OBVIOUSLY Prosecco.
Since I couldn’t celebrate with some bubbly last year, I have big plans to make up for it this year! It’s our first Christmas with our son and I couldn’t be more excited to watch him experience the magical holiday! Although he won’t really know what’s going on, we’re having a hard time controlling ourselves and already have a few gifts for him under the tree. However, we are very selective about what toys we purchase for him. Besides the fact that we live in the city and don’t have a ton of space, we don’t want him to grow up drowning in “stuff”, so it’s important that the toys he does have are things we know that’ll last a while and ideally, have some learning component. Of course, we still have the obnoxious singing toys that can make a parent go crazy but keep him busy when he’s over being in his car seat, but we’re making a conscious effort to think before we purchase his toys, especially since he’s too young to ask for anything. (We’ll see how long this lasts!) This year outside of buying practical things he needs like clothing and new bibs, we purchased this Radio Flyer Walker Wagon that we’ll keep in his play area. Jude loves walking while holding onto things, so we’re hoping this helps him cruise around. It also functions as a toy holder, which is perfect for the small room! My best friend also brought this book to my attention, “Olive, the Other Reindeer” which is absolutely perfect. The dog even looks like our dog Olive!
We’ll be spending Christmas here in Chicago with my family in town. Outside of last year, we’ve spent many holidays in Florida and Los Angeles, so it’s nice to host our first Christmas in our new Chicago home. Not only do we have more space, but this year we were able to get a bigger tree and decorate a bit more. I’ve always been on team “Wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate” but this year I couldn’t control myself. I decorated before Thanksgiving and I have to say, I’ve completely come to the dark side and plan on doing so every year. I understand some people don’t like to rush the holidays, but for me, it just extends this exciting time longer. Not to mention putting up a tree and decorating is a lot of work (do you know how many times I’ve cursed the needles on my floor?) so I might as well enjoy it longer. I am also very excited about lighting the candles for Hanukah. We have a beautiful menorah gifted to us from friends when we were engaged, and I’m so happy we have a proper place for it this year. Now here’s to hoping for a white Christmas!
I also really love our holiday card this year and so excited it’s our first as a family of three! I always opt for those with a New Year’s message because being a procrastinator, it gives me a little more time to get them out. Shockingly this year they made it out before the 25th. It’s a Christmas miracle.
I’ve talked about this decision before, but when I got married I kept my last name. The only time it gets a little tricky is when writing our address on envelopes or sending holiday cards since there usually isn’t enough room for both of our last names. I do not mind at all when someone calls me by my husband’s last name (it actually makes me smile… I always say that one day, I may change my mind and take it!), but currently, that’s not what I go by. Usually, on holiday cards I just use our first names but since this year’s card had a smaller space, I used our “nickname” that many of our friends coined for her (and was our wedding hashtag!) It’s honestly another Christmas miracle that we got Jude to look at the camera. It was an hour past his naptime and he was winding down quickly. I now understand the struggle parents go through with holiday cards.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and magical holiday… with lots of Prosecco!
