Mike and I have been wondering for months now how Annabel would do when she met Santa Claus. The only thing predictable about Annie is her unpredictability, so we really had no idea what to expect. Still, Mike and I were excited.
When Mike, my parents and I arrived at the mall, I was pretty impressed with Santa’s Lair:
I love how Santa’s just chillin’ with his legs crossed
Annabel, on the other hand, was not:
It would figure that the child who NEVER sleeps would sleep for the first forty minutes we were at the mall. So, my mom and I decided to kill some time by Christmas shopping at Anthropologie, and let me tell you, Mike and my dad just loooooved that.
Finally, Annie woke up and it was time for the big moment. Mike and I carried her through Santa’s lair, past the psychedelic present and through the big present, and then it was time for the moment we’d been waiting for.
Santa, meet Annie. Annie, meet Santa.
She was in awe of him. Or, she might have thought she was still asleep and having the weirdest dream ever. She listened to every word Santa said, and didn’t freak out at all. Santa also had a very thick southern accent, so clearly he was from the South Pole.
Anyway. The picture!
She’s like, “hey, I’m hanging with Santa. What are YOU doing?”
After the photos were done, one of Santa’s elves walked us out and said, “What’s your son’s name? He’s so cute.”
Clearly, that elf is another genius.
Not all the elves can make toys at the North Pole, right?
{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
That is an awesome Santa photo! So nice to find a Santa with a real beard and real twinkly eyes
It makes sense for Santa to live at the South Pole, since he visits New Zealand first every year, by the way.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Listen to the water
Ack! I love it! she’s such a little trooper! I hope my 7 mos old is as brave when I take him to meet Santa for the first time! Btw, which mall is this? The Beverly Center? That really is a super nice Santa’s lair. It puts the one at South Coast Plaza to shame!
Oh no he didn’t! I guess that’s why he’s an elf working at the mall.
Annabel looks adorable and it looks like she has panda shoes on. Awww! Love me some panda feet. 
My hubby took our daughter to the mall recently and Santa was there. He wasn’t taking her to see Santa but told me he started to think about it.
Until she got him in her sights and freaked out. So in 2 years, this will be the 2nd year my daughter will not be sitting on Santa’s lap.
Elle´s last [type] ..Guest Blogger- Jayne From Mum’s The Word To Breastfeed Or Not To Breastfeed- That Is The Question
Where do these people come from that think she is a boy!?! Unless it’s SO obvious, I always say something like “What a cutie!” You know, gender neutral. But it is SO obvious what a beautiful little girl you have!! People…sheesh!
That’s a pretty good looking Santa. I wonder how long it took him to grow his beard?
She is so gorgeous, and she looks extremely smart in that picture, like she figured that Santa for a fraud the second she heard the southern accent.
Taryn @ InnerFatGirl´s last [type] ..Skype Hype
she is just so adorable!!!
Cute Cuter Cutest
What is with the boy thing? She is so clearly a girl. What is *wrong* with these people?
Jennifer´s last [type] ..It’s an Expat Thing
Duh, you’re obviously one of these really forward-thinking mums who dresses their son in a SKIRT.
Grr. This used to happen to me all the bloody time, even when I had my daughter dressed head to toe in pink. My litte one is like Annie, they both have loads of thick hair, so she’d usually have her hair in bunches too. Could I have possible done anything to make her look more girly?! Nope. People are just dumbarses.
Jayne´s last [type] ..Inequality It goes both ways- you know
The elf clearly is stupid. Annie has a dress/skirt on! I know this is the 21st Century but moat people don’t dress their baby boys in baby girls clothing. I can’t comprehend how people look at her and think “what a cute boy” jeez.
I love the Santa photo. And Santas grotto is awesome!!
Becca_Masters´s last [type] ..Day 4 → Something you have to forgive someone for
I totally lost it at this line: “She was in awe of him. Or, she might have thought she was still asleep and having the weirdest dream ever. ”
Too funny.
And yep, I’m lovin’ Santa’s stylin’ with the real beard! You don’t see that often. I almost think he’s real!
My niece who is just a couple of months younger than Annie (and looks quite a bit like her, I must say) always gets mistaken for a boy. My sister finds it endlessly hilarious. She’s generally wearing some pink somewhere.
And I’m yet to take Angus to see Santa yet. He was just three weeks old last year and slept peacefully in Santa’s arms. This year, in full separation anxiety mode and having just turned one, I doubt he’s going to be as cool with it! Wish us luck!
Great pic! Clearly, Santa was the one paying attention. “And Santa, I’d like a baby brother or sister.. or maybe both since twins run in the family. And I’d like that cute toy and a pony too.” Or weirdest dream ever. LOL
I’m not surprised the elf thought Annie was a boy – we totally dressed our son in a skirt for his first meeting with Santa. Doesn’t everybody these days??
Totally adorable picture. I too loved the line about her having the weirdest dream ever. If only we could read their little baby thoughts…
Brandy´s last [type] ..Should Have Known Better
Heather, I love it when you make me laugh! Thanks for the happy start to my day.
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last [type] ..Promise me that you won’t look at my face
Those are some long legs, Santa! She’s adorable as always!!
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing´s last [type] ..Fortress
What an absolutely beautiful photo of Annie and Santa!!!! She DOES NOT look like a boy. If we have people out there dressing their little boys in outfits like Annie has on; they’d better redo the wardrobe!!
Annie has the same expression as the panda on her shirt!!!!!
Great pic. It will be just perfect for bringing out in 16 years to embarrass the prom date.
well, at least Santa looks happy?
Heather´s last [type] ..8 days
omg she is so awesome. She is my role model.
I cannot even believe that someone mistook her for a boy. urgh.
What the HECK? She definitely doesn’t look like a boy! Maybe people mistake her for a boy because she looks so much like her daddy – ? but SHE doesn’t look like a boy at all! People are blind!
What a great picture with Santa! I am sure that stupid elf is the one who made all the broken toys last year and is now has to work at the mall to support his family. Seriously how could he even for a second think Annie was a boy? Santa looks like such a really nice Santa. Last week when I went to a garden center Christmas shop Santa was there tucked in a corner among the trees and decorations. He was having a conversation with a shopper. She asked how old his kids were now and after he told her he went on and on about all the things his daughter wants for Christmas and how his wife takes care of that. I always knew it was Mrs. Claus all along and he was just taking credit for it.
Love the Santa photo! Adorable, but then again, when is little Miss Annie NOT adorable?
That elf needs to work a bit on his or her social skills… grin. How funny…. Anyway, I had not expected Annabel to cry at the sight of Santa. She needs more then Santa to get her off balance!
catherine lucas´s last [type] ..Life is no video
When I was a baby (an “off-the-growth-charts until I was 2, completely bald until I was 1″ kind of baby), people used to think I was a boy all the time. My poor mom would dress me in pink, lace, ribbons, etc from head to toe, and still……”What a cute little boy!” Once when she corrected someone, the person smiled sadly at me and sad “Well, she’ll never be a ballerina…..” For the record I was a ballerina! Well within normal weight now and a full head of hair! People just don’t think sometimes.
Annie is adorable!
I’m just not seeing the boy comparison, especially with that adorable outfit and girly face!….
Karen´s last [type] ..Mohegan Sun Casino
I’d be sure you were making up all these “what a cute little boy” incidences if it weren’t for the fact that our baby got called a boy a lot too. If they’re so sure she’s a boy shouldn’t there comment be something along the lines of, “What’s up with the skirt and tights?” Outside of the first 3 months, clothing alone should separate the boys from the girls. All girl’s stuff is fitted and cuts off the circulation if you have chubby one like we did and all the boys’ clothes are baggy and roomy and almost exclusively blue or brown.
Anyway, I think Annie is an adorable little girl and her outfit is cool too.
So cute. You are so lucky. I have yet to get a good Santa picture with Maya yet. Every year she freaks out and cries.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Maya’s Favorite Things
Your son! Hah! Your son wearing white tights and a skirt! People are so obviously oblivious.
(((hugs)))
Deborah´s last [type] ..An Ode To Wesley’s Boobie Trap
Oh, you took her! So much fun, she’s so beautiful (and what a nice-looking Santa)! I want to take Nate, too, and like you, I’m totally unsure how he’ll react. I keep trying to get him to say “Ho ho ho!”
she is adorable, whenever someone tells me my son is such a pretty little girl i just say well thank you sir (if its a lady of course) then i walk away makes me feel better
Perhaps it’s because Annie favors her Daddy so much that folks mistake her for a little boy…
I love the photo of them looking at each other even more than the actual Santa photo, although they both came out great! She’s beautiful and very girly, people mistaking her for a boy at this point are just moronic. Wishing the Spohr family a happy 1st holiday season with Annie!
What a cute pic! BTW I can’t understand it because Annie does NOt look like a boy at all.
Plus why would you dress your boy in a dress and tights? duh.
What’s with the boy thing when she was CLEARLY dressed like a little girl? Boy! Peoples are dumb!!! She doesn’t look overally sure of the whole Santa thing in the picture! She is sooo cute. I’m so happy she didn’t freak out or fear him. Then again, that’s Annie though, isn’t it? She isn’t really a kid who fears a lot….is she?
I know Christmas is a bitter/sweet time but having Annie here has probably made it a whole lot better than it was last year. Annie is going to be so much fun this year!!! I can’t wait to see her face at Christmas!
Enjoy your not so little baby girl. Soon she will be walking and talking leaving you to wonder where the hell all this time has gone!!!
uh…son? Red sweater– white tights and a SKIRT? Plus she is beautiful…..
Great santa though! and I love that she did not freak out!
kbreints´s last [type] ..Let the festivities begin!
That is one of the cutest Santa pics I have ever seen.
As for the boy comment, don’t feel bad. When my son was about 18 months, he had on camouflage overalls and people were still saying what a cute girl I had.
Kristin´s last [type] ..Return to the land of the living
First great picture of Annie and Santa. She has the look like who is guy Im sitting on!!
That must of been a cross dresser of a elf if he had to ask what your sons name was when she was in a tight and dress. Give me a break!! I think I would of let him have it.
I am amazed at how totally composed she is, like she’s met Santa a million times before and it’s just another thing. My kids had the hugest, most obscene FREAK OUTS every time they got near Santa! Annie is a cool kid.
that elf must be on crack.
love the santa & annie picture. definitely a keeper!
Very cute! I think it’s the hair. Until the hair gets longer, it actually is very hard to tell apart boy and girl babies. It might not be a bad thing if strangers don’t automatically treat Annie as a girly-girl. Research shows that if people think they are watching a boy baby, they will let the baby be more adventurous. If they think it’s a girl, they will hover and be more protective. How completely unfair, and what a way NOT to encourage independence in our girls!
Seriously?! It’s so obvious Annie’s a little girl. People are stupid. :p
what a precious picture!!! she looks like a girlie girl to me.
i had to laugh at the elf saying annie was a boy. my brother had curly hair growing up and people ALWAYS thought he was a girl. one day someone asked “oh, what’s your baby’s name?” my mom replied “john david.” to which they replied “well, that’s a funny name for a girl”… what????? people just don’t think before they speak !!!!
merry chritmas to you and your family.
you make me laugh !!!!
Why did you put such a girly outfit on your little boy?
PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
My newborn daughter was in a PINK DRESS with a PINK hat and she was sitting in a carseat with a PINK blanket. Some lady said, “What a handsome little boy!”
Mrs. Wilson´s last [type] ..scenes from a Saturday afternoon
GREAT picture!!! She is so stinkin’ cute!
If boys were that pretty, they’d all be gay. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that)
Rebecca´s last [type] ..Thanks
That is SUCH a cute first Santa picture! The ones my Mom has of my brother and I we are screaming our heads of (actually if I remember correctly my brother has his fists in his mouth.)
I really don’t get WHY people think she’s a boy! Um hello, She has a girl face, a dress, tights and Mary Janes. My friend has twins (a boy and a girl) and people ask her if her little girl is a boy. With a flower headband in her hair. I think people are just unobservant.
Great picture!!! BTW that Santa is so real looking and his lair is pretty awesome. As far as the elf, well I’m not sure what to say about that, clearly she is wearing a dress but yea I’m sure he doesn’t make the toys
This picture!! OMIGOSH!
Great picture…Annie is beautiful and charming as always!!
Is it just me, or is that chair Santa sitting in HUGE???
What a great picture! Love it!
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Nine Month Portraits
If it is any comfort as far as the gender-blind-elf phenomenon goes, I would just like to say that at the age of 19, with a sassy pixie cut, while wearing a dress, I was addressed as “sir.” Twice. Sigh.
She’s such a cutie! Mt middle son is 2 and people always refer to him as a girl. I guess because i don’t buzz his hair off people immediately assume he’s a girl. Or maybe he just has a pretty face. Who knows.
what a wonderful first Santa picture!!! I’m so excited that he had a southern accent. He’s one of me.
And I seriously don’t understand how people can look at her and think she’s a boy. Stoo-pid!
Jen L.´s last [type] ..Tis the season
omg!! so so cute!!!
also, i don’t get the “what an adorable little boy” thing. so lame :/
You know, even if she DID look boyish, you’d think the outfit would kinda give it away! My son was always called a girl, even when he was wearing overalls and a bulldozer shirt with a baseball cap. These days, he insists on wearing his hair long, so he still gets called a girl, but hey, if he’s not worried, neither am I!
Annie looks so cute in that shot with Santa. I’m glad she didn’t cry!
Expat Mom´s last [type] ..Christmas Crafts for Kids- Cinnamon Sandpaper Ornaments
I love her. She is just about the most precious thing , I mean girl, ever!
SHE is sweet as always – I want to eat those cheeks!
Also, that’s a great looking Santa!
She has on a skirt, tights, and maryjanes…I don’t know many boys who dress like that!
Glad meeting Santa went so well.
It’s time for hair bows and pony tails and pom poms in the hair!
.Would love for everyone to watch a documentary on my life which will be on the Documentary channel on Dec 25 at 8:00 pm eastern and pacific..It is called Candyman:the David Klein story. Thank you
Those are super cute pictures. She looks so adorable! p.s. since when do baby boys wear tights?
MyBabyBeluga´s last [type] ..No Shoes- No Shirt- No Problem
What a little slice of cheesecake she is!
Seriously?! a lil boy with a red skirt girly shoes and tights?! OK Elf!
Love the picture with Santa. A-dorable!
LOVE the picture! Looks like that could be the real Santa!
My daughter, Willow, is Annie’s age (only bald) and gets called a boy all. the. time. Even when I make it so the color pink barfed all over her, she’s still a boy, apparently.
I try not to let it bother me, but I’m always seething on the inside!
Jennifer Dawn´s last [type] ..6 Months
she is just adorable – don’t get the gender mix-up…
Love the photos! And what is it with these clowns who can’t tell a boy from a girl? My daughter is a few weeks younger than Annie, and she gets that all the time. Like at my husband’s office holiday party, where one of his female coworkers commented on what a cute little guy I had. Nevermind that Lexie was wearing a dress, tights, and pink boots at the time. Must we have giant bows stuck to their heads at all times?
Sadly? Even with a big ole bow, they will say that. I used to get it a lot with my first. Then I lost the bow.
Clearly the elf is from misfit island. Clearly.
Super cute picture with Santa!! She’s a doll!
Kristin´s last [type] ..Thankful
Yes. Your son. In the tights. *headdesk*
She looks adorable! She looks very unsure about Santa, though. What a cute picture! Can’t wait to see what she does next year. Usually the baby picture goes well, and then it’s unknown!
Clearly, that elf was thrown by the tights, buckle shoes and scalloped skirt.
Also, I’m a little bit obsessed with Santa’s brass buttons. Nice touch, old man, nice touch.
I think that maybe that “elf” had been hitting the “nog” a little early.
Your Annie, she is all girl.
Annie did so good. My 2 year old sees Santa from across the mall and starts to freak and tell me it’s time to go home.
(((HUGS))) from Florida
I just could kiss those chubby little cheeks all day.
I guess you are just going to have to start putting a bow in her hair. Obviously dress and tights don’t work. Unbelieveable.
That Santa is just so…legit looking! Twinkle in his eyes and all.
And Annie..I can’t. The cute just never rests with that one.
I always dressed my boys in red dresses and white tights….doesn’t everyone? Seriously, I went through the same thing with my daughter who would always have a little bow in her hair and be dressed all in pink and as a 6 week premature baby was quite small and skinny. Everytime I was out, some old coot would tell me something like “wow, he’s quite a bruiser!”….yeah, get out of my face buddy…..
Heather, I am sorry to tell you but I don’t think you are Annie’s mother, I think she was conceived 100% by Mike! She looks sooooo much like him! Especially with Santa! Are you sure you weren’t using Mike’s baby picture? By the way, how about a comparison post of his baby pics, yours and the girls?
Annie is too cute- love the panda sweater.
And wow- that is one good-looking Santa! Sometimes their bellies are a little TOO full of jelly, or their beards are yellowing instead of snowy white, or they don’t smile. But this guy was made for a Christmas card.
I declare the panda sweater my favorite article of Annie-clothing so far. Soooo cute! And the look of awe on her face as she looks up at Santa, also soooo cute!
Yay for not freaking out!
Amanda M.´s last [type] ..Crash! Into Me
Cute pic. Stupid elf.
So sweet!
Apparently little boys where skirts and tights in your neck of the woods.
AmazingGreis´s last [type] ..Love at first sight…
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