Baby Jesus, Santa, Christmas trees, lights, cookies, ornaments, presents!
It just doesn't get better than Christmas time! Christmas with a toddler is something special for sure! We're getting a much better response from Cooper this year than we did last year, but I know next year is going to be even more exciting when he really understands what's going on. We have been having so much fun getting ready for Christmas this year with Cooper, and as always, he has surprised us with each and every reaction!
Let's begin with the Christmas parade. We went the Friday before Thanksgiving with the Vakakes family. It was outside at the mall, and it was great--there was Christmas music, lights, fireworks, warm cookies, fire trucks, cars, lots of people, Frosty, the Gingerbread Man, and of course, Santa! It reminded me of the beginning of my all-time-favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story (I love TBS for playing it for a full 24 hours too!). Cooper wasn't so impressed though. He stared intently at each passing person/thing, but nothing even evoked a smile. It was a little cold though, and we might not have been as prepared as we should have been...live and learn...next year we'll bundle up more!
Daddy did a good job keeping him as warm as possible
The day after Thanksgiving we went to get our Christmas tree. We go to Lowes to get our tree, which is more exciting than it sounds because the trees are tied up, so you really don't know what your tree is going to look like until a few days after you buy it and it's had time to fall. We have had the most beautiful tree I have ever seen in my life, the ugliest tree ever grown, and everything in between. It's fun to see what you end up with! This year our tree is FAT. When my dad saw it, he said, "That's the fattest damn tree I've ever seen!" It's true. However, it's really full and really pretty. Cooper actually took part in picking it out and loved traveling from row to row rubbing the trees and picking up needles off the ground and "talking" about them as he roamed. He has done well with the tree overall. We were nervous about the tree this year, and the first few days made us more nervous. Within a couple hours of putting lights on the tree, Coop had pulled the bottom strand off twice. Then within a day of putting the ornaments on (not a single nice ornament went on this year though, just in case Little Man got too curious and somehow pulled the tree down), all ornaments were moved to the top half of the tree where little fingers couldn't reach. Our tree is some kind of pretty this year! :) Also, I thought he was going to love the lights and decorations. He points to the decorations but does his "danger" reaction to them, which I guess it's better that he thinks they're dangerous than play toys! When we plug in the tree lights each afternoon, Cooper comes over and tries to blow the lights out. Maybe next year... :)
It looked normal here, but we definitely learned that a tree can fall A LOT!
When it came time to visit Santa, I was super excited but truly thought Cooper would not be. This is awful, but I think screaming crying pictures with Santa are hilarious. Yes, awful, I know. When I saw this face looking at the old man in the red suit, I started to feel a little giddy that we were going to get that picture this year!
No, no, no. When it was Cooper's turn, he took off running down the red carpet to good ole' St. Nick!
When he got close, he stopped and stared, but before he could change his mind, Karl plunked him in Santa's lap, where Cooper happily sat for his picture.
Then he started to "talk" to Santa! We laughed, and the sweet girl at Bass Pro took another picture of Cooper, so we have two this year!
"Hey, Santa, my dad has a razor that can help you with that beard..."
"Look, Mom! It already has a bow on it!"
Cooper has been pointing to a little Santa figure I have and says (in his own way), "Hoho"! I love it! In 16 days, I think he might be even more excited about his jolly friend!
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