Our Winter Baby

What did we do to deserve such a beautifully charming little girl?

Margot has been in the throes of ‘stranger-danger’ during the last few weeks. She cries when I hand her off to someone other than her da-da, and whines when I walk out of the room. I find it endearing, but to those I’m handing her off to, it is probably a little taxing.

Case in point: Santa Claus.

It’s Margot’s first Christmas, and as new parents we were excited to photograph her visiting Saint Nick at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, AK this weekend. What a grand opportunity, to meet Santa Claus in his own house! — Margot will be so psyched, we foolishly thought.

In our excitement, we downplayed her weariness of strangers thinking, if she trusted any new person, it would certainly be Santa. I still don’t see the breakdown in logic. It took all of two seconds for her to launch into meltdown mode while the most professional Santa of all time attempted to mitigate the madness. The charm of the Holiday icon was lost on her completely while youths snickered and sympathetic mothers tsk-awwed at our awkward situation. “This happens all the time” an elf reassured us. We probably would have left her there a little longer, but she wailed with such fervor that she couldn’t catch her breath. It was hilariously heartbreaking — mainly for us. Consoling a crying baby while you’re also laughing at her is quite the quandary.

In my opinion, all good parents will thrust their child (willing, or reluctant) into the arms of Santa Claus for the sake of the family photo album. Psychological damage be damned. 

As most babies do, Margot recovered quickly. After a consolation cuddle and swipe of two tears, we were back in business.

Santa’s Reindeer grazed in a pen nearby. Isaac held Margot up high to get a better look. She watched the Reindeer gnaw on branches, then craned her neck to look at the spindly trees above. As she did, I could see the baby wheels turning in her head.

She’s an observant child, constantly taking in the world around her.

After the excitement, and hilarity, of the Santa Visit was over we settled in at home. Temperatures rose to an enjoyable 30 degrees this weekend, allowing 6 more inches of snow to fall. It was a great time to bundle Margot in her bunting and sit her in the snow. I don’t know what we were expecting, but we certainly expected her to do more than sit there like a lawn gnome. Her lack of experience and dexterity may have prevented her from building a snowman, in my professional opinion.

 

We’re having fun with Margot this winter, but we are certainly looking forward to her toddler years when we can sled with her and visit Santa peacefully.