YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS (EVE)!

We recently celebrated your very first Christmas, baby girl! You only get your first Christmas once, so we were sure to make it very special for you, and you seemed to love it! All of these photos are from Christmas Eve, but I'll share more from Christmas day and night later this week!

The celebrating has been going on for weeks now, but it really felt like Christmas the Tuesday before the big day, when your dad made his famous saffron rice. It doesn't feel like the holidays until he cooks this dish (it tastes like Christmas in a bowl, to me) and I swear, every time he makes it I fall even more in love with him (how that is possible, I do not know)...ha! Tuesday night was special because you met your uncle Jason and auntie Kathryn for the very first time! They are dear friends and they don't come to Chapel Hill often, so when they told us they were passing through before Christmas, we jumped at the chance to have them over. Uncle Gideon and auntie Sherry (who is expecting a little one in June! Yay!) also joined us for dinner. Sherry made homemade naan to go with daddy's rice, and we ordered a million dishes from a downtown Indian restaurant. And it was just the best night! You and I even bought some fresh, live garland earlier in the day to drape around the house and pink peonies for the table, so things felt especially festive. We had the best time and it really set the tone for a fun week of celebrating!

On Christmas Eve we listened to Christmas music and you played on the living room rug as I finished wrapping gifts. And speaking of gifts, a few from uncle Wade arrived on Christmas Eve day. It was just the loveliest day.

Grandpa had to work Christmas Eve so we joined him, his crew, and their families, for Christmas Eve dinner at the fire house. I love the photo above. It's so funny! I would like to caption it "holiday stress" for laughs, but really you were just fussy because you wanted something you couldn't reach!

The fire house is always fun because there are so many trucks there, including several antique ones, that you get to play on. And you got a gift (the wooden teether seen above). It was fun watching you unwrap it!

While the fire men and women visited with their families, grandma let you sit in all of the fire engines while dad and grandpa played a little basketball outside since it was so warm!

And speaking of the fire men and women, we were so impressed with how they decorated the station this year! They made the candy canes and number 28 (this is Station Number 28) by hand before adding lights. They were so fun and festive!

Since grandpa had to work, we spent the night at grandma's house and kept her company. Lilly and Louis were even there to celebrate with Mikey and Roxie! It was such a special Christmas Eve. One that we will always remember! xo

TEN MONTHS OLD!

How is it possible, Maeve, that you turned ten months old on Sunday!? You are getting so big! So much so that we are going to have to lower your crib, and we bought a giant rug for our living room so that you can crawl around on it (when you're ready, of course) as much as you want without hurting yourself on the hardwood floors! Your hair is getting so long that I've had to change the way I part it when brushing it. When you sleep with us in our bed you sleep perpendicular to us and roll around all night long (which means you will probably not be sleeping in bed with us much longer - which is so sad)! It's almost like we're sleeping with a girl and not a baby! You are teething + you have three big beautiful teeth. You started waving last week and clapping today. And twice you've repeated mama mama mama when I asked you who I was. And, get this...we have started planning your first birthday! I can't believe it baby girl! You continue to be the best part of our lives and we love you so very very much, Maevey! xo

SO THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY...

Yestereday was your first time in one of those fancy shopping carts (this one happened to be at a local Harris Teeter). You were such a fan, until we started moving. When I pushed you in it you screamed and screamed so we downgraded to a regular shopping cart. Ha. I don't think I'll ever tire of photos of you in shopping carts!

YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT!

Writing this post makes me so happy! Saturday morning you participated in your very first Christmas pageant at The Chapel of the Cross. You were a lamb! You can find you in the top photo if you locate the shepherd's hook then look down! This may be my most favorite Christmas memory so far! It was so special holding you in my arms there, in the beautiful church where your dad was baptized and confirmed, dressed as a little lamb. And it was so fun to sing carols with grams and grandpa. Even cousin Isla was there!

I've made a point to read you books about the real, religious meaning of Christmas, as I want to make sure you know the story and associate this most special of holidays with more than just Christmas trees, presents and Santa Claus.

This was such a beautiful morning and memory, especially since it was shared with your grandparents. I hope this is a yearly tradition. And I am so so proud of your performance, my love! And of your dad, who sat with you up front during the pageant and kept you from crying too much or getting scared!

NCMA HOLIDAY FAMILY FUN FRIDAY

On Friday night your dad, grandma and I accompanied you to this holiday family event at the NCMA. The NCMA is my favorite local museum so I had been counting down the days to this holiday event. When we arrived Friday night it was so crowded that for a brief moment I wondered if it was worth the trip to Raleigh. But it was! There was so much to do (a band, interactive art, story time, lots of kids...the list goes on and on). But what really made it worth it was seeing you interact and "play" with babies your age for the first time!

While playing with blocks, you met Mira (who is just 8 days older than you) and Evie (she is around a year old). And you played with them! It was so cute I could have died! Mira was especially smitten with you and kept rubbing your face and trying to give you open-mouth kisses, ha! At one point Mira's sock came off and you picked it up. I was sure you were going to put it in your mouth (where everything goes these days) but you didn't. You sat it next to her. Like you knew it belonged to her and you shouldn't eat it. It was just so surprisingly precious and sweet seeing you interact with other babies! We also had fun spending time with grandma and checking out some art away from the crowds, throughout the evening!

I hope the museum hosts this event yearly, because there were so many activities, like the different craft rooms, and even bingo, that I envision you enjoying as you get older!

A NEW TOOTH + A TRIP TO CAM RALEIGH

After a week of struggling/teething, this morning we got our first glimpse of your fourth tooth! It appears to be really big and is located on your top gum right in the center. It's barely poking through. It explains why you've been slightly fussier and more tired than usual. And, of course, your dad and I think it's the cutest tooth ever (we think this about all of your teeth)!

Speaking of your dad, he left this afternoon for a work trip to DC. To get your mind off teething, you and I ventured to CAM Raleigh (it was your first trip there) for Family Sundae, a free event for families. It is mostly geared towards older kids and includes novelties like an ice cream sundae bar, a craft room, and popup shops from local businesses. There was also a band and Sarah Cain's exhibit, The Imaginary Architecture of Love (see photos above) which is basically a mural covering the main gallery at CAM, with mattresses in the center of the space. So it was pretty much perfect for you. You sat on the mattresses with me and watched children dance around you and the band play. It was so nice. And the folks at CAM are so incredibly inviting and wonderful.

As we were walking to the car (in 70+ degree, sunny December weather, no less!), the smell of chocolate lured us into Videri Chocolate Factory. I want to live there! I'm sure you and I will return, maybe when you have a few more teeth and can actually eat the chocolate. It was a nice, spontaneous afternoon spent in my hometown with my favorite girl. We are so lucky to live in a place with so many exciting/interesting (often free) things to do and see.

CHECKING OUT GRANDPA'S TURNOUT GEAR

You love fire stations. So much to see!

SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE

Tis the season! You and I recently joined grandma and grandpa for a holiday party at the fire house where grandpa is a volunteer. It was so fun! Tables were set up in the bay and after dinner all of the kids gathered around to see Santa, who gave each child a gift!

Yep! You sat in Santa's lap. And you were quite comfy. You even snuggled up to his beard before he gave you your gift! Of course, you loved being around all of the children and your grandparents loved showing you off to their friends!

And speaking of Santa, we had to get a tree for him to put your presents under come Christmas Eve! Your dad and I took you to get one on Saturday. You were pretty mellow about the whole thing. Until the following morning when you woke up and it was all lit up and decorated in your living room. You love it!

Grams gave you a angel ornament and grandpa got you a ducky ornament and a bell ornament. I show you those three ornaments first thing every morning when we turn on the Christmas tree lights together.

Yesterday was grams' birthday and we celebrated with a pizza party at auntie Gina and uncle Taylor's house. Isla and Louis showered you with hugs and kisses, auntie Gina read to you and uncle Taylor tickled you and made you laugh uncontrollably. And of course you loved visiting with grams and grandpa!

I love this time of year, and am so glad that you are here, sweet Maeve, to spend it with! xo

YOUR FIRST THANKSGIVING!

Dear Maeve,

Last week we celebrated your very first Thanksgiving! And it was wonderful! Did you know that Thanksgiving is your dad's very favorite holiday? This should come as a surprise to no one, as some of his very favorite things in life include time with friends and family, and cooking. And if this year is any indication, you might also have a new favorite holiday, my love! 

I tried to savor this, your very first Thanksgiving, and to remember it all for you. It began on Wednesday, really. You and I got some shopping done early in the day with grandma, who took care of you that afternoon while I did some prepping. Thursday, Thanksgiving morning, was blissfully spent listening to Christmas music and cooking dishes with your dad for our brunch celebration at grandma and grandpa's house. There, grandma and grandpa set up your highchair in the dining room, with special baby "china" just for you. We were greeted with an impressive spread of cheese, fruit and marmalade before brunch. Grandma even made a special dish (mashed potatoes) just for you! You were not a fan, though. Ha. After eating, we got a surprise visit from auntie Carole and cousin Xavier. Xavier held you and we all laughed together loudly as auntie Carole, who is now a professor (!!!), shared funny stories from her classroom. It was such a beautiful day. You loved sitting on the back porch with dad and grandpa in the sun before leaving.

After brunch we headed back home where we dove into finishing up our dishes for Thanksgiving Round 2, this time at auntie Gina and uncle Taylor's house. This was a larger gathering, which included your cousins Isla and Louis, uncle Wade, grams, grandpa, and another large family. The number of guests, coupled with having just spent the first half of the day socializing, made me nervous for you. I was afraid you would be fussy or overwhelmed or tired. But you were none of those things. We set up your high chair at one end of the long dining table, between grandpa and I, and you were just a dream. I am so proud of you, Maeve. You were so well-behaved and wonderful. While you sat happily in your chair, chatting away to grandpa, dad and I ate some delicious dishes. After dinner you sat with us on the deck and watched your cousins and their friends frolic about. You love watching children play, Maeve. And being outdoors. So you were in heaven. The evening ended with you in your night suit, asleep in grams' arms. It was a great first Thanksgiving!

We continued celebrating through the weekend. Since your dad was off work and the weather was so lovely, we thought it a perfect day to take you to Pullen Park in Raleigh for a few more firsts. The park was crowded with children and their parents. And it was outdoors. Again, two of your favorite things, so obviously, you were so happy. You rode on the carousel for the first time. It was darling.

That night you and I and grandma went to grandpa's station (he's a fire captain!), where we dined with his colleagues and their families. Your favorite part wasn't the fire trucks (although you do love them), the colorful lights on the Christmas tree (you loved those, too), or the delicious food. It was being around all of the kids. I was especially touched, when after dinner, two young girls, Jalisa and Kelsie, from two different families, included you in a game they were playing. Jalisa is in kindergarten and I'm guessing Kelsie is maybe in third grade. They were engaging and spoke to you like their equal and you just lit up. It was the first time you've ever interacted in that way with other children and it was so beautiful to see. They were so sweet and it moved me so to watch them include you in their games. I was really touched by how naturally caring, considerate, inclusive, polite and thoughtful they were with you. It made me think about the characteristics I hope you possess as a young girl. And, of course, you loved them!

Saturday morning we went over to grams and grandpa's house for brunch with them and uncle Wade. Grams' brunch is always so good, and this one was no exception. After we ate you relaxed in my arms on the porch swing before grams, your dad and I took you on a walk around campus. It was warm and sunny and perfect.

That night your dad took me out to a dumpling and noodle bar in Raleigh so grandma and grandpa babysat you. They took you to this farm north of their home for a festival of lights celebration. You rode a train, took a hayride, and, get this...you rode a pony. I'm not kidding! Isn't that unbelievable? Grandma and grandpa said you loved it! Your pony's name was Dusty, and grandma said you liked rubbing his hair. Since your grandma grew up riding horses, I know seeing you on a pony was so special to her.

We spent Sunday, the last day of Thanksgiving break, just the three of us. Your dad and I took you to the park closest to our house for some swing time. And you went down the slide (with our help, of course) for the first time. So many firsts this weekend! Finally, we ended the weekend by walking a few blocks from our house to the downtown tree lighting ceremony. It was such a full and fun holiday, your first Thanksgiving, and I'm so thankful for all of the people in your life who made it special. But mostly, I'm thankful for you and your dad, little one! I love you.

xo,

mama