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Snowflakes swirled around outside as the cosy little cottage glowed with warm light, nestled in the heart of a quiet village.
It was Christmas Eve, and everything was draped in soft decorations of red, green, and gold. This year, it wasn’t just the stockings hung by the fireplace or the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree that made the season feel magical – it was the presence of a tiny new family member.
Lily and Tom watched their infant son, Max, who was sleeping soundly in his crib, blissfully unaware of the festive wonder happening around him. It was Max’s first Christmas, and they wanted to make every moment as special as possible, even if he wouldn’t remember it himself.
That evening, as the fire crackled and the tree lights glimmered, Lily carefully placed a little red-and-white stocking by Max’s crib. It was a bit smaller than the others – perfectly sized for tiny treasures and first memories. Inside, she tucked in a soft little teddy bear, a rattle with a small silver bell, and a baby blanket knitted by her grandmother.
“Do you think he’ll notice?” Tom whispered, smiling as he placed a Christmas card next to the stocking, with “To our Baby Max” written in a gentle scrawl.
“He might not,” Lily chuckled, “but one day, when he looks at the photos, he’ll know how much love was here from the start.”
The two of them sat together, marvelling at Max’s little hands and peaceful face. They thought about all the Christmases yet to come, the ones where he’d be old enough to laugh at silly holiday videos, bake biscuits, and run down the stairs, excited for presents. But tonight, they were perfectly content with this soft, quiet evening, full of dreams and wishes for his future.
As the clock neared midnight, they heard a gentle gurgle. Max’s eyes fluttered open, catching the warm glow of the lights. He stared up at his parents, wide-eyed and curious, as if sensing the magic in the air. Lily smiled, reaching down to stroke his tiny fingers.
“Merry Christmas, little one,” she whispered.
With that, they picked him up and carried him over to the Christmas tree. They wanted him to see the sparkles, the colours, and feel the love that filled the room. Max, though young, looked around with his sleepy eyes, as if taking it all in. And maybe, in his own way, he was.
Tom placed a delicate ornament on the tree – a small silver bauble engraved with “Baby’s First Christmas 2024.” It was a keepsake that would hang on their tree every year, a reminder of this quiet, perfect Christmas Eve, when everything felt new and full of hope.
As snow gently blanketed the village outside, Max slowly drifted back to sleep in his parents’ arms. His little stocking hung proudly by his crib, and the little silver bell on his rattle chimed softly as his parents placed him back down.
Outside, the world was hushed, covered in a soft winter glow, but inside, in the warmth of that little cottage, Max’s first Christmas was one to remember: The beginning of so many happy Christmases yet to come.