Getting into the Christmas Spirit

Despite all the negative buzz on "Christmas" vs. "Holiday," I'm looking forward to finally getting into the spirit of the season: the decorations, tree, presents, candy canes and gingerbread houses. This Christmas is even more special because it's Makayla's first. Having a child has awaken a desire to rekindle the magic of the season that only children seem to experience. I want her to believe in Santa and to experience the excitement and anticipation that comes with Christmas morning. I want her Christmases to be filled with all the rituals: getting her picture taken with Santa, writing him a letter, decorating the tree and building a gingerbread house.

She'll be too young to remember any of it but I can't wait for Christmas morning when she'll crawl towards the tree, pull her talking Winnie the Pooh doll out the bag and play with the bag. I know she'll be more interested in the wrappping paper and boxes than the actual gifts but, when she's older, she can look at the pictures of that day and laugh.