This is my first year with a child and I am a bit overwhelmed. Between santa pics, pics for the holiday cards, optional pro pics, making sure he has cute holiday outfits and PJs, travel plans with baby, normal shopping, decorating, etc., it's quite a bit more for me this year. Plus, I have my first skating competition next week, which also involves traveling, so there is a lot going on in December. Oh, and I have to start planning his first birthday and get invites out this month, too. Ugh! But it's all festive!

I get more overwhelmed by the amount of money I spend mainly!

No. When I was working I just took care of most things on my lunch hour, and now that I'm home I take care of it after dropping my son off at kindergarten. The baby's too young to realize I'm buying her gifts or anything.

We're doing our picture sometime this week.

My goodness, you make the stress you have. How about planning ahead of time! This is my first holiday as a mother and since he is only going to be 7 months, I figure he won't even know what is happening. My family is going to buy him some presents so I am not worrying about it. Pictures are fun, but shouldn't be stressful. If they are, just don't do them. No one expects that you must send holiday cards every year. You can always just do it online too.

You can't plan to go to parties in October to free up your weekends. You can't bake cookies three months in advance. You can shop in advance, but a lot of holiday rush can't be eliminated.