Life... as we know it: Photos with Santa

It is that time of year again when photos with Santa are a must! This year, I decided to let Suri wear her pajamas for her photo as we were having photos taken in the evening (after a long day at daycare) at Girly Girlz Boutique... the same place we met Santa at last year when Suri was just over 2 months old. I found a cute nightgown with little Reindeer on it and a pair of adorable reindeer slippers. Cousin Jackson also had matching pajamas and reindeer slippers and in my mind it was going to be an adorable picture with Santa....

Fast forwarding to real life...
When making an appointment to visit with Santa, every family is allotted 10 minutes. We arrived on time and Suri was anxiously pulling to see Santa. There was a family ahead of us and Suri was intently watching the 3 little girls ahead of us take their turn on Santa's lap. Once Santa was preparing for our turn, Suri was waving to him, blowing him kisses and wanting to get down to go over to him. Finally, it was our turn and Suri went to stand next to Santa. He gave her his hand and she was completely happy and content, mesmerized by the way Santa appeared... unlike anything she had ever seen. Once the commotion increased in the room, the photographer approached us and tried to get Suri to laugh, Jackson jumped on Santa's lap eager for his turn with Santa, Suri then began to think about things for a moment.... and decided she was DONE! She was no longer interested in Santa, nor the photographer, nor in everyone cheering her on in hopes of getting her to change her mind. She turned on the water works and was OVER the whole Santa experience.

I have never really been a person who agrees with forcing a screaming child to sit on Santa's lap- it must be the Child Life Specialist shining through in me... (watching parents basically stand on their heads in hopes of turning crocodile tears into laughs and giggles) and therefore was not about to force Suri to experience something in which she was terrified- (sorry mom's and dad's that do this!! wink wink) Unfortunately, despite every one's efforts we were not able to capture the ideal photo of Suri with Santa this year (sigh...)

As soon as Suri realized we were leaving and once she and I removed ourselves from all the commotion, Suri blew Santa a kiss good bye and was back to her cheerful self.
Life is good... just not near Santa! ha

Once again, we live and learn, it's all about going with the flow and doing what you can with what you have (or don't have)!

We will see you next year Santa!
Mmmmuuuah (Suri blowing a kiss!)

Aunt Lindsay with Suri - waiting for our turn with Santa... Suri was blowing a kiss :)
(notice the scratch on the side of Suri's nose... it's a bad one!)