'Twas the night before Christmas, when all of a sudden, the water broke.

My family always hosts Christmas Eve at my childhood home, where guests enjoy flowing champagne, decadent holiday treats and twinkling lights. There’s always a feeling of pure magic that fills the air, you feel full of hope, excitement, happiness and love.

Just like every year, family and friends were laughing and conversing before our special feast of roasted pork, baked salmon, creamy mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. Right before dinner, I noticed my sister, Kelly, and her husband, Kevin, had disappeared. I went looking for my favorite couple and found them in my parents bedroom, looking concerned. That’s when I discovered the water had broke and all of our lives were about to change with the biggest Christmas gift of all.

On Christmas morning at 10:30 AM and 6 pounds, Guy Arthur Andres was born in Rochester, NY to the most loving parents and Auntie. I am already impressed with his taste for the dramatics, by unexpectedly arriving a month early on Christmas morning. He is a healthy, happy baby with more hair than Prince William.

I am grateful and ecstatic to have been a part of Kelly and Kevin’s moment. It’s wild to see your big sister transition into a mother, and I am still processing it! It’s even more incredible to see the wonders the female body can create, my sister brought life into this crazy, unpredictable, wonderful world. She pushed a little breathing human out of her body. Go call your Mom and say “thank you” for bringing you to life and fight like hell for women’s bodies to be respected, admired and protected.

We love you Guy, our little Christmas baby. 

The holiday season is magical, with special bashes, velvet dresses, endless bubbly, endearing embraces and love that you can feel all around and within you. Although it may be stressful when trying to figure out what to get your Dad or which party to skip, it really is *the* precious season.

Here are my favorite things that always make the season shine bright, even after Mariah Carey has finished belting out "All I Want For Christmas Is You", the Facebook engagement photos have been deleted and you're halfway through forgetting those dumb New Year Resolutions.

A Little Party Never Killed Nobody 
At the time, holiday bashes can be annoying with thoughts like "What am I going to wear?", "Do I have to go?" and "What should I bring?" but they make the season so fun. I went to a few gatherings where I only knew the hostess, and it was a ball. Get out there, spread some cheer and deck the damn halls. 

Online Shopping Is Your Friend
Walking the Christmas Market with your honey and a hot apple cider are what holiday dreams are made of. But when it comes to bringing Christmas gifts home, it is what holiday nightmares are made of. I do not have room in my luggage for gifts, so this year I bought everything online and shipped it to my parents. 

Tradition Making 
You do not need a family to build your own traditions. That's a pretty empowering thought as a young woman without children. I have learned that I love baking bread pudding and it has become a Christmas tradition that I have now shared with my Mom. 

Holiday Style
This is the only time of year you can wear a pair of reindeer antlers with glitter and a bold red lip. Do it and emancipate Mimi. 

Gift Giving
This is an obvious given, but each year I enjoy finding the perfect gift for the perfect people in my life. We work all year long, and for a few days a year, we get to receive and celebrate. That's really the best gift under the tree.