Christmas 2011

A belated Christmas post! Christmas 2011 was Byron’s first Christmas, at 7 months old. It was Blake’s third Christmas, him being 29 months old (wow!)

Blake was so excited in the lead-up to Christmas. It was all about the “crissmix twees” this year, he loved them and pointed them out wherever we went. We even had a bit of a scare when he nearly did a mad dash across a road to see a real one up close in someone’s lawn, which wasn’t even a Christmas tree, just a random undecorated pine. We had to pull him back by his shirt!

We went Christmas lighting this year which was a bit of a failure as it doesn’t get dark until 9pm here during Summer and both children were so tired (Byron slept through it entirely). Blake was half-asleep and let out a half-hearted “Wow, crissmix lights, niiiice”…I think he thought he was dreaming.

We spent Christmas morning at home just with Blake’s grandparents and had our now traditional Christmas breakfast of French toast and eggs after unwrapping some gifts. Also now traditional is the wearing of Christmas pajamas to bed on Christmas Eve and throughout the morning! It’s adorable. Next year I want to get some adult ones! Blake opened lots of Little People toys from Santa this year and spent the morning playing with his Wheelies ramps. He is also very keen on puzzles with an amazing memory, so he played with his new ones and I quickly learned the ones I had bought were far too simple.

We spent some time alone at home after breakfast before going to a traditional Christmas lunch with the family. Blake and Byron opened lots of gifts from aunts, uncles and great grandparents! Byron, who now eats four solid meals a day, had ham and potato and roast vegetables pureed for his lunch and he loved it so much that he grabbed for the spoon and whined between each mouthful, because he wasn’t being fed fast enough! Blake also loved his lunch and clearly felt very grown up eating at the table with the adults.

It was magical this year, watching Blake rip into his gifts and thank people for them, so excited. He would often reach for a gift and we’d say “No Blake, that’s Byron’s” and he would say “Oh! Dere Bubble!” and toss it towards Byron. Then, upon seeing Byron couldn’t open it, he’d open it in front of Byron and say “Wow Bubble look!”…I’m serious, this stuff is seriously heart-warming for a parent. Blake and Byron were absolutely mesmerized by the decorations and lights, too. I’m so excited for next year because I’m positive Blake will know and remember what exactly “Christmas” is and will probably even understand the concept of Santa.

This year we asked him if Santa (who he recognizes and associates with Christmas) was going to drop off gifts for him, at our house. He looked horrified and said “No mummy! No Santa. No Santa thank you please mummy.”

We also asked him if he wanted to leave some biscuits and milk out for Santa and the reindeer and I swear he nearly laughed at the idea of leaving good food outdoors. “Noooo” he said. “Noooo” in his deep little “Don’t be so silly” voice.

Daniel and I both had a magical day at Christmas this year. Children bring all the magic and joy back into the holiday season for an adult, it’s truly a thrill! I can’t wait until 2012′s Christmas and dread tomorrow when I will have to take down the decorations and the tree, much to Blake’s dismay – and Byron’s, as he will no longer be able to tear the baubles off for teething relief.

So, merry Christmas and a happy new year to all! How were your holidays!? I will upload some more photos from Christmas to my Flickr album soon. For now, I’m off to celebrate my first wedding anniversary!