Monday:

E uninstalled the horrible, ineffective, much hated dishwasher to prepare for the awesome shiny new one!

Tuesday:

Good Morning adorable toddler in the clearance winter pj's from Target! They're so big on him but SO cute.

Helping daddy install the NEW SHINY DISHWASHER. Guys, it is the BEST update we have made in the whole house. So much faster and quieter and actually CLEANS the dishes!

Wednesday:

Playing in the new playroom/nursery. Love the Ikea chalkboard.

I was making fun of E for using the Keurig to make blueberry lemon tea and his reaction was "READ THE MUG"

Thursday:

Well Dog, that's what you GET for sitting on the couch when you're not supposed to. Now you're furniture.

He was so excited to see his baby swing again he didn't even care the motor isn't strong enough to work,

Pants off for the pants-off OB visit. And I thought it was going to be uneventful.

Friday:

We made it to Stroller Strides! Just in time to see Santa arrive at work.

My mom managed to find the EXACT kind of advent calendar I wanted for Little Evan. We're just a little late on opening the doors :)

Last thing I saw as I went upstairs for my last night at home as a mother of 1. I can't wait to bring a baby home to this!

Saturday:

I think poor Little Evan is trying to convince me he is more than enough baby for one house. Too late buddy!

And here I am! Checked in to L&D, wearing my super sexy hospital robe and planning to have a baby sometime in the next few hours.

What a week! Are you impressed I’m posting from my hospital room? Love the free wifi in this place! Link up with your own photos below and grab the code through Amy over at A Good Life.

My love of Christmas is SO INCREDIBLY STRONG it can actually make me kind of Scroogish. I just like my traditions to be the SAME every year. That’s why they’re TRADITIONS. You know those books that list all the questions you and your partner should discuss before getting married? “What kind of lights go on the house?” should be NUMBER ONE. Otherwise you might end up shouting at each other over colored vs. white vs. blinky lights. Not that we would do that – I married within my own Christmas rules.

The house can't even CONTAIN all the Christmas, which makes the front porch Holiday Central.

1. Colored lights go on the tree/in the house. White lights go on the outside of the house. NO EXCEPTIONS. And absolutely no blinking.

Outside lights are hard to see during daytime photos, but they are white.

Tree = colored lights

Colored lights on the banister seemed like a good idea, until the toddler tried to throw himself down the stairs to see them.

2. Ornaments are meant to be collected over many years, so when you eventually become a grown up and have your own tree you have your own treasured ornaments. None of this a different-theme-for-each-year bs with all green or all red or whatever. And for the love of tiny Christmas Baby Jesus, LABEL them.

3. REAL TREE. Best when cut down one’s self in the freezing cold but any real tree is still ok. I will consider exceptions for allergies, but only with a doctor’s note.

We have this same photo (minus 1 belly and 1 toddler) for the last 5 years. I'm "helping" while E cuts it down.

4. Stockings shall contain: candy, socks, Chapstick, fruit. Amended to include pistachios, per E’s request. Additional items are welcome but the above are non-negotiable.

5. One (1) present may be opened on Christmas Eve, especially if it contains holiday themed pajamas/clothes to wear to candlelit service.

6. Speaking of presents, unless they are from Santa they go under the tree as they are wrapped/received so there is plenty of time for shaking and guessing.

Despite the late state in getting this place all Christmasy, we’re in pretty good shape. All the rules have been followed and if I were to go into labor right now I’d have a lovely, well-lit, pine-smelling house to bring my holiday baby home to. None of our relatives will get their gifts until February (I am DREADING the trip to the post office) but hey, we’ve got our own gifts wrapped and ready!

Now, who wants to fight over real vs. fake trees?

Dear Mr. Santa(1),
Although I know Baby Evan must have told you “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth(2)”, I would really appreciate a Silent Night(3) at some point during The Twelve Days of Christmas(4). Between the teething and his insane level of hatred for the pack’n’play, I’m totally exhausted and can’t help but wonder What Child is This(5) who keeps torturing me. As soon as we lay him down in the baby cage-I mean, the playpen- he wakes up no matter how sound asleep he was previously and cries like we just told him Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer(6). Although I’m very excited for his first real Christmas morning tomorrow, I’m afraid all the Jingle Bells(7) and your reindeer Up On The Rooftop(8) tonight might make it even more difficult than usual to get him to sleep. I know you’re in a hurry to bring Joy to the World(9) but if you could try and be extra quiet I would really appreciate it. And while you’re in the area, could you check on that BabyHawk I’m supposed to be getting soon? I wish I had know Last Christmas(10) how awesome baby-wearing is so I could have asked for carriers before I gave birth, but getting one this year will definitely make it a Happy Christmas(11). Really, I’m just so happy to be Home for the Holidays(12) this year that anything you could bring me will just be icing on the cake (frosting on the cookie?) If you happen to see Baby Jesus Away in the Manger(13) tell him “hi” from our family and thanks for the White Christmas(14).
Happy Holidays(15)!
Suzanne

*Sorry y’all, I’m feeling super cheesey this Christmas Eve and am doing all my posting from an iPhone this week so the typos may be worse than usual (see how I just casually mentioned my fancy new phone without being all braggy and annoying? And then see how I totally ruined it by adding this aside? And aren’t you both jealous and hating me a little bit right now?) Safe travels, Merry Christmas, and may the joy of the season be felt by you and your loved ones.*

If I was keeping the baby’s actual baby book up to date instead of relying on my blog to document all Baby Evan’s milestones I would have a very busy week of scrapbooking ahead of me. Along with catching up on the baby’s first Christmas*, we had his first real snow (although the closest he got to outside was when we looked out the front door to put  E out of his misery and tell him it was ok if he hired the neighborhood kids to do all the shoveling) and two top teeth that finally decided to make an appearance. Um, and also? He grew an inch overnight. I’m not even joking. Check this out…

Friday Night - He's making that face because his feet barely touch the ground and he can't balance well enough to ride on he FANCY NEW TOY.

Saturday Morning - He's much happier now because he grew at least an inch and can now ride on this little car the way he's supposed to...if he was 18 months old. CRAZY TALL BABY IS CRAZY TALL.

*We opened all our family gifts on Sunday because we’re going out of town for Christmas and don’t have the room in the car to bring them. It was actually Baby Evan’s second Christmas because he had his first in Ohio over Thanksgiving and he’s really getting the hang of present opening. We officially have more photos and video of a baby ripping up and chewing on wrapping paper than any one ever.

A high school friend I haven’t talked to in almost 10 years emailed me this week to ask for baby gift suggestions for her 6 month old niece. She’s still in the childless stage of life where the thought of buying a fun and age appropriate gift for someone else’s baby causes you to break out in a cold sweat, and as someone with a similarly aged child she thought I could provide some guidance. I was happy to make some suggestions, since I know I spent many a Christmas shopping trip staring blankly at the toy aisle debating whether I’d be better off just sending a card stuffed with cash (babies like cash, right? It’s crinkly.) Is a baby doll too boring? Is a baby doll that cries and poops too creepy? Are stacking blocks too simple? Is a tiny laptop too complicated? So as a public service announcement for anyone in a similar situation, here’s my list of suggested gifts for babies.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Fun with Friends Musical Table

For ages 6 months+
This is Baby Evan’s current favorite toy in the wholebigwideword, unless you count the empty diaper box. Which I don’t, because every time I’m reminded he’d rather go naked, nurse directly from the breast, sleep in our bed, and play with empty boxes I die a little inside thinking of all the money we’ve wasted. But I digress. This table can also be used without the legs for babies who aren’t quite standing yet. It plays lots of different songs, which is very important so you don’t stab your eardrums out after hearing “One two three four five six seven eight! Then! There’s NINE! Counting’s really great!” for the eight hundredth time that day. Plus it’s educational and stuff, teaching colors, shapes and Spanish.  ($42.99)

Sophie the Giraffe

Ages 0-12 months
If you love your niece/nephew/cousin/boss’s kid but you don’t really love them $45 worth, get them a Sophie. The number of kids chewing on these at any park or playgroup speaks for itself. Sophie is BPA free and non-toxic too, so even your fancy friends will approve. ($20)

Tubby Tug Boat

Ages 6 months+
This is what E bought Baby Evan for Christmas, since he is in charge of bath time and related activities. The bebeh loves the water and now that he’s got the sitting up situation under control we’re going to abandon the baby tub (although we have LOVED the one my sister bought me until now and I highly recommend it as a shower gift) and let him splash in our extra large sized tub. Since we’re currently using a disposable plastic cup meant for olive oil or salsa to wash Baby Evan’s hair, this toy will be practical for Daddy as well as baby. ($18.99)

The MULA Collection from Ikea

Recommended for ages 12 months+ (but Baby Evan loves them now)
Oh Ikea, is there nothing you can’t do? Affordable modern furniture? Check. Irresistible duvet covers? Check. Classic wooden toys at unbeatable prices? Check. My mom and grandmother bought Baby Evan the stacking lighthouse, the hammer bench and the stacking cups during an Ikea run and he loooooves them. (Although the hammer became the first baby toy confused for dog chew toy casualty.)  ($5.99+)

Robeez

Ages 0-4 years
These are the leather gold standard for baby shoes, but at $30 a pop no one can afford to buy more than one or two pairs for their own kid. SOMETIMES they go on sale, SOMETIMES you can find them at outlets, and SOMETIMES BabySteals has them as their daily steal (for about 2 seconds before they sell out).  We have one real pair I got at 70% off and one fake pair from TJMaxx, but if someone sent me the whole winter collection I’d be thrilled. Baby Evan enjoys chewing on them just as much as he enjoys wearing them. The sizes are really non-specific, but since the shoes are soft being a little small or a little large doesn’t prevent them from still being awesome. ($22+)

A few more suggestions:

Bright Starts Teether Pals – Baby Evan has a blue elephant version from Target, his friend has the yellow lion, and these are two other options. The combination of plastic, soft and crinkly really keeps him happy when he’s fussing. ($5.99)
Baby’s First Photo Album – I can’t find the exact one online but I PROMISE they sell them in the infant section at Walmart. It’s a soft book with plastic pockets for photos. Bonus points if you pre-fill it with recent photographs of  long-distance family members so baby can learn what Aunt Edna and Uncle Bert look like. ($12.99)
Earth Mama Angel Baby/California Baby Products – I love both these brands but they’re on the expensive side for everyday use. Buy your mama friend some baby wash, diaper cream, shampoo or baby oil, plus a little extra something for herself. ($12+)
BOOKS – Since most parents already have Goodnight Moon and Green Eggs & Ham, you’ll have to be a little more creative to find really good children’s books not on their shelf. I recommend searching Amazon for “reading rainbow books” to find amazing titles that have been forgotten or overlooked for the newest generation but may make Mom and Dad nostalgic for the days when you didn’t have to take my word for it! ($4.99+)

(Disclaimer: The links above that connect to Amazon have my Amazon Associates seller code embedded in them, which means if you click through and make a purchase I get a share of the sale. Which works out to approximately four cents. I actually recommend checking your local big box retailer – or special local baby store! – for baby toys first, since the sales this year are amazing.)