Enjoying the Season

Let me just say that I love Christmas, I really do. I love the Christmas lights on the neighborhood houses, the smell of pine in my living room, paper and bows...even the nip of cold air in the morning (I get over the cold air thing by January 2nd).

However, the past couple of years, my holiday spirit has dwindled. When we got our puppy, Harley, we didn't put up a tree because we didn't know how he would respond to it - a tad rambunctious that dog. Last year, I conveniently used the same reasoning - plus I was tired from being pregnant (bonus excuse!). And, although we got the remarkable chance to inform our family of the pregnancy on Christmas morning, the season came and went without me really feeling the holiday spirit.

The Christmases of the past few years have been...blank. A sigh of relief when the shopping and wrapping was finished was the best I could muster. As a result, I have felt a little cheated, a little jaded, a little....empty.

This year however, I have the urge to make everything perfect for Hailey's first Christmas. We bought a tree at a local farm (which cost way, way too much money for living in a place surrounded by pine forests) and decorated it this weekend. Granted...it took twice as long to decorate while trying to tend to a baby, but I think that makes me appreciate it twice as much.

Things feel different this year. I am awake to Christmas in a way I haven't been in a long time. I want to bake cookies, make snowmen, send cards and shop until I find everyone on my list that one special gift.

For years, Christmas has been a time for me to look back on traditions, the past and how things used to be during this season - how I excited I used to get, how anxious for the day. Now, with Hailey still too young to understand, Christmas is full of possibilities again, full of gifts and events that will someday be treasured memories.

Last night while Hubby was feeding Hailey, I got to watch them by the soft glow of our hastily decorated tree. Before my parents caved in to the pressure of an artificial tree, it was a tradition in my household that my mother would proclaim 'This year's tree to be one of the prettiest we have ever had!' Last night, I thought the same thing - 'This is the prettiest tree we have ever had.' I think the best decorations are not what is on the tree, but who is around it.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy and revitalized Holiday!

p.s. - Harley only ate one branch off the tree (so far)!