do you believe?

Oct 27

Posted by: Rachel in: blog, caleb isaiah, family, just another day in paradise, me myself and i, parenting

So I started Caleb’s Christmas shopping today. I’ve been working on gathering list ideas for a couple days. Reading Amazon reviews. I took him with me, as Scott was working, and he just played with toys while I shopped. Since everything was in boxes, he didn’t seem too interested.

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am. There is a lull there for a while where Christmas is something to look forward to, but the Santa magic has been zapped. Let’s face it, you know you are getting socks and underwear no matter what. And if you’re from a small town like me, several friends of your family will lovingly include you on their Christmas shopping list. When they shop at Ace Hardware. Home of the finest hammers, toilet seats, and gifts from wind chimes to tacky picture frames and little angel figurines. But kids rescue us from our dull Christmas phase. They bring back the magic and it no longer matters if we get anything at all. Santa is real again. You experience that same tingling anticipation you remember from childhood, as you woke up Christmas morning and rubbed your eyes from having been unable to fall asleep until two hours past your bedtime. Only now, you are already beside the tree gazing at the sea of presents, waiting anxiously with your camera for the pitter patter of footsteps. You are still rubbing your sleepy eyes, but this time, because you have been up late putting together shiny red bicycles and 100 piece toys that require an electric drill. Luckily you and your husband didn’t have to take shifts in the line waiting for the hottest toy this season. Your wait was a mere seven hours this year. But the look of amazement is all worth it. Will they stop dead in their tracks to survey the presents? Will they stand in silence or scream wildly? Will the wrapping paper start flying as the blur that is your child passes your lens? No matter what their reaction, you will always remember it. Your heart will be smiling.