Holiday Shopping-Poll

jcsntms06 · October 2010

1. Have you started your Holiday Shopping?

2. When do you normally start shopping?

3. Do you stick to a budge?

MIL has asked that I put together a list of things that Annabelle needs. I'm drawing a blank. She doesn't need clothes, toys, well she doesn't really need them either.

I did list and I added a toy box and books.

Is there anything on your list your asking for this year? Is there a hot toy list somewhere?? Obviously I need some age appropriate. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

weezie825 · October 2010

I am mostly done for Evelyn, unless she needs the 18 month size before Christmas. (And that looks likely!)

I am blanking on what to tell the grandparents too. Especially since DH and I live in a small apartment. We don't have room for a lot of toys.

I have been making an Amazon wishlist of books, but other than that I am clueless.

kelleymark82606 · October 2010

We have decided only 1 gift for the baby. MIL will spoil the crud out of the baby and the baby is still too little. We will get 1 gift that will end up being a tradition.

I bought H 1 thing and that is the extent of my shopping so far.

KathrynMD · October 2010

I actually started working on a list for Ella last week.

Can I make some suggestions for you guys coming up w/ 1 year olds:

water activity table - the high light of the summer

Small plastic slides that can be used outside or inside

climbing tunnels (they are fabric and collapsible)

swimming vest for next summer

pop up play house

a riding/push toy if you don't have one yet or if you want more.

Kozy Koupe

You might also want to find out if there are any classes in your area - like gymboree or my gym or a music class and indoor play place that you might want to bring your LO to this winter and see if any grandparents want to get a membership. After Ella became a good and busy and walker/runner and especially w/ all the stimulation of daycare, it was very hard to keep her happy @ home on the weekends - she needs a lot of room to run around and explore and gymboree has been very fun for us and fits really nicely into our weekends. Just a thought. .. .

Cooper81 · October 2010

We haven't really talked about a budget, but we know it's going to have to be a slimmed down budget this year (although I get my raise at the end of November!!!).

I'm thinking that DH and I might set a really really low budget for gifts for each other, and maybe only buy John 1 or 2 things becuase we know he is going to get tons from grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.

I think the IL's are going to get us our 2nd convertable car seat. We are still using the infant seat in my car, it just permanently stays in the base, since John is still under the height and weight limit, but I know he is going to exceede that soon. I also think the IL's are going to get this PBK fire engine car thing for John since FIL & BIL are firefighters.

nutmegger · October 2010

For Nora's birthday, we just sent separate b-day lists to the grandparents last week. I know my parents got her some books, Fisher Price See 'N Say, another FP toy, a winter coat from Old Navy (one for walks, and playing outside, not one that can be worn in the car seat), and a few clothing items. My dad said that "what's leftover" in their b-day budget for her will go into the college fund that they started for her.

We asked ILs for a couple of storage things from PBK (probably won't get), PJs, $$ for college fund (probably won't get), books, and some clothes for daycare.

We have a few Leap Frog toys I got last month when they were having a sale, some FP toys I got from the new TRU in Columbia because they were having a buy 2 get 1 free sale, and plan to get a fabric tunnel and a push toy from Ikea. That's what we have so far, and we'll decide right before the bday which will be for bday and which for xmas. If we don't get the PBK stuff from ILs for bday we'll get them for her for xmas.

nutmegger · October 2010

And to answer the original questions:

1. Yes

2.

SnoopyLuv · October 2010

weezie825:
I am mostly done for Evelyn, unless she needs the 18 month size before Christmas. (And that looks likely!)

I am blanking on what to tell the grandparents too. Especially since DH and I live in a small apartment. We don't have room for a lot of toys.

I have been making an Amazon wishlist of books, but other than that I am clueless.

I am worried about Christmas for this exact reason. My family has already started in on getting the highchair and activity mat, etc and we just really don't have the room. I am so nervous it will just be baby central in our apartment. Is it sad that I'm thinking of getting rid of the dining room table and just making the dining room her nursery?

weezie825 · October 2010

Our daughters nursery used to be the dining room! (Never used because he have an eat in kitchen.)

daisybaby09 · October 2010

No I have not started. DS bday is a few days after Thanksgiving so I am thinking of things and passing along ideas.

Kathryn - Great ideas!!!! THank you!!!

I think we are going to give him something small then make an extra payment or two to his 529! It will be worth so much more then a bunch of cr@p later on. Besides he is too little to know my mom and MIL got him way more then mom and dad(:

SnoopyLuv · October 2010

weezie825:
Our daughters nursery used to be the dining room! (Never used because he have an eat in kitchen.)

Ok this makes me feel better! I can't believe after all the setup of the crib and everything I just realized getting rid of the dining room table would solve all the problems.

KRMac · October 2010

1. Have you started your Holiday Shopping?Yep - I typically pick up a few things for people throughout the year when I see them. And we got DS some toys at a consignment sale earlier in the year that we saved for Christmas. 2. When do you normally start shopping? I'm always on the look out.

3. Do you stick to a budge? Absolutely. We're not going overboard for DS. A few toys, new jammies, an actual dressy outfit for Christmas. I'm on the search for an Incrediblock on CL. We have a small Amazon wish list for the grandparents and our siblings and my fam's secret santa, since a few people have already asked us. Kathryn, those are great ideas! Gym classes, especially. Thanks!

tmm140 · October 2010

1. No way jose..lol

2. I usually wait until after Black Friday so I can stress myself out. Actually I just being in the whole hustle and bustle of it all. I would go on Black Friday, but DH is convinced I will get run down by people.

3. Since we aren't doing big gifts for people this year, technically yes. However, I am spending a good chunk of change on stuff for the baby. The word budget disappears when I think of stuff like that.

cdc1982 · October 2010

1. Have you started your Holiday Shopping? Not technically. I did redeem some Pampers GTG point for Scout that will be a Christmas gift for DS

2. When do you normally start shopping? I'll probably start sometime next month (usually it takes going to the Fest Of Trees to get me in the Christmas spirit though)

3. Do you stick to a budge? I try to. It's going to be much tighter this year now that we have DS!

So far no one has asked us what to get him for Christmas. I'm only planning to get 1 or 2 toys & maybe an outfit or 2. He's going to be spoiled rotten by both sides of the family so I don't feel a need to get him tons of things (besides, I'm always buying him stuff when I'm out, lol!)