Thursday, November 19, 2009

This Holiday Elf is So Tired!

As many of my long time readers know, I LOVE the holidays....ALL HOLIDAYS...and my friend K has nicknamed me the "Holiday Elf".  This fall because of my pregnancy and now the baby, the holidays have been tough for me to keep up with.  I dragged through Halloween and didn't even have the energy for Z's last minute costume change (I made S deal with it).  Despite my lack of sleep, I still tried to make sure Z had a wonderful Halloween complete w/ a craft day, making Halloween cookies and a Countdown to Halloween paper chain. 

For years my friend S and I have gotten our families together for a "Friends Thanksgiving" in early November.  This year we decided to do it in February because I am just too tired (and she is just too busy).  I still plan to make a few dishes for real Thanksgiving at my mom's (dairy and soy free....not sure how I am going to pull that off), my house is decorated and we have been reading all of our Thanksgiving picture books but I just don't have the energy to make paper turkeys and all of the other fun things that I want to do with Z.

Now Christmas is fast approaching and I refuse to let sleep deprivation slow me down!  I started planning out this years Christmas in July.  This is when I made the budget, printed out my Christmas card labels and started my shopping.  Over the last month and a half I have been working on my cards (90/120 done), got 3/4 of my shopping done (I love the internet!!!), bought the wrapping paper, have plans to go see Santa on Monday (no lines when you go before Thanksgiving) and I hope to avoid all malls and major shopping centers after Thanksgiving (I am not a Black Friday kind of girl) :)

I love the holidays but I hate the crowds and craziness that December brings.  I would rather enjoy December in the comfort of my decorated home.....baking cookies, crafting with Z, wrapping presents and listening to my favorite holiday music.  That is so much nicer and less stressful than being out in the cold trying to find a parking spot and searching for gifts through the picked over merchandise.  My dad and husband prefer to wait until the last minute and don't seem to mind the craziness. 

My dad has taken us shopping for my mom every year since we were little.  It is one of my sisters and my favorite traditions and is the only reason I enter a mall in December.  Dad hates shopping but doesn't seem to mind waiting until the last minute (he even had his car stolen from the crowded lot one year).  S hates that I love to plan ahead and that I spread my shopping out over a few months.  He too likes to go to the mall in December and loves to find very unique gifts ;)  Unfortunately for him, I have completed all of his shopping for him this year and encouraged him to shop for me online (with a 50$ budget, you can't do much).....not sure what he will do without his last minute shopping trip in December :)  Maybe he will take Z out to get a few little things and they can start a tradition of their own.

I do hope I can keep the holiday spirit alive with so little sleep.  Many of the people around me count on my abundance of holiday spirit to get them excited and ready for the holiday.  With a lack of sleep and caffeine, I am not sure I will be able to keep it up all season long.  I am going to have to find new ways to stay upbeat and energized in order to help make this Christmas magical for everyone I love.  I guess I will have to watch A Very Brady Christmas a few extra times this season to help keep my spirit alive.  Happy Holidays!!

11 comments:

Beth P. said...

We have gotten a jump start on shopping this year and it is so foreign to me! Haha. Sad, but true. I AM a Black Friday kind of gal and that is usually when the madness starts for us. I love the sound of your approach to the holidays, though. I'd love to just do things around the house and enjoy the decorations.

Lee-Ann said...

I remember that all too well. Kaiden was born Dec 17th and that year was the most awful Xmas and I hate that. :o( I don't even have any pictures of Audree-Ann that year or Kaiden for his 1st Xmas (how awful) he was 8 days old and I was exhausted and recoving from the c-section and an infection as well I think we caught some tummy bug. :o( Hugs to you Mama and I hope you can fine the energy.

Mesina said...

Babies have a way of turning life right upside down on it's head and making us do the basics....and only the basics!

I can totally understand how you must be feeling, my youngest was born in September and when she arrived the holidays were whatever I could manage. Like you, I really get into the spirit of it all and do what I can to make it special for my family. But don't run yourself down into the ground over it! Focus on what's really important and do a little bit here and there, everyone will understand, you have a baby depriving you of sleep! Just think, next year your energy should be back and you can get back to what you see as the norm. :) x

Poolside with the Girls said...

We are so much alike!

I love internet shopping too ;)

Makes my life so much easier. I would totally rather stay home and bake or cook than the fight the crowd. Black Friday..never been to one willingly. Refuse to get involved. My mother took us one year and we sat for 3 hours in traffic trying to get across the street from one mall to another. CRAZY!

Sharon said...

I would pop in some George Winston's WINTER album, heat up some cocoa and just SIT for a while... that gets my holiday juices going for sure!

Babe in Babeland said...

I remember last year being in the same boat. At Thanksgiving, my babe was only a few weeks old. And Christmas, well, I was still very sleep-deprived, and I must say, I don't think I had much of a holiday spirit last year. :-( And I'm with you--I love the holidays! But lately, I feel like a grinch! I need you to come over and help me get in the spirit!!

I think even with sleep-deprivation, you will be totally in the spirit and festive and all that jazz. I LOVE the photo! It's so great. It says it all!

MamaB said...

I'm with you on spreading out the holiday shopping! I do like to go to the stores though instead of going online. I love Christmas and the decorating, baking, music it is a magical time of year. Hopefully as you get close to the six week mark for Lil C you'll start to get more and more sleep. Both times with my kids at about 4-6 weeks they finally figured out there days and nights, would only get up about 2 time between 10 pm and 7 am so I get 2-3 hours of consistant sleep and that felt like heaven! You might not get to do all that you want this year but what you do get to do will be all the more special!

UR4 said...

I'm sure your holiday spirit will reign! Don't forget Charlie Brown's Christmas!!! I packed away all our xmas stuff last year at my parents' house in anticipation that we would be celebrating this xmas in a new home, so we are going bare bones this year--homemade everything from decorations to gifts and appreciating what will (cross your fingers) be our last xmas in the city--at least til the kids are older! should be interesting! I'm also a lover of internet shopping, tho I'm driving Joanie nuts cuz I send all my packages to work! Hope you have a wonderful turkey day! If you're up for it, stop by for some Stew!

Tracie said...

My youngest was born in November. I had a very low key Christmas the year he was born. You do what you have to.

Annie said...

The picture is great.

I'm like you that love all Holidays but Christmas, is just special. I like to go to the stores and see the decorations, people shopping and the smell of XMAS tree.

Now, for Xmas I have all cleaning and organization and gifts done but, need to do some recipes to try something different.

Hope you can rest and enjoy the Holidays.

Theta Mom said...

I love the holidays, too but it can get so stressful. I am an online shopper all the way. BTW, it feels soooooooooo good to be back! I missed ya!

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