MINDFUL HOLIDAY GIFTING & BUYING: EASTER EDITION

I've been really trying to be more mindful in my life - especially when it comes to what I fill our home with. Holidays get me really excited and I tend to get tempted by all the holiday items flooding the stores but I have been using a few rules to guide me lately that have been working quite well.

I ask myself these questions:
Is this item good quality? (Or does it NEED to be good quality for this purpose?)
Is this item useful?
Is this item timeless or simply a trend?
Does this item make me happy?

Is this item good quality? (Or does it NEED to be good quality for this purpose?)
For holidays, not everything needs to be "good quality." I am all about hitting up the dollar store for candy, crayons, notebooks, stickers, you know things that will just be used up anyway. When it comes to toys or puzzles however, I have learned my lesson that cheaper isn't always cheaper. Buying up every educational foam puzzle from the dollar store has not been the most wise choice. Foam puzzles from the dollar store are flimsy and get lost, torn up, and ruined. A wooden puzzle is much more long lasting purchase. 

Is this item useful?
This is something I am REALLY trying to remember. Sometimes useful items are surprisingly exciting to a child. Kids love their own adult like tools. I'll never forget how excited my boys were when I brought home their own child size kitchen tools. 
I try to think of things that are not simply a holiday novelty item but rather something that will truly be enjoyed, and used. I love to use holidays as a good excuse to buy a little better quality necessity item rather than a bunch of dinky trinkets. For example, that all natural bubble bath that we love, or the boys favorite fruity organic toothpaste, some good quality shoes or Sunday clothes, or a fun pair of pajamas. Holidays are also a good excuse for me to purchase some new learning tools such as puzzles, Montessori tools, and books. 

Is this item timeless or simply a trend?
I use this rule most when I am buying home decor or clothing for myself but there are times when a certain child's toy or accessory becomes really trendy and I have to ask myself this question. I am very sentimental. I like to picture the things in my home being passed down to my children and enjoyed by them and THEIR children. If I can't imagine that item lasting or being relevant for years to come I avoid it - at least I TRY to remember to do that. My family and friends sometimes tease me about the toys I purchase but I have a method to my madness I swear! I don't want to buy my child a plastic tricycle that will get weathered and broken and scratched up. A metal tricycle will age well even if it does get weathered. The same goes for wooden or other good quality toys. I want the items to not only be good quality to but to be something that stays relevant for years. Any child can make fun with a set of blocks. 

Does this item make me happy?
I know this may seem silly, but sometimes I am tempted to buy something my children beg for just because they asked for it. However, if this toy is an electronic noise maker that makes me crazy every time they play with it, I am going to regret that purchase on a daily basis. I use this rule for even the smallest things. I am a housewife and I am in my home almost all day every day. I think it's important to make the place you spend a lot of time into a sanctuary. When I worked an office job, my co-workers always noticed this about my desk. I always made it a point to have happy plants, photographs, and decor that made the mundane just a little bit brighter. Not only did it cheer ME up, but others noticed and commented as well. Now, as a housewife, I strive to do the same thing in my entire home. I also add that sometimes the loss of an item can make your home happier. I am learning to stop feeling guilty about getting rid of things that weigh me down or clutter up my home. For me, a neat and tidy home is  a happy home and less "stuff" only makes it easier to keep it that way!

Easter:
For Easter and Christmas our family has a few traditions when it comes to the things they receive in their basket or stocking.
Every Easter the Easter bunny brings the boys new ties to wear on Easter Sunday, an Easter themed book, a chocolate bunny, and something Christ centered.

I am a firm believer in mama and the Easter bunny "working together" to find things to fill the baskets. Here are some things the boys have received in the past or I have in mind for this year. Note that these are just ideas that definitely don't all end up in the baskets. I am never totally sure what the Easter bunny will be able to "spring for" by the time Easter comes around. We've got another little basket for him to fill this year now! Sorry Easter bunny! Hehe!

Little Boy basket ideas:
Sunday shirt
Necktie
Summer hat (baseball cap or fedora)
Swim Trunks
Beach towel
Flip Flops
Sunglasses
Sea sponge
Bubble bath
Bath toys
Pool toys
Toothpaste
Flossers
Wooden animal figure
Book
Fun kids music
Coloring Book
Crayons or colored pencils
Stickers
Jesus Coloring Book
Gospel Art cards
Rubiks cube
Small puzzle
Board game
Matching game
Ring Toss game
Moveable Alphabet
Kids dishes
Kitchen tools - banana slicer, crinkle cutter, strawberry huller, egg slicer
Wooden Nesting Easter Eggs
Chocolate Bunny
Chocolate carrots
Annie's bunny cookies or cheddar bunnies
Juice Drink

Baby Girl Basket Ideas:
Easter Dress (SO excited about this!)
Hairbow
Baby bonnet
Swimsuit
Montessori baby toys
Wooden teether
Binky clip
Baby toothbrush
Baby Gym
Bunny onsie
Stuffed Bunny

Here is a link to my Amazon Wishlist for Easter. Also some of my other favorite shops that I shop at for Holidays are: The Land of Nod, Seedling, Dollar Tree, H&M, Target, & TJ Maxx.

P.S. The Easter Basket shown above is from H&M but is now sold out. (I just love using a traditional egg basket for eater.) You can find similar ones at Dollar tree that I am using for baby Penny this year. I would also check local consignment or thrift stores for traditional egg baskets.

Also we usually grow real easter grass to fill our baskets each year but this year with having anew babe and all I am not feeling up to it. Here is a link to how to grow your own eater grass.

HOMEBIRTH, HOW MEN DO IT! (Trenton's perspective)

My thoughts on home birth? AWESOME! Everyone should do it! Randi originally had the idea and I didn't have strong feelings one way or the other other than my general dislike for hospitals.

I was shocked at how uneducated I was - especially having already gone through two births. Having a midwife and going to hypnobabies classes, made me realize that I should have gone to the hospital more informed. Rather I had the ignorant mindset to think we could simply go to the hospital and they would take care of everything. The problem is, they do. From cord cutting to bathing baby, they take care of everything not leaving much choice up to the parents unless the parents are aggressive about their wants.
The process of having a midwife is a lot more involved than a monthly dr. visit. I felt more responsible as a father for this baby. Every step of the way right up until the birth, I felt much more a part of everything.

Not having the experience of my wife going natural before, the event of going into labor was unfamiliar to me. With both our sons, we knew the day that our baby would be born. The thrill of a baby coming at any moment was both exciting and terrifying. Even when Randi DID go into labor, having not experienced it I wasn't sure it was actually happening. And I was looking for others tell us that labor actually was happening. Our awesome midwife wasn't telling us anything though and took the approach of Randi's queues telling HER what stage she was at. There WAS a point however where it was unmistakable!

The birthing day went pretty much as you would expect for a husband - You know where you stand around with a stupid look your face while the woman does all the work. Randi was using the birthing ball to deal with her contractions and I was on standby.

Then, Randi decided she wanted the birthing tub. The midwife let on that it was a huge hassle to get the tub set-up and full …at which point I informed her that I am a plumber and I could make this happen!  She was excited and her tone changed immediately. She sent the birthing assistant to get the tub right away. Finally, a way for me to be useful! I ran outside and cranked the water heater to the maximum heat capacity and started clearing the way by moving furniture. I prepped hoses and got everything ready …you know, like a man does!

The tub seemed to help Randi a lot. With my rather weak efforts to channel Randi's hypnosis, I felt quite inadequate and was glad the tub could help her. But that too was fleeting relief. As Randi neared transition it was clear that she was in a lot of pain. I felt totally helpless and totally unable to provide any meaningful support as this was happening. I couldn't stop it or slow it down nor would I want to. Randi expressed that my hand holding was a great comfort but imagine being in my shoes holding someone's hands when they are going through the most pain they've ever felt. I felt there was no way that could be sufficient comfort.

My thoughts were turned to the Savior who himself faced an inevitable struggle that he knew he had to face alone. At least Randi had my hand.

This is one of the main reasons I recommend a home birth. Not to watch your wife struggle, but to rather watch her do something you can't do. To feel that gratitude and wonder for your wife is a very marriage strengthening and unifying experience.

When Penny came out, she was immediately placed on Randi's chest and everything changed in an instant. Fear and uncertainty transformed into immense joy and fulfillment. And for the third time I watched my wife transform instantly into a mother as she held her baby for the first time - knowing exactly how to take care of her.

Now for the good part! No doctors! No nurses! No family in the waiting room! Just me, my wife, and Cyndi our midwife who we've come to know and trust well. Not to mention a great birthing assistant April.

To have one of the most sacred moments in your life be without a bunch strangers coming in and out was such a stark contrast to our previous experiences. Time to bond with baby with no pressure of getting out of the room, getting the baby clean, getting this or that test was amazing.

Cyndi and April cleaned up everything and there was not a trace or sign that a baby had just been born in our home. Penny was healthy with no complications, everything went smoothly. If you haven't done it, do it! Homebirth is definitely worth doing!