Christmas 2010- Christmas Eve

We had the perfect first Christmas with Baby Girl!

I said years ago that when we started having children, I wouldn't drag them all over the place come Christmas time. I wanted them to be in their own house on Christmas morning. So this year, my family came to us. My grandparents, aunts, and uncle rented a lake house a few minutes away, my parents stayed in a hotel here in town, while Uncle Marine crashed on our couch (some things never change..).

Mr. Perfect's family was supposed to join us, but had some things come up at the last minute and weren't able to make it.

It was really, really nice to have everyone here for BG's first Christmas. And pretty much drama free which I always consider a huge victory.

There are some things we'll do different next year, but this one was amazing.

I love Christmas. That's no secret. But having a child in the house took it up quite a few notches. I don't think she got it at all this year, but putting cookies out for Santa with her, putting presents together after she went to bed, and watching her open them the next morning, was the highlight of my holiday.

She's amazing. I know, I know. I've said it before.

How about some pictures?

Christmas Eve day, we headed out to the lake house to hang out for a while before church that night.

I somehow managed to convince everyone that it would be a blast to play Guesstures. As per the usual, Mr. P took the most convincing. Like trying to pull teeth people..


After a while, it was time to get ready for church. Since we still haven't found a church here, I just picked a random one that was having a Christmas Eve service and we went there.

(Everyone says she looks just like her Daddy, but those thighs are definitely her Mama's!!)

Mama & Baby Girl before church

I was really, really worried about how BG would act at church. They didn't have a nursery available and the child had only had a very short nap that afternoon. I was prepared for disaster.

I gave her a bottle as soon as the service started and hoped she'd fall asleep after she finished.

Yea right.

That bottle must have been full of "crunk juice" because she was wired the minute she finished it.

I thought it polite to get up and leave when she decided to squeal through the gospel of Luke.

Your welcome congregation.

I had to take her to the bathroom and let her squeal at the adorable baby that lives in the mirror for a while. The minute we stepped back out of the bathroom, she started squealing again. The church was open in the back, so I knew the congregation could hear every squeal and giggle.

I took her outside for just a minute and then Mr. Perfect came and took her to the truck so I could enjoy the rest of the service.

After church, we rode into town to check out the Lights of Hope. Mr. Perfect and I had been before and wanted to take everyone else to see it.

After the lights, we headed to grab some dinner before heading home and getting ready for Santa.

This picture is blurry, but it cracks me up. Uncle Marine got a little taste of how difficult this child is to feed!

When we got home, it was time to put on our "My First Christmas" pajamas and get ready for Santa!


Clearly she was excited. I heart her.

We set out some cookies for Santa and then got BG in the bed.


After she was asleep, it was time for "Santa" to get to work.

Mr. Perfect and Uncle Marine putting together her Pooh table.

Then it was finally time for bed. Not going to lie? I could hardly sleep from excitement!

Which is why I was up with BG at seven the next morning.

But that's for another day...