My First Christmas as a Mom: Making Magical Memories for Baby’s First Christmas

I vividly remember waking up on Christmas morning as a child — it was still dark outside, and the excitement of the holiday made it impossible to stay in bed. I’d wait eagerly for my grandparents to arrive before diving into the pile of gifts under the tree. There was always something special about the hot cocoa, the brunch spread, and most of all, the magic of Christmas. The half-eaten cookies, the reindeer carrots nibbled on, and the sparkle of anticipation — those were the memories that made the season unforgettable.

Now that I’m a mom, I have a newfound appreciation for everything my own mom did to create that magic. It’s hard to believe how much effort goes into making Christmas so special. So, this post is for you, Mom — thank you for bringing the “ho ho ho’s” and jingle bells into our home, year after year!

Baby’s First Christmas: Keeping the Magic Alive

This year marks my first Christmas as a mom, and I’ve been so excited to start building our own holiday traditions. My son is almost one, so while he doesn’t fully understand the significance of Christmas yet, I wanted to make sure his first holiday season was filled with wonder and magic. I’ve learned that the real magic of Christmas is in the belief — even if you’re faking it just a little. 😉

Here are a few special things I’m really excited about this year!

Handwritten Santa Letter: A Keepsake to Cherish

One of the things I’m most excited about is getting my little one a handwritten letter from Santa. The letter came in beautiful calligraphy, and I was able to personalize the message. The stationary was absolutely gorgeous, complete with stickers from the North Pole and a wax seal. I had hoped the letter would smell like peppermint (as the description suggested), but there’s always next year!

Creating Santa’s Footprints

We also made a fun, simple tradition by creating Santa’s footprints with a pair of boots. Using two boots, we made prints in the flour around the Christmas tree and leading up to the fireplace. This is such a simple yet magical touch that I can’t wait for my son to fully understand as he gets older. To make the footprints, just spray the bottom of the boot with water, press it onto a cookie sheet covered with flour, and voilà — instant Santa magic!

Custom Cookie Plate for Santa

One of my favorite new traditions was making a custom cookie plate for Santa. We used my son’s handprint and footprint to create a special plate to leave out with milk and cookies. As someone who is definitely a fan of chocolate milk, it was a treat to set everything out for Santa! My husband and I snacked on fudge while we worked on putting together some of the bigger gifts. (P.S. My thumbs and wrists are sore from all the Allen wrench assembly!)

Christmas Morning Routine with a Baby

Christmas morning arrived bright and early, and we filled our personalized, embroidered stockings with little goodies for our baby. We included some fun baby essentials like teether toys and a shaker rattle. The first thing we did after feeding our hungry little one was turn on the Christmas lights and brew our coffee, setting the tone for a cozy morning.

New Christmas Traditions for the Whole Family

To make the morning even more special, we watched Disney’s “Duck the Halls” — a short, cute Mickey Mouse Christmas special. It was quick and fun, and I think it might just become a new Christmas morning tradition in our house!

Looking Ahead: Building Our Christmas Traditions

While my son’s favorite thing this year was shaking wrapping paper and trying to eat it (so typical of a baby!), I can’t wait until next year when we get to experience the magic of Christmas morning through his eyes. I can already see how much joy these little moments will bring in the future. Christmas is a time for family, love, and magic — and I’m so excited to continue building these traditions for years to come.

---

What are your favorite Christmas traditions? I’d love to hear how you’ve made your Christmas mornings magical. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below!