We survived our first Christmas as a family of three! Not only did we survive, we managed to have a blast visiting my family in Alberta. It’s so true that having a child makes the holidays extra special. Knowing they are experiencing everything for the first time is pretty cool and I found myself getting caught up in the moments I normally would have just overlooked. This year definitely felt magical. Even though things aren’t as “easy” with a baby (the travel, the sleep, the packing, the everything!), the extra effort is worth it. Aside from a few rough nights of sleep and a nursing strike on the plane there, things went rather smoothly and Adriana was such a trooper through all the family visits, late nights, and festivities.
My sister, nephews, and brother-in-law got to meet Adriana for the first time which was so special. My nephews really fell in love with her and loved holding her until she fell asleep on them. Total baby whisperers! My sister Kristi is a natural with her and they got so many snuggles in together. My sis took one look at her drool-soaked shirts/bibs and chewing of the hands and said, “Oh yea she is definitely teething!” The week flew by and there were a lot of tears when it was time to leave (right, Mimi?), but we’re hoping to get to Arizona with my mom and stepdad sometime later this winter so I’m already looking forward to that visit.
We went back and forth whether we would lug our good DSLR camera and big lens + external flash on the trip, but I’m glad we did. (My iphone being at full capacity may have had something to do with that decision! hah).
For my mom and stepdad’s gift, we made them a photobook of Adriana’s first 3 months. We also printed them a bunch of her newborn photos. But the thing that really got Mimi crying was the poem and handprint we made for her!
Ok, ok, it makes me cry too! bahhhhh.
PS – Getting a baby handprint is not easy! lol.
These photos make my heart happy! So much love.
PS – You can see my Christmas dinner plate on Instagram! It was epic.
We are getting together with Eric’s side of the family this week and spending a couple nights with my in-laws early in January since we weren’t around for Christmas this year. It should draw out the festivities a bit longer!
I hope you had a great holiday and are resting up for 2015. I wish you all a very happy New Year!
What great pictures!
You all look so happy.
Seeing these photos is a reminder of what Christmas is really all about.
Family hanging out and great food!
All the best in 2015
Thank you :) have a great new year!
How DID you get the handprint? I tried to do it with a black inkpad and it did not work. She’s 6 weeks and the hand/footprint page in her baby book is still blank!
lol, it wasn’t easy! we had a few duds. My friend sent me a handprint kit which was a cloth pre-dipped with a washable paint. I would look them up online or in baby stores! im sure there are DIY paints you can find on pinterest too
Awwww, thank you so much for posting this! It made me tear up reading that poem, such a sweet gift. I’m glad I am having a baby girl in February or I would have total baby fever over these pics :)
Have a Happy New Year!
PS: Your hair looks great! Mine shed so bad after my first baby, I am dreading that phase again. But yours looks wonderful!
thank you! It`s actually falling out like crazy right now. I`m starting to get bald spots near my temples…lol. I hope it stops soon! Hopefully all the healthy food and vitamins I take will help.
All the best with the rest of your pregnancy! Excited for you. :)
Aww what a cute baby mohawk. Looked like a lovely Christmas! Glad to hear the flights went smoothly. Merry Christmas!
Love these pictures!! :) I have loved following your pregnancy and now seeing the little one! We are trying to get pregnant and I was wondering if you could post on your favorite/nutrition packed meals for pregnancy? Sort of like your “20 freezer meals” compilation but for pregos?! =)
You have such a beautiful family! I always look forward to reading your posts. xoSara
The poem is truly beautiful (I am crying too!) and the magical atmosphere can be sensed through your writing and the pictures of love, smiles and happiness. Your whole family is stunningly beautiful (way to go on the good genes!) but Adriana really steals the show with her hair and facial expressions :D
Happy New Year to you all!
Love from
Kristina in Sweden.
Getting a baby’s handprint is next to impossible! Kudos! Another thing to do with their handprint is to put it on a Christmas ball ornament (imagine holding the ball in her hand fingers spread — hand sponged in non-toxic white paint — then take a black sharpie and make each finger look like a snowman. I’m sure there are Pinterest galleries dedicated to this. Each year you do this the snowmen get bigger — a great momento!) There are plastic balls — much easier to work with. It took me a good half hour to get my 10mo old to cooperate to do this, but the resulting ornament was so worth it! Thanks for sharing your weeks w/ Adriana here!
Love this idea!
Wow, you have a beautiful family (full of blondes, too!).
We also spent our Christmas in Alberta (Canmore/Banff) in the true winter, since Seattle was all gray and quite warm. Hope the rest of your travel was easy :)
I have loves all the pictures from your holidays out west! I am glad you three had such a good time. Countdown to the next visit I bet! The poem and handprint is also gorgeous! No wonder your Mom got crying!! Did you put the date on the back? Enjoy the time with Eric’s family xo
No but good idea! I’ll have to get her to write the date. It’s so easy to forget those things over the years I’m sure!
Wonderful photos! It’s so clear how much love was shared. The holidays do take on new meaning whe you have children and I totally relate to taking notice of things you didn’t before having children. Thank you for sharing!
Sounds like you had an amazing holiday with your family!! :) Your family is absolutely beautiful !!
What a beautiful family! My question is how do you plan to feed your daughter (solids when she’s ready)? I’m vegetarian and my husband is not. My baby is 11 months old and so far meatless. I am on the fence for what to do for her but leaning towards a meatless diet for her too. Thoughts?
Hi Tiffany, My husband isn’t vegan either and we’ve decided that we aren’t going to label her diet one way or another so she will have a mix of both of our diets when we get to that point! That being said Eric doesn’t eat meat very often so the majority of our meals tend to be plant-based.
Incredibly beautiful family!
You have such a beautiful family! What a special first Christmas for Adriana :)
All the best in the new year!
That little baby mohawk in the first photo is too adorable. Glad you and the fam had such a love-filled holiday!
Adorable, adorable, adorable.
Your little angel is adorable, Angela.
Actually, I am following you for some time now and enjoying lots of your wonderful creations. Just having sun dried-mushroom-tofu quiche in the oven. My son loves it.
Thank you so much for all your amazing work.
Happy New Year to all of you!
Mirjana
PS: So proud that you are Canadian:)
Ohhh what a magical time!!! Our Gabriela (just one week younger than your Adriana) was amazing as well! Happy New year to you all!
Love your updates! Happy Holidays :)
Awww, I just loved the handprint poem you gave your mom. What a great idea for moms, dads, grandparents, etc. My daughter is 20 weeks old and we got to celebrate baby’s first Christmas too!