Clara's First Christmas

Andre and I spoke last Christmas of having a little one here with us and we were blessed enough to have a perfect little baby girl for our Christmas present this year. We didn't overdo for Clara this Christmas, or one another for that matter. Andre set up her college fund and we contributed to that. There will be very few years we can get away with little to no presents for Clara so we're taking advantage. Also, we were showered with gifts before she arrived and bought everything else we thought we'd ever need before she arrived so she didn't really need anything anyway.

Christmas Eve I took Clara to Tiffany's mom's house for an early dinner. Most of her siblings were home for the holidays and they all just had babies too, so it was a houseful! I got there in time for Clara to be hungry and I tried three bedrooms upstairs and all had sleeping beauties in them so I went to the downstairs bedroom and accidentally woke Don who snuck away for a cat nap. Sorry Don! Vicki said she'd been looking for him anyway so he got right to work carving dinner. I love the full house, it's so warm and feels like the holidays. For all the kids that they have in the house it sure didn't sound like it. You can see Grandma Vicki glowing with her babies and grand babies, all healthy and happy.

We picked up Daddy and went to Juliane's for 'Andre's side of the family' dinner. This year I asked Andre to approach his family about an exchange because the kids on his side of the family are multiplying fast! Thankfully everyone agreed. So we shopped for Gabrielle. The adults exchanged too and we had Muneca and Antonio. Clara was such a good girl, everyone passing her around. She tried to sleep a few times and did take a few cat naps but her cousins are a pretty roudy bunch and she didn't quite sleep through all the noise, she is spoiled with a quiet home. I try to make sure there is noise in the background but there's nothing like 5 boys running around playing tag. Everyone loves the new addition to the family and can't wait for Tiffany's baby girl and Selene's baby boy!

A few pictures are repeats but I wanted to have all Christmas pictures on one post.

Our tree, never fixed the angel or skirt. ;)


Santa in the mall.


Charlie Brown tree for Clara from Ana and Theresa


Snuggling





Andre putting together a gift from the shower so we can pretend Clara got a present for Christmas! ;)


Second Santa at Botanical Gardens


Muneca finally gets to hold Clara, she's been sick the last few times around her.

 

Ready for Christmas at Aunt Juliane's house


Gabrielle and her friend with Clara

 

Christmas morning! Aunt Ana & Theresa sent Clara a nice cozy blanket that Daddy opened for her.


Santa brought Clara one special gift since she was such a good girl since October. He must know how much she kicks her legs and will LOVE to jump!


All bundled up ready to go to the Crews house for Christmas breakfast.


Look what Uncle Darren made!!! We LOVE it! Poor Noah wasn't feeling good on Christmas.



Uncle Andre and Ivy June building with her blocks.


Malia and Brutus her rat





Clara is not balding, she has blond roots! I'll attach a picture at the bottom for proof! Her hair has had a red hue and her roots are either blond or silver, haha.


Corrie changing her for me!! Yay!


Harloff, Andre, Juliane, Selene and Steven - what a good lookin bunch!


After breakfast at the crews we came home and RELAXED!! Andre rented four movies, it was amazing. We had planned on going to see Dad and Alice but decided a day in PJs was what we needed on Christmas. We ate pizza, popcorn and ice cream, Clara napped which is rare!! It was a perfect Christmas.


We Skyped with Kylie and the NY Gang. So nice to see them and so great for Gramp to get a real live look at Clara. Thanks Kylie!


Clara took a bath and was too hungry to take the time to blow it dry today.



She loves to hold your fingers while she eats. If she's not holding our hands she has really tight fists ("fists of furry" Andre calls them) that she holds tight together against her chest.



After her bath we got her in some warm fuzzy pj's. It was a perfectly cool Christmas day. Andre and I enjoyed a huge Starbucks each, that's why she needed to eat from a bottle so the caffeine didn't upset her belly. It was SOOOOoooo good. I miss my Starbucks.


Look how great this goes in her room! It's above her changing table and she loves to look at it while she's changed.



She was such a great snuggler today!












Santa didn't bring me my two front teeth! This is what my poor princess looks like when she throws a fit. Thankfully she cheers up fast!! Most days!


Aunt Ana got her a bib that says "On Auntie's Good List" but she won't keep her hands out of the way for a picture of it.


Clara zoned into the TV for 3 minutes, it's the first time I've seen her sit still while awake.





Light roots!


We had such a wonderful first Christmas with our darling little peanut. We couldn't be more thankful for her. We couldn't imagine anything more perfect. We love you so much Clara Maria!

For her first Christmas Clara got: A blanket & bib from Aunt Ana, Theresa, Eli and Addi. A gift card from Aunt Brandi to get what she needs, cute clothes from the Serrato family along with a stuffed animal, Gabrielle had her in the exchange and got her Dora videos and a cute light up snuggle toy that plays music, Santa got her a jumper, The Fegers got her a cool teething bracelet (for me to wear for her to chew on...so cool), a book and a chair that props her up, I forget the name of it, her name decoration made by Darren from the Crews along with a free night out for mommy and daddy! We are all spoiled rotten, thank you all! I'm sure I forgot someone or something...