plan in advance (have as much done ahead of time as you can!) - last year, we had almost everything ready in advance - just put it all in the oven to cook on the day. things like vegies for roast were prepared the night before, pork cooked on the bbq the day before. lamb seasoned and sitting, ready to go, in the fridge to put on in the morning

and DELEGATE!! i don't care if it's YOUR year to do Christmas - why should you be put under a mammoth amount of stress just so everyone else gets to enjoy the day - you should be able to enjoy your Christmas day as well - give out jobs - find something that each person/family is good at, and make it their responsibility!

for us, Christmas used to be salad (prepared the night before), ham and bbq chook, cos it was "too hot" for mum to cook - if that flaots your boat, go for it - but it's not what we do now. i figure Christmas can be a bit more effort

now, it's roast lamb, beef and pork - usually cooked on the rotisserie on the bbq. either bro and hi family stay here, or we stay at their place. up early to put the meat on to cook, then chill over breakkie. we do cheat, and get bbq chicken - only cos mum needs to have "something" she can do - and that's about all we trust her with we then have cauli/broccoli in white sauce (which you can make in advance, and freeze - defrost the day before, and throw in the oven), baked spuds (you can cheat and buy the frozen packet ones), and a mixture of other baked vegies, mixed greens. it's not that difficult if you have it all organised in advance (like vegies peeled and sitting in water in the fridge ready to go). plan your times, and make sure there is someone there that, if bubs is playing up, you can say "ok, you need to do this NOW" and take the pressure off yourself

dessert wise - always delegate. unless you are the only person that can make perfect plum pudding, leave it to someone else!!

and in all honesty, ANY family that expects you to do it ALL when you've got a newborn, needs to be dished up fish and chips and told not to whinge cos they don't deserve anything more!