Merry Christmas! We have had a wonderful Christmas. It has been very different this year because we missed some key members of our family very much, but it was very special at the same time because it was sort of Herbie's first (well, half-first) Christmas! Yesterday, Patrick and I had our traditional Christmas Eve lunch together - just the two of us. We started doing it a few years ago because we are ALWAYS doing some last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, and its just some time to break away from all of that and spend time together. After that, I helped my mom deliver some Christmas presents (some goodies she had made). I don't know where she's getting all of her energy from, but it sure is refreshing, especially after all she's been through this year. We went to the Christmas Eve service at Hope Church, and then went to my uncle Ross's house for dinner. It was special because my mom came with us and helped Ross cook. The meal was fantastic, and the company even better. We ended the night singing Christmas carols, with Patrick and my cousin Hill playing guitar.
In the past, Christmas Eve for us (my sisters and I) has always been a big deal. My dad and Harriett used to do a huge dinner with lots of family and friends (sort of like an open house). There was lots of singing around the piano (Angels We Have Heard on High was sung at least 3 times with my dad yelling, I mean singing - SLIGHTLY off key - the Gloria part extra-dramatically). We usually dressed up, went to the candlelight service at Christ Covenant (and sometimes the 11:00 communion service, too), and then came back to a meal that rivaled Joan's Thanksgiving spread. Anyway, this year was much more low key and casual, but still was a wonderful time spent with some of our family. And the food was still just as good thanks to Ross, Denise and my mom (and Joan still helped, too)!
This morning, Patrick and I did our little family gift exchange. I got a beautiful pearl necklace and bracelet, as well as a nice set of pajamas from Patrick, and I got him a shirt from a new company started by his college roommate - Collard Greens, a new coffee/espresso machine, and some other small things. We also opened gifts from Patrick's mom and grandmother, which included some gift certificates to Starbucks and J.Crew in just the right size (ha!). Then, we went to my mom's house for cinnamon rolls (a Christmas morning tradition she's done for us ever since I can remember) and exchanging gifts with her and my sisters. This is my mom's tree, which had a Carolina santa hat as the topper this year - very appropriate since she's such a huge Carolina fan. I couldn't resist posting a picture of it. 
We were excited to give our gifts to the family. Patrick was extra proud of this wrapping job on a gift for Joan - if only the picture could show you the large amount of tape that is holding that thing together!
We are thankful for all of the gifts we received (especially the spa gift certificate from Caroline), but one of my favorites was Herbie's First Coozie! I've been collecting coozies (or huggies, as some people call them - you know, the things that keep the cans cold) since college. Now, thanks to Joan, Herbie has her own bottle coozie (in Carolina blue appropriately - with "Magee" in pink, even more appropriately) to add to the collection! Of course, the first thing Patrick did was see if it also fit on a beer bottle (it does), but it is clearly made for a baby's bottle. It is too cute!
I also need to mention that one of my other Christmas gifts was having the dogs bathed at the vet. Its a treat we don't often do, but its always so nice to have clean and non-smelly 80 pound dogs. Not only does a day at the vet wear the dogs out so they sleep well, but we also don't protest as much when they "accidentally" get on the bed (which we NEVER usually allow them to do). This was sort of a present for them, as well as me!!
This afternoon, we tried to rest, but Patrick spent most of it trying to hook up his new espresso machine (which is finally set up and ready to go)! Then, we headed back over to my mom's for dinner where we had our traditional Christmas dinner of Rib Roast (the HUGEST piece of meat I've ever seen), mashed potatoes, Joan's yummy yorkshire pudding, green beans and Kentucky Derby Pie for dessert. 
Needless to say, we have been well-fed over the past two days. Tomorrow is day three of the Wilson family Christmas traditions: the Day-After-Christmas shopping. My sisters, mom, and I have done this since I can remember. We get up early, brave the crowds, and rush out to spend our Christmas money before it can even be deposited in the bank. Its a wonderful tradition that makes Christmas stretch out a little big longer!
Also, please pray for Patrick's mom tomorrow. She fell and broke her shoulder earlier this week, and she's having surgery tomorrow to put in a plate. She'll be out of commission for several weeks, but hopefully, she'll heal quickly and not be in too much pain! We love you Mama Magee!
Finally, check out this story about an angel in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Presbyterian Hospital (the hospital where we will be delivering our baby). Its an amazing story of one family's faith and how God reveals himself to us - sometimes literally - in the midst of our trials.
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