A Very Blurry Christmas

It's funny ... it's hard to explain, but during this holiday season I have constantly had thoughts of "remember this time last year?" and how different life was? In fact, this week marked the first baby that was born from our baby class and I remember hoping my day would be soon but secretly thinking I don't think we are ready you can stay in there as long as you want.

 Our Apartment Last Year -- Look at all of the breakables still out ... and no baby toys that have no taken over our living room. 

So now when I think of Christmas I think of all things baby. The shift has gone off of the presents, the rushing around to get everything done, scheduling time to be with loved ones ... to OMG my little baby boy is almost 1! How did that happen?

Last year at this time I was trying to wrap presents on the floor with Lexi trying to "help" by sitting on the wrapping paper and my legs were numb from my huge belly. I was exhausted from working and trying to get all of our Christmas shopping done ... although looking back now I didn't know what being exhausted really felt like. I stressed on weather or not to buy a "babies first Christmas's" outfit because I thought if I did I would definitely jinx myself and have a baby born after Christmas or even after the New Year (did I forget to mention that my doctor thought for sure I was going to be late ... in fact they made me schedule an appointment a week after my due date -- I remember crying on my way home after hearing that!). Add on top of that the stress of getting Lexi's surgery done with a newborn -- gosh I am glad that is done. The only thing I wanted to do was walk the mall to help Owen evacuate. Speaking of Owen ... one of our never ending conversations were what to name our baby boy. We really had no clue up until about an hour before Owen came. We didn't even have a short list because the names just kept changing.

Last belly shot - 39 weeks 

And then Owen decided to come 3 days before Christmas. We left the hospital on Christmas Eve with terror across both of our faces because we were now responsible for this little 8 lb 5 oz baby and the hospital conveniently forgot to give us the owners manual as they pushed us out the door. I think Eric and I looked at each other when my mom left on Christmas Eve night and said Now what (as I was secretly hoping mum mom would turn back around and show back up at our doorstep)? Are we suppose to celebrate Christmas because at that point my main focus was trying to get this stubborn VERY sleepy little baby to eat. I couldn't think about Santa, or gifts, or calling anyone ... heck I couldn't even keep my own emotions in check.

Minutes after being born 

 Our Christmas Baby 

 Thinking he might just like his new family 

 One of the vary few pictures I have that shows just how much dark brown hair he had when he was born 

 Merry Christmas 

 Best stocking stuffer around 

So now a year later as the Christmas decorations are going up, gifts are being purchased, travel plans are being made ... all I keep thinking about are all of the memories of this time last year and what a Crazy Blurry Christmas we had. It will definitely be one I will never forget and will treasure forever ... and I am pretty sure going forward Christmas will have a special and different meaning to all of us.

This was the night of Christmas probably around 3 am ... I remember coming back into the room and thinking how sweet this was and had to sneak a picture ... Boy I am so glad we don't have a newborn anymore 

 Exhausted with the kids on Christmas last year