Ah, yes.
The dreaded C word. It occurred to me recently, in the haze of taking care of children and grieving for my mom that the holidays are fast approaching.
And due to said haze, I was sadly, behind. Normally I am uber prepared, shopping is done or planned, things may even be wrapped. It has happened this early, I swear it!
This year, though, has just been sort of this weird realization that the holidays are coming and it's time to buy gifts. I can get excited about it being Squirt's first Christmas, but it's funny because we have so many toys from when Nemo was little, I think, what does this baby possibly need? Still, he deserves some toys that are just his, I think, and so yesterday, I did some online shopping and get some things for him, started thinking about a plan for what to get Nemo, and finished off a lot of the adults on my list.
A lot of people are getting photobooks from me this year. In addition to wanting some of those last memories of my mom, I just figured it was the way to go. I plan to wrap each book with a travel size kleenex, to at least infuse some humor into what is going to be a little sad to look at. The last pictures of Mom.
It is what it is. I've said it many times. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other.
Every year, as per a tradition my mother started when I was little, I give my son pajamas on Christmas Eve. I added to the tradition by including a book, the idea being that you wear the jams (as we call them) that night, and read the book before you go to bed.
Now, I got real cutesy in the past couple of years, and bought matching...or as matching as I could...jams for MJS and Nemo. Two years ago, it was Spongebob, last year, it was Scooby Doo.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to find matching jams when one of the kiddos you're buying for is going to be not quite five months old? Needless to say we're not even in the same ballpark of animated characters as an option.
There was only one choice, one obvious character to go with.
Mickey.
And truly, how much longer will I be able to give Mickey Mouse pajamas to Nemo and have him think it's super cool? Let's hope forever, like me, who never grew out of it, but you never know! I must milk it for all it's worth as we travel into the world of Transformers and Batman and Legos!
So, for your viewing pleasure, here's what my boys will be opening on Christmas Eve.
The cool thing about Nemo's, too, is that they come with a bow tied around them, as they're meant to be a gift. So cute.
Yesterday, they were offering free shipping when you bought a personalized item, so I got Nemo a personalized Pirates book which I am uber excited about. That is going to be an absolute hoot to read on Christmas Eve. It had the option of putting a friend's name in as well, so I put Squirt. I can't wait to get these things. I had a 15% off code, got free shipping, picked up the pjs and some gifts for Squirt and a couple of my nieces. A highly successful endeavor.
You're probably wondering what this has to do with anything.
Well, I got to thinking. With everyone getting Mickey jams for Christmas, doesn't it make sense to do the big Disney trip reveal then as well? It would make such a cute theme to have everyone opening their pajamas, and then have that be an added surprise for Nemo.
Never mind that as time goes on, it's getting harder and harder to be the KOTS.
One of my ideas is to buy a small photo album (perhaps even Disney themed) and wrap it up with the pajamas, but leave it empty.
When Nemo asks why it's empty, which he will, he's that kind of a kiddo, I can tell him it's for all the pictures we'll take on our next trip.
What do you all think?
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Ha! Just occurred to me I wrote that big chapter and didn't include anything about my decision.
Short version: we canceled Coral Reef and put Chef Mickey's on that day. After hearing Nemo talk about how much he liked it, and the food he eats there, and thinking of all the good memories we've made there, even though I know it will be hard, it feels like the right thing to do.
So now, we've got it scheduled as a late breakfast, like we usually do, and if we're up before and want to explore the resort a bit or go to a park, we can.
Or we can just lounge in the room like the lazy bums that we are and watch cartoons in our PJs. Hey, it's vacation, right?
I've done that before.
And a good one it was.
Can't wait to hear all about the personalized book -- that also sounds adorable!!!
