CC's first Christmas came and went about one month ago. Since Scott and I aren't religious Christmas is more of a family tradition than anything else, but one we still enjoy a lot. Being surrounded with people you love and piles of cookies is a good thing, right? Of course, along with Christmas comes some not so good things – things like excess and materialism and green-eyed monsters. I'm hoping to keep Christmas as family-centered as possible as CC gets older, but I can already see how easily the day can become focused entirely on what's waiting under the tree.
Scott and I filled stockings for one another but didn't buy each other proper gifts. It's our way of keeping a lid on our spending while still participating in the gift-giving tradition. We bought a few things for Charlie's little stocking (a project which I began in haste on the morning of Christmas Eve when I realized I didn't have a stocking for him yet). It came out pretty well for being sewn in the car between Austin and Houston.
We filled it with teething biscuits, an infant toothbrush, and several of his already-favorite toys. I know. We are seriously dorky – but we figured why buy him toys when he is bound to be showered in them by his grandparents, aunts and uncles. The showering did not disappoint, by the way. CC is now the proud owner of a rocking horse, an activity center, and a huge assortment of rattles, sorters, and stackers. I also made him a new play mat and a comfy teether/blankie thing (also finished in the car on the way to Houston. Phew.) My sister made him a pair of taco pants which are just as extraordinary as they sound. Behold.
Mama and Daddy did buy CC one proper present – and it was a little outlandish. Since CC is totally obsessed with music – particularly the music coming out of Scott's guitar, his papa thought it would be fun to give him an instrument of his very own. (One with an unconditional five year warranty.)
Did he like it?
You might say that. He mostly just bangs on it at this point, but you've got to start somewhere, and I've been practicing my C, G, and E to help Mr. Ukelele feel less like a percussion instrument. It will be a while before CC can really make music on this thing, but for now he is having a lot of fun just "playing" along with his Daddy.
So, how do you keep the holidays from becoming all about the presents? Or do you just embrace the abundance?