Visit with Santa

Reese and Santa Christmas '08

(~4 mos. old)

Last year when Reese went to visit Santa in the mall, it was a fairly uneventful holiday milestone. She sat in Santa's lap, looked vaguely toward the camera, and stared blankly at all the hub-bub that me, Aunt Kim, and the camera people were making in order to get her to smile. When I picked her up off of Santa's lap, he warned me, "Don't worry, next year things will be really exciting." Watching the line of screaming kids who had graced his lap in the minutes before Reese's turn, I knew exactly what he meant. Despite his admonition, though, we braved a visit to Santa last week.

This year before our visit we walked by and inspected Santa on two separate trips to the mall. My thinking was that watching other kids sit on his lap and getting the gist of the experience would lessen Reese's anxiety. That was all well and good in my mind, but it didn't work out quite the way I had hoped.

Last Wednesday morning, I got Reese all dressed up in her special holiday dress complete with her fancy red shoes. (A pair of red patent leathers with HUGE red silk bows--she adores them and insists on wearing them as often as possible.) We braved the cold and made it to the mall shortly after Santa's "workshop" had opened (trying to avoid the crowds). Reese watched two kids calmly take their turns before her, and she oohed-and-ahhed at the giant candy canes, snow men, and Christmas trees that adorned Santa's set.

When it was Reese's turn, I picked her up and walked slowly toward Santa. Since there wasn't anyone waiting in line behind us, I walked over to Santa with her and we talked with him and waved a few times. When I told her I was going to put her on Santa's lap, she immediately shook her head no and grabbed me around the neck. I should have known what was going to happen from there....but, after a few assurances, I plopped her down on his lap and stood by the photographer. What ensued was a screaming fit that I'm sure has been unrivaled this holiday season at the mall. The photographer snapped a few photos as quick as she could and I chose the one that was the least red faced and scary looking.

Reese and Santa Christmas '09
(~15 mos. old)

As soon as I scooped her up from Santa's lap she was immediately fine. Luckily, Santa didn't seem too frazzled--I guess it comes with the territory. He gave Reese a jingle bell necklace and a candy cane for all her troubles and we were on our way.

When we got home I opened the candy cane and watched Reese devour it. I wasn't sure she would like the strong flavor of peppermint, but I was completely wrong. Her outfit ended up in the washing machine as soon as she was finished and she now points out candy canes everywhere we go. The jury is still out on a visit to Santa next year.