Click here to view Easter pictures of Sam and his cousins.

During this first year of Sam’s life, I find myself wanting to make the holidays especially fun for him, but am stumped about how to do so.

He was too little to go out trick-or-treating on Halloween and was so used to wearing cute outfits that the significance of dressing up in a costume was lost on him.

Thanksgiving was nice because he was able to spend some time with his Uncle Will and he got a taste of mashed potatoes. Nevertheless, I don’t think the day was especially significant to him.

Christmas was more interesting since we drug a huge pine tree into our living room and strung it with brightly colored lights. We let him lay nearby so he could study all the sparkling decorations and smell the fresh scent of the tree. While these things were a big deal to Robert and I, how was Sam to know they weren’t just ordinary things? Undoubtedly, the best part of Christmas for Sam was spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Nelson and his Aunt Robin. They spoiled him to death!

New Years was very quiet for us. None of us was very interested in a holiday that required the sacrifice of a good night’s sleep. We were too sleep-deprived as it was.

I was fresh out of ideas when it came to celebrating Easter. Luckily, Aunt Carrie and Uncle Rich, who are more experienced in sharing the holiday with children, invited us over to their home to join in on the fun. Because of this, Sam participated in his first Easter egg hunt. He actually found a bright green egg perched in the branches of a tree! His daddy kindly relieved him of the duty of eating the candy concealed inside.

Sam seemed overwhelmed by his cousins who ran around the yard squealing and laughing loudly. Nothing in his experience prepared him for the antics of toddlers. The kids at daycare sometimes grow quite loud, but they aren’t capable of moving as quickly as these kids. So, he just stared at them with wide-eyed fascination. I couldn’t help thinking to myself that it’s not going to be that long before he’s chasing after them. We occasionally see a devlish gleam in his eyes which portends many wild adventures to come.

As I’m writing this, I realize that my anxiety about the holidays is silly. In my heart, I don’t want him to grow up too quickly just so he can appreciate holiday traditions with me. What’s marvelous about a little baby like Sam is his ability to view each day as special and full of wonders. His facility at doing this reawakens a similar joy of life in myself and his father. We’re incredibly thankful for that gift!