The Ritger Roost: Baby's First Christmas

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Baby's First Christmas

What an exciting first Christmas for Baby Hank! A week filled with firsts-first road trip, first time visiting extended family, first Christmas, first trip to Waffle House, and first snowstorm!

We rented a van, packed it to the gills with presents and baby gear and ventured out into an impending ice/snow event to travel 700+ miles to Chicago to visit all of Kim's extended family. Hank marks the beginning of the 4th generation in the family and he was excitedly welcomed by his great grandma, great aunts and uncles, and second cousins. I was very nervous about the 12 hour car ride with a 7week old, but Hank was a trooper and impressed us all. Johnny and I are glad to see what a good traveler he is, since we love to hit the road!

We arrived in Chicago just as the snow was starting to fall and it continued on and off for the next 3 days. We had a true white Christmas, and Johnny was thrilled to take his son out for his first walk in the snow. Hank had a wonderful week being spoiled by his cousins and aunts/uncles. He loved being rocked by great grandma Reba, playing with all his new toys from Santa (I have no idea where everything is going to go at home), looking at all the lights on the Christmas trees, and being passed around from lap to lap (which I loved as it gave me and my back a break from carrying the little guy around). He loved the family get-togethers, and just sat back and took it all the action in as his cousins ran around and opened presents!

It was a wonderful first Christmas with Hank! It is hard to believe that next year he will be walking, talking, and opening his own presents!

Our first Christmas as a family of 3!