Christmas Morning Chaos

Well, we survived our first Christmas with two kids under five. Sophie was up at 5 AM asking if Santa came yet (spoiler: he did, and he apparently has excellent taste in princess dresses). Theo’s contribution to the morning was systematically eating every piece of wrapping paper he could get his hands on. I’m pretty sure he consumed more Rudolph-themed gift wrap than actual food today.

Christmas Morning Chaos

Marcus and I somehow managed to exchange gifts at midnight like we’re still those romantic twenty-somethings who met at Mitch’s Tavern. His gift to me: new running shoes that are apparently “perfect for your training.” My gift to him: not completely losing it when the baby woke up at 4 AM wanting to practice his new crawling skills. I call that a fair trade.

Big sister helping clean up Theo’s wrapping paper snack

By 7 AM, Sophie had already changed into three different princess costumes, Theo had his first diaper blowout of the day, and I was on my second cup of coffee. But somehow, in my silk pajamas with yesterday’s mascara and a messy bun, I caught Marcus looking at me like I was still the girl he was too nervous to ask out in college. Two kids, no sleep, and I’ve still got it.

Merry Christmas from the Hartwells, where the chaos is real but the love is bigger.