THIS IS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS

A family with a new baby shares Christmas Eve traditions.

Snuggled in homemade pajamas from Grandma, with a blanket destined to become an heirloom swaddled tight, an infant experiences Christmas for the first time. Boxes of decorations are pulled from storage, and warm lights set the tree aglow. The infant’s parents move the bassinet closer so the baby can stretch tiny fingers toward the light, watching it bounce on fairy baubles. Each tradition creates a comforting memory: Cookies are baked, presents are wrapped, and stockings are hung. Cards strung on ribbon offer visions of future Christmases, showing the young tot growing up. “We know that we’ll do this for years to come. / And our hearts are full.” The two parents share many smiles and warm embraces. An orange tabby joins the festivities, too, and can be found on each spread (sometimes just the hint of a tail is visible). Fox’s muted palette matches the snuggly coziness of all the shared memory-making. There are no crying fits or sleepless newborn moments, but a scene of Christmas morning does show some scattered toys and a spilled coffee cup for a small breath of reassuring realism. One parent is brown-skinned, and the other is pale-skinned; the baby is brown-skinned and biracial.

A sweet gift of first holiday memories to be cherished.