a season of firsts

so much to get caught up on...

growing up, the christmas season seemed to be the most wonderful time of the year. you just didn't think it could get any better than playing in the snow, decorating the tree, singing carols (the king of glory comes,...), laughing with your family, opening presents. i learned this year that it does get better, way better. i've had many many joyous christmases, but i don't know if any of them can surpass my first christmas as a mother. antonio's first christmas was more fun than i could have ever imagined. the only sad part was that we could only spend it with one half of the family.

antonio spent his first christmas in el paso. his abuelos doted over him quite a bit. and he was just as happy to meet his great aunts and uncles as they were to meet him. he was all smiles and giggles. he even got to meet his great-grandfather with whom he shares a birthday. abuelito roberto is over 90 years old, and while neither one might remember meeting the other, each brought joy to the other. abuelito roberto would reach out to antonio and antonio would grab his hand, and both would smile. truly a special moment that i will never forget and will repeat countless times to my son. andres' family always sings christmas carols on christmas eve and antonio was delighted when we sang his favorite christmas song, the little drummer boy. he loved opening his gifts, and he cried when we would take away the paper. while in el paso we were also able to go to chihuahua, mexico and the canyon del cobre for 4 days. it was quite an adventure, and a separate post altogether. it was beautiful, but definitely a trip for the books.

while antonio spent christmas day in el paso, he got to celebrate the twelfth day of christmas with his other abuelos and aunts and uncles. and his plethora of cousins of course. he and i flew to DC to celebrate his first feast of the epiphany. while we grew up always celebrating three kings day, the way my family celebrates it has changed over the years. nowadays, all the grandchildren spend the night on the 5th of january at abuelo and abuela's house, where they wake up in the morning to open the gifts that the three kings brought overnight. then the parents come over and everyone enjoys brunch together. as my parents' house is not yet ready, thanksgiving and christmas eve were spent at my sisters' houses. but my parents refused to abandon tradition this year when it came to three kings day. so there we were, abuelo and abuela, myself, and 9 grandchildren all spending the night at the "teeny house". what we lacked in space was made up for with laughter, joy, and love.