Baby's SECOND Christmas

Just a couple of days past Halloween, I walked into the grocery store one evening and straight into an aisle of Christmas candy, gift boxes and tinsel.

In years past, this might have inspired a rant about shameless marketing and the proliferation of Hallmark holidays. I was by myself and too shy to rant to a stranger, but what struck me that evening was my complete lack of annoyance toward the slow expansion of the holiday season. So what if a Christmas display was set up right next to discounted Halloween candy? This year, the way-tooearly holiday décor inspired something else: excitement. And joy. And anticipation.

Because this year is special. This year, my husband, Rob, and I get to truly share the excitement of the season with our daughter, Kaylee.

When Christmas rolls around this year, Kaylee will be 19 months old. So no, it will not be the first Christmas we've had with her. But I expect it will be the first Christmas she actually enjoys.

To be sure, there was a lot of excitement preceding Kaylee's first Christmas, last year. You can't be a first-time parent and not get a little worked up about that first gathering around the Christmas tree, with your kid's very first Santa hat plunked onto her tiny little head. But, at least in our case, the warm, fuzzy, full-of-perfection first Christmas did not materialize as expected. Instead, we had little sleep - a result of a neighbor's barking dog and Kaylee's projectile vomiting - and Kaylee was too overwhelmed by the mountain of gifts and our dogs running through piles of wrapping paper to get much enjoy- ment out of Christmas morning. She spent much of Christmas day whining, and I spent much of Christmas day wishing she'd stop whining. There were good memories, too, but we didn't have that magical Christmas we were hoping for.

Obviously, I have not learned my lesson. Because this year, I just know, will be awesome.

Kaylee is learning to take her cues from nearby adults, and even if she's feeling whiny, I think she'll be infected by the joy of those around her. So while I may be fooling myself again into expecting too much from my baby's second Christmas, I have reason to believe it has potential.

In the past year, Kaylee has learned to walk (and run), to communicate with some effectiveness, and more importantly, to get excited about new toys. She does not yet understand that a pile of wrapped gifts is a pile of treasure, but when she finds a new toy - whether it be a stuffed animal or an empty paper towel roll - she gets hooked. Once we teach her that tearing colorful paper off of boxes earns her toys, I'm sure she'll get into the holiday spirit. Plenty of family members will be present to ply her with sugary treats and spoil her with hugs, as well.

Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of teaching my daughter that the holiday season is merely the season in which she gets a bunch of toys. One day when she's older, we'll get into the philosophical meanings and generosity of spirit that comes with the holiday season. But for now, it will be about waking up Christmas morning, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and gathering with her family to open gifts before falling asleep in a pile of wrapping paper. I can't imagine anything better.