September 15, 2011
I don’t know what it is about the fall that motivates me to start cleaning out cabinets and redecorating. Maybe it’s the fact that the muggy, sticky, congested feeling of summer is finally past and I am ready to start focusing on another season. And while I love fall with everything coming up pumpkin and the changing of the leaves and the cool beautiful days. Secretly as soon as fall rolls around I barrel past all that and start thinking CHRISTMAS. Now I know what you are thinking, “but Jul it’s only September we still have to get through Halloween and Thanksgiving”. Which I agree to an extent, I’m all for Halloween and Thanksgiving getting there proper respect. But if I don’t start planning for Christmas now by the time Thanksgiving rolls around I’ll be scouring black Friday ads in a state of panic. What is it about the day after labor day that makes me want to bust out my Christmas shopping list and tackle it all before Charlie Brown visits grandma on Thanksgiving.
Last year at this time I was done my Christmas shopping. Since Jack’s due date was December 5th I didn’t allow myself to put off shopping. This year I can’t help but be an extra bit excited for the holidays. This will be Jack’s second Christmas but to me it feels like his first. Last year at Christmas I was tired, exhausted and the only thing I wanted was a good nights sleep. Jack was a month old on Christmas Eve and had no concept of Christmas or Santa. I realize that this year he will still have no concept about the holiday however this year when I watch Rudolph or Christmas Eve on Sesame Street he will be watching with me, not lying in his Rock N Play sleeper like he was last year. This year he can attempt to open his gifts and can actually play with the toys he gets. To me this year feels more like how I envisioned a first Christmas.
So as I’m looking forward to this coming Christmas in the same way I look forward to all the ones that will come after it. Each year bringing about new holiday activities that Jack can enjoy such as visiting the “talking” tree in Smithville, breakfast with Santa, and of course trips to Storybook Land.
One holiday tradition I look forward to sharing with Jack is going to New York. For a few years when I was a teenager my parents, my brother and I would head to New York for a 3 day weekend. We would see the tree in Rockafeller Plaza and go ice skating and see the Rockettes show. This trip was definitely a fun way to continue the holiday season.
I’ve always felt like a kid at Christmas time. I still hang my stockings and make John put the gifts under the tree the night before because I still like it to feel like “Santa” came. Now that I have a kid, I can’t help but be excited for all the fun ways we will enjoy the holidays.
Here’s a little Christmas in New York video to put you in the holiday spirit.
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