Couple Different Unrelated Questions....

basket-yes waist of money. BUT if you get a pail or something that she can use for other reasons then not a waste of money. :)

For the basket, I say to go for it if you want. We haven't done them yet for my son who's almost 3yo, and decided to do 'event's (bunny trolley, going to Sarris to pick out a chocolate bunny, etc) instead of a basket and it works for us. But we know many families who love the tradition of filling/hiding the basket.

My hair was long and always in a ponytail, so I didn't see much of a difference from being cut short, since it would always be 'up'. I cut about 6" off, into a bob and hated it because it was summer and felt like a hairy scarf around my neck :). Two weeks later I got another 3" cut off and 'stacked' in the back - it was so easy and my husband liked it because I felt better (even tho he's always preferred longer). Now, I'm growing it out again because I'm sick of it, haha.

Easter basket - waste of money - but it is fun for us to buy something more than it is fun for them, so if you want to blow $10, go ahead!

Hair - my husband loves my long hair and I am positive he would be near tears if I came home with short - you know your man better than we do. Most men I know love long hair.

Playing - Your 1 year old learns during play - just make sure she is happy and healthy and she will thrive!

Get the basket - you have to establish traaditions with your kids. even if they wont remember this year - you can take pictures and show them that you have always had this tradition in your family.
Hair - wait until you are good and super pissed and want to get his attention - THEN go cut your hair off. It's a very powerful tool but you only get one shot at using it!
Highchair - yeah I'd be pissed. It's not safe to walk away froma baby in a highchair.
Playing is fine right now - that's how they learn at this age. Theres plenty of time for flash cards later.

Don't cut your hair!!!! I had long hair cut it short hated it, I hated all my pictures during that period. I took my daughter telling me to grow it out to do it even though I hated it. I have had it long again for seven years, never going back.

Oh and all men hate short hair it is just a matter of will they admit it. If you want him to compliment it make sure you have that look on your face that says compliment it or I am going all passive aggressive on you! :p

We don't do Easter baskets so I couldn't comment on that. I think if you got an impressive one it would make for a great picture, no?

Your man will love any change you make. Have you ever seen those makeovers on TV where they show the man's face for the first time he sees his woman? Most of them start crying and you can tell on their faces they are already thinking dirty thoughts :)

Yes, do an Easter basket for a one year old! Take pictures! It's more for the parents at this age. Make it small and simple but the pictures will be great for when they're older!

I cut and dye my hair the way I want. My husband has no say! He doesn't own me. He'll get over it sooner or later! LOL

Yah, I'd find someone else to watch your son, not just for educational reason but for safety reasons. If she's got to leave him in a high chair while she's dealing with others that's no way to be. There's a lot of things she could be doing with a one year old. They need solo time but a good amount of one on one too!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

Easter basket: yep. It can be simple. Plastic eggs to hide in the yard and find over and over and over again, a couple treats, a simple toy or book. If your community does it, make sure to get a picture with the bunny for the scrapbook or photo album.
Hair: some of the other answers were silly, in my personal opinion. Especially the one that says ALL men like long hair and it's just whether they admit it or not. Really? All. That's stupid. My man will tell me exactly what he thinks. He likes some women with long hair, some women with short hair. He likes my hair right around my shoulders, in layers. It depends on the person and how they carry the haircut, like different women wear the same clothes differently. My friend's girlfriend has short hair that my friend loves---he says it's "funky" and makes her look fun and exciting. So don't listen to silly generalizations. I would talk to your husband: it's not about needing permission (at all!) but about being attractive to the person that counts, lol. If my husband grew a mustache or that stupid little patch under the bottom lip, I would be like "seriously? don't kiss me". I can't make him shave because he's a grown man, but.....that's just not attractive to me. Let him know you're really interested in trying something different and think summer is a perfect time to try a shorter do. It can grow out by the time summer is over you don't love it....but I say if you think it'll look good and that it'd make you happy, yay!
As for your 1 year old: is he happy? Does he like going there? Does he seem needy, clingy, restless, or sad when you get him? My little 16 month old: we sing songs, we play games like "where's the ___", we do a lot of motion songs/dances. I give him a notebook and a fat pencil or crayons to doodle on. There's not really anything "educational" going on, but he's learning tons. If he's at his chair with a crayon or cheese and chillin' while she pours drinks or puts a bandaid on someone, I wouldn't mind. And I'm pretty protective. Now if he's sitting there with nothing in his hand, while she reads a book or does a craft with the others, that's a different thing. Use your gut feeling and your common sense because you know what's going on better than we do (the context of the situation). I would put my son in a high chair near me and let him snack or draw or play with playdoh while the music was on, I was singing to him, and grilling sandwiches or whatever, and wouldn't think anything of it. I would be FURIOUS if I saw any child sitting in a high chair alone with nothing, while everyone else was in the living room doing something. There's a difference. My best advice would be to be honest and open with your sitter. This person is caring for your child all day, so to have that kind of trust, you should be able to say "hey, I know you get busy but this is how I feel, and I understand you are doing something, but can he be on the floor with a toy or book (or whatever you want)". If you don't have that kind of relationship where you can talk, or if she doesn't take your thoughts to heart, then you need to find someone else. As for education: that really depends on what you're looking for, how old he'll be before leaving, and how involved the play is. For some people, "play" is sitting them on the floor with a bunch of toys. For others (myself), it's a lot more interactive and educational for what is appropriate for their age. I wouldn't sit my 1 year old in a chair and break out flashcards or counting beads just yet. At 4, I'd expect a lot more though!

Yes, do the basket for the one-year-old. Sure, it's more for us than them, but the pictures are irreplaceable memories. No big deal, just something small, but it sure brought me happiness to go through the basket with my little ones on Easter morning.

Yes, cut your hair, and your man will probably love it! Nothing makes me feel sexier than a good hair cut that people will notice. Gets him excited too! A change can be a good spark to make us feel sexier and get them to notice us.

I'm doing an Easter Basket for my 1 year old but it's only because I have an older son who does understand Easter, they'll both be getting one. With my first I think I just bought him a little gift (toy?)

Definitely cut your hair, the cut your talking about sounds like it would be flattering on anybody, I'm sure you'll love it and if not it'll grow back.

Play is the best thing for your 1 year old right now, they learn just by being around and watching the older kids. The best thing is for you to just ask your sitter to always include him in the activities, he obviously doesn't need to always participate but he shouldn't be away from the group. He can sit in his highchair at the table while the other kids are doing an arts n' craft project for example, he could try coloring.

Easter basket- So they may not understand it. that's ok. It's still fun to let them have fun making a mess with the plastic grass. Buy a cute little easter stuffed animal, some animal crackers, and some plastic eggs filled with something that they will be able to eat. My 1 yr old loves the opening and closing the plastic eggs. I'd do it just to let them have some fun.

I would get an easter basket but I wouldn't go hog wild filling it with candy. You can put some little books, a snuggy bunny or chick, some cute little socks or a hat.
As for the high chair, I had a little one 10 years younger than my first kid and a elderly grandpa with alzheimer's that I cared for. My son got plenty of interaction, but yes, there were times he was in his high chair with some snacks or a toy or two. He was upright and right where he could see everything else going on like me preparing breakfast or cleaning up. He was a pretty mellow kid and he didn't mind it. We still talked to him and interacted, but he was safe and I only had two arms so I couldn't hold him and do all the other things.
I did daycare with two kids who were 30 days apart and believe me, there were times they were in their high chairs next to each other while I got lunch ready or had to change one or the other's diapers. It's not like they were in them all day, we just had a routine and they were used to it. We went for walks in strollers and had floor play time, baths, etc. But yes, sometimes they liked being up in the high chair as opposed to being on the floor. If she's not leaving him in it all day, I don't think it's a problem. That's just me.
Now, as far as the haircut....if you've really thought about it and you think you'll like the change, go for it! My sister had long hair and she cut it really short and I have to say....she never looked better! It suited her so well and her husband thought she was HOT! She was! She got an excellent cut and has kept it short ever since. She experiments with different short styles. They all look great on her. She always looks so put together and polished.
I had hair down to my waist and going through a bitter divorce, I chopped my hair all off. I thought it would get my ex husband to leave me alone. It didn't work. I liked it being short and kept going shorter til I had the Dennis the Menace thing going on up top. My ex wasn't deterred in the least.
My son, on the other hand, was very sweet, but he made me promise never to cut my hair all off again. From the time he was a baby, he loved brushing it and he didn't like the short hair on me. So, it's long again. I have really thin hair so at least when it's long, I can make it look like I have some volume.
I did get compliments on my short hair, but I like being able to do more things with it longer.
One thing about hair is that it always grows back.
If you go to a good stylist, they can use clips and things to give you an idea of how it might look once it's cut. Also consider the shape of your face, etc.
Your man should love you no matter what and like I said, it will always grow back. If you've had your hair one way for a long time, it might spice things up to have a bit of a change. (Wink wink).

I, personally, would give it a whirl.
You can always take a little off at a time to get used to it.

Best wishes. Let us know how it turns out.

Yes to the Basket :-) its Fun He'll enjoy it !

YES to the hair - If you feel Good about it, your DH will be Happy about it :-)

No no reason to feel badly !

Well I can really only answer on the Easter Basket but for my kids first Easter I found a really special beautiful basket (ours is ceramic but get what ever you like) with the intention that it will be her special Easter basket for the rest of her lift. That first Easter we did what others have suggested - books stuffed animal etc. Kind of like their Christmas stocking - you know. THEIRS then year by year it grows more special..... Happy Easter!

If you want to do a small Easter Toy go ahead..That's what I am doing for my 15 month old. As far as hair, hopefully you are going to a stylist who is good. Glad you are not getting it cut short but shorter. See how you like it. If you don't it will always grow out. For now let your one year old play...They are learning on their own and it is ok not to have structure at that age.

I would make sure to take a picture of how you want your hair to your haircut. If you say tons of layers and above your shoulders you may get something crazy. BEst the stylist has something to visualize.