On Christmas Eve, we came home from Mike’s sister’s house with a very play-doh-happy child. On top of that, my cousin Leah and her fiancé Ted were staying at our house, so I feared Annie would never be able to fall asleep. Luckily Leah and Ted were very helpful and made getting ready for Santa into a game. First Annie carefully picked out three cookies for Santa, then she dictated a note to him:
Once Annie was finally sleeping, the four of us got to work wrapping and stacking presents.
On Christmas morning, after everyone came over, Mike and I went into Annie’s room to wake her up. Santa came!
After we all opened stockings, it was time for presents. We had Annie go first.
Just like on Christmas Eve, she shrieked with glee over every single gift. It was so great. She hugged every present and said “thank you” to everyone. I was so happy and proud.
After she opened her presents from Santa and Gramma and Bampa and her aunts and uncles, it was time for her present from Mama and Daddy:
Her reaction was, of course, awesome:
She’s yelling, “Big girl bike! Big girl bike!”
After all the presents were opened, it was time for breakfast and extreme toy play time. I took a very necessary nap on the couch…and then another nap later at my parents’ house. The extended running around in the days leading up to Christmas caught up with me and I was completely beat for about three days. Dr. Risky was not pleased, but the extra rest and fluids that I needed after Christmas were completely worth the happiness my little girl had on Christmas day.
Next year we’ll hopefully have another little kiddo opening presents (or, more likely, Annie will be opening presents for that kid), so this was her last Christmas as the baby. I think it was a memorable one for her. This was our fourth Christmas without Maddie, and the first Christmas without Jackie singing, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” into my phone. I missed them both so fiercely. So I ran myself a bit ragged to avoid thinking about who my heart was aching for, and I bought Maddie some presents that I gave to Annie and Toys For Tots, and I overloaded Annie with a million hugs and kisses and I love yous.
The best present I got was a million hugs and kisses and I loves yous back from Annie.
Meghan says:
Merry Christmas! Hope you are feeling better soon!
a mourning mom says:
The holidays can be so bittersweet. Times when the whole family should be together are especially tough when loved ones are missing. So glad tha Annie brought so much sweetness to a painful time. Hope that you are feeling better and that you have a very happy New Year!
MissyK says:
Looks like you guys had a wonderful day! I love how you saved the big girl bike for the Mommy & Daddy big gift scoring mad points. I was doing it all wrong when my boys were little. Santa always got credit for the big cool gift. LOL!
Hope you get to feeling better & a very Happy New Year to you guys!
Annalisa says:
We do it that way too. We figure someday our girl will be smart enough to figure out that we were Santa all along, so it doesn’t matter who gets credit for it now.
Nellie says:
You take the most divine pictures!
Happinesss, Great Health and lots of Love and Belly-aching Laughter to you and your family for 2013!!!
Jenn says:
I Love You’s with Hugs & Kisses Are The BEST Gift EVER!!!! I’m glad you had lots of fun and have many new memories!!!
Tara says:
Aw, Annie is such a blessed little girl! And that is just awesome that she was so happy and thankful for every gift. What a sweetheart.
AmazingGreis says:
Looks like it was an amazing Christmas for all! Love the pictures!! XOXOX
Mary Ann says:
I am so happy Annie had a wonderful Chirstmas. The expression on her face as she opened her presents was priceless. Everyone should have that feeling on Christmas – I miss that feeling. Christmas is always bittersweet for me – if only we could go back in time. I hope you are feeling better soon. Happy New Year!
Alison says:
What a lucky little girl, and adorable too!
I just have to say this—my kids are watching “Enchanted” on TV and the princess is so YOU! Watch this and tell me what you, Mike, and Annie think.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Pb2si7fClqA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPb2si7fClqA
Heather says:
I get that a lot. I take it as a compliment!
Debby Pucci says:
Love this post….that’s what it’s all about!
Liz says:
Annie’s face is amazing. Her happiness is incredible! Glad you all had a nice celebration.
I love your idea of buying Maddie toys and donating them to Toys for Tots. I am going to steal that in the future. It is a beautiful way to remember your darling baby.
Jaime says:
Awww, so sweet. I love that our little girls are developmental mirrors of each other. As I read about about Annie I get to see it in play in my own daughter who was born a day later. Little Evangeline also got a big girl bike for Christmas this year and was equally excited it’s such a fun age.
Take care.
Auntie_M says:
Annie’s joy is contagious! As is her love & gratitude: you can see all 3 written all over her face! Of course you’re proud! Shoot, I felt proud and I’ve never met her IRL! LOL
I love that you buy toys in Maddie’s honor…that’s a wonderful tradition (that, as others have said, I may have to steal & do in my nephew’s honor). I thought of your Maddie and Jackie! and your heart (and Jackie’s family) over the holidays and wished it could be different…
I’m sorry you wore yourself out but know it was worth every minute of that IV drip for the joy you saw on Annie’s face and the kisses and love given and received.
I have the feeling that next year Big Sis is going to take even more pleasure in helping her baby brother open his presents than her own! What glorious chaos that will be!!