Happy Monday! This is a short week because of Thanksgiving, so that is definitely something to be thankful for, right?! I wanted to talk about something that has been on my mind lately, and that is Christmas traditions to start with your family.
My husband and I have our own traditions, but now that we have Don, we want to start some new ones to help make Christmas magical for him. My parents were so good at this- I had a wonderful childhood and want to provide that for Don. Here are what I think I will start with this year:
christmas pajamas
note: some affiliate links used
Christmas Pajamas. In the summer I bought Don some Christmas jammies at a Down East tent sale (you can usually get them at their clearance center in Salt Lake too). They are Pottery Barn pajamas and so cute! The problem is that the ones I bought (for $2.50!) had a random name on them.
I spent forever picking out the old name and I was left with a million holes. So I embroidered Don’s name and some strategically placed stars to cover the stars and we are good to go!
Aren’t these gender neutral options from Target so cute?! Red stripes or grey plaid are both cute options for opening presents and then you can still use them all winter.
I am also going to buy some pajamas for me (I just can’t get out of my mind how cute a mommy/baby Christmas morning photo will be 🙂 ).
I am thinking these grey or red ones that I could wear all year. These pajamas also come in men’s options (here’s a link for the grey and one for the red) if you want the whole family to match!
christmas books
Favorite Little Golden Books for Christmas from Amazon
In my house growing up we had a huge book and it had a different Christmas story to read each night. I loved it and had some favorites that I looked forward to listening to every year. Is there anything better than snuggling up with your family and listening to a good story ?!
I have started a small collection of books and can’t wait to read them to him (and add to my collection each year). We have (and love) Santa’s Toy Shop. I’d love to buy Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Advent Calendar. I saw the cutest advent calendar at Target (no longer available), but I didn’t get it because I figured Don was too young. During October I did a “fall bucket list” of some fun activities and we had such a good time! We went and did things we never would have without the list.
Anyway, while I was writing this list I changed my mind about the advent calendar and bought it. I am so excited to use it! I made a list of activities we could go do (and I will put candy in the other days for my husband and I). Here are some things I am thinking of:
christmas bucket list
- See Christmas Lights
- Buy Don a “Baby’s first Christmas” Ornament
- Watch a Christmas movie and make hot cocoa
- Go gift shopping
- See Santa
- Go to my work Christmas party
- Go to my family Christmas party
- Visit my husband’s grandma
- Go ice skating? (Don is probably too young)
- Go sledding? (Don is probably too young)
- Buy a gift for a charity tree
- Decorate a gingerbread house
- Send out Christmas cards
This list will definitely change each year as Don gets older. I’m thinking more crafts will be good. If you need help coming up with ideas, here is a list of 150 activities for advent calendars!
countdown candle
If you have small children (not just one baby like me), you could also try doing a countdown candle. I loved doing this when I was little! You just burn the candle each day- it doesn’t sound so exciting, but I promise your little ones will love counting down this way!
ornament
I love the idea of getting a special ornament for Don each year. I like a cohesive tree, so I love the idea of this brass 2017 ornament. Or maybe a letter D felt ornament would be cute.
Christmas Morning
Years ago, I read the Oh Happy Day blog about Jordan’s Christmas morning tradition. What she does is sets up a magical installation of her son’s toys leading up to the tree on Christmas morning so it’s extra exciting. I love that idea and have held onto it!
I also had a friend tell me to not bother wrapping my baby’s presents- he’ll be too young and understand the presents easier. So I have a little installation planned! I am so excited!
Any Christmas traditions you are starting this year? I’ve loved writing this so I can be deliberate of how I spend the season. Bring the activities! I can’t wait!
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[…] love our little tradition of setting out a magical Christmas scene we started with Don last year. More about that here.We had quite a snow storm. We got at least 12″ of snow! It was magical. We played in that for […]