The most wonderful time of the year

Mike and I enjoyed every minute of Eloise’s first Christmas. It was filled with cookie-making, lots of laughs, quality time with family, gift-giving, movie-watching and SNOW! (Something we haven’t had in Chicago for the past two years. Depressing.) Adding to the magic of this first holiday as a family of three, Mike and I had Eloise baptised while we were home in Ohio. My Mom, sister Becky and I have been looking forward to one Baptism tradition for as long as I can remember. After I was born, my Mom had her wedding dress cut down into a Christening gown. It’s a family heirloom that Mom, Becky and I all wore on once-in-a-lifetime days…and now Eloise had the chance to don it, too. It was incredibly touching to see her wearing it after having dreamed of that moment for so long. Mike and I decided to have a small ceremony at the Chapel in our old high school (where we met), and our former Principal, a great man and family friend, officiated, making the event even more special. The day certainly wasn’t without it’s share of hijinks. (Father Kaylor’s adorable, three-legged rescue dog, Puppy, kept us all laughing during the ceremony as she played with her toy. It was perfect, as you all know how much Mike and I love dogs,  and Puppy provided a terrific sense of levity to the otherwise serious ceremony.) But it was being surrounded by so many family members that made the day so wonderful. We can’t thank everyone enough for their thoughtfulness and generosity in making Ellie’s first Christmas and Baptism so incredible. What a way to wrap up the amazing year that was 2012 and to kick off what promises to be another wild and crazy and wonderful year in the life of my family.