We've officially entered the holiday season and I must say I absolutely love this time of year--a time that is defined by friends and family, hearty laughs and endless good food. As most things seem to these days, the holidays have once again taken on a new meaning in the light of adoption. Although we have always appreciated the holidays for their ability to create lasting memories, we now find ourselves wondering what types of memories we will help to create for our own family.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are definitely favorite holidays, but I was surprised this year by how much I enjoyed seeing the festivities of Halloween. I know, I know, the day before Thanksgiving is a little late to be talking about Halloween, but to us it was the start to a holiday season that has us excited for the years that lie ahead.
Fall has always been our favorite time of year. It seems to have that unmatched essence to it--the chill that fills the air, the delicious in-season foods, the colors. We celebrate fall outdoors and indoors as we venture out for walks, and brighten our house with the fall decor that evokes that cozy feel and helps to make the place we will hunker down for a matter of months inviting and warm.
Though the kick-off to our holiday season is usually today, the day before Thanksgiving, this year we are still feeling as though it were Halloween. Because this year more than any other, it was apparent how fun Halloween will prove to be as a family. For starters, you get the joy of watching your child exercise their imagination as they prepare for the greatest dress-up day of the year. Then, you watch their anticipation as the day draws nearer and nearer. And then you watch their joy. As a parent, of course you look to find safe ways and places for your child to exercise this excitement and I'm happy to say, such opportunities are all around us. Suzy's school, for example, hosts an annual Haunted Tales, a night where families come and listen to teachers read children's books and poems with a Halloween theme. The stories are more silly than haunted, and all the kids come tromping through the doors decked out with the widest grins in their full costumes. Peels of laughter and wide eyes follow as the teachers get up to perform enthusiastically dramatic readings of the stories. Looking around makes you realize how lucky we are to be part of this incredible community and makes us both anxious for the day our child can experience it's support and joy.
Yet it isn't only this story time we're now looking forward to, or the carving of our own pumpkins, or the gathering of our own Halloween loot - it is now our neighborhood party. Coming home on Halloween evening proved to be a bit of a challenge. Upon returning home and pulling onto our street, the sidewalks were crawling with kids and families out to enjoy the evening's festivities. We both had to circle a four block radius of our house to find parking, but once we neared our own home, the reason became clear--a massive Halloween celebration steps away from our own back door. By talking to neighbors who were camped out in their front yard roasting marshmallows and serving cider for the night, we finally got the full story behind the party. The celebration began with a group of mothers who wanted to ensure there would always be a safe place for their children to enjoy Halloween. And so they met, over coffee, planning a massive block party. They called the city to have them block off the streets, they called each neighbor to encourage participation and in the end what they crafted was a four-night celebration--a pumpkin carving party, a night of open houses hosted by those on the block, the ultimate Halloween block party with street performers and games and elaborate house decorations, and finally, a relaxing night for the adults who put this all together.
Experiencing this as we walked home from our parked cars was exhilarating this time around, and hearing all the running kids screaming that "This is the best Halloween ever!" had us anxious for the day we can watch our own child experience that magic.
As we move into the true holiday season, we find ourselves thinking what else we might watch our child do--help make the pie dough, decorate cookies, play their first Thanksgiving football game, set their shoes out on St. Nick's day, hang ornaments on the tree, and of course, sneak more treats than they should! We look to the memories we will make as a family, but we now find ourselves looking to the memories that will be provided by our incredible community. Our home, school, neighborhood, and family have already proven to be incredibly supportive to us, but it is becoming more and more apparent how lucky we will be to raise a child surrounded by such support and joy.
The holidays, defined by anticipation, excitement, love, and joy will continue to be our favorite time of year. But that day where we can share them with a little one, making memories as a family, that will make them even more significant.
At this point, we're picking out all that will turn our extra room into a nursery and prepare us for parenting. We have our eyes set on a crib and a cozy rocker you can simply sink into. We've chosen bouncers and swings to lull the little one to sleep and mobiles and toys to entertain and enjoy. Boppies and rattles, car seat, highchair, and baby bathtub--all ready to go. Snugly blankets, precious sleepers, and onesies are all waiting to fill the drawers and at least one of us (you can guess which one) links often to our dream stroller. Everything we'll need, in fact, is chosen. In the event that we have time to set up a nursery ourselves, it will be thrilling to begin checking the items off our list as we gleefully purchase each one. But, in the event that we don't have much time to prepare, we're all set! Knowing that we have many people lined up to help, we feel confident that whatever our road to baby brings, we are fully prepared. How lucky we are to be surrounded by family and friends that are so willing and eager to lend a helping hand and join us in welcoming a new baby! 
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