Sweet Pea's First Christmas (x 5)

CAUTION: I believe this post sets some sort of record regarding the number of pictures included. With it being Sweet Pea's first Christmas, I took an unbelievable number of pictures! It was definitely a whirlwind of excitement. We are so incredibly blessed.

On Christmas Eve, our neighbors came over and we swapped gifts - the wee one's first unwrapping experience! As I would have expected, everything went straight to her mouth! She especially enjoyed the tissue paper (and bows...and the wrapping paper...)

Our first real celebration was with Brad's family - his mom, Grandmother, and aunt and uncle came over on Christmas Eve. We ate some delicious food and were able to visit. We all really enjoyed watching Katie play with the wrapping paper and tissue paper!!

Mommy and sweet girl

Family picture

Sweet Pea got money to put in her education accounts - you can tell she feels quite comfortable holding that cash! :)

"This is SO fun, Mommy!!"

I wanted to start a tradition of having one present from myself and Brad that she can open on Christmas Eve - so this is the first of many years!

She loved the bag!! It was PJs that say "Baby's First Christmas" on them, as well as a baby book about Christmas

Lovin' on Sadie

Sporting her new jammies on Christmas Eve!!

So begins Christmas Day - our first Christmas morning as a family of 3! Brad and I woke up before Baby K did, which is very unusual! I guess we were just really excited! She ended up waking up at around 7:45, so we started our morning! We would end up having 4 Christmases by the end of the day. Lots of family, food, fun, and presents to open!!

Christmas morning....it looks like Santa came!!

This is what I found when I went to get her up!

Even Sadie found that Santa had left her some goodies in her stocking!

We helped Baby K get a look at her loot!

Our sweet girls :)

She is figuring out all the fun stuff that Santa brought her!

Doesn't she look so big standing at her play table? I know she will be pulling up on it in no time!

She's really concentrating on opening this present!

She looks so excited to see this present - that expression is priceless!!

Thanks to Aunt Tanja for some awesome Titans gear!!

My favorite picture of the day, I think - Baby K posing with all of her Christmas morning goodies!!

Christmas morning with Mommy, 2009

And so begins Christmas #3 - heading to my mom's house (or Cee Cee to Baby K)! It seems that Santa even went there too! We all had stockings there and some fun gifts too! My mom also made her infamous hammies, so we ate too many of those too :)

"Merry Christmas, Cee Cee!!"

Can you find Sweet Pea?? :)

I love her expression in this one too...

Cee Cee got her a Care Bears DVD and cute pink hat - this picture makes me laugh!

So excited about the Elmo doll that Uncle Will gave her! It was Will's when he was little!

My mom gave us his and hers marshmallow guns! I can hardly wait to get out in our yard and shoot Brad with some little marshmallows (and Sadie can't wait to eat them!)!!

The best family photo to date! Love it!

Next, we headed to Christmas #4 with my Meme and my mom's family. We ate some yummy food (seems we do that almost all day!) and had a great time seeing everyone. Everyone was so generous this year and really picked out great presents!

Baby K hanging out on the couch - Daddy added the magic touch of the bow :)

Meme got a Snuggie - and I am fairly certain it was her favorite present of the entire day!!! We all got a good laugh for sure!

Our final Christmas with my dad's side of the family. We got there and ate again :) Once again, delicious food! One of my favorite traditions of the holiday season is that my grandfather reads the Christmas story out of the Bible that has been in my family for close to 150 years. He lights a candle that my uncle made when he was a young boy. After the reading, we go around and talk about the past year and our hopes for the upcoming year. I love hearing about everyone's blessings and challenges, as well as their hopes for the future. Even though Baby K slept through the Bible reading this year, I am glad she got to be a part of it, and I can't wait to do it again next year!!

Apparently she was excited about her "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament :)

All the girls wearing goofy hats!

And of course, the guys couldn't escape the hats! Here's the guys (except Will)!

Baby K snuggling with her new blanket that Brad and I gave her. She was so incredibly tired but having so much fun being the center of attention! I love this picture.

What an amazing Christmas...it seems like it went by so quickly! It's hard to believe that it's already over. I can't believe how time is flying by - and I have a feeling that it is only going to go by faster!

I wanted to finish this post with the Christmas story that we read every year. I think, while it is so great to find that perfect gift for each person, it is truly important to remember what the day is all about. So here is Luke 2:1-14 (KJV)...

[1] And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. [6] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.