It is a Petersen tradition to have all of the grand kids get together on Christmas Eve and act out the Christmas Story. Here are some of the pictures I got.
Almost all the boys were sick, so Aubrey volunteered to play Joseph.
This
was Ari's first real Christmas. She slept through the 1st one while we
spent it in the hospital. Ben's sister, Marianne, and her husband, Dan,
have been staying with us for the holidays (you'll see them in some of the pictures/videos). Ari figured out, pretty quickly, how to rip
the corners of the packages, but her favorite was ripping the
tissue paper. We had so many presents that I put two away without having
her opening them.
You are one year old. I think about all that has happened in the last year and I don't even know how to begin to describe the joyous change you have brought into my and your dad's lives. We were driving home tonight from Grandpa Petersen's and we passed the Krispy Kreme where we were when we got the phone call letting us know you were on the way. The "Hot Now" sign was in the window and we were so tempted to stop in and feed you your first doughnut. Maybe we will do that tomorrow.
Let's see...some of the changes this month...You still are not walking or really even standing. You cry every time we stand you up. You have learned to turn around in a circle while you are sitting on the floor. You started doing that while your cousins, Lilly and Kate, were staying with us, while their mom had her baby. I think you realized that you couldn't keep up with them so you just sat and turned to watch everything they were doing.
You got your 7th tooth this month. It was not very nice to you while it was coming in...I don't think I have ever seen you so miserable. But the pain only lasted a couple of days. You are making all kinds of sounds, and seem to understand the basics of conversation. You make a noise when someone hands you something or one of our phones makes a noise. You have also been saying a phrase that sounds very much like "whats that" when you see things.
Naps have been a bit of a battle. Some days you won't take an afternoon nap, then today you slept for 3 hours :) We have been very busy with friends and family and you love all the activity. You always want to be where things are happening and will fuss if you are left out.
This year has been so wonderful. We are looking forward to celebrating many more birthdays. This is the last "Dear Arianna" letter until your 2nd birthday. But the blog will continue. I love you my precious little girl.
Love,
Mom
Ben putting together her wagon
Ben had to go to work so Uncle Dan finished her wagon
We have a wonderful friend who agreed, at the last minute, to take some pictures for us for our Christmas card. I love the pictures of Arianna with the tree, they capture the wonder and awe of a child's Christmas. Reflecting on the last year has made me so grateful for all that I have. I am glad that Arianna was born around Christmas, she fills me with Joy.
Ben did a good job of conveying some of those feelings in this poem:
Be warned it might bring tears to your eyes.
'Twas two days before Christmas,
Two-thousand eleven
And up on the wall, the clock read
half-past seven
The butterflies hung o'er the cradle in
wait
For a little one coming, we knew not the
date
Each bathroom, each floor, had been
carefully cleaned
By a mother expecting, and to Father it
seemed
That this season might be yet another
alone
Without children to brighten the holiday
tone
But what a surprise! As we drove home
that night
On the Krispy Kreme sign "Hot Now"
was so bright
We reached for our donuts, and in came
the call
We had to get going, there was no time
at all
Mom got a bite in; I stuffed my mouth
And started to drive...Was it north? Or
south?
But sweet little Ari was ready to come
Not even two hours, and all would be
done
And as her dear mother relinquished her
hold
And she passed to us, the joy was untold
We did not yet know all the troubles
ahead
But we had the assurance that we would
be led
So miracles later, some great and some
simple,
We took our sweet Ari to be sealed in
the temple
It will soon be a year since this story
was told
But we can't express all it was to
behold
So we simply give thanks to our Savior
and King
Sending love by our words while we are
apart
We pray that the peace the Spirit does
bring
Will be in your home, and dwell in your
heart
We would also like to share with you a video that is a beautiful illustration of the true meaning of Christmas. Enjoy! And we hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
