Stocking Stuffer Redux

When our twins were just 3 months old, as their 1st Christmas was on the horizon and newly acquired stocking were received, I wondered if they'd hold their weight when stuffed into the stockings and nailed to the fireplace mantle. I didn't get past the stuffing part and of course I'm kidding about the mantle. My son was too big to fit into his stocking by them, having been the far larger of the two since birth, and my daughter barely fit herself. It took two of us, my mother-in-law Nicole my myself, to accomplish it. One of us held her aloft while the other wriggled the stocking up from below, until we had her snuggly in place. I don't think we could have fit her into the stocking again if we'd tried, and certainly not with another ounce or two of growth.

I shot a short video and snapped a photo or two, then we wriggled her back out. The image has been one of my favorites throughout the years, but it wasn't until about 6 years later when the stockings were coming up for their annual use that I thought to print the original out and get a photo of here, at 8 years of age, holding the stocking and the photo.

Thus began a ritual of sorts. Every couple of years since we've taken a new photo, including this year at her age of 17.

I regret not having thought of the idea sooner, gotten them both into each of their stockings, and taking a photo every year instead of every two or three. But, that's just me nit-picking and second guessing. The fact that I have these at all, and that we have an opportunity to capture her growth, and that she'll have these and the stocking for the rest of her life, is more than enough.

I'll keep taking the photos, though, for as long as possible. Hopefully for a few more decades to come. It's an absolute joy to do so.