hear ye! hear ye!

not my house. 

I was going to sit on this post for a bit... wait until after Myles' birthday since its sorta late to do something like this... but I think we can't wait any more. 

This is where I get to be THAT mom.  The mean one.  The weird one.  The "can you believe she just said that to us" one.  Yup.  But thats my job.  And since I try to live life on the edge, I'm going to go there.  And you might just thank me for it.  

ATTENTION ALL GIFT GIVERS

*let me step up on my soapbox for a moment. 

*Ahem*

I am hereto enacting a rule.  

Just hear me out.

I toyed with the idea last year of the 3 present rule that I read about online (one want, one need, and one educational) I mentioned it to my family that I was toying with it.  I had a mostly positive response with a few jokes here and there.  Overall, I was too chicken to declare it to everyone.  But after thinking on it, its a bit too complicated to think about, with too many rules to feel strict on.  So how about I simplify?

For now on, if you buy a present for our child for birthdays or Christmas, you are restricted to 2.

No more than 2 gifts.  

Lets close a couple of loopholes/clarify.  

• One item equals one gift.
• You can't just fill a large bag with ten things and count that as one.  That would be cheating.  
• A full outfit may count as one.  
• A pair of grandparents or family group is limited to two total. ex: Gamma can't give two and Gampa two more.

Now, why are you being this strict evil mom?  I'm glad you asked.  

I don't just willy nilly throw out crazy notions like this.  It has been thought on, stressed over, anxiously conversed with myself since before Myles was born.  It is time I got it out there so I can stop thinking about it.  So lay down your weapons for a minute and just consider my reasons.

• Our society has become way too obsessed with things.  I know Myles will struggle with this too, but I would like to set the tone now for how birthdays and Christmases will just be in our home.  I want my son to grow up looking forward to these times because they mean special moments with family and friends with traditions and Christ.  Not because these are the times when he gets everything he wants and then some.  
• Truth time: I know growing up there were Christmases that me or the other kids in the family would get super excited opening presents and then sulk when we didn't get exactly what we wanted.  Years later, do I remember every present I ever got?  Heck no.  Do I remember baking cookies with my mom and Chex mix with my dad; piling in bed with our new Christmas pajamas on for the yearly family photo; the awesome bunny shaped cakes Nana made when my birthday fell on Easter?  Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  That is the type of stuff I want my kids to focus on because that is what memories are made of.
• There are exactly 6 weeks between Myles' birthday and Christmas.  If you go crazy buying a million things for his birthday, then seriously, what is left for Christmas?  A bunch of crap he doesn't need.
• We do not have room in our home for him to have a million and one toys.  He does not need a million and one toys, he will never play with a million and one toys, so do not stockpile our small house with a million and one toys.  We are here for 4 more years and possibly, eventually one more child and we are already out of closet space.
• If one side of the family buys a hundred toys, then the other side of the family feels like they can't buy any toys, and I sure as heck feel like I will never buy my kid a toy.  Let me feel like I can buy my kid a toy.
• Personally this makes me feel like I can splurge and get him the nicer version of something for these occasions rather than feeling like I need to get a bunch of cheap made in China plastic to feel like I got him "enough".

That wasn't completely unreasonable right?  My love language is gifts but seriously I feel like this is much more freeing than restricting. We don't have to feel like "oh I haven't bought enough because he only has 4 things to open but I'm just not sure what else he needs".  Just get him one or two incredibly thoughtful gifts for these occasions and be done! "Just because" gifts are still allowed and encouraged!    I am not saying you don't get to spoil your grandkid/nephew/friend!  If you see an outfit you want him to have during the year, by all means drop it in the mail and surprise him.  Take him to a bookstore or candy store (eventually) when you are visiting and let him pick out a special treat.   When he is older, take him clothes shopping before school if you want to.

I just would really like to keep from fostering the attitude of entitlement so many kids have.  Its hard enough with all of the advertising that will bombard him his entire life, I don't want it being supported by the act of grandma or grandpa or mom or dad always getting him everything he asks.  

In my home I hope that presents will be the cherry on top. Not the whole dang milkshake.

And yes, my husband is completely on board with this plan.  I would not post something like this without his full backing.

I'm not alone, while trying to find a photo to use, I ran across this and she said it all in a pretty great way as well... I thoroughly second everything in her article so go read it now.

myles oliver : monthbymonth 11

Late again.  Fighting viruses over here.  Myles had a mystery fever two weeks ago, other than being sleepy, he didn't seem sick.  Well thats because it was a sore throat.  I know that because I JUST got over it.  Luckily he only seemed to have it for 48 hours, unluckily, mine lasted a week.

You seem so much bigger but I'm not sure how exactly.  Maybe you gained a pound or so?  I measured you the other day at 29.5 inches so I guess you have gotten a little taller?  You wear a lot of 12 month clothes but 9 months still fit a little better in the waist of pants.

You randomly started lifting your belly off the ground to do some normal style crawling.  It kinda weirded me out.  You were just so fast with the army crawling I don't understand why you randomly wanted to change.  But whatever, you have picked up speed this way now so its a little less strange.  You should be walking any minute so none of it matters.  

It isn't just "bababoo!" being spouted off every minute of the day anymore.  Still no real words but you are definitely exploring sounds.  Finally making dada noises and occasionally throwing in mmm and nnn.  You "clap" most of the time we say "YAY!"; you don't quit have the motion down though so its more like you are slapping the backs of your hands.

A pretty huge thing to me was that we discovered you are actually paying attention to the animals when we go to the zoo now!  You looked at the monkeys and the vultures and pulled at the fence between you and the black swan when your Aunt Tracy and cousin Natalie were in town.  It might actually be worth it to renew the membership for next year.

your crazy eye face.  you make this every time you make
the noise that apparently is the same as The Grudge. (?)

No extra teeth.  Still just the 4 with no extra bumps in sight.  You love to give kisses to everyone and do this by request sometimes, but there have been a few moments when your kisses have turned into bites on Mommy's face.  Ouch.  You really hate being told to "stop".  It makes you whine or cry every time I say that word, even when it isn't directed at you.

my only photo from Fall for Greenville this year.

you loved the chicken yakisoba.

Food wise, you are getting sick of oatmeal every day but the egg restriction makes it hard to do much else.  You aren't super impressed with toast and gluten-free waffles (eggless) end up on the floor after about 2 bites.  You love most fruit but get tired of strawberries pretty quickly sometimes.  Roasted winter squashes are a particular favorite, and you gobble up BBQ chicken sandwiches and hotdogs.

trying to box up old clothes turns into you digging them all out to "sort"

You love dancing whenever there is music and are the friendliest little thing.  You make everyone smile that meets you.  You try to climb on everything, love opening and emptying drawers, and if a door is cracked then it must be flung open.  You are regularly testing me; going to places you know you aren't supposed to go and reaching for things I have told you not to touch and look at me right before you touch it with a little "huh?"  like... "are you sure you don't want me to do it, because I would really like to".  Mischief always.

currently

smelling  cinnamon.  I broke out last year's cinnamon room spray now that it is seasonally appropriate.  I would prefer candles but it is too scary with a grabby kid running around to really use them anymore.  

loving  if you haven't seen yesterday's post, you should.  I had SO much fun doing that one!  And it is really getting me thinking about everything I want to do in other rooms to finish them up!  Narrowing down the paint chips now!

planning  Kyle started his last night float of 2nd year last night.  Thankfully this month we have a little more of real weekends to work with.  He should be home at some point Friday morning and stay home until mid-Sunday morning.  So we can plan dates if we want without feeling too bad about not spending every minute with Myles.  Next week is Fall for Greenville and I cannot wait!  We had such fun last year getting to walk downtown and sample many different (some high end!) restaurants that we normally wouldn't go to.  

baking I tried out some simple cupcakes for Kyle's birthday last month since I am trying to figure out eggless ideas for the big party we probably won't have for Myles (since November is an away rotation and I'm not feeling doing everything and entertaining alone...sorry kid. Mother of the year right here).  Chocolate cake mix + one can Dr. Pepper.  They were a huge hit at our small group but not quite my ideal.  This week I am hoping to try out a simple baked apple.  I have never done them but they sound amazing and easy.

celebrating  in a couple of weeks Myles' bestie Eliza will be turning 1!  So can't wait for the extravaganza!

This week I am linking up with Anne and Jenna for this month's Currently.  :)