Christmas: Take 1! (and 2......and 3)

I know most of you have long fallen out of the Christmas spirit, but here's my Christmas post for Caleb. If kids that get presents make Santa's good list, then Caleb must have been at the top because the amount of presents this kid got (at 9 months old) was ridiculous! To be honest, there are still tons of toys (still in the box, I might add) sitting in our dining room because we just don't know where to put them all. I'm not complaining, Caleb is very blessed to have such a giving family, but dang. There's no way pictures can do it justice, but here's some shots of Caleb's three Christmases.

Christmas #1 (Grandmommy & Granddaddy's house) - December 23rd

It's rare to get all 4 grandkids together.....I'm sure you can imagine why. Thanks Uncle Jared for trying to hold it all together!

Caleb LOVES books. He gets that honest! He cared less about anything else after opening this book.

Caleb had lots of help opening gifts. Cousin Will was his handy helper!

Sweet Ezra coming in to make sure we're doing it right. All three cousins have a way of always making Caleb smile.

Carter toughed it out as long as he could, but alas, he drifted off sporting his new hat from Aunt Rachel and Uncle Jason.

Uncle Jared reading Caleb's bedtime story. Thanks Uncle Jared!

Christmas #2 (Mommy & Daddy's house) - December 25th

Since this was Caleb's first Christmas, we decided to go easy on the gifts. Jason and I got each other one thing and we didn't even wrap it. We just stuffed it down in the stockings and called it done. Jason gave me two books and I gave him a new Tennessee Vols hat. Merry Christmas. For Caleb we got him five things, I believe. One from Mommy and Daddy and Santa brought four gifts. Our Christmas was very quick, but the part we enjoyed the most was relaxing together as a family for our first Christmas together. We had tons of food and fun waiting for us that day. Here's a few shots of Christmas Eve (we always give each other ornaments) and Christmas Day. Please remember make-up did not exist that day......

Caleb's ornament from Mommy & Daddy

Jason's ornament from me

My ornament from Jason

Caleb's ornament from Grandmommy and Granddaddy

Our attempt at a family photo on Christmas Eve.....they just kept getting better...

See?

Told you so

Caleb's first Christmas present from Mommy and Daddy

Nana and Papa joined us on Christmas morning via skype


Merry Christmas everybody!!!

I love the look on his face here. What is this?

He loves books!

We all know who the center of attention is around here...

A beautiful white Christmas!

Overall, Caleb played his little heart out. Christmas will never be the same.

Christmas #3 (Nana and Papa's house) - January 1st

We drove to Nana and Papa's house on December 30th for New Years and we celebrated our Christmas with them on New Year's Day. We had a fun night on New Year's Eve playing games with family and friends, eating (of course), and playing with Caleb. Our friends Jay and Leigh from Knoxville also happened to be in Nashville, so we invited them to join us on New Year's Eve for all the fun at my parents' house. A great time was had by all!

Our great friends, Jay and Leigh

This is what you get when Jason and Jay get together....

Jenny & James

Sisters!

Does it get any better looking than this? I don't think so! :)

Momma and her girls.....her short girls.

Brother-in-laws and their beards

Dad with his two "sons"

Christmas morning!

Look what Santa brought Caleb!

He LOVES his wagon

Cat and Dog that sings "Jesus Loves Me" to go along with his bunny

Yay! More books!

Going for a ride

He was scared of his new tunnel, but he was cute anyways

This kid loves his bath time!

Jenny and James at their new house!

Congratulations Aunt Jenny (Nini) and Uncle James!

As many photos as I've uploaded for you, they just can't do our adventures justice. We had such a great time and I wish I could share more photos with you, but it takes forever! You can always find me on Facebook and look at all of the photos from our trips. Trust me when I say there are some funny ones. It's not everyday you can work Kenny Chesney, a shake weight, Jurassic Park, and creme fraiche into Christmas, but we did. Inside jokes are priceless. Thank you to everyone who made our first Christmas as parents so memorable. We love you all!

R

9 Months

I really am shocked that I'm already doing this post! Is my little boy already over 9 months old? I'm starting to plan his first birthday party already and it's a little bittersweet! There's still so many things that remind me of first bringing Caleb home and things that will never get old and things I will miss all too soon.


I love cuddling with him before putting him down for a nap. There's just something about that sweet breath and the smell of spit and sweat mixed with the scent of baby shampoo and lotion that makes me close my eyes and thank God that He gave me the ability to create something so beautiful. I know I'm going to wake up one day and Caleb isn't going to want to cuddle with me anymore. He won't want to play patty cake or peek-a-boo. He won't think it's funny for mommy to make silly faces or enjoy our baths where I get in the tub with him also and play.


Those days are going by so quick. But I can truly say that I cherish each moment and as I pray over my son each night before he goes to bed, I ask God for Caleb to do wonderful things in His name, just like the Biblical servant he's named after. There will be no greater joy than to watch my son come to know Christ in his own timing.


I hope that Jason and I can grow with him and model what it means to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Stay tuned for pictures of Caleb's dedication at our church that will happen on January 16th. Anyone is welcome to come. Until then, enjoy some of Caleb's 9 month pictures by the talented Sarah McAffry!

He stood up all by himself for the first time! Good thing Sarah was there!

I still need to blog about Caleb's first Christmas (well he had 3, so be patient with me!). We had a great time though, opening gifts and being with family. Caleb was a real trooper for all of the traveling and chaos. I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas as well and a Happy New Year!

R