Courtesy photo JoLyne Wherry and Chris Wherry’s daughter, Robin Wherry, is seen playing with Christmas lights. JoLyne Wherry and Chris Wherry will celebrate Robin Wherry's first Christmas this year.

ALPENA — A child’s first Christmas is a momentous occasion for families and marks the beginning of new traditions that will last a lifetime.

Each family that has a new baby celebrates a little differently but the excitement of new life and new beginnings add to the magic of the Christmas season.

JoLyne Wherry and Chris Wherry’s daughter, Robin Wherry, of Alpena, was born on Feb. 18. Their family will celebrate baby Robin’s first Christmas this year.

JoLyne Wherry said that her and her fiance are excited about “starting new traditions” this year.

“Baking cookies on Christmas Eve, putting cookies out for Santa, stuff like that,” JoLyne Wherry said.

JoLyne Wherry said that their family is also planning on getting photos taken for Christmas cards this year and that she has matching outfits picked out for the occasion.

“I definitely want to take her to meet Santa,” JoLyne Wherry added.

She said that baby Robin is “loving everything” Christmas related and enjoys interacting with Christmas decorations.

“She loves the Jim Carrey version of the Grinch,” JoLyne Wherry said. “She’ll laugh and babble … she loves Christmas lights!”

JoLyne Wherry said that her parents are especially excited about baby Robin’s first Christmas as she is the only grandchild that lives in the area.

For the future, JoLyne Wherry plans on taking baby Robin to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth each year to pick out a Christmas ornament.

“So by the time she moves out she’ll have ornaments for her own tree,” JoLyne Wherry said.

Elizabeth Kelly and Quintin Kelly, of Presque Isle County, are also celebrating their daughter’s first Christmas. Fira Kelly was born on Aug. 18 and Elizabeth Kelly said that their family is excited about starting new traditions with their daughter.

“It’s hard with this being her first Christmas to do Christmas cookies, movies, and stuff like that,” Elizabeth Kelly said. “She loves the Christmas lights!”

Elizabeth Kelly said that the grandparents on both her side and Quintin Kelly’s side are excited to “experience the holidays” with baby Fira.

In the coming years, Elizabeth Kelly said that she would like to make homemade ornaments of her daughter’s footprints so she can see how she grows over the years.

“This is our first kid,” Elizabeth Kelly said. “It’s definitely a transition. It’s not all about us anymore.”

She added that it is “a lot more exciting” and more “fun to experience Christmas through a child.”

She said that now her and her husband are “focusing more on gifts and experiences for her” rather than just “what are we doing.”

Do you have or know someone who has a child who will be celebrating its first Christmas? The Alpena News will have a special section dedicated to them in an upcoming edition of The News. For only $15 you can have a color photo included. It will make a great keepsake. The deadline to submit a photo is Dec. 16 and sign-up forms are available in the paper leading up to the deadline. People can also call 989-356-2174 for more information.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.