Peanut Post: Annalyn's First Christmas (Part 1)

This past weekend we celebrated Annalyn's (first) first Christmas with my family. Honestly, I couldn't have imagined it being any more perfect. I finally got to host Christmas, complete with all my holiday dishes and decorations. We decided to do a simple dinner of chicken chili and Italian beef since the girls (except Peanut) were all going to the Yuletide Celebration at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the boys (+ Peanut!) were watching the Butler vs. IU basketball game (Go Dawgs!). It was effortless, delicious, and saved room for the main event - Christmas cookies/treats!

all dressed up for the symphony

Annalyn was as happy as can be - she's always been obsessed with paper, so pulling it out of bags and ripping it to pieces was right up her alley! Not to mention the toys/books/outfits she found inside... what a lucky little girl! She truly had a great weekend, right up to the Spritz cookie she ate for dessert.

With my siblings, we always do a little themed gift exchange. Last year, it was a gas station theme where the gifts had to be bought at a gas station. This year, we decided to do a board game exchange so we had lots of new games to play the rest of the weekend.

just a few of our awesome new games!

Peanut, here are some other Christmas memories so far... singing "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" since you still have none; watching classic Christmas cartoons; helping Mama & Aunt Lindsey decorate cookies (just like Daddy, you're only interested in the taste-tester job); walking lots of circles around the house with Grandma; flying like an airplane with Grandpa; Aunt Lindsey & Mal teaching you creative new baby signs; riding your new rocking horse from Uncle Travis; and eating Italian beef and chili with the family like a big girl.

Check out these cowgirl skills:

 

You are suddenly less and less a baby and more of a little kid to me! It's happening so quickly and we love every second of it... we literally try to "breath you in" and snuggle as long as you will let us each night (which is actually getting longer lately - I think we both need that extra Mama-Peanut time before bed). You have such a strong, amazing little (big) personality now and Mama & Daddy couldn't be prouder of you. 

Merry Christmas, Annalyn!

Love,

Mama