Friday, November 25, 2011

Clara Jane Gets In The Christmas Spirit

Confession:  I am afraid that I may be a little more Scrooge than Santa when it comes to some of the things that get most people in the Christmas spirit.  Christmas music, for example, kind of drives me up the wall (except for classical music like the score for "The Nutcracker").  It gives me the heebie-jeebies that there are radio stations that play Christmas music non-stop for a month straight.  However, for some reason, this year I have been ridiculously excited for Christmas since the day after Halloween.  I can't even help myself.  Clara woke up from a nap on November 1st and as I was rocking her I suddenly found myself singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and dreaming about Christmases from my past.  What is it about a baby that brings back the Christmas magic that you thought you lost long ago? 

Anyway, I don't have any hard-and-fast opinions on when Christmas decorations should go up and when Christmas music should be played.  I figure the tree should go up when it is most convenient.  I remember decorating my parents tree just a day or two before Christmas in the past.  But this year little splashes of red or snippets of holiday melody have been popping up around our home for a while now and it is just the day after Thanksgiving.  I bought Clara three Christmas Books (Twas the Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Snowmen at Christmas) and have been reading them to her every day.

On Wednesday my parents and sister were driving into town.  While Paul was at work in the morning (he only worked until noon the day before Thanksgiving) and before my family arrived, I dressed Clara in her red velvet pants with cream-and-gold blouse that it dotted with red flowers and adorned with a red ribbon.  Then I stuck her reindeer antler headband on her little noggin' and took photos of her with her holiday friends (including baby Jesus from the Little People nativity set that Clara loves playing with - only you can't see baby Jesus as well in the photos because Clara kept chewing on kissing him). 




This has to be my new favorite photo of Paul and Clara together.  They just adore each other so much.  Her fancy pants are still a little too large for her so they kept slipping down when she crawled around and then she would end up standing on them like she is here.



My mom and sister were elated to see Clarabelle since the last time they saw her was when we were in Utah at the end of August when Clara was just 3 months old.




After my family unloaded their bags (and the bigger Christmas presents that they brought out with them since Paul and I won't be able to take them back on the plane with us in December) and we grabbed lunch at La Victoria Taqueria (my favorite), we headed over to the mall to take photos with Santa.  Unfortunately, Santa was out to lunch when we got there are 2:30 so we did a little browsing before we got in line.  I felt so bad because it was WAY past Clara's nap time and the poor thing was SO sleepy.  After we took the photos she just laid her wee head on my shoulder and rested with only an occasional kick of a leg compared to her typical churning heels she was that tired.


Clara liked looking at the Christmas ornaments while we were waiting in line.  I have a feeling that now that she can crawl that she is going to be making a beeline for our Christmas tree and yanking off any ornament she can reach.




My friend from church recommended that we go to the Santa at Oakridge Mall instead of the Santa at Valley Fair.  He was awesome.  He had actual ringlets in his beard, which was real.  He talked with Clara and was so friendly and kind.  I didn't see a single kid cry with him.  Paul stood outside the photo area and took pictures from behind the "no photography beyond this point" signs.  I'm glad he captured these images of Clara meeting Santa because she just gazed at him for a little bit before turning and posing for the camera with a dreamy look in her eye.


 
And here is her first official photo with Santa Claus. 

Let the Christmas season begin!

6 comments:

  1. Is there a point when you can say, "She is SO adorable!" too much? If so, I think I left it behind a long time ago....
    One month EXACTLY today I get to see little Clara and I cannot wait! Christmas season means so much more this season..!

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  2. Love the photos! Clara is darling, as usual. And I love the Christmas music, preferably when sung by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and such. Can't wait to see you guys.

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  3. My favorite has to be the one of Clara "kissing" baby Jesus. Isaac has that Little People set too and it is adorable. I doubt he will be interested in letting Luke kiss his Jesus though :)

    Where is Clara's six month update?

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  4. I know I post on your blog all the time saying "she's so cute," and "oh my gosh Amy, Clara is adorable." (and I know you can't really get sick of it, YOU'RE PARENTS!)...but OH MY GOSH - she's adorable! Seriously. I look at these pictures and my heart melts. Melts. I'm a scrooge of scrooge, but it melts with love for you and for Kayli and for your family and for all the joy that you have. I know that you must walk around with this bubble of happy love - it's disgusting. And yet beautiful. And Clara is freaking ADORABLE.

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  5. I think our Christmas Spirit is renewed when we have or develop close relationships with small children because we are watching them experience these joys for the first time. And we are EXCITED for them to live those moments. We are refreshed by our own memories of our childhood and put all of our hopes and dreams of the good times into these precious gifts from God. Christmas is wonderful when you get to experience it through the eyes of a child.

    I miss that (my nieces and newphew are all teenagers... hostile, cranky teenagers, LOL, bless their parents!) and find myself making holidays special for my PETS, which are as close to kids as I will get unless my heart is healed and I'm able to explore relationships again, or if I adopt...

    When I saw the picture of your sister, I totally forgot you weren't blonde anymore and thought it was you! You guys look alike! :D

    I love your hair dark though, and if you read all of these comments, you know I seriously covet your hair! I wish I had a big sister who had mad hair skills to teach me.

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  6. I can see why that pick of Paul and Clara is your new favorite!! And the pic that Paul took of Clara with Santa is maybe the most adorable thing I have ever seen. Ever. I get such a kick out of your adventures with your beautiful little girl! I am so happy that you are experiencing your first Christmas together!

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