Since Thanksgiving weekend, I've been on a wild Santa chase. It's Cruz's first Christmas and I'm determined to go all out when it comes to all the glad tidings of Christmas cheer mumbo jumbo. And since this might be the only Christmas in many years to come where my son will actually enjoy sitting on the jolly one's lap, I figured I better find the perfect Santa for the job.
And that's where my Santa chase begins.
It all started on Thanksgiving weekend, when I spotted my first of many Santas at the Jordan Creek Mall in Des Moines. He was perfectly authentic (from far away), dressed in bib overalls and no hat to disguise a wig of white. No, this Santa had it all. Small rimmed glasses, a big, Christmas cookies-and-milk belly, and a full head of curly white hair. We had Cruz along, but no camera, and I refused to spend money on an overpriced framed portrait. So, we waited, and instead of sugarplums, I envisioned one more trip to Des Moines, a baby dressed in red, and my Canon Rebel.
Well, that shopping trip came, and Cruz had his chance to sit on Santa's lap. Now, Cruz was starting to get sleepy and therefore, could have cared less who was holding him at the moment; however, I was feeling anything but jolly. Although this Santa may have looked like he was straight from the North Pole, he was a little creepy. Okay, a lot creepy. The shutter on my camera has never moved so fast, but when Santa went to kiss Cruz on the cheek and Cruz began to get tangled in his beard, I decided it was time to move on. I snatched my little one, wished Santa and his even creepier camera man a Merry Christmas, and moved on to Williams Sonoma. I may have pictures, but the memories are far from 'merry.'
Strike...
One.
Last week, I had another opportunity to get Cruz's picture with Santa. Beau and I met for lunch and since he didn't have much going on at work, decided to do a little Christmas shopping with me. When I spotted the Santa, fully dressed in his red velvet suit at Crossroads Mall, I jumped for joy. He was much better than the bib-wearing creepy man at Jordan Creek, and he smiled sweetly at us as we walked by. And because I was too busy staring at the man in red, I failed to see the huge poster at the entrance of Santa's play land.
NO PERSONAL CAMERAS BEYOND THIS POINT.
You have got to be kidding me. Even though this time, Beau would have allowed me to pay the $30 for a single 5x7 print and tacky candy cane frame, I walked away in spite. There was no way I could justify paying someone to take a single picture of my son with Santa Claus. I felt like a defeated Charlie Brown from A Charlie Brown Christmas. The moment when he goes to seek advice from his friend, Lucy, who demands a nickel for her services. There was no way I wanted to be part of this crappy commercialization anymore than Charlie did.
Strike 2.
Friday night, as we were headed to watch NU play basketball, we had a little time to kill before the game. Cruz was dressed in his red striped Gap sleeper, and looked like a little elf. My heart-strings pulled a little as we drove by College Square Mall and we decided to stop. Just to check it out. And there, at the end of the mall, sat the most perfect Santa I had ever seen. Dressed in red, with a perfectly trimmed beard, he sat by himself, just waiting to meet his littlest elf.
And they let this mom take as many pictures as she wanted! After three Santas, we finally found the one.
Meanwhile, my little elf has been loving the Christmas tree. He's lately developed a fascination with laying underneath it. This way, he can look up and see the lights and branches, as well as all the colorful ornaments that hang like a mobile over his head. He stars at it starry-eyed and looks as though Santa dropped him there himself. I'm going to need another diversion to keep my little one content after the holidays.
I can't believe that Christmas is two weeks away. Right now, I'm far from ready for it to be over.
Today was Cruz’s first out-of-town adventure. I was itching to do some Christmas shopping at Jordan Creek Mall and surprisingly, my husband decided to come along for the ride. After going through his closet the other day, I realized he was in dire need of his once-a-year shop-a-thon. Beau and I balance each other out with our love and need for new clothes. I fill my closet a little (or a lot) at a time; Beau stocks up at Christmas time thanks to the women in his life. He’s resourceful and wears his favorites over and over and over again. This is evident in the fading, wearing, and tearing that is starting to show in even his ‘best.’ After introducing him to the idea of getting 45% off an entire purchase this weekend at the Gap, the idea of spending a Saturday traveling to Des Moines sounded slightly more appealing to him. So, we got up early, bundled up Cruz, and packed in the car for a sure to be adventure.
I guess Cruz isn’t totally his father’s son. While Beau attempted to give numerous pep-talks to our son about crying, pooping, and demanding my breast at all the worst times while shopping, it didn’t work. Cruz embraced all that was shopping and made this mama proud. Looking snug as a bug in his Bundle Me and new puppy hat from the Gap, Cruz slept the entire way there. When the bright lights and hustle and bustle of the busy mall woke him up, he loved all the stimulation. The louder it was, the brighter his eyes got. He sucked away on his pacifier and craned his neck as if to catch all of the commotion he could. And he was quite the show-stopper, and my attention seeking husband was enjoying every minute of it!
What to tuck away from this little day…
-The three of us hanging out in the handicapped dressing room at the Gap. Giving Cruz some leg time and listening to him give his father stamps of approval as he tried on lots of new clothes. I think Cruz and I enjoyed our time in the dressing room more than Beau did!
-Watching Beau put Cruz to sleep in the nursery recliner at Pottery Barn Kids. I knew we should have splurged and bought one of those chairs…
-Buy one, get one free at Starbucks. Waiting 45 minutes for two grande caramel lattes. Not regretting a thing after that first steamy sip.
-45% off an entire purchase at Gap. Mommy, daddy, and baby made out good…
-Family bathrooms at Jordan Creek Mall kick major butt. The set-up, especially the glider rocker in the nursing room, is just about as comfortable as your very own house. I always wanted to move into the mall…
-The look on Cruz’s face as we pushed him through the crowd of Christmas shoppers. His eyes were big and bright, his little hands were tucked up by his face, and he craned his little neck like a big boy to try and see as much as he could.
-Watching Beau and Cruz chill out on a bench in front of Bath and Body Works, people-watching and sharing in lots of new communication. Cruz recently discovered his voice and we can’t get enough of hearing that coo.
-Cruz’s first encounter with Santa Claus! As I was carrying him through the food court, I felt a soft tap on my back. I turned around and was greeted by the jolly one. With a twinkle in his eye (I’m not making this up), he peeked at Cruz and smiled in approval. I have a feeling Santa will be good to our little one this year!
In all the years I’ve been with Beau, I’ve tried to make him a shopper. And now, at just six weeks old, Cruz has fought and prevailed. Success!
