So, I got up the courage to dress Gracie up and take her to Hopscotch to see Santa. I knew that it wasn't going to be pretty, but it is one of those things you feel like you just have to do as a parent. What good parent doesn't take their child to see Santa? For days I had been prepping her: "Look at the picture of Santa, Gracie! He is so nice! Give the Santa ornament kisses . . . Santa LOVES Gracie!" You get the picture.
When we walked in the door to the toy store Gracie was already clinging to my neck, and with my winter scarf and flannel on, Gracie clinging, and the body heat of people crammed in line practically touching, my blood pressure was already rising. For over a half an hour we waited, Gracie never loosening her grip on my neck. We watched as little kids excitedly hopped up and down knowing that they were soon going to climb up the stair to the little room where Santa was waiting to discuss their Christmas wishes.
Finally it was our turn. I told Santa's elf that my daughter was going to be a hard sell with the whole sitting on Santa's lap thing. Afterall, she wouldn't even make eye contact with an elf - no matter how endearing the elf's jingly hat was to the other boys and girls. We walked up the stairs, and I heard Gracie wisper "Santa" before we even reached the top of the steps. She knew who we were here to see. "Look, Gracie! Santa!" I sang as we reached the top step. That's all it took. One look at this lunatic in the flesh and Gracie was screaming bloody murder trying to climb up my neck and over my head to run out the door. "Santa." I commanded, over the top of her screaming. "Let's make this quick. I'll hand her off- you just hold on to her and smile." Santa reached for her (an old pro) and I threw her in his lap. Because I know my daughter, I was prepared. The camera was already out and the lens was off.
Gracie was screaming and half trying to leap off his lap, half assaulting him. I snapped a quick shot, scooped her up and thanked Santa and his elf. We waltzed out past the line of kids and their parents who were all staring by now.
When we got to the door to leave Gracie loosened her grip on my neck, turned around, and shouted "Ho! Ho! Ho!" to the crowd. Gotta love my little pistol.
At almost twenty months, Gracie's favorite thing to do is play OUTSIDE!! She stands by the window or the door and sings, "Ou-si! Ou-si! She would stay out there all night long to if dad and I didn't make her come in. I think there is a new scrape or sliver each day, but she is pretty proud of her battle wounds.
Our 18 month-old has officially become a toddler. She's an absolute animal: talking in phrases, eating at the big-girl table, and hanging with her best friends Maya, "Pete," Zac, and Campbell. Best of all, when she's busy doing something she loves (like playing outside- her absolute favorite) she will say over and over, "haaaaaaPPY! . . . haaaaaPPY!" It's the cutest thing ever.
Every evening at "ni-night" time Gracie climbs the stairs and gives kisses through the pickets. "mmmmmm . . . " she says as she leans in for a kiss from momma or daddy. Then she'll play a game where she will quickly move her head between a different pair of pickets and get us to try to catch her with a kiss. This tradition has become one of our favorite parts of the day, and although I know there will be a night when she decides she's too big for it, I will always cherish her sweet, sweet kisses.
Ben and Libbey came over to visit a few months ago when Gracie was in the midst of her month-long cold. It was so good to catch up with Libbey (whom I've been friends with for over 25 years) and watch our kids as friends now. Ben is just two weeks older than Gracie!
