Gift Ideas for Babys First Christmas
Is there any time more exciting than that awestruck first year of parenthood, when life ceases to revolve around adult needs and instead centers on the beauty and miracle of a new birth?
When there's a baby in the house, the holidays take on heightened meaning. And none are more important than baby's first Christmas, which is a time that will be forever cherished and remembered by parents and grandparents alike.
But since infants develop so quickly in that first year of life, the difference between the abilities of a 12-month-old and, say, a two-month-old are astounding. One can probably unwrap gifts on their own with (or maybe even without) a little help. The other can't. One may be intrigued by building blocks. The other won't.
Point is, that first Christmas is far more important to the adults than the baby, which makes it a tad absurd that new parents stress so much over what to buy their bundle of perfection. Sure, buying for baby's first Christmas can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Here are five can't-miss gift ideas for newborns:
Teething Toys - When babies cut teeth, it's not pleasant for anyone in the household. Teethers are a necessity, but you can look beyond function and include a little form come Christmas. Buy the round teethers if you'd like, but also pick up a teething toy while you're at it. They're soft and loveable, and your baby will like the friendly, smiling bear or lion. She'll drag them with her as she starts to crawl and play with them on her blanket or in her playpen while you take a rest. And, of course, she'll chew on them!
Personalized Ornament - Granted, this gift is as much for the parent as the baby. But a personalized ornament is a must for baby's first Christmas. Be sure to get baby's name as well as the year engraved on the piece and hang it on your Christmas tree with pride each and every Christmas thereafter.
Books - Ask child development experts: it's never too early to begin reading to your children. Even reading to a newborn is a worthwhile task. If nothing else, the sound of your reassuring voice soothes them. Books help develop language skills and stimulate baby's mind. Choose vibrant, colorful books made of cloth that can be washed, because it's a sure bet the book will eventually end up in baby's mouth!
Car Seat Toys - Many babies fall fast asleep when the car begins moving. Others fight it and cry. Either way, a soft toy that lights up and makes sound is perfect for your daily travels. When baby has be stuck in the car seat, these toys stimulate and pacify them.
Clothing - Your little guy grows fast - too fast. Every season he needs new clothes and sleepers, and that's a drain on the household budget. Christmas is a perfect time to supply your baby with his winter wardrobe, which he'll wear into March in most parts of the country. Hey, take advantage of this opportunity now. When he gets older he probably won't want clothes for Christmas!
An Autumn Garden for Halloween
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An Autumn Garden for Halloween
There's no better time to enjoy the spectacular beauty that nature has to offer than during the autumn season. This is an ideal occasion for entertaining friends and family, especially around Halloween. Why not take advantage of all the vibrant colors and stimulating textures that autumn provides by creating a garden themed around this exciting holiday.
Halloween parties provide a great opportunity to bring the bountiful harvest from the garden indoors; or better yet, invite guests out into the garden instead. Bathe the garden or patio with soft lights. Set autumn or Halloween-colored votive candles inside small jars or glasses and place them on terra cotta saucers adorned with colorful leaves. These charming, little lanterns can be used as attractive centerpieces for tables or scattered throughout the garden.
Pumpkins are an absolute must for decorating a Halloween garden. Create a variety of Jack-O'-Lanterns and spread them throughout the surrounding landscape. Light them up with candles. You could also choose to hollow out varieties of pumpkin, gourd, and even squash to use as festive containers for cut-flower arrangements. Fill them with various mums, Chinese lanterns, stems having berries attached, sunflowers, dried peppers, twigs, etc. Wicker harvest baskets also make lovely containers. Gather a few bales of hay or straw, add some corn stalks and pumpkins, and accent with Indian corn and small decorative gourds. For additional interest, you could cover tables with old burlap sacks. Create cozy seating around these tables; or perhaps, self-contained, rock fire pits.
Autumn-themed gardens are generally rich with colors such as crimson, gold, dark green, and burnt orange. These beautiful colors result from a variety of flowers, foliage, berries and seed heads. In keeping with a traditional Halloween theme, there are several ways to accomplish a spook-tacular garden. If you desire, your focus can be centered on orange and black. However, too much dark color can result in making the garden dull and unappealing. Your goal is to achieve an inviting atmosphere. Good choices for adding orange color might include zinnias, marigolds, tiger lilies, Gerber daisies, poppies, and butterfly weed. Near-black beauties could include a variety of tulips and irises. Don't forget to throw in some orange and black-colored pansies as well.
Keep in mind, however, that a Halloween theme does not need to be limited to just these colors. Flowers that are deep maroon can also help set off your Halloween effect. Look for these shades in favorite varieties of cosmos, bachelor buttons, or snapdragons. Complimentary colors such as orange mums and purple asters can add additional interest. Mix in some gray or blue grasses.
Likewise, try implementing some dark maroon roses in the garden; allow them to climb along an old iron trellis. Place stone benches in various areas for seating, allowing different views, and maybe a nearby water basin to wash away troubles. Additionally, you might want to include plants that have creepy names such as devil's tongue, blood lily, spider orchid, bat plant, bleeding heart, bloodroot, etc.
Did you know that at one time having certain plants within your garden made you guilty of being a witch? Many types of herbs, weeds, and flowers were once considered to be used solely by witches for making up magical potions and spells. Some of these included Hellebores, lavender, poppies, dandelions, and even ferns. Foxglove, known also as witches thimbles, and yarrow, referred to as devil's nettle, are also commonly grown plants in many gardens today that have a ghoulish connection with witchcraft.
There's no better time to enjoy the spectacular beauty that nature has to offer than during the autumn season. This is an ideal occasion for entertaining friends and family, especially around Halloween. Why not take advantage of all the vibrant colors and stimulating textures that autumn provides by creating a garden themed around this exciting holiday.
Halloween parties provide a great opportunity to bring the bountiful harvest from the garden indoors; or better yet, invite guests out into the garden instead. Bathe the garden or patio with soft lights. Set autumn or Halloween-colored votive candles inside small jars or glasses and place them on terra cotta saucers adorned with colorful leaves. These charming, little lanterns can be used as attractive centerpieces for tables or scattered throughout the garden.
Pumpkins are an absolute must for decorating a Halloween garden. Create a variety of Jack-O'-Lanterns and spread them throughout the surrounding landscape. Light them up with candles. You could also choose to hollow out varieties of pumpkin, gourd, and even squash to use as festive containers for cut-flower arrangements. Fill them with various mums, Chinese lanterns, stems having berries attached, sunflowers, dried peppers, twigs, etc. Wicker harvest baskets also make lovely containers. Gather a few bales of hay or straw, add some corn stalks and pumpkins, and accent with Indian corn and small decorative gourds. For additional interest, you could cover tables with old burlap sacks. Create cozy seating around these tables; or perhaps, self-contained, rock fire pits.
Autumn-themed gardens are generally rich with colors such as crimson, gold, dark green, and burnt orange. These beautiful colors result from a variety of flowers, foliage, berries and seed heads. In keeping with a traditional Halloween theme, there are several ways to accomplish a spook-tacular garden. If you desire, your focus can be centered on orange and black. However, too much dark color can result in making the garden dull and unappealing. Your goal is to achieve an inviting atmosphere. Good choices for adding orange color might include zinnias, marigolds, tiger lilies, Gerber daisies, poppies, and butterfly weed. Near-black beauties could include a variety of tulips and irises. Don't forget to throw in some orange and black-colored pansies as well.
Keep in mind, however, that a Halloween theme does not need to be limited to just these colors. Flowers that are deep maroon can also help set off your Halloween effect. Look for these shades in favorite varieties of cosmos, bachelor buttons, or snapdragons. Complimentary colors such as orange mums and purple asters can add additional interest. Mix in some gray or blue grasses.
Likewise, try implementing some dark maroon roses in the garden; allow them to climb along an old iron trellis. Place stone benches in various areas for seating, allowing different views, and maybe a nearby water basin to wash away troubles. Additionally, you might want to include plants that have creepy names such as devil's tongue, blood lily, spider orchid, bat plant, bleeding heart, bloodroot, etc.
Did you know that at one time having certain plants within your garden made you guilty of being a witch? Many types of herbs, weeds, and flowers were once considered to be used solely by witches for making up magical potions and spells. Some of these included Hellebores, lavender, poppies, dandelions, and even ferns. Foxglove, known also as witches thimbles, and yarrow, referred to as devil's nettle, are also commonly grown plants in many gardens today that have a ghoulish connection with witchcraft.
Gifts that Never Go Out of Style
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Gifts that Never Go Out of Style
The holiday season is a time for giving. When most of us think of giving, we think of gifts. The mere thought of tackling that Christmas list can be daunting. Maybe there isn't enough money to buy the gifts you'd like to give. Or perhaps you have a few of those "hard to buy for" people who have everything. So you put on your Betty Crocker hat and spend hours in the kitchen making cookies, sweet breads, and fudge to give as gifts. You make homemade ornaments and other Christmas crafts, or you buy another pair of socks and another boring tie.
I'm going to ask you to think a little less traditionally about gift giving, and consider giving of yourself this holiday season. I've been reading Rick Warren's new book "God's Power to Change Your Life". In his book, he discusses a well known topic - the fruits of the spirit. I got to thinking about how wonderful it would be to make a conscious effort to give one or all of these nine gifts. These gifts can be given to anyone and everyone, they cost you nothing but your heart, and they never go out of style.
Love
What is love? So many people think of love as a strong feeling we have. We love our kids, our spouse, and our friends, especially when they are nice to us. But do we love people when they are unlovable, or do we love people who have hurt us deeply? Love is a matter of choice, and love is an action, not a feeling. How can we stretch ourselves and offer love in the most difficult situations? Give the gift of forgiveness to someone you've been holding a grudge against. Think loving thoughts of people when they are really aggravating you. Act lovingly to someone you do not like, and pray for people that mistreat you.
Joy
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but yet many of us don't feel it. We equate joy with happiness, but the two are not the same. Your happiness depends on your circumstances - whether you're having a good day or bad day. Joy, on the other hand, is an attitude we can choose to have. Regardless of our situation, we can choose to be joyful. Consider changing your perspective and chucking self-pity. Focus on God's love and His plans for you, which are always good, even when you have to walk through the valley first. Give the gift of gratitude, cheerful giving, and service. Everyone loves to be appreciated and served with a smile.
Peace
Most of the time, the holidays are anything but peaceful. The stress that often comes with holidays makes for a chaotic time. So how can you offer peace to the people around you when they most need it? Spend time in prayer so that you can receive the spiritual and emotional peace that comes from God. Then you can give relational peace to others by having an internal sense of peace and turning away from conflict. Meet criticism with a calm and listening ear, instead of defensiveness. Offer compassion and understanding instead of anger and fighting words. Manage your own stress so you can be an example to everyone around you.
Patience
Rick Warren says you can test your patience in four ways. How do you deal with interruptions? How do you handle inconveniences? How do you respond to the irritations in your life? What is your reaction when you have to wait? Let's face it. The holiday season can really test our patience. Whether it's having to drive to 5 different stores to find the one toy that is out of stock, dealing with irritable and snobbish people, or waiting in endless lines, our reaction is the true test of how patient we are. Give the gift of patience by developing a deeper love for people, changing how you view situations, learning to laugh at the craziness, and depending on God to see you through the stressful times.
Kindness
Do you ever stop and ask yourself how you can be kind to someone today? Acts of kindness require thoughtful effort. Smiling at people who are having a bad day is an act of kindness. Kindness can be expressed by taking the time to listen to someone who is hurting. Giving people genuine compliments and seeing the best in people is a way to show kindness. Go out of your way to do something nice for someone, and don't wait until it's convenient for you because that time often does not come. In this busy world, everyone can benefit from a little kindness.
The holiday season is a time for giving. When most of us think of giving, we think of gifts. The mere thought of tackling that Christmas list can be daunting. Maybe there isn't enough money to buy the gifts you'd like to give. Or perhaps you have a few of those "hard to buy for" people who have everything. So you put on your Betty Crocker hat and spend hours in the kitchen making cookies, sweet breads, and fudge to give as gifts. You make homemade ornaments and other Christmas crafts, or you buy another pair of socks and another boring tie.
I'm going to ask you to think a little less traditionally about gift giving, and consider giving of yourself this holiday season. I've been reading Rick Warren's new book "God's Power to Change Your Life". In his book, he discusses a well known topic - the fruits of the spirit. I got to thinking about how wonderful it would be to make a conscious effort to give one or all of these nine gifts. These gifts can be given to anyone and everyone, they cost you nothing but your heart, and they never go out of style.
Love
What is love? So many people think of love as a strong feeling we have. We love our kids, our spouse, and our friends, especially when they are nice to us. But do we love people when they are unlovable, or do we love people who have hurt us deeply? Love is a matter of choice, and love is an action, not a feeling. How can we stretch ourselves and offer love in the most difficult situations? Give the gift of forgiveness to someone you've been holding a grudge against. Think loving thoughts of people when they are really aggravating you. Act lovingly to someone you do not like, and pray for people that mistreat you.
Joy
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but yet many of us don't feel it. We equate joy with happiness, but the two are not the same. Your happiness depends on your circumstances - whether you're having a good day or bad day. Joy, on the other hand, is an attitude we can choose to have. Regardless of our situation, we can choose to be joyful. Consider changing your perspective and chucking self-pity. Focus on God's love and His plans for you, which are always good, even when you have to walk through the valley first. Give the gift of gratitude, cheerful giving, and service. Everyone loves to be appreciated and served with a smile.
Peace
Most of the time, the holidays are anything but peaceful. The stress that often comes with holidays makes for a chaotic time. So how can you offer peace to the people around you when they most need it? Spend time in prayer so that you can receive the spiritual and emotional peace that comes from God. Then you can give relational peace to others by having an internal sense of peace and turning away from conflict. Meet criticism with a calm and listening ear, instead of defensiveness. Offer compassion and understanding instead of anger and fighting words. Manage your own stress so you can be an example to everyone around you.
Patience
Rick Warren says you can test your patience in four ways. How do you deal with interruptions? How do you handle inconveniences? How do you respond to the irritations in your life? What is your reaction when you have to wait? Let's face it. The holiday season can really test our patience. Whether it's having to drive to 5 different stores to find the one toy that is out of stock, dealing with irritable and snobbish people, or waiting in endless lines, our reaction is the true test of how patient we are. Give the gift of patience by developing a deeper love for people, changing how you view situations, learning to laugh at the craziness, and depending on God to see you through the stressful times.
Kindness
Do you ever stop and ask yourself how you can be kind to someone today? Acts of kindness require thoughtful effort. Smiling at people who are having a bad day is an act of kindness. Kindness can be expressed by taking the time to listen to someone who is hurting. Giving people genuine compliments and seeing the best in people is a way to show kindness. Go out of your way to do something nice for someone, and don't wait until it's convenient for you because that time often does not come. In this busy world, everyone can benefit from a little kindness.
Reindeer Games
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Reindeer Games
One foggy Christmas Eve, Santa Claus made Rudolph the most popular reindeer of all-time. Once chastised for his red nose, Rudolph's name went down in history when his guiding light saved Christmas for kids the world over.
Folklore aside, and much to the delight of kids in every age group, it's indisputable fact that reindeer really do exist. They may not fly (except for special ones like Dancer and Prancer), but they roam North American landscapes and are commonly known by other names, such as Caribou.
Reindeer are mammals that typically live about 15 years. Most often they are gray in color with splashes of brown, though on occasion a white caribou is encountered. Their coats - or pelts - are thick to help them withstand harsh winters. Since they're typically found in the northern U.S. and Canada, these pelts are essential to their survival.
Some of the most noteworthy reindeer in the world are found in British Columbia, Canada, where reindeer farms are prevalent. On these farms, the caribou are raised for slaughter. After processing, caribou meet - called venison - is taken to restaurants and retail outlets to be sold for consumption. While caribou are not a particularly popular dish, demand for the food does appear to be growing as consumers everywhere continue the trend of testing their palates with new flavors and food combinations.
The reindeer's breeding season is particularly interesting. Known as "the rut," the breeding season lasts for about a month. Typically, the rut occurs in the latter half of September and early part of October. While humans carry their young through a nine-month gestation period, a reindeer pregnancy lasts for approximately seven months. Most often, reindeer calves are born in the months of April and May.
During the mating season, into which young caribou enter at the ripe age of 18 months (they continue to mate until about 10 years of age), the male reindeer - known as bulls - work vigorously. They eat very little and often lose 20 percent of their body fat.
When a female reindeer - sometimes called a cow (confusing, isn't it?) - is about to give birth, she becomes withdrawn and separates herself from the pack. She'll hide from her herd in a protected place, away from the elements. Luckily for her, the birth will only last about 30 minutes once the actually birthing process begins (usually 24 hours or so after she goes into hiding).
Reindeer have velvet-covered antlers and the males grow a mane. Like deer or elk, they are wild animals and therefore do not make good pets, though some people have taken ill-advised steps to attempt making them into pets over the years.
The next time your child or grandchild asks you about Rudolph, you can tell them with confidence that reindeer do exist. You can even offer to drive them past a range where farmed reindeer forage. These reindeer may not look like the friendly, smiling cartoon Rudolph, but their physical presence will assure children that reindeer are in fact real!
One foggy Christmas Eve, Santa Claus made Rudolph the most popular reindeer of all-time. Once chastised for his red nose, Rudolph's name went down in history when his guiding light saved Christmas for kids the world over.
Folklore aside, and much to the delight of kids in every age group, it's indisputable fact that reindeer really do exist. They may not fly (except for special ones like Dancer and Prancer), but they roam North American landscapes and are commonly known by other names, such as Caribou.
Reindeer are mammals that typically live about 15 years. Most often they are gray in color with splashes of brown, though on occasion a white caribou is encountered. Their coats - or pelts - are thick to help them withstand harsh winters. Since they're typically found in the northern U.S. and Canada, these pelts are essential to their survival.
Some of the most noteworthy reindeer in the world are found in British Columbia, Canada, where reindeer farms are prevalent. On these farms, the caribou are raised for slaughter. After processing, caribou meet - called venison - is taken to restaurants and retail outlets to be sold for consumption. While caribou are not a particularly popular dish, demand for the food does appear to be growing as consumers everywhere continue the trend of testing their palates with new flavors and food combinations.
The reindeer's breeding season is particularly interesting. Known as "the rut," the breeding season lasts for about a month. Typically, the rut occurs in the latter half of September and early part of October. While humans carry their young through a nine-month gestation period, a reindeer pregnancy lasts for approximately seven months. Most often, reindeer calves are born in the months of April and May.
During the mating season, into which young caribou enter at the ripe age of 18 months (they continue to mate until about 10 years of age), the male reindeer - known as bulls - work vigorously. They eat very little and often lose 20 percent of their body fat.
When a female reindeer - sometimes called a cow (confusing, isn't it?) - is about to give birth, she becomes withdrawn and separates herself from the pack. She'll hide from her herd in a protected place, away from the elements. Luckily for her, the birth will only last about 30 minutes once the actually birthing process begins (usually 24 hours or so after she goes into hiding).
Reindeer have velvet-covered antlers and the males grow a mane. Like deer or elk, they are wild animals and therefore do not make good pets, though some people have taken ill-advised steps to attempt making them into pets over the years.
The next time your child or grandchild asks you about Rudolph, you can tell them with confidence that reindeer do exist. You can even offer to drive them past a range where farmed reindeer forage. These reindeer may not look like the friendly, smiling cartoon Rudolph, but their physical presence will assure children that reindeer are in fact real!
