Under our Tree

Lately I've seen posts, on various blogs I read and on Facebook, where people are discussing the gifts they've purchased for their children. I always find it interesting to see what kids are into and what types of things parents buy. So, I'm joining in.

Up until a few weeks ago, I thought I was pretty much all set and prepped for Christmas; thinking the shopping for my little family was complete... when Toby decided it wasn't.

See, my kid (almost) never asks for anything. We can easily walk in and out of a store and he won't shed a tear or expect that he will leave with something new. I really don't know how this came to be because it's super common but, I suspect it might have something to do with us not giving him toys for "no good reason."  Toby doesn't have a lot of toys; our house isn't overrun with toys (don't worry, he does have enough.) I just don't think it's necessary, nor do we have the space for a million tiny tinker toys.

Alas, I digress. As I was saying, our kid never asks for anything. So, at the beginning of the month, when we wrote our Santa letter, I asked him what he wanted. I expected him to look at me blankly and just say something about Santa, or something completed non-sequitur to the task at hand. 

However he looked at me clear as day, and said, "a camera." I was shocked. I immediately asked him to repeat himself and he said, "Toby needs a camera." I digested it for a second, wrote camera on the Santa letter and then looked at him and said, "okay, anything else?" He said, "Yeah. Green chair." So, I added those two items to the letter. Because he never really asks for anything I obliged and bought a few last minute gifts for him.

So, in case anyone out there still needs ideas for their little loves, here is what will be under the tree for our appreciative toddler:

Originally, his Santa gift was supposed to be an easel. He is really into art, especially painting. I could put on some toddler tunes and give him a paint brush and he'd be good for hours. So, we bought him this easel.

And we also bought some new art supplies to help him set up his "art studio."

His "big gift" was supposed to be the tickets we bought him to see Laurie Berkner in January.

But honestly, I couldn't say no when he actually requested something from Santa. So, now, he's getting too much for Christmas this year. (Note to self: next year ask him what he wants from Santa BEFORE shopping.)

There are a few other odds and ends we purchased that will be from us.

• The Willy Wonka DVD (original)
• An adorable "Ah-ah" shirt from Old Navy ("Ah-ah" = Curious George)
• A few Books: The Gruffalo, The Giving Tree and The Treasury of Paddington Bear
• Alphabet Zoop (click link)

Now his Santa gift will be his stocking, his "green chair" and his "camera."

This is the "green chair" we ended up getting Toby. It was a toss up between two chairs; one at  Land of Nod (link attached) and one at Pottery Barn Kids. I ended up going with Land of Nod because their chair was a little bit bigger and I want him to get many years of use out of it. Obviously I had it personalized with his name, not "Harry" (this is just the stock photo.)

His "camera" (I honestly have NO IDEA what possessed him to ask for the two things he asked for) is just a little Fisher Price play camera. Never-the-less, he will LOVE IT.

And lastly, I did purchase something, completely from the heart, that I don't think he will appreciate right now, but later in life he will.

My mother, who has a very special relationship with Toby, always sings him the same song, Baby Bunting. It's a really old song and many people might not even know it. He loves it. He always ask Meme to sing him "Bylo." She'll cradle him like a baby, swaying back and forth, and sing it to him. He will smile and you can see that he feels like a million bucks. It's very precious to watch.

A few weeks ago, while visiting my Mom in Maine, she and I went antiquing. Unbelievably, I actually found this piece of sheet music. I purchased it without even looking at the price; I needed it. It's currently at the framer and I'll hang it in his nursery above his bed.

Coincidentally, I really think that little kid in the picture looks like Toby too.

So, there you have it. That's what's under our tree. What's under yours?

Toby's Christmas Box: Year 2

As I wrote last year, we started the tradition of giving Toby a "Christmas Box" the first of December. (Don't remember last year's post? Click here.)

Monday, December 1st, after bringing Toby to Barnes & Noble to hear a reading of "The Grinch" we gave him his Christmas box which was packed with Yuletide goodies. True to the promise I made last year, I saved $1 every week and didn't spend more than that on the contents of his box. [We actually had a little bit left over- which will start off next year's fund!]

The items include (from left to right)

1. Sandra Boynton's "Bob" book. Super super super cute.

2. Rudolph coloring book

3. Rudolph keepsake ornament that he BEGGED for.

4. His "Story a Day Until Christmas" came back out of storage and it goes in his Christmas box because we start reading one story out of it per night.

5-7. Two pairs of Christmas pajamas and the next size up in his GAP slippers. (This is now our 3rd pair of these slippers. We are in size large... GAP only sells them to XL.)

8. Chocolate Advent Calendar. We were able to find the exact same calendar as last year!

9. 3 packets of hot cocoa for the Christmas Parade

10. Chocolate covered marshmallow reindeer. The kid loves these.

11. A new Christmas plate

12-13. Two Christmas movies: Frozen and Curious George's A Very Monkey Christmas

14. Popcorn for the movies

We lit the tree and put some Christmas music on

 While at Barnes & Noble earlier Aaron picked up a giant rice krispie treat for us to share with eggnog, of course. (I'm actually doing a cleanse, so I didn't eat it) :(

 

 After we were done opening his box, we did Day 1 of our other Advent calendar. Our kid is going to get cavities every December!

 We read the first story in our "Story a Day Until Christmas"

And finally it was time for new jammies and bed! He loves having a Christmas tree in his room.

I'm really glad we started this tradition. I'm super grateful that Toby is so appreciative of the things we do for him. He kept giving us kisses and hugs after each item he took out of the box. Children reinvent the holiday season and bring back such a sense of nostalgia. I love seeing Christmas through his eyes. We have many things planned for him this month. While we fully intend on spoiling him, we also want him to learn what the spirit of Christmas is truly about.