we were a little hesitant to go on a family outing to celebrate christmas consumerism not because kris and i have vastly different and conflicting shopping styles – which is, in fact, true – but rather because we weren’t sure how odin would tolerate the long lines and the noisy, boisterous atmosphere at a local shopping mall.

but much to our surprise, after becoming quickly annoyed with being constrained in the stroller, instead of attempting to dodge this way and that while we shopped, he instead took it upon himself to help us push his stroller around and was generally oblivious to all the people stopping to smile as nothing it seemed could keep him from his appointed task.

needless to say, his walking skills have been rapidly developing in the past few months with most of the progess happening quickly after thanksgiving. it’s nice that he’s so focused on being a Little Helper because i think sooner rather than later he’ll be able to outrun us 🙂