My Black Prince (a division of yours) is showing zero sign of spiking. Rather perplexed as it bloomed well for me last year and I didn't do anything differently care-wise this year that I can think of.

I have pared down my baking significantly as far as cookies and treats go. When the kids were home I made tins and trays of cookies for bus drivers, teachers' lounges, older folks in our neighborhood who no longer baked for themselves, etc.. My group of 6 close women friends looked so forward to them because they didn't bake. Then the kids grew up and moved, we moved from the old neighborhood and all my women friends started South Beach, WW, or Sugar Busters diets and I didn't want to undermine their efforts. A couple years ago when my Mom was diagnosed w/ breast cancer (her 2nd time) right after T-Giving I was overwhelmed w/ her care over the holidays and just didn't do the baking that year. The world did not come to an end, and I discovered that I could choose to keep the tradition - or not. These days I bake when I choose to, when I have guests and when asked to bring dessert to a gathering. Like someone above noted, it's not like in years past when people really seemed to treasure the homemade baked gift. The cost in time and ingredients seems greater than in the past. I'm delighted to bake for those I know enjoy it, but I don't dole out the homemade treats the way I used to.

My mom is from a large family where there are definite "favorites", and I have friends from families where there are definite "favorites", so I think I can relate to your post. The situation you describe with your future MIL sounds similar to situations I've seen. With the people I know, however, it wouldn't be anything personal with the future MIL judging you or taking anything out on the child because of you. Here's the way it would play out in some of my friends' and my families: Grandma would form a strong attachment to a particular grandchild - either the oldest grandchild, or the grandchild who lived next door, or the grandchild who she kept while mom worked, or the grandchild of the "favorite" child (maybe the baby of the family). For whatever reason, grandma has a strong attachment to this particular grandchild. For 9 years (you said your partner's daughter is 10?) this has been grandma's special grandchild. If the mom of the special grandchild gets along well with grandma, of course the mom of the special grandchild will have a bond with grandma, too. Then the grandchild has a sibling (your partner's ex's baby), and that sibling is a package deal with the favored 10 year old grandchild. Of course grandma is going to keep both kids - they're a package deal. And of course she's going to take them both shopping together, they're a package deal. Grandma is going to keep them together, she's going to take them shopping together. There are probably reasons why she doesn't want to take your son shopping with them - a 1 year old, 10 year old, and 7 month old is probably too much for her. And if by some chance she doesn't have the 1 year old along, grandma probably doesn't want to take your 7 month old shopping along with the 10 year old because she relishes the trip with just her older granddaughter. And the grandmas I know who are like this would naturally be upset if you forbid her bringing the 1 year old with her to your son's celebration, if she was keeping the 1 year old on that day. To her, asking for the ex to stay away might be reasonable, but asking her not to bring a 1 year old baby wouldn't be. I'm not saying what I'm describing is the "right" way for a grandma to be, or that it's fair to your son. But in my extended family, grandma would have a routine and a relationship she's comfortable with, and that's the way it would be. She'd have 10 years of history with this child and this routine, and your 7 month old baby wouldn't change that. In my experience, grandmas who are this way don't change. If your partner has tried explaining and grandma hasn't budged, then I doubt it will do any good to get mad or be hurt. If I were in your shoes, I'd just accept that it is what it is, and move on with life. It's your partner's mother's loss if she passes up the opportunity to have a close relationship with her grandson - boys are a blast. Many, many people have extended families that have strong "favorites" among the cousins or the grandchildren. Accept it and move on and you'll be much happier in the long run. You're certainly not wrong to wish grandma would reach out to your son and be the terrific grandma to all her grandchildren. That's a normal and natural wish, but it doesn't sound like you're going to get it. Try not to take it personally, it's probably not about you or your son - it's probably about the bond and the routine grandma has with the older granddaughter. My mom is wonderful, and she would always work hard to make things equal among her grandchildren. But not all grandmas are that way. One piece of advice I'd give a young mother in your situation - your son will take a lot of his cues from you. If it doesn't bother you that grandma plays favorites, it probably won't bother him. You and your partner create a warm, loving home that is a fun, happy place to be, and your son will be fine. My kids' grandparents don't exactly have "favorites', but because of circumstances they are much closer to their other grandchildren. They babysit them, take them on trips, go to their school functions, etc. It doesn't bother me at all and it doesn't bother my kids, either. Good luck!

Yep I do it too. My big oops was 2 large uttermost brand equestrian art works and I have nowhere to hang them! Lol. I'm holding onto them for when I move again maybe the next house will have just the right spot. My storage room is filled with my purchases that I love but have nowhere to put,in my new house.