Finding the time or the energy to post over the last few weeks has been rather difficult as we have been in full swing enjoying the festive season and making the most of Dexter’s very first Christmas and our first as a little family. For most, Yuletide now feels like a distant memory already, but I couldn’t help but share a little post as I didn’t manage to do so during the month of December.

Both Mr B and I are super fans of all things festive anyway, but this Christmas was always set to be the most special yet as we had our very own little miracle to enjoy it with. It can be easy to go a little bit crazy with gifts when it comes to your baby’s first Christmas, but the truth is they are probably more than happy with the wrapping paper and won’t understand the whole concept of the day at all. We decided not to go mad, and instead to put some money in to his bank account along with a few gifts to open on the day, as it’s never too early to start saving for their future and it felt like the right thing to do; not that Dex was short on presents to open from all the people that love him, of course!

I instead put more focus on special items that were either personalised or that Dexter can keep and we can bring out at this time year after year. Personalised cards, dressing gowns and a rocking chair were just some of the special items I sourced, as well as a gorgeous Christmas sack and Christmas Eve box which we can use for years to come. I plan on posting the names of some of the amazing small businesses that I found these bits from, probably on my Instagram, so keep an eye out if you love that kind of thing.

To me, Christmas represents lots of different ideas and will always have a focus on gifts, however it’s definitely the giving that makes me smile the most; whether that is finding the perfect gift for friends and family that you just know they will love, or whether that means giving to someone who has a greater need than yourself.

My three favourite charities/causes this year were:

1. Operation Christmas Child from Samaritan’s Purse – I always made up a shoebox as a child and it’s great to know that I can carry on the tradition and we can teach Dexter the importance of giving to those less fortunate than ourselves
2. The Rucksack Project – a worldwide movement to help the homeless during the cold winter months, where lots of people doing a little can really make a difference
3. The Christmas Present appeal from the Salvation Army – a chance to donate new unwrapped toys and gifts for children, families, older people and homeless people in need at Christmas

It may be over for another year, but try to remember these charities as we approach next Christmas, and please let me know if there are any other good ones that I haven’t heard about. When thinking about the people less fortunate than ourselves at this special time of year, it makes you realise just how lucky we all are. As I said, Christmas will always have a focus on gifts but it should never be what Christmas is ABOUT. The saying ‘It’s not what is under the tree that matters most, it’s who is around it’, couldn’t be more true, and I had the best people I could ever wish for.

Just to top off the eagerness of the festive buzz, the last few weeks have seen lots of exciting new developments start to take place for Dexter which have been the best gifts we could receive this year. He can now sit unaided (not completely wobble-free just yet), he is putting his heart and soul in to crawling practice (backwards and sideways being the most successful directions thus far), and he began eating solid foods which meant he even got to join us in eating our yummy Christmas dinner cooked by Daddy! Out of all the things Dex is fast learning, my favourite has to be that he can now give out kisses! I had no idea that he would be able to do something so loving so soon, and it literally melts my heart every time.

I would love to hear about how magical Christmas was for of all those with children and new babies?! 

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