We watched the majority of the Main Street Parade but headed toward the exit while it was still going on in an effort to beat the crowd. Luckily for us, at this particular moment, Dave noticed that Santa was no longer busy. I scooped Kaleb up from his stroller and we headed up the stairs, there were only a couple of children ahead of us so I'd be able to hold him for that amount of time without him getting to heavy. One of Santa's helpers came over with her roll of stickers and asked which one he'd prefer. I told her it didn't matter, he couldn't see them or reach out to pick one anyway - she looked at me with her smiling face and sad eyes and said "I'm a mother to an Angel too".
It's our turn to see Santa, and as I started to place him in his lap it occurred to me that I needed to tell him that he would have to support Kaleb like a baby (it wasn't often I let a "stranger" hold Kaleb). So I summoned my big girl voice and whispered to Santa that Kaleb couldn't support his head or any of his body weight...Santa didn't say a word just stretched his arms out and I gingerly placed him there. Even today, when I look at these pictures, I can almost feel that this Santa understood he was holding a very precious gift and he was humbled to be able to do so. He was the most amazing Santa we could have ever asked for - and this is one of those moments, I will never forget.
It's been two years, two months and one week exactly since Kaleb left us...and our third Christmas without him. I feel him with me, I see that precious face every time I close my eyes and I my heart still misses him, every second of every day.
Merry Christmas my sweet little boy - we love you and miss you.