The wonder of Christmas…

I. LOVE. CHRISTMAS.

Last night’s episode of Glee was pretty much heaven for me. I love the music. the smells. the preparation. the food. the crafts. the decorations. the joy. & this year I am discovering a whole new side of Christmas. No longer is it joyful just for me…this year I get to watch the magic of Christmas through my little girl. My little, big brown-eyed girl.

We walk downstairs in the morning & she says “ooooooooooh” every time we turn the corner & she gets a glimpse of the tree. Then she stands & says (and signs) more until I turn the lights on…which makes her flinch every time. She grabs my hand and drags me to the front door so she can go outside & see her “babies” in the yard. & on our nightly walk to the mailbox, she stops & squats…ooohhhhing & ahhhing at all the blown up bouncing decorations down our street. This is a whole new kind of joy.

I am starting traditions for our family. I am not sure what they will all be yet, but I am idea hunting. As much as I loathed the all singing service at church on Christmas Eve, that is one of my fondest memories as a kid. My brother & I blowing each other’s candles out & him performing his magic relighting trick. & don’t forget the two hour drive around the city to look at all the lights after church. Okay, maybe not two hours, but we always got to open our Christmas jammies when we got home & all I wanted to do was get home, put them on & go to bed so I could wake up to the toyland that was Christmas morning. My dad would always spend what seemed like an eternity setting up the record player (yeah, you read that right) & would put on the chipmunks album. Then he’d get the video camera set up. I always had my very own tree & it was meticulously decorated in my bedroom every year. On Christmas Eve, my parents let me leave it on all night. It was so special! But it was special because of them. & it is my job to make it special for my family. & I CAN’T WAIT. :):):)

So we were in the Christmas spirit this week. All decked out in the Christmas spirit. I could not get enough of this little belly on my girl, so I took her outside to make sure I captured it for memory’s sake.

everything around here gets hugged. then kissed. except mama & dada. :(:(:(

Those eyes. My goodness, those eyes. Those are what made me fall in love with her daddy & now she has them too. Those soulful brown eyes.

‘your mother dresses you JUST like she dresses herself’ he said.

Then he turned to me & told me he HATED her sweater.

I have a thing for comically large cowl neck sweaters…& my kiddo will too. ;)

You’re just going to have to get used to it, dada.

& of course there are Christmas books!!

Got any fun or creative traditions I should know about? Do tell!

Hi! Hello! I am Shawna, the founder of Styleberry Blog. This creative corner of the internet has become a learning haven for moms and creatives, offering a warm and encouraging nudge to those who wish to be better and do better, but often don't know where to start. From Decorating to DIY to Diapers and Paleo-ish Dishes, I strive to make the complicated simple and empower women to take action beyond their personal comfort zone. I subscribe to the Shine Theory & so strongly believe that we shine when the women around us shine and mutual support—lifting up instead of tearing down--will always be the culture here. Are you in? I hope so! Beyond the computer, I run Styleberry Creative where I work with clients to create low fuss, high function spaces that are pretty and practical in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. I LOVE making a house a home. My own studs out renovation is now complete and I am now back to working with clients. Please don't hesitate to drop me a line if you'd like to work together! I hope you’ll join me on this fun new adventure! Xo.

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