Natalie's First Christmas!

I know this is super late, but if only for my own memories I’d like to recap our Christmas vacation.

Matt was involved in a trial down in Akron for most of the month of December.  We were concerned about it interrupting our Christmas travel plans, but luckily it wrapped up just before the holidays.  And he won!  It was a big case not only for him but for the firm and gave him such great trial experience.  It’s funny how before I met Matt I just assumed all lawyers tried cases like you see on T.V.  Believe me; it is not at all like that.  So not the glamorous job it is portrayed to be.  But in this instance it kind of was.  He actually got to cross examine witnesses and everything!  I am so proud of him and the effort he puts into his work.  Natalie and I are very lucky to have him.

Side tracked a bit, huh?  Since we were celebrating the holidays out of town, we had our family Christmas morning on the 21st.  Natalie had her first fever so she wasn't really into opening presents, but it was still nice to have that time as a family.







Her favorite gift, the bubble wrap.  Of course.

We headed down to Indianapolis on the 23^rd to start our week long stay.  I had my annual Christmas dinner with my high school besties and had an absolute blast.  We’ve grown apart over the last few years…it’s easy to do when you live so far away…and the little addition we have doesn’t make this easier…but I felt a closeness coming back to our group and I hope that sticks around.

Every year we go to Christmas Eve Mass at the church I grew up in.  Even though I’m no longer Catholic, I still enjoy going.  We attend the children’s service where in place of the sermon…the priest has all of the children come up to the front and he reads a story about the birth of Jesus.  I took Natalie up to the front this year and even though she tried to walk away the entire time…and left a pile of Cheerios in her wake…it was kind of a dream come true.  I cannot tell you how many years I have sat in the pew and watched those sweet kiddos run up to hear the story and dreamt about it being my little one.  It was awesome.

That evening we went to dinner with my whole family, Matt’s parents, and some of my dad’s extended family per our usual tradition.  Natalie was pooped though and she was having no problem showing it to the entire restaurant…so she and I scooted home and I put her to bed.  It actually worked out well seeing as she was fast asleep when everyone got there so I could enjoy the gift exchange…and wine J

Unclear why, but Natalie had a r.o.u.g.h. night that night.  I’m not sure if she was over excited to see Santa or what but she was up almost all night crying about something.  Not so fun.  But we rallied in the morning and opened presents with my parents and siblings.  Girl got some sweet loot!

Later that day we headed over to my aunt’s house to celebrate with my mom’s extended family.  We had a lot of fun and it was nice for some of my family members to get to meet Natalie for the first time. 

We finished out our celebrations with Matt’s parents the next morning.  We had such a full week of love from everyone and it was just a fantastic experience to celebrate Natalie’s first Christmas with us as a family.  Love that girl to pieces!