Ayla looking at the snow falling outside...keeping pants on this girl, by the way, is near impossible. We are lucky she has a onesie and a shirt on. Oh, and somedays she loves wearing socks and others she screams while trying to pull them off her feet, go figure.
Ayla being oh so gentle with the tree and its ornaments. We debated getting a tiny one and putting on an end table, then realized how extremely lame that is. So we packed up and went to Carpinito Bros to pick out a nice big one that Ayla can really appreciate :) Surprisingly Ayla has done really well and not grabbed any of the ornaments or yanked on the lights. She will go up to the tree sniff it (Brett taught her that), point at it a little, then very gently touch an ornament or ribbon. You can just see the restraint on her face, so cute. I think she is the perfect age, if it were 3 months ago, she would have been climbing and grabbing all over the thing!
Well, the holidays are among us. Ever since we lost my dad, honestly, I have tended to dread this time of year. What used to be my favorite time of year became quite the opposite. Demands of family and friends becomes too much sometimes and the busy chaos all around us can frustrate me. My perspecitve has become much more positive though, when I look at Ayla and see the excited smile on her face as she points to the tree and when she sees me plug in the Christmas lights. I have this precious little girl who brings joy to so many, from the perfect stranger to our closest family members. And that pit in my stomach when December approaches has shrunk tremendously.
The joy she brings to my mom is extra special to me. What used to be an annual trip for my mom and I to the Victorian Country Christmas has now become an annual trip for the three of us! Ayla was so intrigued by all the people, decorations, lights, and Christmas goodies, she loved it. We went outside to let her run free and it started snowing! I look over and see the huge smile on my mom's face as she is looking down at Ayla (who is looking up with eyes fluttering as the snow hits her little pink face). A perfect moment.
As each year comes, new traditions begin and although things will never be the same, I am looking forward to the new stories and memories that we will create each holiday season. Like these ones of Ayla and her cousins Grant and Kyla during Thanksgiving...
Reading with cousin Grant...he is so patient with her.
Playing in the ball pit with Kyla
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