Holiday spirit

You know what I miss a lot about my pre-baby life? The long, never-judged, just-perfect, post-Thanksgiving-meal nap. It was a lovely, wonderful holiday this year, most definitely, but there were very few naps and a holiday break without long naps is ... well, it's kind of bittersweet, isn't it?

Still, though, we had mashed potatoes and any holiday break with mashed potatoes isn't a bad holiday break at all, I'd say.

We also utilized our last full-family* weekend by getting, putting up and doing a dance about our Christmas tree**. I've wanted a live tree since meeting Mike, and he's been against it for one reason or another, but he caved this year (perhaps because caving is so much easier than listening to me whine or perhaps he just likes me a whole lot more this year, I'LL LET YOU GUESS WHICH ONE) and we found our 6-foot Fraser tree for the bargain price of $18.95 at our local Home Depot. We also got a 75-piece gold/red ornament set for $19.95, and I think it's a sign of a good day when you get both your Christmas tree and all the ornaments you'll need to, well, adorn that tree for less than $50. For less than FORTY DOLLARS, even. Kyle was very excited about both the tree and the ornaments, so much so that we decided to prop the tree up on one of our end tables to ensure there were no ornaments-or-tree-crashing-onto-the-baby's-head incidents. Not the classiest of set-ups, no, but better for all who live (and pay the insurance premiums) here.

Oh, did you want me to throw in a baby photo right about now? Ohhhh, fine, because you asked so nicely:

Sporting the finest trends from Old Navy's summer and fall lines, where all the best baby sales are.

We also picked up Kyle's Christmas outfit OR, better yet, the outfit in which Kyle will wear to scream his head off at his very first Santa photo op. See, I KNOW this cannot end well, this Santa photo tradition, and yet I cannot resist. To be paired with jeans, cute shoes and fat crocodile tears.

Cute, right!? Or, if not, perhaps lie since it's already been purchased.

That Santa picture will be taken this coming weekend, so expect a full report on the meltdown statuses post-that.

I love this time of year, but this year seems to be even worse. We put our lights up before Thanksgiving (I know, ANNOYING) and have our shopping almost done and have cookie recipes doggy-eared and the stockings are hung and Christmas pjs are being searched for, and I chalk this up to it being Kyle's first holiday or possibly the first holiday in our first home or maybe it's just me being sappier in my old age, I don't know, but I'm really thrilled about the holidays, and I want to press pause on so much this year, especially on Kyle experiencing all these things for the first time. 

How was your Thanksgiving? Great, I hope.

*Mike starts new work hours this week, and they're different, definitely, as he will now be working Saturday, Sunday and Monday (12 hours a day) and will be home with Kyle the rest of the week. On the one hand, we're going to have to work very hard for our family quality time, yes, but on the other (BIGGER) hand, we'll be saving so much money, we'll actually be able to pay all our bills (kidding! kinda!) and Kyle will no longer be subjected to the germ-riddled day care that we loved a lot, don't get me wrong, but was the equivalent of me letting him loose to lick the street once a day. He was getting sick so much, it was becoming COMICAL. We'll see how it goes, but I feel more good than bad, and that's...good, right?

**I was the only one doing the Christmas tree dance, AS IF YOU WERE UNCLEAR ON THAT.

Comments

[Shelly]

I LOVE little boy sweaters! That one is adorable and will look great in Christmas pictures.

[Jess]

I think having a baby who's experiencing the holidays for the first time would make me waaaay more into the whole thing, too.

This new work arrangement sounds like it could work out really well! Good luck with the transition.

[Katie]

We, too, are transitioning next week to a very similar schedule. I am excited and hopeful that it will work!

Very, very glad that our daughter (and Kyle, too!) will get lots of Daddy time!

[Swistle]

I love the sweater!

[slynnro]

I'm not a mush about babies, but I am a mush about their clothes. Cuteness.

[Natalie]

I love his poofy vest! His Santa outfit is adorable. I have my tree up too! I put it up minutes within arriving home on Saturday. I was the only one who put it up, but well Micah would have probably done it wrong. :) I am also excited about the holidays! Mostly my vacation away from students, which occurs in t-18 days!

[Janssen]

What an awesome situation, both for your family AND for your wallet. Lucky Kyle to have his dad around so much.