Our Christmas...

Our last Christmas as non-parents was very special. This was my first Christmas with the Baltzell family and also my first Christmas away from my family. Being pregnant and a little more sensitive than usual, it was a little tougher than I thought it would be. I had a good cry Christmas morning while cooking my dishes to bring to Christmas Dinner. (no worries, no tears fell into the food!) After I got that out of my system, I had a wonderful Christmas with my amazing husband and our precious family.

I was incredibly blessed by the gifts that Seth bought me. Seth did an incredible job! (as always) It was a little more difficult this year than simply buying me clothes. I REFUSED to ask for ANY clothes right now. My stomach has doubled in size over the past week and it's only going to get much worse before it gets better. So... no clothes for Karis. In place of what would normally be clothes, between everyone, I did get a ton of amazing jewelry (some VERY special pieces!), several Anthropologie home-decor items, new shoes, a much needed new bath robe, some organic bath and body items from Lush that smell like heaven, and the list of little treasures goes on and on. The icing on the cake would have to be the UH-MAZING (and huge) jewelry amoire, the fabulous new winter coat, an ENTIRE set of MAC make-up brushes (which left me speechless), Starbuck's entire line of whole bean coffee, and the Celine Dion tickets Seth's mom got me and her for February 4! (which will be the night we leave for Texas! so DOUBLE the excitement there!) Did I mention I was totally blessed this year?!? Yes, big time! (oh, and don't worry, even with all of the coffee, my caffeine intake is monitored and very limited!)

Seth got mostly clothes, shoes, books, a new coat, etc... he was a little easier to shop for this year than me. Even Malachi racked up on some toys and some adorable outfits.

As nice as all of the gifts were, it was once again just a special time of reflecting on why we're all here in the first place... I think I will always look back at this Christmas as an extra special one. There was just a wonderful feeling of peace and joy over all that God has blessed us with this year. And as if it wasn't all enough to blow our minds, just thinking that the best is yet to come just overwhelms me with gratitude and joy. Next year's Christmas will be even more special as we spend it with our precious Malakai. God is just so incredibly faithful.... I can't wait!

Here are a few pictures of our festivities...

Our tree...

My tree topper for this year...

Santa Silas

Christmas Eve with the fam...

Seth getting excited...

A simply WONDERFUL and one of the most ingenious gifts I was given...
Since I can't go to Starbucks everyday anymore, they (Sean and Natty) brought Starbucks to me! (BIG TIME!)

Worn out from all of the excitement... and it was only Christmas Eve...

Seth, apparently VERY excited about his stocking on Christmas Morning...