'Tis the Season

We are definitely in full swing of the holidays at our house. Carter has learned the joys of making cookies (eatinmg the dough around the cookie cutters) and decorating (shaking the sprinkles into his mouth).

We also celebrated our family tradition of going to our former landlord’s property and cutting down a tree. It’s probably one of my favorite days of the year because Mark and I always reminisce about where we fell in love, and it somehow seems full circle to now share that special place with Carter.

Carter also loves the Christmas tree and excitedly runs to plug it in every morning as soon as he wakes up. He loves to talk about all the ornaments and rearrange them every once in awhile.

I have pulled out my Christmas CD’s and have reveled in dancing with Carter by the lights of the tree and singing at the top of my lungs. Carter alternates between a full-out belly laugh when we are spinning and dipping, and a tender snuggle when the slow songs come on. It’s such simple, delightful memory-making that I know I will look back on and smile. I already do.

Last week it snowed just enough for Carter and I to go sledding on one of my days off, and he loved it. As soon as we’d get to the bottom of the hill, he’d giggle and turn to me and say, “Again?” He even walked up the hill every time, pretty surprising since he seems to be in a stage of always wanting to be carried.

The arrival of the out of town guests begins tonight with Mark’s family, followed by my family on Friday. We will also have an additional three dogs at our house, so things will not be dull. I just hope the Christmas tree is still standing by Christmas day.

This year I have really made an effort to not be stressed out by the holidays and to see the simple joys every day that Carter experiences through new eyes. I have slowly gotten all the chores done (shopping, cleaning, cooking) without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. I've even carved out some time to play some Christmas carols on the piano. It’s amazing how slowing down can somehow make the work happen faster and less painfully.

With Carter’s help, I have remembered just what this season is about, and that if we just take a step back and look, the joy has always been there. Sometimes it just gets a little stifled by all the other stuff that comes with the holidays.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and may you all find a little time to smile at something simple and beautiful.