it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This is the most exciting Christmas I can remember. Having a baby really brings the magic back to the holiday, that's for sure! Although Emerson won't remember her first Christmas, it fills me with so much joy to see her discover all the sights and sounds and scents of the season. Not to mention, I am filled with dreams of Christmases to come—Santa Claus, baking cookies and making gingerbread houses, listening for reindeer on the roof, my daughter's tiny voice singing Christmas songs. 

We got our first Christmas tree ever this year to celebrate this new beginning and I found myself so swept up in the moment—running around the Christmas tree farm snapping pictures, downloading Christmas music as we unwrapped all the ornaments we've been collecting but have never used, lighting holiday-scented candles and shouting about how badly I need some hot chocolate with marshmellows. It certainly took my husband by surprise who is used to  the Scrooge-version of his wife. Admittedly, I have never liked holidays of any kind (I know, I know, it's awful) so this is definitely a new beginning. 

As into Christmas as I was this year, I wasn't exactly on the ball when it came to getting our first Christmas card as a family out the door. I just got around to putting together an impromptu photo shoot last week, which means my cards don't stand much chance of reaching people before Christmas. But, it was still fun nonetheless. 

I don't have much time for brainstorming ideas or setting up shoots like I used to, nor do I live in a house that provides much natural light for such occasions. Then I realized that I already owned some props, I just had to get creative with them. And our guest room does have some good light during the morning hours, but the light only touches the bed. Solution: use the bed. I threw down a little fake snow, hung some lights and tied ornaments to the headboard (thanks for the inspiration, Natalie!) and voilà!

Outtakes (which most photos end up being when you are photographing a baby):

Other holiday scenes around these parts:

Grandma teaching us all the ins and outs of Christmas trees

Grandma