7 Months, Week 3

MERRY CHRISTMAS! After weeks of anticipation, Christmas finally arrived! There truly is something magical about watching someone experience it for the first time. And being the big softie that I am, I teared up when I was putting up the Christmas decorations. I looked up at our mantle and saw what I had dreamed of for years...three stockings on that mantle.














It wouldn't be a Christmas fit for a princess, if she didn't have multiple celebrations! First up was the one at our house. We really tried to hold back but...it was her first Christmas!














































After we had our little mini Christmas with the three of us, we hit the road for Columbia City. As we drove, Olivia found a new way to entertain herself...



There was no way we were going to attempt Midnight Mass this year, but thankfully there was a much more family friendly Mass time of 5:00. Here we are all spiffed up!

















Olivia was checking out all the presents under Grammy and Grampy Banks tree. I love the look on her face!












As always, she had so much fun spending time with Grammy and Grampy Banks!













































She also had a blast opening presents on Christmas morning...


































After celebrating Grammy and Grampy and Uncle Jordan, it was time to head to Grandma and Grandpa Szafarczyk's. Yay for more family, more food, and of course more presents!




































































Olivia also got to experience some of our other Christmas traditions. We went to Grandma and Grandpa Szafarczyk's house to celebrate the season with my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Olivia had so much fun seeing so many relatives (although I think she slept through Bingo ;-).



















































A few years ago, after Szafarczyk Family Christmas, we started going to Chicago to spend the night in the city and do a little shopping. Unfortunately, we had a tag along on this trip...another ear infection! UGH! You would never know it from these pictures but that nasty ear infection from a few weeks ago resurfaced and reared its ugly head while we were in Chicago. But, Olivia is such a trooper! She'd never let it stop her from enjoying the sights, sounds, and shopping of the big city!































All in all (and despite another ear infection) I think it's safe to say Olivia had a wonderful first Christmas!