Dear Giuliana: Christmas 2016

Well baby, another Christmas has come and gone. Just like that! You were a little more into it this year but were still a little slow to rip open presents.  We started out the week with cookie decorating at Lauren's house where you got your first gift... a baseball bat at tee set! We immediately took you outside to try it out. Still working on the whole 'two hands on the bat' thing but you got the hang of it pretty quick. Then you continued on the frosting and sprinkle obsession on your cookies. I didn't think you would sleep that night! We got home and you were trying to lick me and were being so silly.

In the morning on Christmas Eve we went straight to the mall to get your picture taken with Santa. Yes, I know, we waited far too long to get this done! But anyway we went, waited an hour and got your picture. You were clinging to my leg when we walked up but we somehow convinced you to sit on his lap and then you actually smiled! It was amazing. I definitely thought you were going to have a meltdown and I was looking forward to having one of those hilarious pictures to show you, but your big smile in this one is much better. Christmas Eve night we went to the Held's house and had more food and desert than anyone needs in one sitting. As usual. The Chargers were playing and what do you know, they lost to the Raiders in another embarrassing upset. Sigh. At least we had plenty of cookies for Santa which you loved making with me! 

Christmas morning we did our little tradition of making hot chocolate, putting on Christmas music, and starting with our stockings. But, Santa brought you a teepee this year, that we were so excited about! We filmed you walking down the stairs to see your reaction, but you really didn't have much of one. You kind of walked right by it looking at it like hmmmm. But once we gave you your milk you went right inside and didn't come out. You started taking the presents from under the tree and into the teepee. It made me really happy because I was pretty excited about this whole teepee thing. We still had to convince you to open the presents and once you did you asked us to open them immediately. Then we went to Nani and Nanu's house for breakfast and more gifts. I think by then you had had enough of the gifts and started to go a little crazy. Later on, the whole family came over and there was more food and more gifts. It was such a nice long day. Each year will be more and more fun with you as you grasp the concept of the holiday. But until then, it is still entirely so much fun for us to try and make these days special for you.

Aaannnd then there was the Starbucks line the day after Christmas. Your face is priceless! You wear your sunglasses all the time now, even at night. My favorite is when you put them on top of your head. You're just too cute! So now we are getting ready to celebrate the new year and once again we can't believe its that time again. Merry Christmas baby!