Christmas Expectations vs Reality?

This year I will have a 18 month old and a 3 month old Im stuck between my realistic expectations of - They are babies, dont understand - We already have a lot of toys, dont need more - Its expensive for literally everything - First Xmas where we wont travel to see families - Do a tree but don't go crazy. 2 kids and a dog with a tree is dangerous But the mum / Christmas enthusiast inside me is thinking: - Go big on decor its your first family Xmas - Get more toys. Christmas shopping for kids is fun for you as much as them - Do personalised decorations that keep while they are small (despite being like £80 per kid) - Make cookies (somehow with a toddler and newborn) IDK... Whats your Xmas plans? 1. How many / age of kids 2. Home or with family 3. You buying lots of gifts? Bonus points for listing toys you have and ones planning to buy 4. What decor are you doing 5. Am I overthinking and just being emotional due to giving birth 😅
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I have just the one who will be 19 months at Xmas. We will be at home. We might invite some family for lunch but it’s not going to be a huge thing, and it depends on their plans as my husbands brother lives abroad and it’s his LBs first Christmas, so I assume they’ll want to go see him. My stepdad works Xmas usually, my mum won’t drive here by herself so if he’s working they won’t come. There’s a massive family Xmas going on with my dad’s side of the family but we declined as it’s just a lot of effort and very exhausting. Yes to some more toys but less is more. Will ask for a few big things/( or contribution to) like play kitchen/tonie box and figures, but otherwise trying to keep it to a minimum. Already got a ride on dino and a big magnadoodle plus a little people tractor and some play dough bits. We got a few personalised decs last year, I like to buy one every year for me and my daughter but probably won’t go personalised this year. Check O2 priority and Groupon for deals.

Decor wise we will have a tree, and I have some lights/ornaments that always go up, so will be the same as usual, no more no less. I do plan to do lots of Christmas baking as we’ve got a toddler tower and she loves being involved. I would say do what makes you happy but maybe plan for less is more just so you aren’t totally exhausted or burnt out with two young kids and trying to do everything!

I have one who will be 20 months and we will go all out like we did last year. We will visit family for a little while but spend a lot of time at home. Not loads of gifts as family end up doing that. But lots of photos and memories to look back on in the future ❤️

I’ll have a 4 year old and 19 month old at Christmas. My eldest only really got into Christmas last year, so we have to get a bit more excited about it now 😂 (her birthday is beginning of Dec so it’s hard for me to focus on both 🤪). Anyway… matching pj’s is a must! We’ve done it since she was born so will carry that on. I always buy big or get a second pair in the next size up so that they last a couple of years for the kids. Decorations - before children I use to go all out, but now I just do the tree (mainly because they touch too much and their stuff is everywhere and I get overwhelmed with mess). But they also have a little tree that I let them decorate/destroy. Presents - I’m trying to not go over the top, trying to limit expectations as the years go by and they become more aware. On the day we’re staying home, much easier with kids. And family are welcome to come round.

Also, I have one of these books to fill in each year https://meminio.com/products/our-christmas-stories?_pos=1&_sid=a0f24f2f2&_ss=r

1) we have 1 little boy who’s 18 months at Christmas and we’re due a little girl in March 2) probably at home spend the Christmas just the 3 of us while we can 3) we’re definitely not buying a lot of gifts he’s got so many toys he doesn’t need more he’s just getting him paw patrol cars and a track for them 4) we’re putting a Christmas tree up and that’s it, I’m already gonna be stressed enough stopping him for pulling it down nevermind more decorations😂😂

I have 2 kids aged 12 and 17 months last year was 11 and 7 months, I always decorated regardless of age and pets (last year I had 3 cats and 3 kittens 😂) my first Xmas with eldest she was 2 months old and we just bought things that she could use right up until her birthday 10 months later even if she wouldn't get use from them at the time also personalised decorations don't need to be expensive, you can make them at home yourself look on some craft groups for ideas then you can make it a family tradition to spend a day baking cookies and making a new decoration every year, since I've had babies I haven't gone to anyone for Christmas and we have it in our own home so the kids can play with the toys they got, I remember as a child opening my presents then having to spend all day at nans house just wanting to go home and play with my new stuff

We will do the same as always. I remember growing up with the house fully decorated, visiting santa, baking on Christmas eve, presents under the tree. I love christmas and the magic it brings. We have invited some family over to ours, as I like being home for the kids to play with their new toys. I will cook christmas dinner (it's the best meal of the year). We will bake on christmas eve and have a Chinese takeaway, I love our family traditions. I've only recently gone back to work after having 16 months off with my youngest, so it's nice to finally have an income again, therefor I cannot wait to buy presents for my family 😍 the kids don't need loads, but I want to treat my partner for all he has done for us in order for me to be home all this time x

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