My Heartfelt Letter to Santa This Year, for Abby….

Dear Santa, I’ve been really good this year… Like – really good. And so has Abby. She’s been through a really tough time this past few months, with the seizures, the crazy-abundance of doctor and hospital visits, the testing, poking, prodding, and probing. But she’s dealt with it all amazingly – she was a trooper through all of her tests, and cooperated as well as a two year old possibly can during each one, no matter how scary. She’s still the same sweet, silly, smart little cutie pie. She just started on medication – they’re hoping it will control these seizures, but it has potential for some pretty scary side effects. So after the total chaos that we’ve been through lately, I think she deserves some pretty big holiday magic this year at Christmas.

I know that the holidays are NOT all about the presents

We’ve got some awesome family experiences lined up for December – like visiting the Santa Train at the Railway Depot and Museum, seeing the Nutcracker play live at the theater, bundling up warm to watch the Lighted Christmas Parade downtown, baking cookies with grandma, and making homemade gifts and cards for the family. But for a two year old, some amazing new toys under the tree is part of the magic and excitement of Christmas.

Even Santa is on a Budget

I’m sure that even the North Pole isn’t immune to the downturn in the economy. I’ve heard that the elves have had to take a 5% cut in cookies and milk, and you had to lay off both Dasher and Dancer for the season. So, in addition to sharing me and Abby’s Christmas Wish List with you, I’m also going to share a tip to help you get the seasons best new gifts on a tightened toy budget…. One word: Ebay! Yep, all you need to do is jump on that computer that Mrs. Clause set up for you, head over to Ebay, and there is a selection of great-priced top-notch toys that will make even your best elves blush with envy. {Moms around the globe have been using Ebay’s “Buy it Now” option to get great gear that fits their budget for years!} I’ve included a list of our favorites here – if Abby found one or two of these under the tree this year, she’d be as delighted as a nutcracker who just got a new medal. ..

• Kids Kitchen Table and Chair Set: How adorable is this? It would give us the perfect spot to play with classic toys from my own childhood – like an Easy Bake Oven, or a couple of energetic rounds of CandyLand!
• Fisher-Price Doodle Bear: Abby loves to draw, and loves her “babies” – so this is a perfect combination for her! Plus, this might cut down on some of the, um… artwork… that she leaves on the walls.
• Nintendo 3DS in Pearl Pink: We received a big gift package as a thank you for helping to host the Activision Family Game Summit last month, and it included 7 awesome games for the Nintendo 3DS. I know this is a bit advanced for a 2 year old, but I know we’ll have fun playing it together on our long road trips to Seattle Children’s Hospital each month. {Plus, since it’s pink, it’ll stop her cousins from stealing it when they come here each day after school!}

• Imaginarium Master Studio Easel: This is amazing! Abby loves to color, paint, and draw – so she would fall in love with a great easel set like this one. And mommy loves all of those storage cubbies underneath, to contain the mess.
• Unicorn Pillow Racer: This is PERFECT! Abby’s cousins love to get our pillow pets, and use them to scoot, hop, and slide in races across the kitchen floor. This would ensure that Abby could beat them every time! {And wear her out in time for naptime…}
• Little Doctor Kit: I think that this would be a great set for Abby – she’s had so many doctor visits, and sometimes gets awfully scared. This might help her feel more comfortable with it all, and we can play doctor together, fixing up her baby dolls and stuffed animals.
• Little People Nativity Set: I am so in love with this. And it’s an amazing value – I had looked at buying Abby some individual animal figures – but at around $6-$7 bucks each, they added up quickly. This set includs a bunch of fun animals, and will be a great way to get Abby to understand the real meaning of Christmas.
• Your Baby Can Read: We were super lucky to start baby signing videos with Abby when she was just 6 months – she now knows over 200 signs, and has a pretty advanced vocabulary. We read together every day, and I’d love a set of books like this to help me guide her into beginner reading too.

Great for Busy Toy Shoppers on the Go 

Trust me Santa – Ebay is a safe way to shop, and easier than you might think. It’s simple to search by price, category, color, age – or check out their awesome Gift Guide List filled with popular gear for inspiration. And since you’re pretty busy this time of year, why not take advantage of the Ebay app, that you can access right from your smartphone? Whether in the workshop, feeding the reindeer, or up on the rooftop – you’ll have instant access to the best gifts everywhere you go, anytime a great gift idea strikes you! Little Tommy suddenly went from the Naughty list to the Nice, and you need a last minute gift? No problem. And – another quick tip to help you out… Join MyPoints. When you start your Ebay shopping there first, you’ll earn THREE points for every dollar you spend, which you can redeem later for free gift cards to your fave places. {Use them to take Mrs. Clause out somewhere nice, after the holidays.}

Signed – Your biggest fans, Abby, and Meagan. 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night….