Santa and a Reindeer

Ethan is having a lot of fun during his first holiday season.  He's hitting up Christmas parties, decorating the house and visiting Santa.  Holidays definitely are a little more fun with little ones.

I've mentioned that E now loves to eat solid food and he now loves to eat A LOT.  I am serious, this kid can eat.  He has days where he goes through ounces and ounces very quickly.  People have teased us to get ready for a huge grocery bill since we have a boy and I thought they meant that this would happen when Ethan gets into high school.  I'm beginning to think we might notice sooner.  

As he grows older, Ethans maniac side is starting calm down.  He has stopped flinging his arms uncontrollably, slowed his bouncing out of control, and even stops moving at points during the day.  Its neat to see him sit calmly and play by himself. We're guessing that it is because he is spending more and more energy crawling, climbing and walking around that he doesn't need all the sporatic movements to get it out.  Thanks goodness.

Here's E's favorite facial expression to make these days.  When he's just tinkering around with his toys or roaming the house he puts his mouth in this little duck face.  It started soon after his top teeth started coming in so I'm guessing it has something to do with that.  We're hoping he grows out of it before he starts dating. :)

E IS a silly guy and loves to laugh.  He's started to make himself laugh instead of just giggling when we play and make faces at him. 

He likes to play a game where he buries himself in a blanket and just starts laughing and laughing until he digs himself out.  I have no idea what he is laughing at, except maybe that he's lost in the blankets and its so soft??  He plays this game in the morning and it absolutely cracks me up.  Some days I would love to know what is going on in this little guys mind.

We have gotten into the holiday spirit at our house these last two weeks and are having a great time celebrating with Ethan.  This is us getting one of the decorations ready to hang. 

 One of the perks of living near the north pole during Christmas is that Santa's reindeer live so close to us.  The local photo shop brought in Santa and one of his reindeer downtown this weekend for the little kids to come and see.  We got to meet Star, Anchorage's resident reindeer, and sit on Santa's lap.  Reindeers are beautiful animals and very tame and Ethan seemed to really enjoy petting him.  He did not seem to enjoy Santa at all.  If one of the requirements of growing up these days is getting your picture taken screaming on Santa's lap, we can check this one off because Ethan now has his.  :)

E thought looking at the reindeer while mom held him was pretty fun.

He even thought petting Star's nose was pretty cool.

He didn't even notice the big guy in red next to us...

He seemed a little uncertain once he did finally notice Santa, but as long as Mom is there everything is OK.

And then Mom left.  His world fell apart.

 

Oh, but there's Star, and he's cool. 

I think in this picture he's hoping that if he looks pleadingly at the camera enough, I'll come save him from the scary Santa.  It worked, I did.  :)