Making Memories With Amelia

Trigger Warning: *Amelia's Grandmas and Aunts WILL be upset!*

While many around the world are making New Years resolutions to slim down their waistlines (which we also need to work on), we are instead hoping to slim down on our gift receiving and spending this year. We've decided that 2024 will be about streamlining, downsizing, and exploring.

After a year of receiving an amazing amount of presents from family and friends, we're absolutely overwhelmed and spoiled. While ridiculously grateful for every single one, we've decided to take a break from material gifts for a while, so we can take time to enjoy the ones we have. And goodness knows, this kid doesn't need more toys now! (Mommy takes full responsibility)

This year, it's important to us that we make lasting memories. So, we're trying something radical: Instead of gifts for us or toys for her, we want to take Amelia on her first vacation in December of this year. We're thinking Disney. Or perhaps an important national monument or historic site for educational purposes! We're open to suggestions. :)

*Last Chance Trigger Warning, Grandmas and Aunts*:

We're asking that our family and friends don't buy us any gifts for our birthdays, anniversary, Christmas, etc. (Please breathe, Mom). Instead, either donate to your favorite charity in our name, or if you feel compelled to give, then instead assist with Amelia's vacation fund. We know this will be disappointing for our die-hard/hardcore gift-giving friends and family (ahem, Grandma, Rae Rae, and all her aunts/Aunts In Love), but we're hoping to make up for it with amazing photos of our memorable trip with our princess. And lots of kisses and hugs, of course.

In all seriousness, we hope you all can understand and help our family keep to our new 2024 goal. Like you, we want to offer Amelia everything in the world; but more importantly, we want her to know humility and to experience the world. We're trying to navigate this whole parenting thing, and this is a new experiment for the books!

We love you all and wish you all the very safest and happiest of New Years.

The Hayes Family