Bravery…

Year one:

Jaia was 11 months old and sat pleasantly on Santa’s knee for one great shot before she realized she’d been handed over to  scary stranger with a long shaggy beard, who was dressed in pajamas.  She was quickly in tears until she was safely back in Mama’s arms.

Year two:

Jaia wanted no part of a visit with Santa.  Dan and I sprung it on her and she was terrified and super apprehensive, despite all the other well-behaved girls and boys who sat on Santa’s lap and survived unscathed.  Even the promises on a candy and a scraggly Elmo doll being waved widly to distract her did nothing to calm her fears.  There was no way this was going to happen.

As a final attempt, the camera guy suggested I sit next to Sant but slightly out of the shot so Jaia would feel more comfortable. It worked, but only to a point.  She leaned so far away from Santa and so much towards me that they are barely together in the shot at all.  And her face is hilarious.  Not a fan of Ol’ St. Nick at all.  Just doing ot for the candy at that point.

Year three:

After a bit of preparation of what she was going to ask Santa for, Jaia was a total pro.  She sat pleasantly on his lap.  Smiled for the camera and then proceeded to give Santa her looooong list, promising that she’d been a good girl all year long.  I stood there, proud as can be, and felt a little like a pageant mom as I smiled from the background like I was coaching her.  All that was missing was the tiara and the spray tan. (On her, not me).  It was awesome.

To add to the excitement, Jaia met Santa AGAIN with Daddy when they went out a few days later.  And this time Mrs. Claus was there too.  She apparently sat right back down with him and gave him her list again, just to make sure he didn’t forget anything.

I wonder if she noticed that he looked nothing like the Santa from the mall.  Or that Mrs. Claus looked a little like a man…