I just have to say that I am so proud of all you NaBloPoMo-ers. Out of the ones that I have been reading, you have all posted every single day this month. I know that has to be hard considering I find it hard to post once a week these days. Maybe next year I’ll sign up for NaBloPoMo. But only because I just love to start things that I never finish. I’m sure you’ve noticed.
Remember my post on the first of this month? The one where I was all gloomy because the first day of the month sucked and I just knew that meant the rest of the month would too? Yeah, well, I was right.
Don’t get me wrong, I know it could be worse. Much MUCH worse. But it was still pretty bad. Aeralyn has had 3 ear infections this month and has been on 4 antibiotics. Every time she gets well, she is sick again within a few days. We have an appointment with an ear nose and throat specialist next week to discuss whether or not she needs to have her adenoids taken out. The thought of her having surgery scares the bejeezus out of me. But I’m not loving all these ear infections either. Not to mention that she has been miserable. And we have spent a small fortune on co-pays, medicines and one x-ray this month, all right before Christmas. Perfect timing!
Anyway, on a much lighter note: we have our tree decorated! And it is beautiful if I do say so myself. And no I don’t have any pictures yet, but I promise I’m working on it. Actually, I have a question for you guys. How do you deal with presents? Do you start wrapping now and put them under the tree as you go, or do you wait until Christmas eve to put them all under the tree? Usually, I am of the wrap as you go variety. But this year I am re-thinking this decision for two reasons:
Reason 1: I’m afraid that Aeralyn won’t be able to keep her hands off of the pretty presents under the tree which will cause me to constantly take them away from her and say “no no” about 700 times a day. And then my head will explode all over the pretty decorations.
Reason 2: I’m thinking it may be much more exciting for Aeralyn on Christmas morning if she sees a whole bunch of presents under the tree for her to unwrap that have never been there before.
I would love your opinions!
Also, what is it about having kids at Christmas the makes you lose your ever-loving mind? I want to buy her everything. And I do mean everything. And so do her grandparents. But we have a smallish house, and we are already cramped as it is. And really, does she need all that stuff? No. Of course not. But will it be fun to give it to her? Yes. I’m going to go through her old toys and pack some away and donate some to Goodwill before Christmas so our house doesn’t actually burst at the seams on Christmas morning.
I can’t wait to see how she reacts this year. I’ve always loved Christmas, but I’m enjoying it so much more now because I have her. I’m so excited to start our own family traditions. Although, I’m not sure what those will be yet. So far we’ve got going to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree together. And then decorating the house and tree and all that stuff. The rest is going to be figured out as we go along.
What are your favorite family traditions?
I’m a wrap as you go kind of girl just because I love seeing all the pretty packages under the tree. Plus, we don’t really have anywhere else to store them! Christmas must be so much fun with a little one around.
One of my favorite family traditions is that we all get a new pair of PJs to open up and wear on Christmas eve. I love it
I wrap as I go, but of course I don’t have kids.
Growing up, my parents always waited until after we went to bed on Christmas Eve, and they never wrapped the gifts. Before bed, we would claim our spot by writing our name on a piece of paper and placing it on a couch or chair in the living room. In the morning, we would wake up early, and sneak halfway down the stairs and peek around the corner at our spot to make sure it was overflowing with toys and clothes, then run back upstairs and wait until a decent hour to come down.
It was always a thrill for us to find where our parents hid our gifts. They kept them in the bags in the tops of closets and out in the garage. We never really peeked inside the bags because we liked to be surprised, I think we just liked knowing that we knew where the gifts were. We had somehow “outsmarted” our parents by finding them.
Sorry to hear about poor Aeralyn and the infections. This time of year sucks with colds/infections, etc anyways. I know how you feel though. It never seems like these kids get over any of their sicknesses.
I don’t know what we’re going to do with the presents this year regarding under the tree early or not. I honestly don’t think D will know the difference, or be excited on the morning of. I think he’d be more interested if they were down there throughout the month. So, I don’t know what I would do. Can you maybe push the presents back under the tree so she won’t notice they’re there? That might be our plan. Although, our tree is kind of in the corner of the room, which might make that whole concept easier.
Hmmm, traditions…..I always liked getting up as a kid, having our own family x-mas, and then going to my grandma’s down the street for lunch, etc. When she moved about 9 years ago to Florida, that all went out the window. So, now we have x-mas at our house with just us, and then go to my mom and dad’s. Not much. And, this year, honestly, I don’t even want to bother with much of that.
Anyways, hope Aeralyn gets better. Let us know what the doctor says after you go!
We wrap our presents as we go, and as the family’s presents arrive they too go under the tree. The only presents that show up on Chrismas morning are the things Santa brings.
Kyra has never cared about the presents and never really bothered them, but the bows on the presents were a whole different story. This year though she’s figured out the glory of of unwrapping gifts. I’m sure I’ll make a recording of myself repeating “No ma’am Kyra,” “Don’t touch that,” and “Put that back please” just so I don’t have to loose my mind saying them 100,000 times in a hours time span.
We’ve started many of our own traditions since we never get to go home for the holidays. We cut our own tree, I decorate the tree while Jer decorates the house. Hot chocolate is made the morning of while we rifle though our stalkings and once hot chocolate is made presents are opened, house is destroyed, and every one enjoys the easy morning and lazy day.
Hmm, we’ve never wrapped and put straight under the tree — both D and I love surprises but unfortunately we are SUPER good at figuring out what we’ve bought each other already, even if it is very well disguised (something small in a tv box, for example) so all of our presents have always been hidden away until Christmas Eve and then it’s a mad dash to throw them under without actually looking at them. (Very, very hard)
Last year Kira was just under a year old at Christmas so we didn’t have to worry about her touching presents but she WAS very interested in the lights. :\ I’m kinda sorta dreading putting up our tree this year now. LOL.
I really hope Aeralyn is totally into your Christmas morning with all the gifts and things!! That will be soooo excellent. Mine couldn’t have cared less. *grin* She did really enjoy the snack foods though.
Can’t wait to see your tree!!
Wrap as you go, and hide the wrapped gifts! It’s way to difficult to try and wrap all the few days before Christmas. (Believe me, I’ve tried.) And since Aeralyn is getting to an age where Christmas morning can be magical, I’d leave the gifts hidden until then.
Poor baby…those ear infections can be so painful. I know the adenoids sounds scary, but hopefully it’s an answer to some well months for that sweet girl.
Luckily we spend Christmas at my parents’ house so we usually wait till we get there to wrap presents. Then we put them under their tree on Christmas morning. If they were out there any sooner I would be shaking boxes all day trying to figure out what they are. I’m as bad as child, I know.
I hope that Aeralyn starts to perk up, I know it’s hard to watch your little girl feel bad over and over again. Hopefully the ear, nose and throat doctor will have some news for you that will help.
I can’t wait to see your tree and the swarm of lights and hoopla outside too, but I understand that you have much bigger things on your plate than posting pictures for your blogger buddies! We still love you!