12.15.2008

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The goose LOVES holiday cheer. She is ho-ho-ho'ing her way through the month of December like a seasoned Christmas elf. Much of her joy, I suspect, comes from Tim Allen's rendition of Santa Claus, in the movie "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause." She yucks it up at the site of a snowman, real or fake, as well. When we exit the Y, she runs at the little stuffed snowmen and honks their noses. Then she bolts over to the statue of Santa and shouts "HO HO HO." It is impossible to get her to stop pushing the button on her Mickey and Minnie Mouse holiday snow globe, much to my husbands dismay. He told me last weekend that he cannot stand Christmas Carols until a day or two before Christmas; then on Saturday he was blasting the XM Satelite Radio stations holiday cheer channel and singing, actually belting, along with each carol - simply to get a giggle out of the chicken. She infects us with holiday cheer.

I've always liked the holidays. As a kid, of course, presents are killler. Its always fun to get together with family, have a few schnocks, play games, or go sledding. All good things. But the holidays, like nearly every other aspect of my life, have completely changed post-baby. Beyond the "seeing things through her eyes" aspect, I just love how into it she is. And she really is into it.

Saturday night we had our first holiday event. My daughter received her first present, and wasn't sure what to do with it. She looked at it like, "ohh pretty." Then her aunt tore a corner of the paper and showed her - "You have to rip the paper off." She got it. In no time, tiny bits of paper were flying. Then she wanted the toy immediately. The next gift she opened was from her great-grandmother. She ripped and tore at it and then exclaimed, "OHHHHH A BOXXXXX!" I said, "Hunny, we have to open the box." Again, "A BOXXXXX!" It was as if the box itself was the greatest thing she'd ever seen. Truthfully, the reaction she gave to the bear inside the box paled in comparison.

Every night when I rock with her before bed I am thankful for this amazing gift. She amazes me and inspires me to be a better person and mom. I can't imagine wanting more than to make her Christmases the most special time of the year, not because she deserves toys and stuff to unwrap, but because she deserves to know how wonderful she is and how much we love her. And now I love Christmas. Like went out the door 22 months ago.