About the Kiddo: One post at a time: 1st Christmas

This year, I had an entirely new reason to be excited about the holiday: my son. I had no idea how exciting it could be to share this holiday with him. I was excited picking out things for him, and watching him open them. I was excited to read in the bible with him and explain about Christ's birth. I was excited to say our night time prayers, giving thanks to our Lord for His son's birth into the world. I know as Nolan grows, all of these things will take on so much more meaning and excitement.

Yesterday, Nolan's grandparents got on a Google Hangout with us and watched Nolan open his gifts from them and some aunts/uncles. He was much more into the screen we'd setup in the living room than most of the things he was opening.

He got a crawl around car, that once put together was a hit. He likes honking the little car and watching as different things light up with a song. He is intrigued with his ball pit, he'll climb in and just sit there looking around in it, like he's not sure what to do. We through in a toy drum he got and he played there contently for quite some time. He got the cutest little soft-toy tool box set. The little drill vibrates and he's pretty enticed by that. We read a book, that he actually attended to for the entire thing. And he loves this little spiral toy, that has beads, and toys and whatnot on each spiral along with a rattle ball and some other things.

Last night we went over to some friends house for dinner and hanging out, they had several other couples and kids there. There was a one year old there, that when he walked in Nolan crawled to him like has fast as he could and tried to start crawling up the poor kid, who had already turned and was trying to crawl up his mom. It was so funny and odd. He's not a people person. But, he was so excited by all the other kids running around. He also kept trying to crawl all over our friends youngest son. Who, I believe is 4. The kid tolerated it pretty well, even though I'm pretty sure he was like, 'Someone get this baby off of me.' ;)

This morning, he got his presents from us. Which were these large, soft play forms. I'm excited about how much gross motor he's getting out of these toys! Along with a few toys, a pack of books, and some clothes (something they want, something they need, something they'll wear, something they'll read, eh?). He really likes pulling up on the play forms, and loved these little turtle bath toys he got.

It sucks that his first few teeth broke through the gum line like two days ago. His tolerance for most things is quite low. He seems slightly whinier than usual, and oddly enough, much more tired than usual too. Our trip back to MO is sure to be stressful with a teething baby :/

We didn't do Santa. We aren't going to. We got asked a lot, and I always feel a little awkward. I don't want to be the person that pops their tongue and smacks their lips while saying in a judgey way, "Oh, we don't do Santa."

I feel that topics like these are always a bit hard, because when you do something differently than other people it's easy for someone to feel like their beliefs are getting attacked or are wrong or something.

That's not the case at all. I've always believes that things are what you make of them anyway. I have no ill feelings towards the whole Santa bit. That's your choice as a parent/family.

I personally remember being a little crushed when it was confirmed to me that Santa was in fact not real. Of course, by the time most kids get the spelled out version of it they already have their suspicions. I was no exception to this. But, I hoped that Santa was real. It was fun to believe in a little Christmas magic - and honestly, a little sad to have believed in it for so long and find out it wasn't real. I still do believe in Christmas magic, but in a different way now.

I want to teach that Jesus is watching us day and night, whether we've been good or not. Teach that Jesus is the one who gives all good gifts. God gave us a job and stability, and even the health and well being to go shopping. And that's why we get a little special something for Christmas. Though it's watered down any way you slice it (I'm not pretending it isn't), giving gifts is suppose to be about loving one another and wanting to celebrate the Lord's gift to us. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. I want to keep some biblical symbolism in it.

I also want to teach about St. Nicholas, and how he's recognized for his extreme generosity, which is what ties in that character trait to the Santa of today.

I've heard, "What if he ruins it for other kids some day?" Well, that would be unfortunate. I hope I can teach him to respect other people's beliefs and traditions. But, I'm not going to sacrifice my own beliefs/traditions just because of the possibility that my son might accidentally say something that contradicts someone else's at some point. That's pretty much vice versa anyway.

There are just too many mythical things to keep up with. I've never understood how you'd choose which ones to do anyway (Santa, tooth fairy, easter bunny, binky and pacifier fairies, etc). I'm just going to pass on these things.

We've had a wonderful (if not insane and chaotic) Christmas. We have no business being as blessed as we are, and I hope that we find ways to glorify God in our lives. To have thankful hearts for the many, countless gifts the Lord has given to us and just keeps on giving! What a humbling realization it is, when you take a moment to soak it in.

With much love, we wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Lovebug's first Christmas: