Day 19: We're going to get Christmas right.

Coming off of our #holidayfail (otherwise known as Halloween) our house is preparing for "Operation: Santa".

Because the big guy in red is coming, and I want our child to be prepared (mentally, emotionally and physically).

On Max's first Christmas, he was only two months old. So when Santa came to visit, Max sat peacefully in his big white-gloved hands, touching his snow-white beard, gazing into his crinkly eyes. (It made for great photos, too)

Last year was a different story.

We are lucky enough to have Santa come to our house during the holidays! We set up a chair for him in front of the tree, he reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and hangs out.

Unfortunately, Santa scared the bejeezus out of Max. Not because of anything he did, it was just his mere presence. Max was shy at first, and then he clung to me like a life raft, crying "No! No!" (This also made for great photos, but in a different way)

Currently, our Santa world sounds like this:

ME:  "Max, did you know that Santa is coming soon? He wears a red suit and hat, has a white beard, and says, "HO, HO, HO!"
MAX:  "No!"

Maybe he misheard the "Ho"?

So THIS year, we have a plan. We are going to be All Santa, All the Time.

We will talk about Santa every day.

We will bring out pictures, figures and books with Santa.

We will SEE Santa a total of 3 times: once at our house, once at daycare, and once on the Essex Steam Train.

We will be one with Santa.

We will not cry when we see Santa.

We will LOVE Santa.

I hope.