In the Christmas Spirit

Thomas and I weren't sure whether Virginia would be quite old enough to "get" Christmas this year. But we are happy to report that we have an honorary elf in our house - Virginia is totally in to everything Christmasy!

Virginia can identify Santas of all varieties in pictures, decorations, etc. And when you ask her what Santa says, she exclaims "ho, ho, ho!" She also loves spotting snowmen, Christmas lights (she can correctly identify most of the colors), and gingerbread men ("ging bed man"). She is also a master at singing Silent Night and Jingle Bells. She's had a lot of practice with Silent Night, as her nanny, Kim, sings that song to her before her naps. Right around Thanksgiving, Virginia started spontaneously saying "Si nigh, ho nigh, all cahm, all bight!" Perfect timing for the holiday season, Baby V.

Virginia has also seemed to enjoy our family Christmas dance parties. When Thomas and I come home from work, we fire up Christmas carols on the radio and dance with her. She laughs and laughs when I giddy up along to Johnny Mathis's Sleigh Ride. She spins around in circles until she falls over from dizziness.

She's had quite a few holiday outings already. When I was out of town for work earlier this month, Dada and Grammy took her to the Oakland Zoo to see the lights. Apparently, she was just in awe the whole time. And Dada also took her to Thompson Street in Alameda - a place where all the houses are decorated and lit up for Christmas - and she went wild.

Unfortunately, Virginia went for the gold in the Santa Tantrum award contest when it came time to see the real Santa. She seem thrilled on the car ride over, repeating again and again that we were going to see Santa. But when faced with a real bearded guy in a dimly lit house, she panicked. We are going to try again when we get to Montgomery.