DECEMBER-23months-6months

what an incredible month. the first christmas with all of us together. beckett, you have been so fun to watch as christmas came to life for you--and because of you--for me again, too.

It started with getting our tree, which was so much fun. We went to Handley's tree farm in solon. they have a big wooden train you can sit in and have pictures taken if you sit still long enough to grab a shot--which you didn't b. they also have a small toddler train that goes around a small set of train tracks. b you were so excited to ride it, as we ride the one in city park all summer. you straight in the front, but when the engineer,an older, hard looking man, got out to bang on the engine to get it running, you watched with your wrinkled brow, and decided against the ride. smart boy, i say. so we watched from the side lines. marlowe you took your first ride in our hiking backpack, and as it was for b in the beginning, it was way too big for you. you peeked out over the top and smiled a lot until you fell asleep.

we listened to christmas songs everywhere we were--in the car, at home, i'd sing to you while falling asleep. we had carolers come to the house and b you loved it. you of course talked about it for days. daddy and i stood outside in december's cold winter air listening to our neighbors sing Hallelujigh and i held you and cried. it was beautiful. ifelt so blessed to have all of you there with me--daddy, too.

there were the christmas specials! In particular frosty the snowman. You loved him I found a second hand video and you would ask to watch him everyday beck. You started singing the song in short order. I am amazed at your vocabulary and ability to sing full songs at this early age. One day we were walking outside and went past Jan Browns house and you found this really old yellow brromstick. You marched all the way home with it and had to bring it in. You did several trips around the kitchen table with that thing until we finally got it back to jans house.
we made sugar cookies that b wanted to eat every chance he could. sorry m, you are still too little. we made a gingerbread train that b decorated and somehow didn't fall over. we made santas out of cotton balls and construction paper and reindeers out of your cut out handprints (for the antlers).

We decorated our perfect little canaan tree. we decided we wanted to start a tradition of getting you each a special ornament each year like i did as a child, so we went to the czech village. b you knew exactly what you wanted. i kept showing you the trumpet, because you love trumpets. there was a spell this fall when i would ask you what you dreamed about you would say...trumpets mommy. I showed you the snowman thinking you'd like him too because of your frosty addiction. but when the store owner came around the corner you telled out in your sweet little voice "haveny trains?!!?" It took me a minute before I realized you were really asking her for train ornaments. You act like such a big boy. Sure enough they had a long train and once daddy realized that you could drape it from branch to branch he thought we should buy it for you. You marveled at that train ornament when it hung on the tree. You decorated the bottom half all by yourself and wanted desperately to hold your train, but you listened and were so gentle with all of the ornaments. We didn't lose a single one. M you just loved the twinkly lights. We picked out the sweetest best santa ornament we could find for you. the minute I saw it I knew it was the perfect one. It sat up high on a shelf away from all the other ornaments. It was perfect. I hope you love your first special ornament we chose for you.

I'll finish the rest of our holidays story...