Laowai

Well, Christmas is done. There ain’t no more. I usually get a melancholy feeling after we open presents and I look at the empty space under my mom’s tree. This year I’m just now feeling that twinge of sad in my heart. We had a lovely first Christmas with Bea. Christmas really put our new role as parents in perspective – it’s not about us anymore. Now it’s all about doing everything I can to catch a glimpse of wonder in Bea’s sparkly eyes. Now I want to make Christmas memories like mine for her. One of my best memories of Christmas growing up is laying on the floor under our big tree and looking up through the branches at the abstract pattern of colors and light while breathing in the fresh pine scent. I can vividly remember the feeling of excitement that would well up in my chest.

Don’t tell Bea but we didn’t buy her a single Christmas gift. We thought about it but I knew she would be getting lots of nice toys from her grandmas and grandpas and Aunt Jennifer. The relatives did not disappoint. Some highlights: she got some extremely special hand-made puppets from Aunt Jennifer. A very entertaining Pooh car that makes her dance up and down from Gramma and Grandpa C. And a sweet baby doll from Grandma J.

So here are a few photos of Bea enjoying her first Christmas.

Wow all that excitement made us tired!