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?