Christmas

So, Isabella's 1st Christmas was full of action, fun, runny noses, and of course lots of presents! Because my parents are divorced, we have to have a Christmas with each of them and then one with Eric's family. On Christmas Eve, I was busy getting our last minute gift cards for people as well as food for Christmas dinner I was hosting. Cassy got in to town in the afternoon and we spent a few hours together before we had to head to Mom's Christmas Eve night for a Prime Rib and Crab leg dinner.. yum! Our friends Katherine and of course her Godfather "Nino" Steve also joined us. Isabella got so many great gifts from all of them including: clothes, books, toys, etc. Isabella did really well, she opened her gifts herself (although she was more interested in the paper than the present itself). Eric and I were also very spoiled, as my mom does every year.Isabella started to get really tired so we took her home where we were met by my dad and stepmom. Isabella had come down with a cold that day, and I was just starting to feel like I was catching one as well.

Christmas morning we had our traditional Christmas breakfast and mamosas :) Our Christmas tree was surrounded by presents. Isabella opened all of her gifts from Eric and I, Santa, as well as from my dad and Rhonda and from Cassy. She was having such a great time! Some of her gifts included a rocking horse, cute clothes, bath toys, shoes, books, etc. I will not even tell you what Eric and I got because we will look like spoiled brats :) Besides, all Eric and I cared about was seeing our daughter's face on Christmas Day and being w/ family. At the end of the morning, I was feeling really crappy and just wanted to nap, but NO WAY! I had to immediately start dinner for that night ( I made a traditional Mexican meal of Birria, salsa, and beans).
After I started dinner, I had to get dressed to Eric's dad and Stepmom's house. By this time, I was starting to feel so yucky! At Dad and Barbara's we ate lunch and then opened up more gifts. We got to see our nieces and Brother and Sister in Law. It was a great time.Isabella was also sick, but she seemed to be dealing with it better than I did.
Then, it was time to head home where I had to finish preparing dinner and get things ready for a nice family dinner. I was so overwhelmingly tired and sick, I had put everything on the table and realized I had not even made the rice for dinner! I was so upset! My family did not want to wait so we just went ahead and said Grace and ate. It was awesome if I do say so myself :) Isabella and I were so exhausted we just wanted to go to bed, so that's what we did.
We had such a great Christmas filled with family and friends. Isabella really enjoyed every minute of it. She was so happy the whole week, she snuggled with everyone that held her, never got upset if someone else was holding her, it was great. She is really starting to become so social. She is not as attached to me as she used to be. She will reach for other people if they put their hand out to her, it's so cute. She has also started to snuggle her cute little face in to the shoulders of whoever is holding her, super cute! She is such a happy little girl. More than anything, she makes myself and her daddy, her Grandma, Grandpa, Godparents, aunts, and uncles so overwhelmingly happy that it brings tears to my eyes. Isabella is so loved and will never have to worry about being loved or needing someone to talk to. I'm so grateful for those who love my daughter.
Special thanks to my parents, my sister, Nino Steve, Eric's parents, our nieces and nephew, Brandon, and Tina for spending Christmas w/ us. We love you all, as well as those who we did not spend it with. Thank you to Kyra, Maryann, Nana, and others who sent Bella gifts in the mail. She loved them all. I can't say it enough.. God has really blessed Eric and I with a beautiful family and I never ever will forget to thank Him everyday for it. Hope you all had a great Christmas as well. Here's to the New Year.....

Some pictures from Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day
opening a gift from Nannie (my mom)


A book Katherine had made for Bella









Uncle Brandon and Isabella