For your little one, I mean? I'm debating on doing a stocking full of goodies or not.
I have a couple of big gifts he is getting, plus the million gifts my MIL already has for him... Geeze.
So what are your plans? I have some friends with kids the same age as S, some are going all out, some think its pointless because he won't remember.
Re: What are you doing for Xmas?
We already have most of DS's shopping done. We bought him pajamas in the next size up, since he needed them, a little set of Nutbrown Hare books (they're the perfect size for him to hold!), and his annual ornament. We're also getting him the FP baby laptop and some puffs for his stocking.
We didn't want to do a lot, since money is tight, but also because DS got a million gifts for his birthday, plus we've gotten a lot of gift idea requests from family and friends. Right now, it's not so bad, as he doesn't get the concept of being greedy, but we'll have to be vigilant as he gets older. Maybe we'll do the "Santa Bag" method of clearing out toys.
We got her a cardboard playhouse, and are making her a kitchen set.
For her stocking I got her a few cartoon DVDs (found them for less than $2 each, they're all classics, like Betty Boop, & Popeye, except the Doodlebops Christmas, she loves them)... Flame away for letting DD watch saturday morning "cartoons" I don't care
I also got her 3 little people to go with the sets my BFF gave her that her kids outgrew, and some hair ties & such for her stocking.
We are filling most of the stocking full of pacifiers and a pirate doll he is in love with.
Then there are the presents under the tree from Santa. He is getting a slide. I don't go with the "he won't remember thing" philosophy. They may not remember but they have fun anyways. I do it for the instant gratification of watching their faces light up when they see their gifts. At age two they don't remember Christmas either but let me tell you, they ADORE it.
Ah pacifiers, good stocking stuffer idea. We had a good handle on keeping track of them but now that she's walking, she leaves them everywhere and we have a really hard time finding one when we need it. When we don't want her to have one, she can find five, but when she's having a major meltdown there isn't a single one within 20 feet.
We bought A a kitchen and some play food (I hope to be making a bunch of felt food). I'm also making her a big floor pillow--which I have been working on for months
We've never done stockings at our home but plan to this year. My family's tradition is to wrap all the stocking stuffers in aluminum foil...it will be fun
I'm really looking forward to Xmas day, we've never just stayed home and celebrated as a family (and not traveled). We made a pact that we wouldn't travel on xmas eve or xmas day once A was one. I sooo happy!!
of course we do stockings!! new toothbrushes, little bath toys, stuffed animal or doll, etc... and DD remembers all of her Christmas' except for her first (obviously she was 2 weeks old), it may surprise you what they will remember. The gifts from Santa will be out and not wrapped and then gifts from DH and I.
Many years ago I read in a magazine a list of ideas to help kids focus less on acquiring stuff at Christmas and more on the values behind it. As an environmentalist who really tries to lessen our impact this resonated with me. One of the ideas was to give each child 3 gifts just as baby Jesus received 3 gifts. I'm Christian so this also resonated with me and we started this with E even last year. This year her three gifts are
1. a handmade doll I bought on Etsy (we lean a little Waldorf)
2. a Radio Flyer scoot toy I got for 1/2 price at Toys R Us last night (woot woot)
3. an art station that includes a little wooden white table with two chairs and art supplies.
I know I'm kind of cheating with getting gifts with multiple parts but I can deal with that. We also cheat a little by putting a few things in her stocking. She's getting a Teacup Piggie (stripped of all of it's silly paraphanelia) since her nickname is Piggie, and some wooden cars and counting acorns (another Waldorf staple).
My kids get under the tree:
One big gift from us
One big gift their siblings
One smaller gift from the dog
A clothes box
They get about 8 things in their stockings:
one $20
one $15
two $10
and about 4 0-10 dollar items
Pickle gift
Whoever finds the pickle ornament first Christmas morning gets to open the pickle gift. This gift anyone in the family can use and ranges in price each year. Some years it is a 10 dollar puzzle, this year it is a new desktop!!
My little CHD warrior. Born 9/29/11. Got his new heart 10/20/11
BLOG :] & Shaping Up
Yeah, when I was a kid I think we only had stuff in our stockings like once or twice. We always hung them, but it was more of a decorative thing. The only thing I remember ever getting in a stocking was batteries.
Which now kind of reminds me of beating someone with a sock full of batteries, which is kind of funny.
We'll do the same as last year -
a gift for each night of Channukah and a gift for Christmas. This year we're adding in a gift from Santa. We do stockings when we get home from the inlaws. Right now it'll contain a lovey-type blanket, a stripey cat doll, a slide whistle, and bubbles.
We are going to buy DD's gift after Christmas when it will hopefully be on sale (a play kitchen). I think she will enjoy opening anything and won't really care what is in the package. I know my parents are getting her some things she will be able to open and play with.
I did get her some plates, cups and silverware that I think will be her most favorite gift. I may also wrap up some goldfish or animal crackers. She is not going to remember and she doesn't really need anything. Also, I don't feel like carting everything from MD to AL and back.