Monday, December 3, 2007

Baby's First Christmas

It's one of the milestones of life, and the holiday new parents look most forward to after the birth of their baby. And even though babies don't care one whit about gifts or trees or the holiday rush, I'll admit that I have played the game too, and to think back warms my heart.


Lyndsay was 5 months old, and we spent her first Christmas in New Jersey on a surprise (to my siblings) visit to show her off to family for the first time. I remember my dad holding her for the first time, his first grandbaby, and weeping. All of my eight siblings adored her, and somehow, though she barely touched the floor during those few weeks, she learned to sit up while we were there. Notice her doll with brown hair and eyes like she had, and her matching nightgown that my mom made for her, but wait, it gets better:


I had a matching nightgown too! My mom made us matching Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightgowns for Christmas morning. I am a little shocked by how young I look. I really was an adult. I had even been married for more than 3 years!

Dylan was born January 6th, so he got to celebrate his first birthday right after Christmas, lucky duck! He got a Little Tikes basketball set that year, I remember, and he knew instantly what to do with it.
Here's baby Aiden, born the day after Thanksgiving that year, and wearing...er...swimming in...the duck sweater Nana knitted for him. He didn't much care for Christmas, and preferred nursing to opening presents.


Here are the three of them that year:


Last year was baby Conor's first Christmas. He wasn't all that thrilled with the Jolly Old Elf, and he didn't get any presents that year because of his poor attitude. I mean, we were just poor, and figured we'd better spend our money on the five kids who would notice.

But doesn't he look cute in that hat he borrowed from cousin Calix? I love babies in hats!


So here it is Christmas time, and looking back on my sweet babies, it almost makes me want another one! But Santa definitely isn't bringing that this year!

12 comments:

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

Darling pictures Jenna! Love the matching nighties. Too cute.

Sarah said...

Maybe he'll bring you one next year? There's plenty of time for that...

Annette Lyon said...

Your daughter really did look just like you as a baby. What a great post--and such fun pics.

And I must say, you were cute as a young mom, but you're gorgeous now. If only all of us could get prettier as we age!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Such sweet pictures! We're hoping for a fall baby next year, so he/she would be two or three months their first Christmas. Emma was like your oldest. Six months and just learning to sit up. Was so much fun.

Angela said...

Your kids are darling! Lyndsay looks a lot like you, love the matching nightgowns!

Anonymous said...

I love the pictures and you do look young! You inspired the title of my latest post...I think you can figure out why..

Anonymous said...

very neat. and you did look like a teenager here, like you couldn't have been much older than a mia maid or laurel. amazing.

yes, that Christmas story choked me up, too. had to post it for it moved me.

are you trying out fiction yet? i am working on chapter 4. i know how it ends and i know how it starts but i have a whole lot of inbetween to figure out to get to the end of chapter 4.

blessings,
kathleen

Luisa Perkins said...

It's so fun to see these photos. And now I know you've been fibbing all these years; you clearly had Lyns when you were thirteen. Holy cow. And Annette is right; you get more beautiful every year.

Anonymous said...

nah, i say you were at least 15 y/o. tee hee

Dawn said...

Wonderful memories and such little cuties. How sweet your mom made the nighties. I am always amazed looking back at photos, how young I look, yet, I don't really think (too much) about how old I look now.

anjmae said...

I love those matching jammies! I sew PJs too, and even though the children roll their eyes a little, they all like them!
Great pictures--I love babies at Christmas!!! I think I will post some of my faves (I know, I am a copycat!)

Julie Q. said...

Ahhh. Such adorable photos. I enjoy the first Christmases so much more than the second ones. Nora is just the perfect age to wreak havoc on every decoration within reach. The boys are mad that we're not going to even bother getting out the train this year, but I keep telling them that they all had that same phase when they were little.