With two little ones, Christmastime is both special and stressful. While blog-hopping the other day I stumbled upon a post at Dandee Designs about what to give kids for Christmas. The author suggested a somewhat catchy mantra to recite when gift shopping: Want. Need. Wear. Read. Kids get four gifts – something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.

While I see nothing wrong with giving kids a day when their toy dreams come true, I also think the process of gift buying can be overwhelming. Where to start? And, perhaps more importantly, when to stop?? As a parent, I want to give my kids everything on their lists. But, as a fiscally responsible adult I simply cannot do that. Further, we are running out of room in our apartment for all the kid stuff, and the more stuff kids have the less special it all becomes. Following Want. Need. Wear. Read. as a guideline is helping me define what kind of Christmas to give my precious babes.

Of course I plan to sprinkle in some additional fun stocking-stuffers and special treats like little cloth diapers for Evelyn’s dolls. But, their main gifts will fall into these four categories.

Evelyn

Want: Ever since I brought up the subject of Santa shortly after Thanksgiving, Evelyn has been asking for a “baby bed” at least three times an hour. I found an adorable homemade one on Etsy.com. It will be perfect for her assortment of dolls, and because it lacks obnoxious colors and commercial flair I hope someday her babies will use it as a “baby bed” too.

Need: Evelyn and I spend lots of time every day coloring, and her crayons are worn down. Time for some new ones – and perhaps a few coloring books!

Wear: Evelyn seems to have a growth spurt every other week! She is in need of some new clothes in sizes 3T or 4T, so I’ll go find a few nice things for her.

Read: My sister’s boyfriend’s mother gave Evelyn the book “Pinkalicious” earlier this year, and it has become her absolute favorite. We both have it memorized, and whenever I read it to her she chants along with me. So, Santa will be bringing her the companion books “Puplicious” and “Goldilicious.”

Mack

Want: If I was a precocious 9 month old boy, I would absolutely want a tough recycling truck made from recycled plastic…so, that is what Santa is bringing Mack. He’s my little eco-warrior in-training.
Need: My friend Sarah sent me a link about a sippy cup sleeve designed to fit on most 8oz glass canning jars. Since I recently took up canning, I have plenty of glass jars…and since Mack is getting ready to drink out of a big-boy cup, this is the perfect gift for him!

Wear: Mack is about to grow out of his hand-me-down snowsuit. Time to get him one of his own!

Read: Both Evelyn and Mack really enjoy Richard Scarry’s book “Busy Busy Town” so this year Santa will be bringing Mack “Cars and Truck’s from A to Z.” I can’t wait to read though this little book with my little man.