We hope you all had a magically wonderful Christmas spent with loved ones....we sure did!! Pop Pop, Nana, Uncle Shawn and Aunt Jillian came down to spend Mia's 1st Christmas with her and it was simply perfect! I loved having the whole family here, although I would have preferred to have gone up north where we would of had a white Christmas, but I'll take the 'cold front' that we experienced and not complain!
Someone was simply fascinated with Christmas ornaments....
....and the wrapped presents under the tree!
The week began with Christmas shopping with my Dad....something we've done together every year a few nights before Christmas Eve. I truly cherish the relationship I have with my Dad and have learned so much from him....and I know that Mia will make many great memories with him too! Christmas Eve was spent relaxing, getting everything ready for the delicious dinner that would take place that night and of course mass. Now normally we would go to the 'midnight' mass at 9 pm, but with Mia's bedtime at 8 pm, we figured we'd go earlier, however, it was difficult to find a time that worked with her nap schedule and/or meals....we finally settled on 5 pm at the cathedral. Of course Mia decided she wasn't into napping that day (which rarely happens), so mass was pretty interesting....she didn't want to sit in the pew with us and needed to be walked around the back of the church or passed back and forth to everyone! We made it through church and came home to begin preparing the traditional fish dinner, in honor of Mama....she was definitely in our thoughts and prayers on this special day of the year. We enjoyed each other's company, ate like kings, drank plenty of wine and then after our family left, Steve and I talked about the magic of this time of year with our daughter....and how the joy she has brought us over the past 9 months was enough of a gift for us!
We finally went to bed around 2 am with visions of sugar plums and Mia dancing in our heads! :)
Family photo time! :)
Mom and her daughters
Sleepy babe....visions of bottles dancing in her head!
Santa's Milk & Cookies
Mia's Christmas List
I wasn't really sure how Mia would react to all the gifts on Christmas morning and if she would get excited about the toys being that she is still so little, but she surely did enjoy it all! Tearing wrapping paper, waiting patiently while Mommy or Daddy or whoever had her at the time would open the box to reveal its contents and then the squeal of pure delight....it was the best gift we could have received!
Mia opening up her gift from Santa - a ladybug rocking horse!
Video call with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Vinnie in OH while opening gifts from them!
So much to take in all around her....
Listening to 'Frosty the Snowman' with Pop Pop!
Yay for my wagon from Nana & Pop Pop!
The next Mozart...like father, like daughter
Mia in the Dale!
The weekend couldn't have been better.....family, continuing traditions and enjoying the innocence of a child...what more could you ask for?
Well....a date night with my hubby would be nice...oh, thank you Aunt April! :)
We hope you had a very Merry Christmas.....and have a Happy New Year!! Here's to a terrific 2011!
