Ohh What a Sweet Baby!!

On Thursday we continued our Christmas-time celebrity photo circuit. This time we went to "Spoiled", a boutique that offers a free photograph with a great Santa if you bring in an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. The photographer took Ava's newborn photos. Its a win-win tradition we started last year and I love it. This year I opted to go early and let Ava "warm-up". We were the first ones in the boutique. We even arrived before the photographer and Santa which made us look like the eager beavers that we are NOT! I had to explain that we were there to ease Ava into it, not to be the first ones in line.

To kill some time we went to the sister boutique next door. Ava was having fun hiding behind a display when I saw Santa walk in looking for the photographer. As he chatted with the clerk, I got Ava's attention. She came out from behind the display and....ahhhh.....I wish I could have captured the look on her face as she saw Santa in real life for the first time. It was pure magic. She stood there in awe as he continued to talk. When he was finished he left the shop we were in to go next door. To my surprise Ava began to follow him out. I fumbled with my camera trying to get the shot and managed to get something. Ava and I headed over to the boutique next door and the scene was a bit more "lively" as many more children and parents had arrived. I let Ava run around and watch the other kids sit on Santa's lap. I believe in her mind she had some unfinished business with the man in red and was very curious. Luckily the children that went before us were in good spirits so that helped set the tone a little more. When it was Ava's turn I put her down and told her "okay Ava, go see Santa". And just like that, this little Angel in front of me with her brown curls and little reindeer dress walked right up to Santa and let him pick her up. For a brief moment she looked a bit anxious but as he spoke to her she relaxed. Santa smoothed out her dress so her little reindeer showed and Ava began playing with his beard. We got some great shots and I can't wait to see them.

When the photographer was finished, I was about to call Ava to me but I paused when I saw her sitting so quietly on Santa's lap listening to him talk to her. When I did call her, Santa picked her up and placed her on her feet. As she walked away I told her to blow Santa a kiss and that she did. She blew Santa a sackful of kisses. Then she blew kisses to the photograher and then to all the kids and parents on line waiting for their turn. I could have stood there and watched it forever. I was so proud of her!! The whole experience was pure sweetness.