So after Jason and I got engaged, I made the decision to remember every moment and enjoy each step of the way because I knew that time would fly by and my life would be changing forever and I kept that promise to myself. Now having a baby....whole different story. I keep reminding myself to enjoy every stage but I still think I'll probably be an awesome mom once Noah turns 3 or 4 and we can communicate much better with each other.
Christmas came and went before my eyes and it turned out to be a great time. The weekend before Christmas we headed to Richmond to the Green Annual Yankee Swap with all of Jason's extended family and did xmas with his mom and George. Then we went to Xmas Eve Services - our first time at the "Family Service" instead of the candlelight which was so special to share that with Noah and he did really well the whole time. Afterwards, we headed to the Sinclairs for our traditional Tafrawe/Sinclair xmas eve service dinner. Then Christmas morning we were with my family and it was the first year we weren't trying to visit 3 families in one day which was the best present I could ever ask for. For the past 7 years, we typically just run around everywhere and it's completely exhausting! Finally, the weekend after, Jason and I hosted all of my extended at our house and it meant so much to be able to do that for my grandmother since she can no longer live on her own in Fredericksburg and has moved in with my parents.
If that wasn't enough a week later we left after celebrating New Years alone at home to go to Aruba with Jason's family to get away from the cold! It was a wonderful time and so great just to get away and have help with Noah but vacationing with a baby can be pretty stressful. It was great to get out one night and have Jason's mom babysit so Jason and I could actually *gasp* eat a meal together! This never happens anymore so it was a real treat. Noah did better than expected flying and I only ended up in tears on the last flight home when Noah was screaming in first class - yeah that was fun:)
Sadly, we have not gotten to celebrate Christmas with the Watlington side of the family yet but we are very much looking forward to them coming to visit next week for a few days and I love being with them. We're just ummm extending the holidays and making it extra special for Noah's first:) I'll try and post some pictures soon but as for now, Noah is awake and not pleased I am not holding him.
ahhh yes....as MOPS would say....the adventures of mothering!
