With December arrives the Holidays. Christmas, Hanukah, gathering of family members and friends. Festive music, colourful decorations, cooking special meals and desserts, finding the perfect tree and the thing I despise the most — buying presents. Don’t get me wrong, I love to give. Actually, probably more than to receive and if you know anything about me you'd know I LOVE to shop. But the crowds, the lines, the lack of help from sells rep, people being erratic and irritated, the traffic and the scarcity of parkings spots — just dreadful. And what about the inevitable question of what to buy to our love ones…
Thankfully, this year we did all the shopping today. During the week where everyone was working and no one is really stressing to buy presents. The shopping malls were e-m-p-t-y and my daughter was completely in the mood to be out and about for a hole day. You cannot “ask” anything more from a toddler then to be on his best behaviour while out shopping for anyone but yourselves.
My daughter is usually very good with being out for many hours either shopping, site seeing, traveling or simply going for lunch with friends. Of course she is a child and she has her moments but generally she enjoys herself and whenever she gives me signs of being bored or tired I always attend to her needs. Which is partly why I think she doesn't mind being away from home for such long periods. Of course her personality has to do a lot with being able to enjoy new adventures.
Baby wearing was a saviour for us. I loved it so much and still do !! We bought four kind since I gave birth, a sling. Well, two sling from Sakura Bloom which I absolutely loved but she has outgrown them. A Baby Bjorn Carrier which in hindsight was a complete waist of money since I didn't do my own research, she literally was hanging by her crutch — worst part is I used it for two months until I took notice ! Oh well, new mum’s got to learn somehow.. And the last one which I am completely obsessed with, is Tula — they also make carriers for toddlers ! They are fantastic !
So with today's success I felt confident, tired from such a long day but glad everything went smooth ! On the way to the city — we live 45 minutes from the second biggest metropole in Greece — she slept on the way in and on the way back. Once we arrived she was rested and ready to enjoy the day. She explored the mall and walked out of a few stores with shoes in hands — I don’t know where she gets this shoes obsession from… *guilty* ! The ladies in the stores were very friendly and we had a good laugh.
We bought her a small car for christmas and ended up giving it to her once we arrived home since she saw it on the packaging and played with the part showing with buttons.. I've never seen her play this much time with a toy, e-v-e-r ! Maybe it is the age or simply she really digs her new present ! Guess we will have to go buy her something else ! Last year, I thought of getting her a handmade Tee-Pee from etsy.com ( they have amazing craftsman ). My hubby didn't think it was such a great idea but I knew she would love it from a certain age and for many years.. Turned out she is now sleeping in it ! It truly was a good buy ! I mean what do you buy a few months old baby for christmas ? Of course there is always the easy way to get noisy toys that won’t last not because of the quality but because the child will not be interested into the patent a few minutes later. I love to get things that remains. Keepsakes or something you'll utilise for a long part of your life. Guess that is why finding the right presents is always such a headache.
For me, it is really “important” that we all have at least one gift to open on the morning of christmas. I grew up celebrating on Christmas Eve and I always loved in American movies like Home Alone where they open their gifts in the morning and since there was no tradition involved with the way my husband grew up, I decided to change things around. Anyways, I also never liked having to “nap” and wake up before midnight to open the gifts and go back to bed without really being able to play with my presents so I certainly was not going to make my daughter go through the same.
I remember my daughter first christmas, she was 7 months old. She did not really enjoy the way she will at a year and a half. Every year will be more fun, we will implement the magic of Santa Claus the values of giving and helping one an other — not that it requires a special time of the year to do so but to integrate them with a worldwide celebrated holiday is making it much more fun ! Hope everyones spends a good time during this holiday seasons and get whatever they have asked Santa whether you've been good or naughty !
Beezeemum