Santa...for kids!

"Mommy!!!!  It's SANTA!!!  For KIDS!"  We were in the store when you came charging to me with this exclamation.  You showed me a baby santa suit and held it up like it was shining glory.  Santa...for kids!  We finally found one in your size.  With that much Christmas jubilee there was no way I could say no.  You showed me how it was a complete Santa..."it has the hat, the belt...it's Santa!"

The day of the Old Town Alexandria Tree Lighting, you asked where your Santa suit was because you had to wear it.  We layered up in long johns and covered you in Santa and you proudly stood and exclaimed, "Mommy, I'M Santa!"  We sang drummer boy on the way and found the new holiday station. I carried along the hiking chair with wishful thinking.  It was packed, we weren't as early as I'd hoped, you were bouncing out of stroller begging me to lift you up to see the stage.  Hello, pregnant girl with a Santa suited toddler blowing a toy trumpet on her shoulders standing tippy toe with a craning neck to make sure her son can see the Holiday Show.  Yes, I'd do it again right now because it meant that much to you.

After the show your first response was, "one more time?"  Sorry nugget head.  Only one performance!  The kids all lined up to see Santa.  You told me you didn't need to because, "Mommy, I am Santa!"  You told me you would be too shy to talk to him and didn't care to sit on his lap.  We met the dancers and I tried to leave but you were not ready.  "Mommy!  Where are you going?  Go meet more dancers!  I don't want to leave yet."  So we met some more dancers and sang some carols by the giant blue spruce all lit up surrounded by piano music and jolly holiday song lovers.  The mood was so festive we were not ready to just "go home."  We walked to our car, made a bathroom stop and decided to stay for some pregnant girl cheese pizza and toddler ice cream you know since we just happened to be parked outside of Bertucci's.   I kept thinking that next year, Kealana would be with us.  Hmm, holding two babies up in the air for a show?  We sang until you couldn't keep your eyes open anymore.  I carried you in with that I love holding sleeping baby bodies on my shoulders feeling.  You asked for your cozy Christmas jammies and we cuddled up with kisses and "I love yous," until you fell asleep in my arms holding onto me tightly with our candles glowing in the window sills.  A perfect beginning to the Christmas season.  Let it begin!