5 things I’m looking forward to for Elsie’s first Christmas

It’s Elsie’s first Christmas and I’m so excited so I thought I’d share the 5 things I’m looking forward to.

She’ll barely be five months old on the day itself but that doesn’t mean we can’t start the magic of Christmas with her now and start our own family Christmas traditions.

I think children really bring out the magic of Christmas and I have so much to look forward to now we have Elsie to share so many wonderful experiences with.

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Here are the 5 things I’m looking forward to for Elsie’s first Christmas

Visiting Fenwick’s festive window for the first time

Every year I get wrapped up and brave the cold to go and see Fenwick’s Christmas window in the heart of Newcastle. This is a tradition my parents started and I couldn’t wait to carry on this with my little family.

Every year the Northumberland Street set of windows is transformed from advertising clothes, bedding and homeware goods into a magical story.

This year’s theme is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it’s lovely.

It attracts families and people of all ages from all over who queue up to get up close to see the story unfold window by window. There’s little characters and themed music and it all moves. It really does feel magical.

As Steve had the day off for my birthday we decided to kick-start our Christmas festivities a little early and head into Newcastle with Elsie.

She was captivated by the characters and the music and it was such a special time for us.

To commemorate her first ever Fenwick Christmas window we bought the special edition of the Roald Dahl classic which also includes an exclusive hand numbered print.

Visiting Beamish at Christmas time

Beamish is a fantastic open air museum which is less than half an hour from our home and they go all out for Christmas. I’ve visited a few times over the years and enjoyed going down a coal mine, eating traditionally cooked delicious fish and chips and going back in time.

I had never visited Beamish at Christmas time before.

Elsie and I met up with a couple of friends and their little ones at Beamish (sadly Steve will be at work boo) and I’m just so excited.

They have a fairground with a real ice rink, Father Christmas in his grotto, the new 1950s welfare hall is open to enjoy Christmas crafts and music and the bazaar in the 1900s town park.

You can see all my thoughts on Beamish at Christmas in an upcoming blog post.

Visiting Santa and the start of the magic of Christmas

I believed in Santa until I was probably 9 or 10 years old. I would excitedly thumb through the Argos and Littlewoods catalogues carefully chronicling the gifts I’d love to receive in my letter to Santa.

My parents would take me to Fenwick to visit Santa in the toy department on the third floor where I’d sit in his sleigh and animatedly chat with him while beaming with joy as my mam snapped away with her camera (film not digital). It was a magical experience.

It’s all different now and there’s so many options for families when it comes to visiting Santa, it’s a bit overwhelming actually!

Elsie met the big man for the first time during the Festive Tales at Woodhorn experience and it was magical!

The grotto at intuMetroCentre is only £1.50 with all proceeds going to charity and as I’m there pretty much every single week I’m sure we’ll pop in to see Mr Clause at some point in December.

Throughout December I’ll be dressing Elsie in some festive themed clothes and just trying to create the magic of Christmas for her just like my parents did for me when I was little.

My friend Farrah kindly gifted us some of Jesse’s Christmas themed outfits from last year so I haven’t actually bought her anything.

I think we’ll also be introducing a Christmas box for Elsie too, I’d quite like it to be at the beginning of December next year rather than on Christmas Eve so she can use the items throughout the festive period.

Matching family Christmas Eve pyjamas

This is an adaptation of my family’s tradition, every year my little brother and I would always get new pyjamas for Christmas Eve.

I really wanted us to have matching ones as a little family for Elsie’s first Christmas and I bought ours really early to ensure I could get the sizes!

So I bought a cute family pjs set when Sainsbury’s had 25% off their Tu clothing range. Unfortunately I managed to shrink mine and Steve’s so I’ve bought another set this time from Matalan, the proceeds of which go to charity.

I can’t wait for us to wear them on Christmas Eve and get all ready for Santa.

Of course there’ll be the obligatory pictures shared on my social channels so don’t miss them on December 24th!

Hosting Christmas Day for the very first time

For the very first time Steve and I will be hosting Christmas and gulp cooking Christmas dinner.

Steve’s parents are coming up to stay with us from Christmas Eve for a couple of days and I’m just so excited and a little bit nervous!

My mam is hosting family on Christmas Day so we’re having my parents and little brother at our house on Boxing Day.

This is a first for us.

Since Steve and I became a couple we have alternated between his sister’s and my parents for Christmas but now Elsie is here everything is different.

I’m not sure what we will do next year when I’m back at work but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

We will video chat with our niece Amelia and my family so we can still feel connected although we will not be together. Technology is amazing for bringing us closer together.

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What are you looking forward to this Christmas? Do you have any family traditions? Let me know in the comments below.

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Other Christmas related posts

I answer all things Christmas in the Christmas Tag

Take a look back at my festive favourites from 2017

You can find out all about my Christmas family traditions

Read all about how I made my very own Christmas wreath

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