Santa Success!!

Jay and I decided we would try and finish all of our Christmas shopping today, so bright and early (9:30 am) we packed up Ryan and headed to the Palisades Mall. It had snowed last night so the streets were a slushy mess and it was freezing out so we decided comfort was key, especially since the mall would be crowded and we would probably have a long day. It is the first time in a month that I have not dressed Ryan in something "Christmasy" when we were going any where that Santa might be because (a) I have had no success in the past attempts to get the picture (as previously mentioned) so I figured Ryan might as well be comfortable, (b) I was sure the line to see Santa would be super long since this was the last weekend to put your requests in for Christmas, and (c) I really needed to focus on finishing shopping, not making Ryan like Santa.

We started on the first floor of the mall which also happened to be where Santa was. Of course, there was only one child on line to meet Santa and of course, Ryan started yelling "Santa Santa" as soon as he saw him. We asked Ryan if he wanted to wait and talk to Santa and he said yes so we waited, although I suspected when it was our turn, Ryan would not go near Santa. You see where this is going right?? When our turn came, Ryan walked right over to Santa and said "Book please" since Santa gave out a coloring book at the other mall. I am sure Santa thought I made Ryan say he wanted books for Christmas but when he asked Ryan what he wanted, Ryan said "Trains, cars, books, crayons and markers". While I wish I had my camera with me and that Ryan was dressed differently, I am so happy that he got over his Santa fear and had a good time - I think the lollipop Santa gave him didn't hurt though because he talked about it for the rest of the day.

After 6 hours of shopping, I still have a few presents left to buy and am a little panicked about that, but I finally have the Santa picture and am thrilled about that.

Funny Ryan

(Edited on 12/11 to add more funnies)
Once again, I am back to write about how funny Ryan is. The more talkative he gets, the easier he is to understand, and I can't help but laugh at the things he comes up with.

1. While I take a shower in the morning, Ryan usually watches a movie and eats cheerios or corn pops. Recently, he came running in the bathroom with his bowl and yelled "Mommy, pops all gone!" so I said "Wow, where did they go, in your belly?" and he looked at me, totally confused and said "No, in mouth".

2. Ryan and Grandma went to the park and met a boy and his Grandma there. The boy and the Grandma were talking in another language and Ryan went up to the boy and said "What you talking about?" (this is his new favorite phrase, not sure where he learned it).

3. 2nd favorite phrase "I can't" as in "Ryan, please clean up your toys" "Mommy, I can't".

4. Ryan still loves playing hide and go seek - of course we always have to find him, but he has come up with some pretty good hiding spots lately. His favorite spots are: the dark, cold refrigerator at subway, the closet in my parent's bedroom or by their front door, and the closet in Jay's old room at his parent's house. Here are some of his favorite spots in our apartment:

5. Last night we called Aunt Erika to say hello and she asked Ryan what he had for dinner and he said "Bones and Ketchup". Bones are lamb chops - yes, Ryan will not eat a chicken nugget, but give him a lamb chop and he will go to town.

6. When I was putting Ryan's pajamas on, I saw he had a red spot on his belly. I called Jay to come look at it and see what he thought it was. I said "Do you think it is anything bad?" and Ryan said "Mommy, Don't worry". How smart is my son??

Rocking around the Christmas tree..

On Sunday, Jay went and picked out a tree for the apartment and came back with one of the fattest trees I have ever seen. As soon as Ryan saw the tree, he started jumping up and down saying "Wow!!!" When we cut the netting off, he was even more in awe as the tree opened up and I was thinking, this is going to be SO much fun to decorate as a family. After Ryan went to bed, Jay and I put the lights up so that we would all be able to put on the decorations the next night.

Last night, while Ryan and I waited for Jay to get home, I took all of the ornaments out and put hooks on them to save some time. I had bought a 5 pack of Sesame Street character ornaments thinking that Ryan would like those better than plain balls. The only thing Ryan wanted to do though was take those 5 off the tree and play with them in his room.


Later that night, Ryan even insisted on sleeping with them by letting me know that they needed to go "in freaky cover" (his doll, freak, gets his own cover/blanket and he sleeps on Ryan's pillow with him). After seeing my disappointment that Ryan was not in to decorating the tree (or posing for pictures in front of the tree), Jay kindly said "Don't worry, honey, I will decorate the tree with you" (which meant "give it up and stop torturing Ryan") and we let Ryan play in his room while we decorated the tree. Jay even indulged me and put on Christmas music. I was just starting to enjoy myself when I realized that Ryan was being too quiet. I went to check on him and saw on the floor a Santa with no legs and a Mickey mouse with no legs, or arms, or head and realized perhaps I should have not left ANY of the ornaments lying around. Thank goodness for Martha Stewart shatterproof ornaments because Ryan LOVED playing with/throwing those. Too bad we all will be covered in glitter from now until next Christmas.
(this picture is for the person who loves Ryan's "rakes" - xoxoxo)

4 broken ornaments and 10 tantrums later (1 was mine), I guess the shirt says it all!


Ironically, Ryan loves to look at the tree now and has been very good about not touching it - he even tells Elizabeth (he calls her beebet) every morning when she arrives "Beebet, tree no touch"

Meeting Santa

Last year, after waiting on line for an hour for Ryan to get his picture with Santa, Ryan refused to sit on his lap and screamed until we took him off. I was hoping that this year would be different, but the one day we were in the mall and there was no line, Ryan would not go near Santa. I bought him a few books about Santa/Christmas and talk to him all the time about how he should like Santa and that if you are a good boy and if you sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want, he will leave you presents at your house. He doesn't care - all he is interested in are the trains that are in the Santa book. Anyway, Jay and I were shopping today and there was a Santa in front of one of the stores so I asked Ryan if he wanted to say hi. To my surprise, he said yes and while it was not the "ideal" Santa and Ryan picture, I would take what I could get. Of course, as soon as Ryan got out of the stroller, he would not go near Santa unless he was holding my hand.

He did give Santa a high five though and to my delight, actually had a semi-conversation with Santa.

Santa: Well Hello little boy. What would you like for Christmas?

Ryan: (just stared)

Me: Ryan, tell Santa what you want for Christmas (not really expecting him to say anything)

Ryan: Um, trains.

Santa: Oh you want some trains?

Ryan: (screaming) yes, and cars.

LOL. Because he doesn't have enough of either of those. This was one of the most patient Santas ever so thanks to him, here is my one and only Ryan and Santa picture. (kind of wish I brushed my hair a bit).