(this happened a few weeks ago, but I forgot to post!)
Nativity and Toddlers Post 2012
(...to distinguish from the post here, and the one here):


I was in the kitchen, doing the breakfast dishes.  George, who hadn't been awake when we were decorating the house for Christmas the night before, had just discovered the nativity set on the side table in the family room.

George, running into the kitchen holding one of the figures: Mommy!  Who's this?
Me: That is Mary, she is the mother of Jesus.
George:  Oh!  Jesus' Mommy.

(runs back to the nativity)

George, grabbing the baby Jesus, and holding Him up: Mommy!  Who's this?
Me:  Who do you think that is?
George, excitedly: A BABY!  It's a baby!
Me: Yes!  That's the baby Jesus.  Jesus when he was just a little baby.
George: Oh, Jesus baby.

George, setting Jesus down, and picking up someone else: Mommy!  Who's this?
Me: That's a shepherd.  He came with his sheep to see baby Jesus.

George, setting shepherd down, picking up wise man:   Oh.  Who's this?
Me:  That's a wise man.  He brought a present to baby Jesus for being born.
George: Oh!  A present?!?  For baby Jesus.

George, picking up yet another one:  Who's this one Mommy?
Me: That's another wise man.  He brought a present for baby Jesus, too.
George: OH!  He brought him a hat! (I'm guessing whatever that wiseman is holding looks like a hat)

George, catching on, picks up another wise man:  Is this a wise man, Mommy?  He brought a present for Jesus?
Me: Yes, that's a wise man.

George, picking up another one:  Who's this, Mommy?  A wise man?
Me:  No, that's Joseph.  He was Jesus's father on the earth.
George, trying to wrestle the staff out of Joseph's hand to give to the baby Jesus:  Him brought Jesus a present too!  Look Mommy!  It's right here!
Me:  Please try not to break it.
George, immediately putting Joseph down: OK, Mommy.  (that's a first, right there)

George, picking up the last piece:  Who's this Mommy?
Me:  That's an angel.  She came to tell everyone that Jesus was born.
George:  Angel brought a present too?  She brought Him a car?
Me, not sure I heard correctly:  What--did you say a car?
George:  Yes, him brought Him a car.  Lightning McQueen.  Do you think Jesus would like my Lightning McQueen, Mommy?
Me, pondering a bit on this development:  Yes, I think Jesus would have liked your Lightning McQueen...

George, getting more and more excited:  McQueen would like Jesus!  McQueen would
like to go see baby Jesus!  See, Mommy?!?  McQueen is seeing Jesus!

(...at which point, could tell that I was going to need a camera, so I grabbed it and ran into the family room...)

Look Mommy!  So is Salty!  And Mater!  They all want to see baby Jesus!

And so, I bring you, this year's Nativity:

 A little later, after McMissile showed up:

Since that time, George has been OBSESSED with Mary and Baby Jesus' and "Big Jesus."  I must say, these are some of the best people to be obsessed with always, but especially at Christmastime.

He continues to re-arrange the nativity, a la toddler, and frequently carries Mary and Baby Jesus around with him on his adventures (see the second half of Nativity post 2008, if you do not understand what I mean by this...)

   Let us all crowd in to see this baby!

One of his favorite things to watch this year is a depiction of Jesus' birth and life, set to   "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" arranged by The Piano Guys.  It is beautiful.  And George LOVES it.  All it takes for him to come running is the first 3 notes.  He knows exactly what it is.  "The Mary show!"  Mom, "It's the Mary show!"

 

Mary, Baby Jesus, Holly Shiftwell from Cars, and George,

all watching "The Mary Show. on my iPhone"

Merry Christmas!