I've heard many times "Oh, that poor Christmas baby! Bless her heart!". I feel the need to set the record straight. There is nothing "poor" about my Christmas baby, Lexie Noelle, who was born on December 22nd.
Eric and I wait until after the first of the year to do her party, but usually do something at the house, let her pick out dinner or something special the day of. My mother in law, Donna, and my mom, Denise have always...every year... made sure that baby girl had a birthday present to open on the day of her birthday. Sometimes Eric and I even get her one and her Aunts and Uncles will get her something on her birthday too, instead of waiting for her actual "party". Lexie feels so special, and everyone that helps to make her day so special has no idea what it means to me.
I worried and worried while pregnant with her. I didn't want my child to be a Christmas baby, I didn't want her to feel any disappointment regarding her birthday - I was guilty of being one of those people that says "Oh, that poor Christmas baby!" Here is how Lexie's Birthday have been thus far:
Born: Hospital pictures done in a beautiful stocking, came home on Christmas Eve in an outfit that said "Mommy and Daddy's best present ever". Home in time for Santa to come! Something about a 3 day old baby under the tree with a bow on her head...still brings tears to my eyes. Best. Christmas. EVER. Tied with Jenna's first Christmas, when her eyes got so big over her new toys that resulted in hugs and kisses. Even topping the Christmas that I got my first bike and the Teddy Ruxpin as a kid...and that Christmas was pretty amazing, I must say.
First Birthday: Mommy and Daddy, Nana & Grandpop, Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt Donna, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Keith all gave sweet girl a birthday present to open ON her birthday in birthday paper. She also had to go with Mommy to one of Jenna's singing events at Chic-fil-a and wore a Princess Elmo crown and got a free ice cream from Chic-fil-a AND Jenna's chorus sang Happy Birthday to her with the entire restaurant. She also got presents on Christmas. THEN, on her Grandpa's birthday, she had a birthday party with her friends from day care and church. Grandpa, Aunt Brandi, and Uncle Keith (who celebrate January birthdays) each got a giant cupcake made by Jenna so they could share in the celebration. Sweet Lexie Noelle was so happy to share her party with them. :)
Second Birthday: Same as above for the day of her birthday... ok maybe this wasn't a good year... as we waited until February to have her party for friends... annnnndddd we invited Elmo to be there. Before party, Elmo was Lexie's FAVORITE person ever. Meeting Elmo was an absolute nightmare. She cried the entire party. After party, Lexie hates Elmo and never wants to watch his show again. Way to go mom (I said to myself), way to go. Is it bad that the photos of my crying child with Elmo make me giggle looking back at that day? lol... I mean, it is something we'll always remember... might as well laugh at ourselves.
Third Birthday: On the day of her birthday, she received a present from Mommy and Daddy, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Keith, and Grandma and Grandpa. the day after her bday, her Nana and Grandpop let Lexie open a birthday present.... And Lexie also got a Christmas present from them (all the grandkids got to open at once, after Lexie got her special birthday gift). Day after that (Christmas Eve) Aunt Brandi and Uncle Mark did the same, Lexie got a special birthday gift, and then also a Christmas gift along with her sister. Then of course, presents on Christmas... the day after Christmas she was confused as to why she didn't get a gift, after all, she'd received one every day for 4 days straight. LOL... she wanted a pool party so we waited until June to have her party for friends... more presents then. She even pigged out and ate about 5 hot dogs..back to back; swam until she was wrinkled as a prune...and slept all night that night, which made mommy and daddy pretty dern happy too.
Fourth Birthday (this year): since she wasn't going to be home on her bday, Eric picked up an already made cake from the grocery store, and added black icing to look like zebra stripes (she loves zebras) and we sang happy bday and took her to Holly wild where she got to pet a REAL zebra and see lots of pretty Christmas lights! This was special because her Aunt Donna, Great Grandma Arlene, and Great Grandpa Bob got to be there to sing to her. Then on the day of her birthday, Nana and Grandpop (who had her and Jenna for the weekend) and her Aunt Brandi and Uncle Mark threw her a birthday party with her cousins! She got cake, presents, the works! She absolutely loved having a party on her actual birthday- it was soooo special to her! She still talks about her party at Nana's! And on February 24th, we let her invite 3 friends from school and 3 from daycare, and let her have a party at Chuck E Cheese (she was begging for a party there), complete with zebra table cloths and cups to give it a "Lexie Noelle" style.
The moral of this blog post: Never feel sorry for my Christmas baby. She is loved, and treasured, and she knows her birthday is special. Every year, for one day, Christmas is put on hold, and she knows she is special, thanks to everyone that makes that happen every year.
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| cake decorated by Daddy and Sissy |
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| Cake made by Aunt Brandi! |
