My sister probably has her Christmas shopping done. My husband will run out on Christmas Eve night to pick up gifts for his family (hey, and maybe something for me). I fall somewhere in between. I love the holidays and all the giving and receiving. But I like to take my time and spend energy enjoying the decorating, making some cookies, digging out the Christmas CDs, etc.
I also try very hard to focus the kids' attention on aspects of the season other than toys and enjoying some craft projects. Even so, I love to see their eyes light up when the toy catalogs come in. I think the selection of toddler toys gets more rich and engaging every year. That can make it hard to choose the best picks for toddlers and twos, but here's my attempt: the top gift ideas for ages 1-3