This weekend consisted of more Christmas festivities and baking cookies! Finally! I won’t be doing the Norwegian 7 cookies tradition that I did in the past with my mama (that’s just a lotttt of cookies haha) but I did make three kinds. I think that will suffice. I made these Coconut Cranberry Chews that are probably my favorite. Ever. And I also made Andes mints cookies (ummm amazing) and s’mores cookies. Yeah. It’s been a cookie party this weekend over here.
I’ve cried a lot this season, I guess I should mention that, too. It’s the second year without my mom, and it’s not any easier than the first, let me tell you. It is better than the first, thanks to little Sam, who reminds me to smile and thank my blessings whenever I feel like sobbing and cursing the world, so that’s good. But it’s still HARD. Grief is a funny thing, and it’s something that just kind of always lingers there. I’ll never not miss my mom. I’ll never not feel her absence at every family gathering and holiday and Christmastime. Oh, Christmastime. Christmas was my mom’s thing. She is the one who made it so special every year. She baked all of the cookies and sang all of the songs and made it all magical for everyone. I read that one way to feel close to a loved one you have lost is to do something that they did or that you did together, in their honor. And so that is why baking cookies at Christmas is something that is so special to me. It was something we did together every year. Baking cookies isn’t just a fun thing to do at Christmas for me. It isn’t something I do just so we have delicious desserts in our house (although that is definitely a bonus). It means more than that. It’s a way for me to have a piece of her here, with me, even when she can’t be. It’s my own little salute to my mama, up in heaven. And I can feel her in the kitchen with me when I bake. And that is something that means so much to me.
We wrapped some presents this weekend, too. Fire, hot chocolate, wrapping paper and a cute little baby playing by my side. Oh, and lots and lots of Christmas music and maybe a viewing of Sleepless in Seattle, at which I cried, because that movie just gets me every time. It’s just so good. “Harses harses harses!” We also watched Scrooged, Elf, Christmas Vacation and Home Alone 2. It was quite the productive weekend.
We drove around and looked at lights, too. One of my favorite traditions! We got out and walked for some of them, which was so cute with Sam. He was just wide eyed and in awe the whole time. Experiencing Christmas with him is just so fun and makes it all so exciting again.
Saturday was the annual Christmas party at a good friend’s house. Sam came along and charmed everybody’s socks off and was fascinated by their pretty tree the whole time.
Sunday we went to church and sang Christmas songs and were reminded of the true reason for the season. :) True love was born in a stable.
And that concludes our weekend! I hope your weekend was a special and fun one, too! I can’t believe Christmas is this week! Ahhh! I’ll be soaking up every minute of it.
xo
p.s. Some articles I’ve written elsewhere:
Stop Stressing Over Baby’s First Christmas
Mom and Baby Holiday Outfit Inspiration
Twelve “Ugly” Christmas Sweaters Worth Rocking
I feel for you this holiday season. It really is kind of beautiful how God takes an angel home to be with him, but gives you a new one to shower with love. Cheesy? Yes, but still so true. Sam is just the sweetest!
Not cheesy at all. That’s exactly what I believe happened- he took an angel and gave us another little baby angel. :) You’re so sweet!
xo
Oh Girl, I want to just give you a big hug! You’re amazing. You are definitely so blessed to have such a sweet and loving family to surround you during this holiday season.
I adore little Sam’s outfit! Where did you find his shoes?
Thanks sweet girl. <3 I found his shoes at Kohl's! They're Carters! :)
xo
Oh, sweet girl. I can’t even imagine how you must feel – all the time, not just during the holidays. Even with my mom’s cancer, I still couldn’t mentally put myself in a place where I wouldn’t have her around. I’m so unbelievably happy you have the cutest little boy with you this year to ease the pain, or at least put life into perspective a bit. Those cookies look amazing, by the way. I know she was smiling at you and your little guy during the baking process! :)
It’s an impossible place to ever mentally put yourself in- even when it has happened, it’s still so difficult and surreal most of the time. And I am so happy that I have Sam to ease the pain, too. He is our joy!!
xo
This post has me bawling. Not like just little water-tears at the corner of my eyes BUT HUGE sobs… with a spring of water exploding from my tear-ducts. I’m having a hard time even getting into the Christmas Spirit this year. I lost my Grandma in May and this will be my first Christmas without her. I was closer to her than both of my parents. She raised me and I spent most of my childhood with her. Anyways, I just wanted to let you know you know you aren’t alone in those feelings and that crying is okay. Its actually a great thing to do. Let out those emotions. I’m so sorry you lost your Mom.
On a brighter note, your family is the most adorable ever!
Merry Christmas!
Oh, sweet girl. I’m so sorry I made you cry! I absolutely feel your sadness. Lots of hugs. And yes, crying is so therapeutic. <3 I hope your Christmas was a good one, despite the sadness and emptiness felt. Know you are not alone!
xo
This is an adorable post. I can imagine the holidays without your mom would be extremely difficult, but you are handling it with such grace, and that sweet boy of yours – my goodness…they make it all worth it, don’t they? I hope you have the most wonderful Christmas <3
You are so sweet for saying all of that, Katie. Thank you. And yes, that baby boy of mine made this Christmas so sweet and happy!! :)
xo
This is the anniversary of my mother’s, my grandfather’s, my mother in law’s, and my uncle’s deaths. It is a very difficult time but somehow family, little ones, and lots of small tasks help make the days go by faster. The most heart wrenching time for me is when someone plays SIlent Night because that is what was sung as they took Zack’s grandmother out of the church. Does it get any better–no–so just hug Sam and Zack tighter.
I love you, Aunt Peggy!
xo
This will also be my 2nd Christmas without my mom. She lost her battle to cancer almost 2 years ago. It’s hard. I think it will always be hard though. I love that you make cookies to remember your mom though, that is such a sweet tribute. On my mom’s birthday, I’ve started a tradition of making cupcakes with her favorite frosting & wishing her a happy birthday in heaven. Anyways, wishing you a merry Christmas! & hopefully you can toast to your mom in heaven :)
I’m so sad to hear about your sweet mom, Lauren. I’m thinking of you and praying that your Christmas was a good one. I know it was hard, though. <3 I absolutely LOVE that you make your mom cupcakes on her birthday! That is just the sweetest. She is definitely smiling down from her big party up there in heaven! :)
xo