Christmastime is Here!

I just love this time of year. The story, the traditions, the lights, the trees, the stockings, the music, the fires, the time with family...I could go on and on!

One tradition that my family grew up with is that on the day we decorated our Christmas Tree we got a St. Nick present. It just showed up under the newly decorated tree every year - the first present of the season. It was always such a fun surprise - a present for the family!

Kevin and I decided to keep this tradition alive, and this year St. Nick brought Carter a big squishy ball! He could not have been more excited!

He ran around hugging this ball for days. The St. Nick tradition is gonna be a hit in our home I have a feeling!

Carter and I were feeling crafty one day and decided that his little tree in his playroom needed a special touch, so we painted Christmas ornaments. He was over it in a matter of seconds and much more focused on painting his diaper, so we only painted 3. They turned out really cute though!

Carter loves our Christmas tree. He especially likes the ornaments he can touch (the ones on the bottom). His very favorite is Santa in a hammock - he gives Santa a push - right before he rips him off the tree.

He also loves the Nativity. He calls Baby Jesus "JeeJee" and he can pick out both JeeJee and Joseph. I'm teaching him that the story of Baby Jesus is in the Bible. He will bring his little Bible to you if you ask him, and he likes to say the word "BieBLLLL." So sweet!!! That camel has been known to stick his head in Carter's mouth on occasion as well - nobody knows how that happened :-)

What doesn't fit in the next picture???

That's right - JeeJee is a little bit different, fluffier than usual. Well, that's because this is the official Baby Jesus of our home. It actually goes to a little "My First Christmas" book that is cloth and has finger puppets. We've had it out year round, so Carter has gotten to know the story. When I ask him, "Where is Baby Jesus?" He goes and gets this little stuffed JeeJee out of the book, so we eventually just replaced the other one for now! We are having so much fun with our little man this Christmas!!!

I can't wait to see what other family traditions will come with time!