I really have no clue. My birthday present is going to be a Britax Regent for her...which was my original Christmas idea (from grandparents) but I want one sooner rather than later.
She doesn't need any toys, she has so many. Maybe some new coloring gadget....I just really have no clue. I know the grandparents will go crazy and she still would be just as happy with a box of bandaids...so I don't think we'll go crazy wild on the spending.
It is definitely time to purge her toys though, they're overtaking the house. One thing we have that she loves is her Ikea easel, and also her Ikea tent. LOVES these things. And the easel was $20 and the tent was $10 .
We are on a budget as I will be out of work in a few months.
So far we have for Madelyn:
Dress up clothes (fairy wings/wand/skirt, animal ears and tails)
Books
Make your own hat
Toob of domesticated cats (about 12 little cat statues)
We are going to get her:
A doll house (my sister's kids old house)
No idea, really, on gifts for Arrena. She still doesn't have all her gifts from her birthday. But I do think we'll break down and give her a big girl bed. She really wants to sleep in a bed. She loves to hang out in ours or the bed in her room. So maybe we'll buy her that, and get a relative to buy the sheets. I wanted to wait until we moved into a house, but 1) who knows how long that will take and 2) she's not getting any shorter.
She loves her easel and makes "pretties" every day, propbably 10 a day. So we'll get more paper. And I like the idea of getting her a tent (as she currently likes to hide in our kitchen cabinet). She could definitely use some dress up clothes.
Arrena Ruth 08.07.05 Julian Mitchell 08.01.08 America is the only country to go from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between ~ Oscar Wilde
I highly recommend the tent. Arden loves hers. It's a bit of a PITA in terms of its size but it keeps her occupied and her toys have taken over the formal living room as it is.
ETA this is the one we have...easy to put up and voila...a fortress for the queen!
I second the tent. I forgot who makes the one T has, but it twists and folds really small like those car window visors. It also came with two tunnels that can attach to the openings(door) in the tent sides. It is AWESOME for traveling since it slides up under the seats when folded (came with its own bag) but provides hours of fun once popped out in a hotel room or cabin or wherever. The entire thing is less than 1/2 of an inch thick when folded!
We have the tent and crawl tubes too, I think its Ryans Room brand, bought it at Costco. The boys love it, but we save it for boring, rainy days.
Ideas for Christmas: stumped here too.
I was thinking a set of cars that comes in a personalized tote bag. They have become very attached to toting around their treasured toys (usually mini cars and a cell phone) and they need a little bag. They usually use my old purses but their Daddy seems to think that looks a little weird.
Nate is all about sports this year, so we asked the ILs for a t-ball set and a basketball hoop. He also loves airplanes, so maybe a few new hotwheels-type airplanes and Herold the airplane from Thomas.
Pete is all about art this year, so new washable markers and a few coloring books. He also loves his hotwheels and trains, so a couple of new ones of those and a few Thomas trains (probably a couple of motorized ones) and some bendable "Wacky Track".
Oh yeah, and a new wagon. I broke theirs by hauling bags of cement. LOL
Most of the things we want to get them are outside toys, so we will wait until spring. Im thinking a 2nd tricycle, and I'd love to get them power wheels Jeeps.
Tina & Travis, married July 4, 2003
Pete and Nate, born July 23, 2005 LJ ~*~ Website
Arrena went all day yesterday in panties at daycare!
The last two days, she's been really good about going on the potty - so much so that she came home in the same diaper that we sent her to school in! So yesterday, her "teacher" decided to just see how she did. She took her out of the cute dress I put her in (oh well) and put her in clothes where it wouldn't matter if she had an accident. THEN, she put her in panties (she usually buys panties for her kids when they're ready). Arrena went the whole day, going on the potty, and didn't have one accident.
Of course, when she got home, she promptly pooped in her diaper, but it was just a timing thing. She's still good about peeing in the potty and telling us she doesn't have to go (we do have to ask, though). So it' seems my little girl is on her way to toilet training. Yay!!!
And she's getting so grown up and is talking so much better. Full sentences (I like toast!) and all. It's just stunning that she's become so self sufficient. I love it.
Arrena Ruth 08.07.05 Julian Mitchell 08.01.08 America is the only country to go from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between ~ Oscar Wilde
So I just got a phone call from Aidan's school, that he has bitten twice today It sucks being a bitter's mom! The only thing I can think of 1) me being pregant, experts have said that they can sense the change and 2) while on vacation he was bit by his cousin. This is totally new behavior for him and it's not like he hasn't been with other kids in a structured environment. Anyway even though I know this is totally normal 2yr old behavior he goes to a Christian school and they are notorious for not putting up with stuff like this. Since I did get the call that if he does it agian I need to go pick him up, I am worried I am going to have to find a new daycare. I was going to pull him in Jan when his other daycare is suppossed to be ready anyway but if they decide to kick him out I am SOL until then!!
Arrena isn't a "biter" in that I've never heard of her biting anyone at school. However, she's tried to bite me a few times. I even left my arm in her mouth to see if she'd clamp down (she didn't), so she's basically mouthing you when she's mad, but I needed to see if she'd inflict harm. We still tried to nip it in the bud. I'm sure it didn't work.
Good luck. It's such a hard thing to combat, but it won't last forever.
Arrena Ruth 08.07.05 Julian Mitchell 08.01.08 America is the only country to go from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between ~ Oscar Wilde
Christmas- we got Ben a three wheeled scooter. But my parents got him a tractor that has this great trailer too. I love their gift for him since he loves my mom's tractor collection, they found it at a craft and art show on vacation it is a handmade wooden one. Mikey is getting a dump truck to match.
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but their Daddy seems to think that looks a little weird. 
She's still good about peeing in the potty and telling us she doesn't have to go (we do have to ask, though). So it' seems my little girl is on her way to toilet training. Yay!!!
It sucks being a bitter's mom! The only thing I can think of 1) me being pregant, experts have said that they can sense the change and 2) while on vacation he was bit by his cousin. This is totally new behavior for him and it's not like he hasn't been with other kids in a structured environment. Anyway even though I know this is totally normal 2yr old behavior he goes to a Christian school and they are notorious for not putting up with stuff like this. Since I did get the call that if he does it agian I need to go pick him up, I am worried I am going to have to find a new daycare. I was going to pull him in Jan when his other daycare is suppossed to be ready anyway but if they decide to kick him out I am SOL until then!!
