I follow her to the tree, coffee mug in hand, and sit cross-legged on the floor. "Should we see what else Santa brought?"
"Yes!" She grabs a rectangular package wrapped in snowman paper. "This one has my name on it!"
Wrapping paper flies in all directions as Tabby tears into her presents with unbridled excitement. Her eyes grow impossibly wider with each gift revealed.
"Look, Daddy! Look, Holly!" She holds up the deluxe art kit, her fingers already working to open the plastic clasps. "It has paints AND markers AND glitter glue!"
I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm as she carefully arranges the art supplies on the floor, organizing them by color before moving on to her next gift.
"A zebra!" she squeals, hugging the plush animal to her chest. "I'm going to name her Stripes!" She nuzzles her face against the soft black and white fur, then carefully introduces the zebra to her other stuffed animals sitting on the couch.
The dress-up clothes are an immediate hit. Tabby wastes no time pulling a sparkly purple princess cape over her pajamas, followed by a glittery tiara that sits crookedly on her messy hair.
"I'm a royal artist," she declares, striking a pose with her zebra tucked under one arm. "I paint pictures for the whole kingdom!"
Denton catches my eye over her head, his expression so full of love it makes my heart ache. We share a smile as Tabby discovers the stack of books.
"So many stories!" She runs her fingers over the colorful covers, examining each one with serious concentration. "Will you read them to me, Holly? All of them? PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!
“Of course, sweet pea. I can’t wait to read all of them with you.”
“Ooh, I’ve got one more present for you.” I stand up and walk to our bedroom.
I grab the large wrapped box from where I'd hidden it in the closet and head back to the living room.
"Wow, that's a big one," Tabby says, swaying back and forth as her princess cape flutters behind her.
"It's for both you and Daddy," I say, setting the heavy box down on the floor. “From me.”
I glance over at Denton and he looks at me with curiosity, his eyebrows raised in silent question.
"For us?" Denton moves closer, eyeing the large box wrapped in shimmering silver paper with a giant red bow.
"Yep," I say, feeling suddenly nervous. My heart flutters in my chest as I gesture for them to open it. "Go ahead, open it together."
Tabby doesn't need to be told twice. She drops to her knees beside the box, fingers already working at the tape. Denton joins her, helping to tear away the wrapping paper.
Tabby pries open the cardboard box. "Pajamas!" she squeals, plunging her hands into the tissue paper. "Christmas reindeer pajamas for ALL OF US!"
She pulls out the largest set first—pants and a matching long-sleeved top covered in dancing reindeer wearing tiny Santa hats. The reindeer are prancing across the fabric, some with their front legs high in the air, others with their heads thrown back in what looks like reindeer laughter.
"These are for you, Daddy!" She thrusts them toward Denton, who takes them with a surprised smile.
"Matching Christmas pajamas?" he asks, his eyes finding mine with amused curiosity.
Before I can respond, Tabby is already digging through the box again. "And these are for you, Holly!" She hands me the next set—identical to Denton's but smaller.
"I thought we could start a family tradition," I explain, nerves kicking in again as I run my fingers over the soft fleece. "Christmas morning pajamas."
"And these are MINE!" Tabby announces, hugging her child-sized set to her chest. She starts to put the box aside but pauses, her brow furrowing. "Wait..." She reaches in again, her small hand pulling out a tiny one-piece sleeper with feet, covered in the exact same dancing reindeer pattern.
Tabby holds the tiny sleeper up, looking puzzled. She turns it around in her hands, examining it. "Is it for one of my dolls?"
I glance at Denton and understanding dawns across his face. His eyes widen, mouth slightly parting as the realization hits him. I smile at him and he gives me the hugest smile back, his eyes suddenly shining with tears.
"Who is this one for, Holly?" Tabby says, still turning the tiny garment in her hands.
My heart pounds as I take a deep breath. "It's for your little brother or sister, Tabby."
