Planning for a Holiday Baby
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Today’s post is from Lauren Hill, the Mama in Mama’s Laundry Talk. We are so much on the same wavelength. I love reading what she writes. Today she shares how she’s preparing for a new baby at the holidays. I can so relate since two FishBabies were born in November. It’s a wonderful time to have a baby, especially when you plan ahead.
I have never had the pleasure of having a “Holiday Baby” – one that comes right around the Thanksgiving/Christmas Holidays. My other three children have birthdays in March and April. Having a baby so close to Thanksgiving and Christmas makes me realize that things are going to be a little different for us this year.
My Baby #4 is due on November 18th, and as you all know that means he/she could arrive a few weeks early, or even into December. Even though it is just July, I’ve given a lot of thought to what our Thanksgiving/Christmas Season may look like this year with a new baby to swoon over. And what I would like for it to look like.
Thinking Ahead
My biggest goal this Thanksgiving and Christmas Season? For it to be simple and peaceful. No running around at the last minute, no fighting crowds and minimal anxiety to “get it all done.” As with any newborn, I want to cherish this time when they are little and soak it in to my core. Those newborn days are so fleeting and I don’t want to miss them because I’m worried about other things like shopping and baking.
Setting Goals
So I’ve mapped out my Master Plan of having a peaceful holiday season. Here’s what I’m planning:
All of my Christmas Gifts are going to be purchased by November 1st.
I will tolerate no excuses from myself, as I am determined to have this hefty item checked off of my to-do list by November 1. The thoughts of going shopping in those post-partum days instead of snuggling with a new little one are not happy thoughts for this Mama. My goal is to have my complete Christmas List made by August 15th and start quickly thereafter to check them off. This list includes everyone we buy for: family, friends, teachers, etc.
All of my Christmas Cards will be signed, addressed and stamped, also by November 1st.
We don’t send nearly as many cards as we used to, so this task shouldn’t take terribly long. Because I bought Christmas Cards at an After-Christmas Sale last year, I’ve already got what I need and can get started any time.
I’m going to stock our freezer with at least 30 meals.
That sounds a little daunting to a very pregnant mom-to-be, but I know what a tremendous blessing it is to walk to the freezer and pull out dinner. Especially when you are in the last days of pregnancy or enjoying a new little one. People are very willing to bring meals to a new mom, but not so eager during the holidays since schedules are always more hectic. So I plan for my freezer to be fully stocked going into the Thanksgiving Season. This includes a couple of quick breads and batches of cookies for us to enjoy since I doubt I’ll be up for much baking.
We are staying home this year.
We typically do quite a bit of in-state traveling during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Being with my family is truly one of the highlights of the Season for me. But this year, my husband and I have decided to stay home. Being in our own home is the ultimate peacefulness to me. Traveling with 4 small children? Not so much. Hopefully some family will visit us!
Remembering The WHY
I’m going to focus on the Real reason of Christmas.
Whether you have a new baby or not during the Christmas Season, it is so easy to lose sight of the Real reason we celebrate this time of year. Between shopping and crowds and all of the hubbub associated with that, it’s easy to believe that gift giving is why we celebrate. My family celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ during the Holiday Season, and I don’t want to dare lose sight of that this year. He is The Gift I am most grateful for. While I am cherishing the baby days, my prayer is for Him to be ever present on my mind.
Are you having a Holiday Baby? How are you preparing?
Are you utilizing Amazon Prime shipping and ordering only online? Are you skipping the formal Christmas pictures this year? Are you freezer cooking your entire Thanksgiving meal? Have you thought about creating a to-do list?
Share your ideas on preparing for a Holiday Baby.
We can’t wait to hear how you’re planning ahead this year! See you in the comments.
— Lauren Hill is the ‘Mama’ behind Mama’s Laundry Talk. She is so grateful for the opportunity to have a Holiday Baby and cannot wait to meet him or her!
My first was born in December…right between my husband’s birthday and mine and days before Christmas. My advice for preparing for a holiday baby is to not only have all the shopping done way in advance, but get the wrapping done early too. It was such a blessing to have all that done before my son arrived, so I could just focus on my newborn and celebrating the real reason for the season.
@Karen,
Oooh – good point about the wrapping. Definitely adding that to my list! Thanks!
-Lauren
now that we are retired and living on a fixed income I have been using the cash system more and more. would love to read more about Mr Ramsey or have a cash wallet. Cheeers to the holidays and to the babies that grow up knowing that their birthdays are just as important as the holidays too.
I can so relate to this post, my youngest child was due December 20, 2008. Since I had my first a week early I was hoping for another early delivery. My goal was to have my shopping and Christmas cards done by December 1. Surprising to me, I was already 3 cm dilated at 33 weeks and was told to take it easy. At my 35 week checkup I was 4 cm and the dr. gave me the green light to finish my shopping which I did. I delivered on December 4, 2008. We spent the holidays at home and everyone came to our house, it was wonderful! My oldest son was born January 26, I would love to experience a summer baby!
Wow – so many of you mothers are due around Thanksgiving/Christmas! Congratulations to all of you!
-Lauren
Great advice! You are very wise to plan ahead. 🙂 My second baby was born on Christmas Eve… but, since she was due April 15th, we were not in the least prepared for that roller coaster ride. Still… SUCH a blessing and a wonderful sacred day on which to be born! Being so close to Christmas, the shopping and cards and all were already done… but, as a result of having a baby an unexpected 4 months early, our Christmas tree still stood there in March *blush*…. I’m thankful it was an artificial one that year!
Thanks for this great article! I’m due a week before the author & while I’ve thought of some of it, I haven’t thought of all of it. I’m grateful to have my MIL here to take my 2 yo so I can start on these!
My 3rd child was born 12/28/09 and I spent the entire summer planning and getting ready for her arrival.
I did everything I could to get ready, I had gifts made and bought well in advance, for everyone except our kids we did those last after we got a good sense of what they wanted and I simplified gifts for family and friends alot, as in it was one small hm thing or something hm baked and a gift card, saved me from walking my 9 mo pregger self through the stores, I did lots of mini oamc sessions to build up my freezer, I bought a little extra of this or that to stock the pantry, canned and froze everything in sight from the garden. I made a menu from all the oamc frozen foods we had and it was easy for dh to just pull out something and reheat it or pop it in the oven while I was recouping!!
We stayed at home and loved every minute of it.
What helped alot was that my dh took 2 weeks off for her birth so while I was recovering from a csection I had him there to help with everything from diaper changes to playing with the boys, he did laundry and made meals it was such a blessing.
I was glad we had stocked up on everything from foods to toiletries and paper products, it meant that I didn’t have to be out and about with my 2 boys and a newborn.
Good luck and I hope your holidays with a new baby arriving are wonderful!!
Blessings!!
Dana
@Dana,
What an encouraging account! And I love that YOU loved staying home. I think I am going to enjoy it too. 🙂
Thanks for sharing it –
-Lauren
Thanks so much for the reminder! Our fourth is due December 10…our third was born on December 14, and I wasn’t very prepared. Thankfully, we had planned to stay home anyway. Gotta’ get moving on that gift list!
This is very timely for me! Our 3rd baby is due November 1st and I have just started thinking about the coming holiday season. One thing I’m doing currently is taking advantage of the school supply sales and putting up some of those items for stocking stuffers for my two older children. Iv also already purchased a few small gifts for my kids.
I would like to make all the side dishes that freeze well for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and also like you mentioned a few quick breads and Christmas cookies since I know those will freeze well:) Thanks for the encouragement, I’m excited!
I had my first child 3 days before Christmas, and it was the best Christmas I remember. Things were a little different for me, since it was my first. I believe the hardest part now that he’s older is making his birthday special! My husband’s birthday is 3 days after Christmas, so he knows how it felt to have his birthday trumped by the holidays. Congrats on the new little one!
@Sara Jane, my 1st was born 3 days after Christmas and my husband’s is the day after Christmas. I’ve started a 1/2 birthday tradition. They each get a 1/2 cake (or 1/2 themed cake) and a small gift. I also decorate with balloons, etc. Once my little one (he’s 2.5) gets older, I’ll actually throw him a 1/2 birthday party with friends since I doubt parents will be thrilled to attend a b-day party 3 days after Christmas. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them!