Bringing Up Bobbin

Dear Santa, 2007

This is mostly verbatim from Bobbin's running dictation last night.

Dear Santa,

Where do you live? Where is the north pole? Is that on top of the earth? Who lives there with you? What do you do at the north pole? Do you like riding the train? Yah? [editor's note: this is a reference to the Polar Express, which is Bobbin's favourite book and which she just recently watched on DVD].

Bobbin's been a good girl. Mommy's a good girl. Daddy's a good boy. Are you a good boy? Yah?

I would like a Ballerina Teddy Bear, and a Santa Teddy Bear. Please.

Who makes these presents for Bobbin?

Come and see our Christmas tree. It's really pretty. Mmm hmmm.

Love,
Bobbin

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Second Letter to Santa

Dear Santa -

So much has changed since you last visited. I'm really a big girl now! I walk and run and climb and say lots of words, and I even know a bunch of signs for words I can't say yet. I love to sing and dance too. I have a bunch of favourite songs that I like to sing with Mommy. I have 6 front teeth and 4 new molars! Mommy makes me brush my teeth every morning and night. Sometimes I like to, but most of the time I don't like it.

I go to school now! Every day except saturdays and sundays and holidays. I really like school. They have tables and chairs that are just my size, and lots of fun toys, and music, and books, and snacks and lunch, and I really like all my friends and teachers there. I have two friends Alyssa and Christopher that are my best friends at school. They're a lot of fun to play with.

I still really enjoy watching football and hockey with Daddy. And I still really love Elmo, and I'm still really into books. But I've developed a number of new interests over the last year as well: tractors, airplanes, space shuttles, dinosaurs, and wild animals of any kind! I love to do art - I colour, and paint, and stamp, and do stickers. Stickers are so much fun. They're my favourite! I don't like glue. They use glue at school and I don't like to touch it. But I like to make art at school too! And I like to make music. Things that shake and tinkle and bang are my favourites. Although I guess that really does cover the spectrum of musical instruments. I haven't learned how to blow yet, so I still have to have mommy or daddy play my harmonica and recorder for me. But I'll keep practicing! Cause I like the sounds they make.

My Aunt Sarah is coming for Christmas too! I'm so excited. I can't wait to see her. She has a dog named dexter. I have a book about a dog named dexter. He's a superhero dog. Maybe Aunt Sarah will read me my book when she's here. Mommy says she's really smart and likes to read, just like me.

I had my first haircut too this year! That was really scary at first. But then I just sat still and let them cut it and it didn't hurt.

I'm also thinking about maybe starting to use the potty. Mommy and Daddy bought me a potty and put it in the bathroom next to Mommy's potty. I think Daddy uses the same potty mommy does but I'm not sure because he's always in there with the door closed. I don't know what he does for toilet paper because when mommy goes potty she always asks me to hand her the toilet paper and says I'm such a good helper and she doesn't know how she ever went potty without me. But I guess Daddies are different. Anyway, I have my own potty. And I know where to go when someone says they have to go potty (even if they close the door before I get there) and I know how to say potty too. I just don't really want to try it out just yet. Mommy said I don't have to if I don't want to. That we'll know when it's the right time to start trying. But it's kinda fun knowing I have it there and that it's just like Mommy's. I like to point to it and say "potty" when Mommy's using hers.

Anyway, I know that it's not polite to ask people for gifts but Mommy said it's ok for me to send you this letter to tell you what I'd really like for Christmas. What I would really really love is a tractor just like Daddy's. A bright red one with big black wheels that goes "bbbrrrrrmmmm" just like Daddy's. That would be so cool. Then I could help Daddy with the yard work. I really like to help around the house. I help Mommy clean and wipe up spills and sweep and put away my clean clothes. I help Daddy set the table and cook. The other job that Mommy and Daddy have given me is to feed Tommy treats. That's my job. He likes it when I give him treats. Sometimes, when Mommy or Daddy say that Tommy's had enough treats, I'll give him other stuff instead. like some of my bread or waffle or cheese or crackers. He likes them all. And when I spill my yogurt he likes to lick it up. Maybe you could bring Tommy some new biscuits and I could give them to him when he wants one?

How are your reindeer, Santa? Did you know we have deer here too? They come and eat our apples and grass almost every night. I really like to watch them. There's a mommy and a daddy and a baby deer. Only the baby isn't so little anymore. Just like me. Maybe your reindeer can be friends with our deer and come over for playdates?

Oh - I should warn you - Daddy built me a new play structure outside. it has a slide and swings. It's right in that flat spot off the kitchen deck. It's REALLY cool. Especially the slide. I go down the slide all by myself. It's really fast and really fun. But I wanted to warn you in case that's where you wanted to park your sled when you come Christmas Eve. I thought we should get one of those big bright red blinking lights to put on it like the kind they put on towers so airplanes don't crash into them, but Mommy said that'd probably be a bit "too much" and I should just write you a letter to tell you about it instead. Now that I think about it, I should have asked Daddy. I bet he would have agreed with me. Oh well.

Well, I should let you get back to your toy making. Do you actually make any of the toys, or do you just supervise the elves making the toys? I would imagine that you're pretty busy. Anyway, hope you have a wonderful Christmas! And we'll be sure to leave you some cookies and something warm to drink when you visit.

Love,
Bobbin
xoxoxoxo

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Letter from Santa: Christmas 2005

December 25th, 2005

My dear little BabyGirl,

Happy Christmas on this, your very first one! The first Christmas is always a special Christmas for you, and for your Mommy and Daddy. I’m quite sure you will have a very fine holiday.

I received your letter in November. Not to worry; I always put all the new little girls and boys at the top of the Christmas list every year! My elves keep me very informed throughout the year on all the births around the world. But I very much enjoyed hearing from you. You are a very bright little girl!

My elves tell me you’ve learned to sit up completely by yourself since your letter. Congratulations! That is a great accomplishment. It does make things so much easier!

Yes, I do enjoy hockey very much. In fact, the elves, reindeer, polar bears, and I hold an annual tournament at the North Pole every January. It’s our way of winding down from the busy holiday season. I am usually asked to tend goal. I think it’s because my jolly old tummy does an excellent job of blocking the puck from the net!

I do know your Great Aunt Sheila. Wonderful woman. She is up north, but not quite as far as I am, so I wouldn’t call us neighbours. Not the next door kind, anyway. However she is one of my first stops on Christmas Eve. I like to leave a little something in her stocking for her little dog.

I also understand that you’ve been enjoying tummy time much more than when you wrote. That’s good to hear. I must say though, that I know what you mean. I try and avoid lying on my tummy as much as possible. But in my case it’s because it’s so round I just tend to wobble back and forth and it makes me quite seasick.

You mentioned you enjoy music, and bright colours, and things that make fun noises and are easy for you to hold. Well, the elves and I held a brainstorming session after reading your letter, and I think you’ll really have a lot of fun with the presents that we came up with!

I’m very pleased that you also enjoy reading books. And at such a young age! But one is never too young to enjoy a good story with pretty pictures, I always say.

Your Aunt Sarah sounds very adventurous and brave. I will definitely be sure to leave her something special in her stocking.

You asked if you could pet the reindeer when I come visit. I’m afraid they’re a little timid; not to mention that it’s likely to be quite dark and chilly out, and that you will be fast asleep when I arrive. My advance-scouting elves also inform me that your rooftop has quite a pitch on it, so even if you were awake and it was warm, it’d be quite dangerous for you to venture out onto it (that’s where I will be landing my sleigh, you see). But to answer your question about how they feel – they are more soft than bristly. And very muscular.

Yes, there are polar bears up north here. There’s one in particular that’s quite mischievous and causes me a great deal of trouble. You may have read about him in my letters to Mr. Tolkien’s children over the years. I agree they look very soft and cuddly, but I strongly advise against getting that close to them. They can be quite ornery creatures.

Thank you for the cookies and beverage. I think I should have no problem now keeping warm for the rest of my rounds.

I hear you yourself are about to embark on a gastronomic adventure into the world of solid foods! I took the liberty of leaving you some of my favourites in your stocking. The pureed carrots are from Rudolph’s own Private Reserve. He’s extremely selective when it comes to his vegetables. Only the very best and freshest will do. And no chemicals or pesticides or additives. Only organic up here in the North Pole! He wanted to make sure that your first taste of one of his favourite foods was a joyous experience for you.

Mrs. Claus and the elves say hello and Merry Christmas, and look forward to hearing from you again next year.

Yours Merrily,
Santa Claus.

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