Christmas Eve

December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve has always been spent with my Dad's side of the family.  Mom is always thinking of others and knew missing that Christmas would be hard for me.  Since Henry was only one week old, we weren't going to travel.  Instead, Mom and Mags came over to our place for a sweet, intimate gathering.

Mom has always enjoyed taking the time to watch each person open one gift at a time.  Emma was completely uninterested in this idea.  She was definitely all about the gifts - her gifts, my gifts, Aunt Maggie's gifts.  She didn't care who was opening as long as she was a part of it.  She was just much faster than the rest of us.  Part of what Mom loves about watching each person open their gifts is the time it takes from start to finish.  As long as we were allowing Em to help open, we were going to be finished in no time!  

And so we were!  Finished in no time, swimming in a sea of wrapping and tissue paper.  Emma was going back and forth between all of her toys, playing a little with each.  Mom sat perched in the rocker, smiling with pure joy as she watched everyone admire their gifts.  Josh and Maggie interacted about our new iPhone car chargers while I swayed my precious newborn back and forth in my arms.  I can't help but look around and count all of my blessings.  I'm incredibly thankful for my little family of three that grew to four and for the two women in my life that love me unconditionally.  I am blessed!