Holiday 2010.

I'm putting together some images for Gabrielle's scrapbook that include the things I want to remember about the 2010 holiday. Here's a glimpse of my favorites:

Around the middle of December, you began to realize that "See-ta" was a character in this life that you should come to recognize. He's a happy man and it was sweet to see how you interacted with the stuffed version of him. 

I really wanted to keep things simple this year. To me, that meant only lights on the tree

packages wrapped in The New York Times

and a focus on sharing the moments of the season with the ones I love.

On Christmas Eve, we got you all dressed up in your special red and white pajamas and Santa slipper socks. 

Then we loaded into the car to sing some Christmas carols, pick up Matt and Erika, and drive around and marvel at the lights and lanterns.

Jeffrey and I just happened to come across these several years ago when driving around on Christmas Eve. 

Somehow, many of the streets in Dilworth and Myers Park (two of old the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Charlotte) are lined with candle lanterns and it's an amazing site to see.

The special gift we gave you was an early edition copy of your favorite book Baby Dear. It's been your most requested, most read, and most loved book. And I've never turned down the chance to have you curl into my lap as I read the poetic lines of the story. The copy you have is part of a bedtime series of Little Golden Books, so we thought it would be delightful to give you a copy of Baby Dear on its own.

You agreed!

And as an extension of the book, we wanted you to have your own Baby Dear. I sewed the bedding for her sweet bed using some of the baby blankets we used to swaddle you in when you were just a little bitty one. 

Kisses for Baby Dear.

You received several delightful packages from our friends and family of afar, including this Christmas dress from Grandma and Grandpa.

And this handmade tutu, wand, and crown from your Auntie Liz and Uncle John.

Your papa and I melted when we saw how you looked at yourself in the mirror wearing this. You are a gem, Gabrielle.

I think your favorite special treat of the day was your very own container of white M&Ms. I let you splurge and eat them all (as opposed to the "only one" you're used to!

Your papa has recently been signing letters with "Happy Day and Happy Days." It came to him as we were talking about sign offs that famous newscasters have used in the past. And that is how all our days have been with you, Gabrielle – so really, Christmas is just another day. As magical and delightful and joyful as all the others.

It is my hope that as you grow up and are exposed to the wonders and beauty and rush of the holiday season, you'll recognize that at the root of all the magical moments is LOVE. And we love you, forever.