Santa & Me

I wasn't sure if Gavin would want to see Santa this year because he told me several times, "I scared a Santa". I think it may have been due to the fact that I kept telling him that he had to listen to Mommy & Daddy because Santa is watching him. I didn't mean to scare him! I just wanted to give him some extra motivation to be a bit more co-operative!

Also, I think it freaked him out that Santa comes at night. He went through a few weeks where every night at bedtime he would tell me, "No Santa" and I would have to reassure him that no, Santa is not coming. One night I even heard him talking in his sleep, "No Santa! No Santa Mommy! No Santa comin!"

I felt like I traumatized the poor kid!

Then the ads started coming on TV for the Santa Clause Parade and Gavin was really into it. Whenever he heard the bells jingling he would run to the TV and want to see Santa. We watched the parade on TV (Lame, I know, but I didn't feel like braving the cold and the crowds) and he was really excited when Santa finally made his appearance.

Then he got the special Message from Santa. I think that was the definite turning point. HE LOVED IT! He started insisting that he wanted to see Santa. I brought out the pictures of him and Santa from the previous years and he loved looking at them and kept telling me that he wanted to sit on Santa's lap.

Here is my all time favourite. My baby Gavin in 2008. I love how Santa is holding his arm :)


And last year. A little unsure... (I can't really blame him. Santa looks a little less jolly than the previous year)


With Gavin's new attitude we decided to go for it! Shockingly, there was NO LINE on a Friday evening! I couldn't believe it. And Gavin went right up to Santa and sat on his lap and asked him for a Tonka Racer. Getting him to smile was a different story, but he wasn't scared....more in awe of the big guy.

Here is my big boy! Looking at these pictures, I can't believe how quickly he has grown!


After he got down, he wanted "More! More Santa! I want see Santa!"

So I think he has finally overcome his fear of Old St. Nick! And Santa may even bring him a Tonka Bounce Back Racer. Maybe even the red one that he asked for approximately 1 million times. IF he's a good boy, of course! ;)

What I am

Just when I thought Sesame Street couldn't get any cooler...

(its Will.I.am from The Black Eyed Peas sending an awesome message about self-esteem!)



"If what I am is what’s in me
Then I’ll stay strong
That’s who I’ll be
And I will always be the best
Me that I can be
There’s only one me
I am it
Have a dream
I’ll follow it
It’s up to me to try..."

Happy Holidays!

Gavin recently had a Christmas photo shoot with Annya and he was a little pro! We finished in record time because he was remarkably co-operative for a two-year old.

I was so happy when I saw the finished product (as usual). There were just too many great shots to choose from. But this one is my definite favourite!

I have no idea why he was making that face but I laughed so hard the first time I saw it!


Merry Christmas!

Love, Gavin

Message from Santa

Wow! Gavin got a very special message from the big guy himself!

To watch it, click here:
Gavin's Message from Santa!

To ask Santa to make you a personalized message, go to www.portablenorthpole.ca

"No, I do it!"

We have reached the stage of independence. The stage of wanting to do everything himself. The stage where it takes an extra fifteen minutes to get out the door because Gavin adamantly insists, "No I do it!" along every step of the way.

Right now his newest accomplishment is putting on his winter boots all by himself. This requires great patience from Mommy & Daddy when we are in a hurry, because Gavin is definitely NOT.

We want to encourage this new found independence. They are necessary life skills that he will need to master. But sometimes I just want to shove on his boots and run out the door!

We recently got him a baby doll to help prepare him for the new baby. I was hoping it would help him practice being gentle etc. He has been very nurturing to the doll so far, putting it to sleep in his bed and taking it for rides in his toy stroller. The first day he got it, I brought out some of Gavin's newborn clothes so we could dress the doll. Gavin was really into it and he insisted on putting on the baby's socks all by himself. He sat there for what felt like an eternity as he tried over and over to get the tiny sock on the tiny foot. I wanted to help him SO BADLY and it was so hard to sit back and watch him struggle. But he was determined. FINALLY, he got the sock dangling off the tip of the baby's toe and he sat back and proudly declared, "I did it!!" He was so proud of himself. My perfectionist tendencies were screaming at me to fix the sock but I resisted the urge (at least until he wasn't paying attention anymore).