[ Christ.mas ]

We had a wonderful first Christmas with Breck. It was so odd, but yet wonderful being the parent and setting gifts out after he had gone to bed, and reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning from a different perspective - knowing that for years to come we will read from Luke 2 every Christmas morning and hope that even when our children are gone, grown, and old they will always remember what Christmas is about. What an amazing responsibility. And speaking of parents and responsibility, I have a whole new appreciation for Mary and Joseph. Now that I know what it's like to be a Mommy and have responsibility of having a child, I just can barely wrap my mind around the thought of what a grand responsibility Mary had to care for and raise the Saviour, her Saviour, the Lord of Lords, THE Creator of the universe. And now that I know what that Mother's love thing is all about... I can't even fathom the pain Mary experienced as she then had to watch him, her son, the baby she felt move inside of her, the child she rocked to sleep and nurtured, die. Die an agonizing, slow and painful death on a cross for her sins and the sins of the world. And as if that wasn't bad enough... how painful it was for a sinless God to watch his son not only die, but also take on the sins of the whole world. What a sacrifice, and being a parent has now allowed me to appreciate that sacrifice in a different light and in a new way.

Ok, on to a lighter topic... Christmas also means a time set aside for family! And boy did we enjoy plenty of that! :)

Rewind. Last year. Christmas 2009. BrettRyan and I (and Breck) 

Exactly one month before Breck was born!

And now fast-forward! Family picture 2010 on Christmas Eve in our first home! We had the pleasure of hosting Andrew for Christmas this year. He spent five days with us and I think he really enjoyed himself. We enjoyed having him with us. Every child deserves to be with a family on Christmas, no matter their age. And for that matter, every child deserves a family, no matter their age.

Rewind again to Christmas Eve 2009. Lindsay and I plus our babies...

Now look at 'em! :) It's always too cute when they first see each other. 

Ps. Check out MomB's face in the background. Typical MomB... I can just hear that laugh now! :) 

BrettRyan and I hosted our first "holiday" with the family. The Buckinghams came over on Christmas Eve and spent the day enjoying good food, swooning over new recipes, hanging out, and watching  the babies Daddies open gifts. 

There was plenty of this...

And this...

Breck's first Christmas gift of his life! 

 It's so fun that Breck has a cousin on each side of his family that is his age. Maxon is about two weeks younger than Breck and Brody is about two weeks older than Breck. There were frequently two of every gift in the room at both the Buckingham and the Adams family Christmas'.

I told ya, it was more the Daddies ripping the paper than the babies.

Sweet, sweet Maxon.

Caught red-handed. Just. like. his. Daddy-O. 

Mentos are the thing with the Buckingham men in my life.

I think "Uncle Branny" is pretty proud...

Remember all that cinnamon I inhaled and absorbed a few weeks ago? Read about it here.  (I can smell it now.) Well, the cinnamon and applesauce payed off, because both sets of grandparents loved the ornament from Breck! That really is Breck's handprint, just embellished with a few spoon fulls of glitter.

Gramps and his great-grand-boys...

We ended the evening by going to church for the Christmas Eve service at 6:00pm. It was the most beautiful service I have ever seen. I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning. Thousands of Christmas lights glowing and filling the sanctuary. It literally was the kind of Christmas eve service you would picture in a story book. Minus the candles. There were no candles with circular paper wax catchers, but man the Christmas lights glow made up for it. Big time. I'm talking every Christmas carol was sung, every baby girl had their prettiest, most sparkly Christmas dress on that just glimmered in the soft glow of the lights, and every handsome boy had their Christmas-sweater-best on. Everything was completely focused on Jesus 100% of the time. They had all of the children go down to the front of the stage and read Humphrey's First Christmas. It was precious... told from the point of view of the Camel who took one of the wise men to see Jesus. It is definitely going on Breck's Christmas book list for next year! 

 I was kicking myself that I didn't bring my camera along, but thankfully the honey had his phone which takes some pretty darn good pictures in a pinch. 

It was a beautiful way to end Christmas Eve and it will be a tradition to make a Christmas Eve service every year. 

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Our first Christmas morning was so special... just the four of us. Christmas morning Breck woke up at his usual 7:00am on the dot. We got all robed up and went down stairs to wake Andrew up. Andrew seemed to enjoy his gifts, and Breck honestly wasn't interested at all in opening his. We got him to pay attention to about two gifts and then up he went into his high-chair to just observe. He loved just watching us open gifts. Daddy and I ended up unwrapping the gifts that I had wrapped. Should have just stuffed it all into one Christmas gift bag and had Breck lift the tissue paper out and call it good. Oh well, note to self! 

Here's what our tree looked like on Christmas morning...

Wonder if he's going to be a snooper? Trying to sneak a little sneak-peak...

I'm so thankful for a husband who puts God first and tries to seek The Lord's will for his family. 

I love you, Babe! 

Daddy read from Luke 2... 

Even though Breck's got a little motion blur going on here, I still love this picture... because it's so me and it's so him. He was probably doing his hyper "boogie" dance thing or something...

My honey got me the most beautiful snow globe to add to my collection!

I love what he does on the gift tags he writes. 

There's always a different nickname... Never uses the same one twice. 

My favorite one read (not seen here): 

"To: The Mother of My Child 

From: The Father of Your Child"

BR and I must have been on the same page this year as far as an ornament for each other. He got me this gorgeous acorn ornament with a tag that read, "Our first Christmas under the Oak Tree - - in our first home." I also got him an ornament having to do with our first home. I gave him a key that said, " First Christmas in our new home. 2010"

Breck's new Christmas jam-jams.

Breck got so many nice toys from both families. (This has Adams' family gifts too)

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We had a little time to enjoy our gifts, and cuddle before we had to finish packing and hit the road. We were on the road by 2:00pm headed South to see Mamaw and Papaw! We took a different way down this time and somebody was mesmerized by the creepy windmill fields. He loved them! 

Literally. They were everywhere just slowly spinning at a creepy pace. Looks like something out of an end-of-the-world movie. 

Playing games with Mamma in the car...

We were able to arrive in town in time to see Grandpa Lasley on Christmas evening which was really nice too. Precious.

Andrew and Breck at Grandpa GG's house. 

We had Christmas with my family the day after Christmas. Dyl and I even had a little time in there to squeeze in a little "Dyl-Mam" craft-time! 

These guys became friends for sure... :) 

It was nearly impossible to get these three to pose with their shirts from Uncle Greg and Aunt Donna... :) HA!

Told ya, applesauce paid off. :)

Seeing double? It was hilarious watching them both walk behind these together! 

LOVE Holl's face in this... it captures how we all were feeling watching them! 

Papaw figured out Breck was just needing a little independence and that's why he was refusing his food. Nice.

Just love these pictures of Breck and his Aunt Holly! He loves her so much, but I think the feeling is mutual!

 

We were able to enjoy a breakfast with Uncle Greg and Aunt Donna on our way out of town. It was so fun to see them... as usual! :) 

  

I think it's safe to say that Breck had a wonderful first Christmas!