Heir Gordon: Reflections

Okay, honestly, I haven't had all that much time to truly reflect on all that Christmas has meant to me this year, but I sure have enjoyed it!

I know that it will be hard for you to believe, but despite the fact that I was recovering from a Christmas-week sinus infection, Libby had a cold and Michael had a minor cold, too, this was the BEST CHRISTMAS YET!

So, on Christmas Eve Eve, Libby went over to see her great-grandparents and cousins at Aunt Toni's house (and Marmena & Granddiddy, too!) while I worked and Michael squeezed in one of his last (or last? - and best) round of golf for 2011. I rushed over after working a half-day and she was excited to see me but having the time of her life. (Aunt Toni and Papa has a special knack of getting her more whipped up and excited than anyone else.) She had so much fun that while she had some rest time in her pack and play, she really wasn't able to take a nap.

But did that matter?! Not in the least! She remained just charming and playful through the rest of the day (but really, when you're getting that much positive attention and having that much fun, it's hard NOT to be charming). She conked out immediately upon pulling out of their driveway, but perked up for our usual Friday dinner out! (I have no photos of this day's activities.)

On Christmas Eve, she slept in a bit (8ish?) and enjoyed her final double-sized Advent calendar chocolate and had a lovely, lazy morning with Daddy, Commissioner and me at home, with a bonus of sourdough french toast! Of course, she also had her Advent calendar chocolate. Last one!

And then our long-time friend from high school, Sara, who was home from NYC to be with her mom for Christmas, joined us for our now-traditional Christmas Eve lunch at Paradise Grill! What a treat!

Home for nap while I did some food prep for Christmas and even got to sit down and read a magazine before Libby got up in a bit of a cranky/sicky mood and I worried that she and Michael wouldn't be able to make it to church. Our church service is at 7 p.m.! And there's only one! And I had to be there by 6 p.m. to rehearse our music for handbells that night. Poor Michael would be stuck trying to feed her and himself, get them both dressed and get to church with a cranky baby. But he pulled it off and she perked up for the crowd!

We got these photos AFTER church, of course. Our service on Christmas Eve is lessons and carols style with communion and takes close to two hours. We left after communion at the hour and a half mark and while Libby was somehow still pretty happy (wanted to exit before things potentially became difficult). During the service, she delighted one of our regular parishioners and his granddaughters to no end. The word "Dog" was repeated... repeatedly, but usually only the rows directly in front of and behind us could probably hear it! At one point she became particularly amused by my tights, and how they looked and felt, and then she really loved that we were BOTH wearing them - hers white and mine black. (I became pretty amused by her inspections of both pairs, as well.)

And then we put out cookies and egg nog for Santa and got that B to bed!

Hey- she just wanted to make CERTAIN that Santa got a good one! One does not want to wind up on the naughty list at the 11th hour.

Christmas morning arrived and was a hit! Somehow, Libby didn't miss her Advent chocolate... (though she did ask for it on Monday morning).

She had to take multiple breaks to fully absorb the gift extravaganza around her and go color with her new giant Pooh coloring book with her new crayons.

While she received many books, her favorite one was also my favorite gift of all, "A Day in the Life: An ABC Book Featuring Libby Gordon" that her Daddy made me as a surprise! She loves it and I adore it, too. And yes, of course it made me cry, especially after she climbed right in my lap so I could read it to her- twice!

*Okay- a video of me reading this book for the first time with/to Libby should go here, but alas, it won't seem to post properly to YouTube.*

MAJOR POINTS for the hubby.

Then the grandparents came and we had another great round of gift-exchanging before Libby's nap time! (It took a couple of minor attempts to get her down, but she did actually squeeze in a nap, thank goodness.) And while she napped, I opened the rest of her wrapped gifts, we all had delicious appetizers brought by Marmena and GiGi and I started on dinner preparations!

And then she came down to find her final present!

We enjoyed our traditional Christmas dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, green beans and wheat rolls brushed with honey butter. And cushaw pie (and other Christmas goodies) for dessert!