Friday, December 28, 2012

A Christmas Letter

 
 
"O Holy Night" - David Archuleta
 
(yes, I like David Archuleta - the kid from a million American Idols ago)
 
 
 
 
Dear Baby Girl,
                        I had planned on writing you this letter while sitting beside our tree, but your daddy is watching Star Wars 2.  And no matter how high I raised the volume, Yoda's voice was still overpowering my music.  I just came upstairs to your soon-to-be nursery - a room that will begin its transformation come the new year.  You know, I think I like it better in here anyway.  The tree brings me such peace, but being in this room - even with the messy state it's in right now - brings peace to a whole new level.  (And it's a bonus that Muffin and Krimpet are hanging out in here with me.)  I'm sitting in the rocking chair again - it looks a little a lot different now.  It's the first time I've sat in it since it's been painted - the first fully completed piece of furniture for your room.  I can't help but imagine what it will feel like the first time I rock you in it.  I can't help but imagine a lot of things these days.
 
                 
  It's the night of December 28th...3 days after Christmas.  I know next year will be your first real Christmas, but I want you to know that this year...this Christmas...


 
You were celebrated.
And you are so loved. 
It's as if you were truly here.
 
We've waited for you.  We've yearned for this "first" Christmas with you.
We lost 3 Christmases ago...again, the Christmas after that...and last year, we prayed so very hard for a miracle.
And now, it's here - you're "here"...
 
 Sometimes it feels like a dream.
 
I decorated our tree this year on December 14th - the anniversary of the very first time I found out I was pregnant.  I cried so hard that day - the happiest and most grateful tears.
  I remembered decorating our tree two years ago, right after getting the news we were losing for a fourth time...literally falling to my knees to pray and ask for the strength to keep going.  And two weeks ago, there I was kneeling beside our tree, big-bellied and giving thanks...
for you.
 
 
Baby girl, thank you - you made this one so magical. 
Your daddy and I can't stop talking about how incredible next year will be - our first trip to the tree farm... your first visit from Santa...our first family photo...
We even picked out two fancy holiday dresses for you next year.  They were both so pretty, I couldn't decide.  Daddy insisted we get both of them.
 
 
  The week before Christmas, your daddy and I were sitting in the mall parking lot, ready to finish the last of our shopping. Before getting out of the car, he grabbed my hand and looked at me with tear-filled eyes.  He took the words right out of my mouth...I knew what he was thinking...
"This is the best Christmas ever!"
And it was.
The very best.
 
<3
 
 
I took lots of pictures.  Not just for me and daddy.  But for you... 
 
 
It snowed on Christmas Eve.  We stayed in...the fireplace "on" and the kitties close by.
Muffin could sense a special day was approaching.
 
Making funny faces.
 
We ate dinner in the living room in our pjs...
 
 
 
While watching "Full House" Christmas reruns (and talking about how much we hope the problems you face in life are as uncomplicated as the ones Michelle, D.J., and Stephanie faced twenty-some years ago).
 
 
Uncle Jesse is hot.
 
 
 
 
Muffin got cozy by the tree.
 
 
 
 
While daddy caught Twinkie ready to tear into one of his presents.
 
 
 
 
Muffin quickly joined him.
And after some treats, returned to her slumber on the night before Christmas.
 
 
 
 
Christmas morning, we woke up and headed over to Poppa's (the house I grew up in), still in our pajamas.  There was a thin cover of snow on the ground...not enough for a super white Christmas...but enough to make the day that much more special. 
 
Elmer and Gibson greeted us as soon as we pulled up.
 
 
 
We drank coffee, ate breakfast, opened gifts and relaxed all morning...
  
 
Poppa loves trains.
 
 
 
 Poppa and Meemaw surprised us (you) with your first box of diapers and sweet, soft and warm outfits for your first months.
 
 
 
 
Uncle Nicholas loves his cars.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Afterwards, we headed to Dee Dee's - the house she grew up in - where Santa had paid an extra special visit the night before.
 
 
Here's me and your Uncle Nicholas many, many Christmases ago...
 
 
 
 
 
Your daddy's first gift - a video game. 
 They make daddy so happy.  And mommy, so crazy.
 
 
 
 
Dee Dee's a crazy bird/squirrel lady.
Her first gift was bird food.


 
 
Uncle Nicholas surprised us (you) with the Hello Kitty humidifier we had our eyes on.
 
 
 
 
And Dee Dee spoiled your daddy with clothes and Yankees gear.
 
 
 
 
 
 
You won't know what this is for a very long time - it's called whiskey and it smells funny and tastes yucky.
 
 
 
Your uncle loves to sing and play the guitar.
 
 
 
 
 
This is one of the many outfits from Dee Dee.  She can't wait for your arrival and couldn't stop talking about your next Christmas. 
 
 
 
We tricked Uncle Nicholas with a fun little gag gift.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There was really a shirt inside.
 
 
 

 
 


After a wonderful day, we headed home.  It was gift time for the kitties.
They waited patiently all day and couldn't wait to unwrap their presents.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Your mommy loves her makeup.
 
 
 
 
And is learning to love kinda like cooking. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dee Dee and Uncle Nicholas came over for dinner.  We spent the rest of the night watching movies and taking pictures, of course.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baby girl, you were showered with so much love.  I sat the morning after Christmas, looking at all of your sweet gifts from family and friends under the tree, and I cried again. 
All of the people in the photos above adore you already (and so many more people on top of that).  They made your daddy and I feel so special with their thoughtful and loving gifts and words.
It really is like a dream...
 
 
Muffin was checking them out too.
 
 
You have blessed us. 
You have strengthened us.
You made Christmas so very beautiful.
 
Thank you so much, Julia, for the beautiful ornament.
 
You are our greatest gift.
 
I Love You,
Mama
 
**********
 



 Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.  I hope your week was merry. 
<3

 
 
 

Christmas Lovin',


32 comments:

Jen said...

Maria, your Christmas looks so beautiful! I am just imagining what your blog pictures will be like next year and it's so exciting. May you have a fabulous, wonderful and miraculous time in 2013 with so many dreams coming true, love Jen x

E and R said...

What a touching letter to your sweet little girl. Looks like the perfect Christmas!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful letter!!! I cried, smiled, and laughed. What a wonderful Christmas!!!
Xoxo

Hanna said...

Thanks so much for the lovely comment this morning on my blog! And congratulations to you and your hubby on a beautiful baby:) I am expecting mine the first week of March, #3 for me:) Happy HOlidays to you. I am your newest follower!

Unknown said...

Greetings from Jamaica on this Saturday Maria! Another great post! The letter to your little girl is so sweet. You are in for a VERY SPECIAL 2013! I love all the pictures. They are so beautiful. Your Christmas food looks so yummy! I also love your decorations. What cute cats you have! I note that you had a white Christmas. I have never experienced snow but I think it looks so beautiful and must make Christmas Day extra special. Have a wonderful weekend my friend and Happy New Year to you, Steve and Beano. Lots of love, friendship and best wishes always!
Judy

Hi, I'm Aleisha! said...

Best. Post. Ever!!! So gorgeous and heartfelt and thoughtful and meaningful. Your Christmas looked so magical and wonderful...kinda makes me wish I could have been there. I miss you fiercely. I can't wait for you to hold and meet your baby girl. I can't wait to meet her too!!!! Warning: I may want to snuggle her all day!!! You look so beautiful too, Prego!! Like a knocked up Christmas angel. :D I love you so so so much!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I'm Aleisha! said...

P.S. of course you love David Archuletta...he's a Salt Lake City boy!!!!

Kara and Mary said...

Such a beautiful letter!! And I am ashamed to admit that I love the Full House episode where they get stck in the airport. I watch it every Christmas!! I'm a dork.

Kiara Buechler said...

Every Christmas is just going to get better and better from ehre on out! That is so cute that you already bought her Christmas dresses for next year. I am having a hard time buying our little girl anything past 6 months. Once she is here I will feel a little more confident I hope!

Ashley said...

How wonderful that you had some snow on Christmas. I was wishing for that this year. :) If you think baby girl got lots of gifts this year just wait until next year when she is here! She is gonna be one spoiled little princess, I can tell. :)

Sounds like you guys had a relaxing Christmas.

Irish Carter of Dedicated 2 LIFE said...

What a beautiful letter. It was so heart felt. I am still laughing at the gag gift for your brother...soooo funnny.

Irish

Theodora Ofosuhima said...

what a sweet letter. you have such a warm smile. happy holidays to you and your loved ones

Lora said...

Soooo incredibly precious. Everything is just beautiful. The tree, your hair and makeup, the Twinkster and Muffypie, THOSE CUPCAKES, that adorable little stork ornament...but above all the most beautiful thing is how much love you poured into this letter..Little Girl Baby will read it one day and know that she was included and celebrated before even being here...
I am happy to say that I didn't find any strange faces in any of the pictures. But after I send this I will go look again.
I have the Hello Kitty humidifier also!! I can't sleep without it. He even goes on vacation with us. Kit rolls his eyes but doesn't say anything. I have a great hubby. Actually I think he secretly loves Hello Kitty but won't admit it..
Sorry for the long comment, just one more thing. The pictures of you as a kid, SO CUTE!!!
I will email you soon, I have info to share :) Have a great day missy..send me some snow please!
Lora

Rebecca said...

Glad you had a good holiday. Love the idea of including the baby girl too!

Unknown said...

I'm so teary eyed reading this! How beautiful...

I'm so happy that you will be welcoming your baby girl soon and I am in awe at the strength you've had.

God bless you and your family!

Unknown said...

Forgot to tell you I'm a new follower :)

Samantha
www.hooahandhiccups.com

Jamie said...

Such a sweet letter.

Julia said...

Maria, this letter brought happy tears to my eyes. I can't tell you how much your joy brings joy to my own heart. Thank you for sharing it with us! XOXOXOXO

See you soon...maybe Superbowl Sunday? haaaga ;)

Olivia said...

You HAD to end it with the ornament didn't you? lol... I was able to hold my tears back until I saw the ornament ;)

So so sweet. I'm so happy that you had a wonderful Christmas and you are obviously enjoying every moment!!! :)

Oh and Steve just gained 30 cool points for being a Star Wars, Gaming, Yankee lover ;)

Ps. Uncle Jesse is hot.

Rachel said...

What a beautiful and blessed Christmas you had! You are going to have so much fun next Christmas with your baby girl! I'm so happy for you both and your family too. Your baby is so loved already!

Whitney Cypert said...

You always bring tears to my eyes! The love you already have for your sweet little girl is amazing, she is so lucky! She is going to love having all of these blog posts and pictures to someday look back on. I am just so happy for y'all! 2013 is going to be the sweetest, most exciting year!

Whitney Cypert said...

Oh! I can't not mention Full House! I love that show and yes, Uncle Jesse is hot!

Kristin Dawn said...

Hey, new follower from the GFC Blog Hop. Wow, your cats look a lot like mine (especially the calico), it's like bizarro world of my cats! Haha, they're so cute! Awesome pictures. :)

xo,
Kristin
aboutagirl.ca

Tami said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Maria!!
Just think, this time next year Daddy will be watching Barney not Yoda. heehee!
Your Christmas looks like a lovely day! I love the pink stork ornament.
You are looking amazing!! xoxo

Jonny and Brittany said...

Merry Christmas! You look beautiful!!!

Big Apple Mami said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Maria! Looks like you had a very beautiful day! Love your letter to your sweet baby girl!! xoxo

Heather Nelsen said...

You make me cry happy tears! Loved your sweet memories and positive look on where God has taken you on this journey of meeting your precious baby girl. I can't wait for pictures from next year's Christmas!

Happy New Year to you and Steve!

-Heather

Miki said...

Awe, what a beautiful letter to your daughter, Maria! I'm glad to know you guys had a wonderful Christmas! Hope 2013 brings everything you wish and more! Happy New Year! ;D

Life according to Lenetta said...

Hi I found you through the blog hop. Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance. Have a great week.

Brittany said...

Oh Maria, I think this is my favorite post of yours EVER. That last picture...pure bliss. And the pictures of you and Steve in front of the tree with your precious bump...those are some that you'll cherish forever. SO glad you had such a wonderful holiday! Looks like Baby Beano cleaned house! Look at all those awesome goodies! I really love the Hello Kitty humidifier...too cute! So neat that you are getting into cooking too...can you rub off on me, please? :) Bear wore his Santa's Little Helper outfit all through our trip home and I wore my green necklace 3 times in 4 days...everyone loved it! Thank you again, pretty momma! Hope you three had a happy, relaxing holiday! Looks like it was fabulous :).

M said...

Looks like you had an amazing Christmas! I can't believe how far along you are already...time sure does fly! Oh and by the way, if we are having a girl, I am so getting the Hello Kitty humidifier. DH is so screwed if it's a girl. PS - I have a Hello Kitty toaster :)

Kari said...

Love the pictures!! And look at your bump!! So adorable! :)

Looks like you had a great Christmas...I don't know about you but I'm already looking forward to next year! ;)

Can you believe we're in the homestretch now?! I'm so happy we're going through this together! :)

xoxo
Kari

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