the wrapping paper crunching under our feet. You and Riley are so good together - I hope you will grow to be best of friends.
Grammie and Grandpa got you your first stool to sit on. It folds down into a step so that you can stand up high to reach the sink and do other things when you get to be a bigger boy!
Santa and Grammie are getting in tune with each other. He said he was getting you the wagon with the canopy, so Grammie didn't get it for you and Riley. When you get bigger there are so many exciting toys to have. I thought about getting you boys a motorized truck - but that was silly as you are just babies and we don't want you to grow up too fast. I love you little snuggle bunny.
Happy first Christmas.
Grammie