Santa Baby

Claire took pictures with Santa a few weeks ago.  I haven't had access to a scanner until recently so I haven't updated the blog yet.  The Santa at Sprouts Photography was AMAZING!  What a sweet guy!  He was so nice to my little munch and she didn't even cry when she was sitting with him.  She was calm, a little suspiscious but didn't overreact.  She has a fairly calm disposition, thus far, so this didn't really surprise me.  When "Santa" said, "I wish all of them were like her," I couldn't help but feel a bashful pride come over me.  She's a sweet one, that Clair-ey.

The "Santa Question" is a one that has come up in conversation in our house a few times.  Christian and I are not totally sure about how we are going to deal with it.  Play along and tell her the story?  Play along but tell her the story is just pretend? Skip Santa completely? Teach her about the historical Christian St. Nicholas who had a giving heart? We still have a year or two until it really matters, I suppose.  We'll probably do some of each. But we want her to understand the true "soul of Christmas," the wonder of God made flesh and not get so caught up in the "gimme" of it all. I want the wonder and miracle of the Christ we commemorate to be as real and as necessary as the air she breathes. I also want her to have fun and view the season as a time of fun and even a little magic like I did as a kid.  It is a delicate balance.  

In the meantime, Claire is met super cute man who was sweet to her, got a dress that was LOVINGLY handmade (smocking and all) by a wonderful friend that cares about her and mama got a photo op to mark her first Christmas.    Not bad, sweets, not bad at all.