Dear Henry,
You jump, and giggle, and wiggle, and squirm!
You are a delight! A beautiful little boy filled to the brim with enchantment, amusement and happiness!
It is simply amazing to think that five short months ago you were so tiny, so helpless, so dependent. As I sit here writing you this letter I am watching you jump in your jolly jumper, the wonderful sounds of giggles and happy cooing filling our house. Five months ago you were lying in my arms, swaddled tight… this little boy right here in front of me. You continue to change with every sunrise and with every sunset I hold you tight and whisper my dreams and wishes for you. They always end with “I wish to slow down time. I wish to stay in this moment forever; this moment where you fit so perfectly in my arms; this moment where all you want to do is cuddle me close.” I am realizing all over again how precious this time is, and I am so thankful that I am here giving you 100% of my time, because this time will not, and cannot last forever.
Just like that, your first Christmas has come and gone. It was such a magical day. It continues to be my most favourite day of the year because I get to spend it with all the people that I love so much. This was the first Christmas that your big sister really understood what was going on. She spent the month telling you all about Santa and the twinkle lights and the perfect little barbecue that was on her list. When we wrote our letter to Santa, she made sure to include your Christmas wish: a little barbecue and an orange kitchen. I have a sneaking suspicion that you did not tell her that this is what you wanted, but she was pretty adamant. We wrote our letters, made a Santa visit (which went smashingly well!), and decorated our house. The only thing that was missing, the one thing that always makes Christmas for me, was the snow. Your first Christmas was a very green Christmas. Christmas Eve day was spent walking around Westport finishing up our last minute shopping while wearing t-shirts and sandals. It won’t always be like this, I promise.
As you grow, you will learn that traditions are very important to me. Every Christmas Eve, we spend the evening at Grandma and Grandpa Blair’s. We fill our tummies full of a delicious turkey and stuffing and potatoes. Everyone is there… Twenty-some people in total! We all sit at one long table, everyone wearing Santa hats and telling jokes. As I look down the table, it makes me thankful to have so many people in our lives. We really are lucky, Henry. We are surround by the love of so many wonderful people.
By 7:30pm we head over to Elgin to go to Christmas mass with G and Popa. If any tradition has to stay, this is the one. Christmas mass is the most important one to me. I have so many memories from this evening. Growing up, it was the one thing we “had” to do before Santa could come, however that “had” has changed to “like” over the years. As we sit in the pew, the church only lit by candlelight, listening to the choir singing silent night instills a warmth in my heart that I wish everyone could feel. Watching you experience this for the first time is something I will always remember. I could feel the magic in your eyes as I held you tight.
As mass ended, we gave our Christmas Eve hugs to G and Popa and went home to leave out cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. Christmas morning we woke at 7:30. I could barely wait to see if Santa had come. Olive rushed down stairs as fast as your bum would take her. As she walked into the living room, she was speechless. All she could do was point. There, right in front of her, was that beautiful barbecue she has been talking about for so long. She couldn’t believe her eyes! We spent the rest of the morning unwrapping presents and playing with our new toys. You did quite well for a five month old – a train, a tambourine, a noise making steering wheel, a new hat with a cute beard!! When G and Popa arrived around 9:00, Olive had a blast showing off all her new things. G cuddled you close!
By 10:00 we were packed up and heading to Grandma and Grandpa Blair’s house. The house was full of Christmas! We had our traditional Eggs Benedict while we opened mountains of presents! You received so many nice new clothes to fit your little growing body! We spent the rest of the morning telling stories and sharing Christmas cheer around the Christmas tree. It is so nice to sit and enjoy everyone’s company!
At 12:30 we packed up again and headed to G and Popa’s for the rest of the day. Again, we walked into a sea of presents. We all sat in a circle around the Christmas tree on the porch that Daddy built. Slowly the wrapping paper pile grew and grew. Olive helped unwrap most of your presents all day long; a double duty she did not mind! For your first Christmas, your “haul” was pretty great! A turtle chair (that Olive has claimed until “Henry get bigger”), and lovely sheep that sings lullabies, and lots and lots of clothes for that growing body of yours.
Later in the evening we sat down for dinner with the Raison family. It was a feast fit for a king! Jessica, your newly appointed Godmother, brought you the most special gift of all. It was a book she had made for you…. One that is about a boy who lost his name who, during the search for his name, comes across some very nice creatures who help him!
Notes for Henry:
- When you met Santa for the first time, it was like magic. You and Olive both sat on his knee, no tears, just excitement!
- You love when we blow raspberries. You are now blowing your own raspberries (and lots of wet bubbles)!
- The moment you see your big sister, you smile! I can already feel how much you love her. When we pick her up from daycare, you are so excited to see her. Often when I put you in the car at Sara’s you are crying, but as soon as I put Olive in, you lift your head just far enough to see her, tears disappear and a huge grin is on your face! Please stay that way!
- You are reaching for your toes and pulling them to your mouth! You love chomping down on those webbies!
- You are a jumping machine in your exersaucer and your jolly jumper! I cannot get over how strong you are and what a difference a month makes! I have a feeling you will be walking long before your big sister was!
- You went for your first toboggan ride down the hill in the field once we finally had a snowfall! You were on Daddy’s back in the carrier. You loved it!
- You celebrated your first New Years Eve! We went to Hadley’s house to play with all the other kids before we snuck away to a wedding for a few hours. By midnight, I was the only one awake, cuddling my 3 favourite people. I whispered in your ear “Happy New Year, Love”, and kiss you all goodnight.
Christmas is my favourite time of year because I get to spend it with my beautiful family. This magical time of year always fills my heart with so much joy. As I look towards the future, I only have one Christmas wish for you. No matter where you are, or what you are doing when you grow older, I hope that you will always find your way home to me on Christmas morning. I already can’t imagine spending a Christmas without you. Promise me this.
Saying farewell to this amazing year feels so bittersweet. Your arrival brought so much joy back to my life. As I hold you in my arms, my little miracle, I am ever so thankful for all the life lessons I have learned in 2015. You have reminded me to slow down, to be thankful for whom I am surrounded by and to enjoy each moment that comes. 2015 was an incredible, life-changing journey. Throughout the year I felt so many emotions from sadness and grieving to overwhelming happiness and pure bliss. It was my personal growth year. I am sad to see it go, but I am welcoming 2016 with a new found appreciation for a healthy life full of risks and adventures.
I love you to the moon and back, Henry!
Xoxoxox
Momma!
