Traditionally does it

Before I go further I love Christmas. Love it. 

But.

Increasingly I see new 'traditions' and it's got me thinking. I am a traditional sort of gal, I like my tree real, I like it decorated in reds and golds with small lights which are white and not flashing. I like proper family feast days to mark this time of year. It is the most wonderful time of the year. And a time to wallow in the old traditions.

Morkus Christmas 2014: Lists

I have a long standing tradition, habit or insistance, of not talking about Christmas until after my birthday. I love Christmas but I like it to be contained to Advent in the main and not extended too long. Years of working in retail with two or three months of Christmas kinda kills it.

This year we are hosting for the first time. I am at once excited and terrified at the prospect. In 2012 J and I had a solo Christmas as a newly wedded and pregnant couple. We raided M&S and hold up on our own in our freezing flat with the Radio Times as our only timetable. It was fab but even putting a turkey breast joint in the oven for two for my more than a little stressed. 

Full of Festive Cheer

This was L's first Christmas. I cried a lot at the sheer joy of sharing this special time of year with her. The magic of Christmas Eve, the music and services, family and friends, feasts and joy.

We had a Christmas Bucket List and in four short weeks we had achieved nearly all. 

Oh Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree, L's first Christmas tree. 

Our tree buying photo story.

Baby Craft at Christmas: Salt Dough Decorations

As a teacher I would regularly spend my mornings at work making a dough of one sort of another. Playdough, cloud dough and salt dough. Playing with a dough is great for grose and fine motor development as well as being an eternally popular activity in any playroom or classroom. 

Today I made a salt dough. I most often use this dough when I want to make something to keep as it dries really well. It can also easily be painted and decorated for Diwali lamps or, as today Christmas decorations. 

It is very quick and easy to make. Simply put equal amounts of plain flour and salt in a bowl. I used a cup measurement.

Baby Present Ideas Christmas 2013

Today and tomorrow are supposed to be the busiest days on the high street before Christmas. Having worked in retail I can attest to the craziness which is the last shopping Saturday before Christmas as well as the strange calm which is Christmas Eve with only men shopping. (This isn't prejudice just my own personal experience from years working in retail, I don't know what the ladies are doing but very few are Christmas shopping and the shops are actually not that full (this is not the same for food shops which are horrid elbow jabbing areas!))

I have obviously been pinning like a mad woman. You can read L's First Christmas List (which will also become her birthday list) and if you're anything like me you will get lost in the pinning madness also!

In the spirit of one thing you want, one thing you read, one thing you need, and one thing to wear my baby present categories are as follows.

Snowy Playtime

L was hostess for a recent NCT playtime and I took the opportunity to be a bit creative with a Playspace for L and her baby chums.

I wanted something with lights as it is Christmas and something snow like as we probably won't be having a white Christmas. I didn't want to spend money (SMP is pretty miniscule) and had an afternoon and evening to do it in.

I had seen a light tunnel on the home of good ideas and way to waste hours which is Pinterest but was lacking a cardboard box big enough (ironically one arrived the day before the party but it still contained our new boiler) so improvised by using our airer. It is high enough to keep the lights out of pesky mouths and also had the ability to use pegs to attach the lights from. 

I had two large Aden and Anais muslin swaddles (love these so very much, completely indulgent but so very worth it for their continued fabulous uses). They are white and starry which suited my theme quiet well. They were easily pegged over the airer as well as being long enough to pull together at one end to enclose the tunnel. Brilliant.

Baby Craft at Christmas: Christmas Cards

We have well and truly gotten our festivities under way in the Morkus home. We have chosen outfits. We have made a bucket list. We have lit the advent candle.

Christmas Wardrobe 0-6 Months Christmas 2013

Last week I won a ticket to the opening of the newly refurbished Mothercare store on Oxford St. I met some lovely fellow bloggers, spotted a fair few celebs and sipped champagne with my mum while shopping. We had a great night.

(image courtesy of Mothercare UK)

 

I used this opportunity to compile a festive wardrobe for L from the selection on offer. Mothercare have a great Christmas clothes selection and these are my top picks.

Christmas Bucket List

L's first Christmas. Our first family Christmas. So many traditions to start and sights to show our daughter on this first magical time.

I wish to start as we want to go on and introduce L to the true meaning of Christmas as well as the modern Christmas traditions. Christingle services, nativity stories and scenes and advent candles. We will also make up Christmas gifts for a boy and girl the same age as L who might not be as lucky as L. I hope to do this every year as L grows she can be more involved in choosing and thinking of others less fortunate than herself. 

We will also be indulging in the modern Christmas. A tree, decoration, parties and presents for all. 

Here is my Christmas Bucket List. 

I can't wait to get started and celebrate this special time with my special people.

Christmas Book Round Up!

We have started the Christmas Countdown in the Morkus household. 

I know that lots of people are doing a Christmas Book Advent this year. The idea being that each evening you share a different Christmas book, film or tradition with your little one in the lead up to Christmas. I think this is a lovely idea and to help those who are doing this this year I have looked through L's bookshelves and picked out the Christmas ones to share with you all. 

Baby Christmas Books

 

Usborne Touchy Feely The Nativity

A simplified version of the nativity story and a great introduction to the story. Each page features small textured elements keeping babies and young children entertained. The page are large and robust enough and have encountered a few chews each story time.

Usborne Cloth Books Christmas

A lovely story of woodland animals getting ready for Christmas with lovely natural decorations and a surprise visit from Father Christmas (refered to as Santa which would of put me off buying this book if I had known as I am a Father Christmas traditionalist.

That's Not My Penguin and Angel

Everyone knows this series yes? Repetitive, textured pages and one for any and every occasion. L enjoys the pictures and different things to feel and these are two suitably festive titles.

Baby's very first touchy-Feely Christmas

Each page has a word and an image of something suitable festive. Great introduction to Christmas vocabulary and next year when L is talking we will use it again to teach new language.

Nativity Stories

The Christmas Story, Ian Beck

Quite possibly my favourite illustrated version of the traditional story. Starting in Nazareth this picture book is full of richly detailed illustrations. It finishes with with a traditional scene of a nativity play. A beautiful book and certainly one to read when you set up the nativity scene at home.

Jesus' Christmas Party, Nicolas Allan

Another quite different take on the traditional nativity story told from the perspective of the rather disgruntled inn keeper. His grumps are quickly forgotten when he looks in the manger and realises just how special this baby is.

The Nativity Play, Nick Butterworth and Mick Inkpen

One which will appeal to any parent who was in a nativity while at school or a child who is taking part in their own nativity this year. Filled with humour and musical interludes for the finer voiced readers this is a bit of a through back, especially with mention of over head projectors!

Father Christmas Stories

Father Christmas and Father Christmas Goes on Holiday, Raymond Briggs

 

The gruff and often grumpy Father Christmas of Briggs stories is how lots of parents, and now children, picture our bearded present bringer. One of the most brilliant elements of Briggs' stories is the lack of written narrative. This really gives children a chance to tell the story for themselves and for parents and children to really look at the detailed illustrations.

 

Aliens Love Panta Claus, Claire Freedman and Ben Cort

Those cheeky aliens are back and this time they are sharing the joy of Christmas pants! Helping Santa when his sleigh breaks down and bringing smiles, as well as pants, to the good boys and girls. In the spirit of Dinovember you might want to slip of pair of underpants in stockings to keep the magic alive!

Father Christmas Needs a Wee!, Nicholas Allan

My second offering from Allan and it's another funny one! This time with some additional learning fun with the whole book being a count up and count down as Father Christmas drinks lots of drinks but forgets to do something very important!

Christmas Activities

Usborne Christmas Baking for Children

 

This great book from Usborne has a great selection of Christmas treats from mince pies to Stollen this book will see you through many Christmases. The instructions are clear and there are getting started and basic skills pages, as well as decoration and wrapping ideas for giving these baked goods as gifts. I used some of these recipes in the classroom and I think this book is a great introduction to classic Christmas bakes.

I hope you find something to meet your seasonal reading requirements. What is your favourite Christmas book? How do you incorporate reading into your celebrations?