Ty's First Christmas

I can't believe we just celebrated Ty's first Christmas! It was definitely the most magical, fun, and eventful Christmas ever. There really are no words to truly explain how blessed Jeff and I feel to celebrate and share the season as a family. I think the holidays always make you feel happy and thankful, but this year it was amplified. Even with all the ups and downs of the year, we are humbled and grateful that God blessed us with Ty. Our little man is into everything! He's almost figured out the crawling thing. I feel certain we are within a week or two of Ty taking off. He came into this world early and I think he may just do everything early....there's no slowing him down!

Our Christmas involved another hospital visit. Unfortunately this year has been plagued with scares, illness, and poor health for Ty. We are hoping we have gotten through all of it and our little guy will be in the best health for the coming year. Here's how we spent Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day morning.

I love now that mine and Jeff's pictures all have a wonderful addition of a third person. We're a little family and I never dreamed how life changing, how wonderful, and completing having Ty would be. Every day Jeff and I tell each other how much we love Ty. I'm not sure what we did before him because our life definitely revolves around him now!

It looks like Ty is developing a thirst for knowledge (to his mommy's delight)! He LOVES books. We spend time every day reading and he seems to enjoy soaking it all up.

The holidays were spent with family (in some cases briefly since Ty was sick enough to warrant a trip to the ER). It warms our hearts how much everyone loves Ty. He was spoiled rotten during his first Christmas, and we are grateful for people who have taught Jeff and I how to be great parents.

Here's Jeff and his brother and mom (Nana) with Ty. It was such a great family moment. I know Ty enjoyed every second.

Speaking of spoiling Ty rotten; no one does it better than aunt Lauren! Not sure which one of them loves the other one more!

There really are no words for moments like this....I only hope that Ty will grow up to be as wonderful of a man as his Poppy. With guidance like this how could he not.

We tried to start of few of our own traditions with Ty. This year we purchased Elf on the Shelf for Ty and adopted Elfie to watch after him. Every night when he went to the North Pole, he must have reported what a good little boy he was because Ty got more presents than he deserved!

This year we wrote to Santa for Ty, but we can't wait to post in the years to come what Ty writes on his mug to Santa....we can only begin to image!

Even though we were up all night at the hospital, it didn't take an ounce away from the magic of our first Christmas morning as a family. Jeff and I both remember how special our childhood Christmas mornings were. We hope we started off Ty with that same wonder, joy, excitement, and life long memories of Christmas.

As we look at Ty now, Jeff and I are both realizing he's not a baby anymore but more of a little boy. He's developing his own personality and traits that are so fun to watch. In the words of Alissa, he's JJ (Jeff Junior) through and through!

More spoiling! Darlene and Megan were sweet enough to come down and keep Ty one day so I could work. They brought him the sweetest present, and he was happy as a clam all day. I love that he got to spend some quality time with them....again, wonderful influences.

And one more great influence to round it out! Ty enjoyed a fun visit from his Pa during the holiday season. I think it's safe to say he's a pretty loved kiddo!

That about covers Ty's first Christmas. Of course, I could gush and gush and post more and more pictures, but we will keep it at this. Merry 1st Christmas Ty. You have been the best present your dad and I could have ever asked for. We love you more than you could ever begin to understand, and we can't wait for all the fun Christmas celebrations that we will share in the future.