Florence’s First Christmas

Florence’s first Christmas has been nothing short of magical.

She slept through most of it to be fair but it was magical for us, thanks to her.

Seeing Christmas through the eyes of your children is even superior to enjoying it yourself as a child, and I had to pinch myself all day that we’ve added this sweet Christmas pudding to our family. I cried looking at these photos. I cried with gratitude and with deep love for my husband and kids. Soppy but true.

Delightful bauble below is by Hello Henry who kindly gifted us a portrait when Florence was born, so I returned to buy this!

So, it ended up being just the five of us on Christmas Day due to relatives testing positive (mild cases thanks to the booster weeks ago, thankfully) but we had a jolly good time together despite it being a different day to the one we’d prepared for.

The day was pleasingly slow-paced (there’s no other tempo with a 6 week old) and despite both my husband, Peter, and I, cooking and tidying together taking baby duties in turn, juggling 3 kids is another level of busy at Christmas so it was 6pm by the time we’d all sat down to feast on Christmas dinner (with vegan and veggie options as well as the traditional turkey and trimmings) which took literally all day to make!

We sustained ourselves on sweet everything during the day as I perfected the mushroom soup I’d made a few days before (lashings of cream and ample black pepper is my secret) and passed the time flitting between watching My Name Is Earl (our latest addiction) to dancing around the living room to Christmas hits on the radio (well, Xander and I gave it our best Strictly impression) and dressing Florence up like a dolly.

Thank you to our friends Marica and Ioachim who own Bamboo Flowers in Addlestone for the stunning festive centrepiece.

Just look at the love in her big brothers’ eyes! These photos melt my heart.

It wasn’t just Florence who dressed up for the big day, either! Xander looked dapper in his shirt and chinos which matched Daddy’s look du jour and Oliver was his usual super cool self in his tie dye trackies and maroon sweater (he refused a Christmas jumper or more formal attire).

Florence and I were twinning thanks to Stylish Mum who kindly sent me a red snowflake print nursing dress and baby top to match. I bought Florence’s stunning tutu from Just Kidding who gifted my niece Lily a tutu for her birthday last year so I wanted to return and support them, and they sent some pretty baby hair clips as a thank you for shopping with them, which was super kind. Just Kidding? More like Just Gorgeous!

Thanks too to my close friend Juliet McGrattan and one of Florence’s godmothers-to-be for my beautiful beaded bracelet.

My lovely pal Emma of The Jewellery Makers also sent me gold stud earrings and a beautiful bauble with Florence’s name on it which we didn’t get around to photograph but below is a photo from the following day of me wearing jewellery from her beautiful business. Stunning floral dress was gifted by Laurella Mama Fashion Boutique.

I simply can’t cope with how cute Florence looks.

Florence Catherine was of course was the best present this family could have wished for, and wished for we did.

Last Christmas, I’d recently experienced a missed miscarriage and had undergone an op. This year, my rainbow baby Florence turned 6 weeks old and a day. I hope this reminds others who might be struggling as I was, not to lose hope.

I adore these candid pics of Peter kissing his princess that I snapped on my phone. What a Daddy’s girl!

What a blessing baby Florence is.

I hope you had a lovely Christmas too, or as good as it could be in these trying times.

Much love from my family to yours x