Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas filled with lots of family and holiday cheer! Samantha loved all the holiday gatherings, decorations, and lights. She loves to be surrounded by people especially those who love her :). We spent Christmas Eve at Grammy's and Samantha had lots of fun playing with all her cousins. Christmas Day was spent at home joined by Toby's family. Samantha, like most kids, was more interested the wrapping paper and packaging than the gifts. She got so many wonderful gifts and has enjoyed each of them. More important than the gifts was the time, memories and traditions that we are creating with Samantha as a family. Christmas time is such a special time of year that is filled with traditions, decorations, excitement and anticipation. One of her favorite things (that I'm sure will become a family tradition) was driving around to see all the Christmas lights. It was so cute to hear her in the back of the car with her little Oohs and Wows. Christmas is a time that we love and look forward to and I know this will soon become her favorite time of year as she grows older.

It's Santa!

I was debating on whether or not to take Samantha to see Santa this year. I was thinking that she might be a little afraid of him because of the costume and beard and all. Also I thought that if we had to wait in line and she were to other kids cry that she might think he's someone to be afraid of. However, Samantha has always been a people person, she's never had any trouble going to someone else. Of course I wouldn't hand her over to a stranger but when we are around friends or family she hasn't seen in awhile she is very quick to greet them with a big smile, wave and hug. So why would Santa be any different! I took her to the Santa at the Tracy mall (it was the same one as last year :). There was no one in line and when we got to the entrance Samantha reached out her hand towards Santa as if to say HI. He waved back at her and said hello in his jolly voice as I got her out of the stroller. I placed her on Santa's lap and she was as happy as can be. We got lots of cute pictures so it was hard to narrow it down. While I decided on just the right one, Samantha was content to sit with Santa as she petted the fluff of his suit. Maybe she thought he was a big fluffy animal of some sort! At any rate she did great and was able to charm Santa and his Elves as she seems to do everyone we meet.