Smith Quintuplets' First Christmas

(Columbia) -- The Smith Quintuplets have been spending their days at home, growing each day. Christmas Day 2007 will be the first time they will leave the house, visiting all of their relatives.The quintuplets are having their first Christmas with mom, dad and their two older brothers. The family of nine will spend their holiday with relatives."For the majority of the family, [Christmas] will be the first time seeing them," said Tamekia Harris, the quintuplets' mother.News19 first introduced you to Matthew Jared, Johnathan Glenn, Laten Lee, Nicholas Reid and Cody Ashton over the summer after being born via C-section at Palmetto Health Richland. They were three months premature and each baby weighed between one or two pounds at birth.Their father, Ivan Smith told us,” The quintuplets are God's gift within itself and to receive gifts for them is outstanding."Several organizations and churches have been dropping off presents. The gifts are now piled high in the family's temporary home."We never asked for them, we didn't expect it, but it's going to be a wonderful Christmas," explained Harris.The Smiths will have a wonderful Christmas now that Santa's helpers have eased their shopping nightmares.Smith said, "Our shopping is five times more than others. Sometimes, in a store we may find an outfit for two, but we like to match them."Harris added, "I went to three different Wal-Mart’s to find five car seats. It's just difficult."Especially, when one of the quintuplets' parents has to stay home and watch their five precious gifts."We've been having the time of our life. We are doing everything possible to take care of them, nurture them, love them," said Smith.While this is just the first of many Christmas celebrations to come, the family says it will be the best one ever.Smith explained, "Just being around family, us being together. More importantly, we're really blessed by these kids."The family says they couldn’t wait to get back into their home. It's being renovated by private donations to expand the living space for the quintuplets.There is a fund established for the babies at Carolina First Bank. The account name is Ivan Lee Smith Quintuplets, if you are interested in donating.