Claire's First Christmas - Part 1

Steve and I have been so excited about Christmas this year! As is usual for us, we started Christmas shopping in the summer and started wrapping gifts as we purchased them. So when we decided to decorate the house early this year, the tree was already overflowing with presents. We took these pictures during the first week of November.

Our beautiful girl

She loves the tree, especially since it's covered with silver balls, allowing her to see her reflection in all of them. She likes to lean forward and back so that her face changes shape in them. It's a little like looking into a Fun House mirror. It totally cracks her up!
My beautiful family!!! God is SO good to me!!!

Due to Steve's work schedule, we had our celebration rather early this year, on December 15th. I took these pictures on December 14th.

Eyeing the presents...

very interested in the presents...

looking up to realize Mommy is watching...

upset about having to wait until tomorrow because Daddy isn't home yet

stops crying the instant Maggie comes over to find out why she's crying

It's finally Christmas!!! (She's checking her gorgeous self out in the silver ball.)

Aren't these pretty?

and tasty too!

We let Maggie go first so that she could play while the rest of us opened our gifts. Here's Maggie with her stocking.

Among other things, Maggie received a stuffed cupcake that has a squeaker inside. She loves it!

Claire got to open her stocking next.

Inside Claire's stocking were a Cheerio's container (for future use), a stuffed mouse (which she is holding on her lap in this picture - again, Steve and I named her toy for her - the mouse is named Peggy Sue) and two books. Daddy is reading one of them to her.

Tossing Peggy Sue aside to grab the next big box headed her way. Oh this is fun!

Look at this big box and the big bow!

Checking out her new ball drop toy, or as Pops would say, she's "studying" it.

After watching two balls drop, she figured it out and can play by herself. She loves it!

Claire's gift from her daddy was the sweetest ever - a baby ring from James Avery! She will treasure this first Christmas gift forever! So beautiful!

One of Claire's gifts to her mommy was a Teething Bling necklace. We both love it!

After a nap, Claire awoke to one more gift...

She loves unwrapping presents!

Ooh! A sensory block! What fun!

Our Norton Family Christmas was spectacular this year! We are so very blessed to have Claire in our lives! She made it so much more fun!

We leave Saturday for Tulsa to spend Christmas at MiMi's and PopPop's. It's going to be a great week filled with family, friends, food, music and presents!

Merry Christmas!!!