I'm trying to brainstorm birthday and Christmas gifts for DS and other kiddies. What have you guys come up with?
For Christmas, I'm really having trouble coming up with something. The
kid has way too many toys already and I'm sure our family will get him some toys for Christmas, so I'm trying not to add to DS' toy collection. We might get him the Leapfrog Tag reader, but my SIL mentioned she might get it for him.
For stocking stuffers, I'm thinking Cars or Mickey Mouse sippy
cups, fun socks, and maybe Skip Hop's monkey fork and spoon (he has
their monkey lunchbox and suitcase already).
I really want to get DS a scooter for his birthday. He loves being pushed around on our neighbor's long board, so I think he'd like it. We'd need to get him a helmet too.
Re: PW: B-day & Holiday Gifts
Our bigger issue is picking new things for DD since we already have so much.
Noah has SO much already and he barely plays with it! He has about 2 favorite things and he switches back and forth between the two, so I'm really struggling for gift ideas.
For birthday, we are going to do what we've done the past 2 years, we're going to a waterpark and put money in his account instead of buying him a gift.
For Christmas, we're going to get him a kindle or something of the sort and maybe 1 or 2 little things, but if he doesn't need it/want it, I'm not going to clutter up my house!
(As a side note, I still have presents from his first birthday party in the basement that I put away because he didn't need all the gifts at one time!)
The one big thing I want to get him is a trampoline. One of my friends has one for her 4 year old and she says he loves it. He gets out all of his energy in the evenings or when they can't play outside.
When people have asked, I say longer books, 24 piece puzzles, games, and bath toys.
For stocking stuffers I want to get him some new cups and socks. MIL got him a steel Tonka truck excavator.
Some of the stuff we have lined up are: some Thomas trains, a MMCH playset, a Dream Lights dog, Thomas bed set, a Camelback cup, The Polar Express book, an Animal Encyclopedia book, and an owl shaped lantern. I have a few other small things like a light up bouncy ball & action figures for his stocking.
And thank you for reminding me I want to get him a small suitcase & a backpack.
We don't have a "big" item in mind, per se.
Our children's museum had a Hot Wheels For Real display for over a year until just recently, and they had Hot Wheel stuff in the gift shop (still do)... the past 4 times he's gone, he's picked up the exact same Hot Wheel track and given it to 4 different people to try to "talk" them into buying it for him... .me, my mom, his aunt and my wife. We figured after the 3rd time, it would be a pretty good idea to get it for him... he's got tons of cars already, but no ramp at home. So he's getting that for his birthday.
We are going to get him a bike, helmet and pads as well.
He doesn't have much for the bath, so we are buying him and his brother each one of those Octonaut gup toys that are good in the water, so they'll be exclusively bath toys, and maybe for the pool outside. They are each getting one to try to avoid the inevitable fights.
He's also getting a remote control Tow Mater (from Cars), his cousin got a R/C Lightning McQueen from us for his 3rd birthday and it went over well, and he took it to the family reunion a few months back and J was all about it and from Santa he's getting the Fisher Price Imaginext Batcave.
Outside of clothes, I think that is the "fun stuff" he's getting from us between birthday and Christmas.
@jnicolen1 - Ooh, love the easel idea. Adding it to our list. And that's so cute that O asked for a sleeping bag!
@CarlaBrett - You are not the only one that still has gifts from b-days/Christmases past. I even gave away some of his gifts =X He just got so much for his 1st and 2nd b-day and Christmases.
@babycakes - Oh, I still get DS outside toys for Christmas/b-day. I know he can't use it much until spring, but those are usually the only big ticket items I can think to get him. For his 1st b-day, we got him a wagon and we used it inside a few times.
@letranger - Do please elaborate on this ribbon dancer thing. We went to a wedding that gave out little ribbons on sticks as favors and DS loves it.
@Coltsdad - LOL to your DS trying to get everyone to buy him the Hot Wheels!
Christmas gift: Two books (for him to open on the day of) and stuff for his room (Pirate bed, full set of furniture, sheets, etc)
Advent calendar: I can't decide between buying a box of animals (or something) and wrap one for each day or just do what I did last year, which was wrapping raisins and other snacks for him for open when we get home from DC (to eat before dinner)
Stocking: In my family we put 1 chocolate bar (his will be a tiny one), 1 small bag of gummybears (or similar), 1 mandarin, 1 magazine/book/DVD/CD and a couple of small candy items. - I like that and will be doing that this year as well (his first year he got diced fruit instead of all the candy and a Winnie the Pooh DVD)
Last year my mom did Sesame Place for DD. I am not having her renew it this year because I this summer I will have a newborn and juggling the two would be tough. I am suggesting the zoo or aquarium though which I can do while on maternity leave.