Merry Christmas, Little Thomas

This is perhaps the moment I have been waiting for since I found out I was pregnant--Thomas' first Christmas. Now, normally I am absolutely in love with all things between Thanksgiving and Christmas--the family gatherings, the music, the special Advent services at church, the food and everything else surrounding the holidays. But this year was different. This year there was this special little person to make all the normal excitement even more grandiose.
Our church did a phenomenal job with the presentation of the Christmas story. Josh and Thomas were lead roles, playing Joseph and Jesus.

The congregation absolutely fell in love with Thomas and he added some comic relief to the show. (Yes, that's my son smacking a shepherd.)

He was exhausted by the end of the play and despite a full orchestra two feet away from him, he managed to fall asleep in Mary's arms.

After the play Thomas went off to Camp Grandma (my mom's house) while I had some major events at work. Josh and I drove to Augusta a few days later and spent Christmas with my parents, who are divorced. First stop was with my dad. 

 Thomas was spoiled with every educational toy known to man--walking aides, singing bath toys, race tracks with little toy cars, widgets, music tables and more. He also got a "healthy" dose of paper. We're still waiting for the evidence of that one to show up in the diapers.

Next stop was Mom's. For every toy Thomas got at Dad's, I think he got an outfit and a book at Mom's. He, however was a little to tuckered out to enjoy too much of it.

 

Alas, he awoke and joined the festivities and oh, how his eyes did shine...

Unfortunately, duty called and I had to be back at church that night for our Christmas Eve services. We opted to keep Thomas with us for the service rather than sending him to the nursery. He was perfectly fine until the sermon began and then he decided everyone needed to listen to him babble and coo. So Mommy gladly listened to the service in the Narthex until the little man calmed down. It was a great family night.

Thomas and Daddy headed home while I attended one more service, but I did make it home in time to tuck him into bed and hear Josh read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to him.

 The next morning was fantastic. Santa left Thomas with a slew of toys and Josh and I gave him a St. Christopher pendant as a symbol of God's protection over him during my pregnancy and his lifetime.

Then it was off to Alabama to visit more family! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles, friends and more greeted us and made Thomas' first Christmas even more enjoyable.

 To top everything off it came a fantastic snow; Thomas' first snow. He absolutely ate it up (almost literally!)

What a wonderful week. What a wonderful season. I can't believe that it's already over. As good as this year was, I think next year will be even better. By that point Thomas will be walking and into even more than before. Between now and then I just want to soak everything up--every laugh, every milestone, every snuggle--that's all I want for Christmas.