Our Family: 18 Month Checkup & Attempted Santa Visit

Yesterday Harris had his 18 month checkup. He is quite healthy and seems to be growing more and more. He also received his immunizations and is up-to-date. We now don't have to go back until 2yrs and then yearly after that. Yay! What a minute....we have a second baby on the way and will be starting this all over again. Sigh....I guess we'll still be at the pediatrician's office quite often.

Below are the stats from Harris's checkup:

Weight: 24lb 10oz (31 percentile)
- previously @ 15 month: 23lb 6.5oz (31 percentile)
Height: 33.5in (79 percentile)
- previously @ 15 month: 32.25in (78 percentile)
Head: 19.31in (80 percentile)
- previously @ 15 month: 19.25in (87 percentile)

This year we put the Christmas tree in the den which is gated from Harris. I'm so glad we did this because it would have been a nightmare to stop him from playing in the water and pulling down ornaments. Even the few times he's been in the den, it's been a challenge. After his checkup we came home and tried to do a few pictures in front of the tree. Harris didn't cooperate that well, so I didn't really get one that I wanted. There are some cute ones though and I'll share those below.

After Harris had a nap and lunch, we went to Jefferson Pointe to visit Santa. It was very cold being out in the wind. Santa's shift didn't start until 3pm so we had to wait about 10 minutes before getting in line. While waiting we went into Williams and Sonoma to look around. Santa made an appearance before his shift at the store and Harris just kept pointing and staring at him. We thought it was encouraging that he was so interested in Santa and that perhaps this year he'll really get something out of this.

We got in line at 3 and waited our turn. By the time we got to the door Harris started throwing a fit. He screamed and cried like he was having a breakdown. He didn't want Brian to hold him. He didn't want to be in the stroller. I don't know if it was because he was cold or the fact that we were waiting in line and he couldn't move, but the Santa visit was not going well and we hadn't even gotten to the Santa part yet! After 5 minutes of crying and screaming, we decided to skip the Santa visit and had to make everyone backup out of the line to let us out. This was not the day dream version of the Santa trip we had imagined for Harris this year. That's how it works with kids though.

Brian had stuffed his hands in his coat pockets to keep them warm while waiting.

Santa's cottage is so cute!

We're at the door, but the breakdown starts.

Mom & Dad surrender and put Harris back in the stroller to leave. Wet tears are still present on his right cheek.

We ended up going to the food court and let Harris play in the kids area. He had a great time and the tantrum was soon forgotten.

We know that playtime is soon over when Harris starts trying to wonder out into the dining area. He stops at the entrance to the play area and looks at us to see if we are watching him. Either way he'll start to make a break for it. After he's done that a few times, we know it time to go.

"Are momma & daddy watching?"