The Birth and Early Years of Christ

So this is an area that could either take me weeks to cover, or I could try my best to sum it all up as briefly as possible...I'm shooting for the second option. I think this is an area that tends to be easier for people to grasp than the history stuff, and we tend to be more familiar with this subject matter as well. So...that being said, here we go!

The Birth and Early Childhood Years
Matthew 1,2 and 3
Luke 1,2
You really should take the time to read through both accounts. There are details that are specific to each account that together paint a very good picture of how things tie together, and why things happened as they did. I thought of separating out the info for you, but naahhh, I really think you should open your bible and see for yourself!! (hehehehe)
(Mark says nothing about the birth of Jesus)

• The angel Gabriel (Luke says it was Gabriel) came to Mary and told her she was going to have a baby. As confirmation (although Mary didn't really ask for it) he told her about her cousin Elizabeth who was expecting a baby. (That would be John the Baptist)
• Mary went to visit Elizabeth in Elizabeth's 6th month of pregnancy.
• According to Luke, Mary stayed with Elizabeth for a few months, returning right before the baby was born. (odd she didn't stay for the baby to be born...oh well)
• Joseph (he was pledged to marry Mary) was considering calling it all off, but being a gentleman he wanted to do it quietly as to not disgrace Mary. An angel told Joseph not to worry, it was God's baby, so Joseph took Mary as his wife. (I love a happy ending!)
• Caesar Augustus wanted a census of the entire Roman empire, so everyone had to go to their town of birth. Joseph was from Bethlehem, so off they went. By this time Mary was really preggo!
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem (read Micah 5:2 - pretty cool huh!)l
• Shepherds came to see baby Jesus, and left proclaiming the good news of a savior being born. 
• At 8 days old Jesus was circumcised and brought to the Temple, where Mary and Joseph offered a sacrifice for their new baby. (As was the Jewish Law)
• While at the Temple Jesus was prophesied over my Simeon and Anna
• King Herod heard of the birth of a Jewish King and was jealous, so he ordered the death of all baby boys 3 years old and younger. (This really makes me sick to my stomach, I plan on talking to God about this when I see him in Heaven)
• Joseph was told this in a dream, so he and Mary escaped with Jesus to Egypt until King Herod died. (I really hope it was a slow and painful death!...I know I shouldn't wish such things, but well...I really think that man was pure evil!!)
• They returned to the town of Nazareth in Galilee, and that's where Jesus grew up.
• At the age of 12 they temporarily "lost" Jesus at the Temple during their annual pilgrimage there for the Feast of the Passover. They found him 3 days later chillin' in the temple courts with the teachers, impressing everyone with his awesomeness. (Mary and Joseph had a "little talk" with Jesus, and reminded him that if he was going to live in their house, he needed to follow their rules...which meant at 12 years you didn't ditch your parents! Jesus being the good boy he was returned to Nazareth with them.)
• That's all we hear about until the start of Jesus' public ministry that he begins in his young 30's. (Being the parent of a teenager, I can understand these years of silence.)