Early Christmas Shopping

I have my Christmas list done, too! I don't know if this is what you're looking for but there is a website for beautiful ceramic items. The site is: www.glazedfromtheheart.com
I LOVE the items this woman makes; they are really keepsakes that we'll keep forever. Since I found her site, I get something for everyone I know who has had a baby. Hope this helps!

A dear friend of mine made books about my children's lives that we all cherish. She did it like scrapbooking but laminated the pages and the children played with their books daily. Each book had a page for each family member, mommy loves you, daddy loves you, bear (puppy dog) loves you... with a picture to show each caption. Each book was only 8 pages.

We had a family member that made an ABC scrapbook for my toddler to play with. It was a smaller size (6 X 6) and on each page it had the letter and then a picture of the person. For example A for Auntie, B for Brother, C for Christmas at Nana's house. Some letters were a little different such as I for I love you, Z at the Zoo. The pages were lamintated and lasted for a long time even through teething, and daily readings!

I have a few suggestions...
1. Books are great. Fat books that are easy to grab some fabric ones or board books.
2. Ask if they(brother/sister) need help with a large gift and contribute to their gift.
3. If they have a savings account or a prepaid tuition plan contribute to that.
4. One thing my Sister in Law always gives me...DIAPERS!!!!
Not so fabulous but oh so memorable.

My son got a small play tent for his 1st birthday last month and he Loves it! He goes in and sits all the time. I saw a book at a fabric store for a tent that you make to fit over a card table. It is so cute (and much cuter and easier to assemble than the one he got.) Plus, you can make it in a fabric that suits that childs personality. Most people have a card table. Basically, it is four panels, one of which has a slit and opens up and has ties. I think I am going to make some for the little ones in my life. It should be pretty easy.

Hi J.,

I distribute some unique personalized products. Check out my website at www.kiddosdelight.com.

Sincerely,
P.

My daughter is now 12 but when she was small and didn't "Need" toys or clothes, she got Savings Bonds. Right now she looks at them as her house fund when she gets out of college because fortunately she is funded for college and I am driving what will be her first car (If she earns it of course!)

I also like to give coins. We collect special coins so I might give a Morgan Silver Dollar, proof set of the year they were born or start up set with State quarters. For quick gifts, Lone Star Mint located in Plano, east of 75 on 15th St has some good sets and collector items. I give coins as big brother/big sister gifts when there is a new baby.

Susan

I agree Lindee..my son got some of those from aunts, etc for his first birthday. Other family members (instead of toys) gave him a check/cash to deposit into his savings accounts at some of his birthdays, which we put into a CD for him once the account reached $1000. Kind of a beginning of a college account for him.

Since you have time, why not decorate something special for their rooms like a small bookcase to put their little books on or a little toy box, little bench, little table and chairs, etc. You can find a lot of wooden stuff at Hobby Lobby and you can usually find coupons in the paper on Sunday for 40% off one item. You don't have to be super-creative to paint something a solid color, then you could even apply the rub-on transfers or something if you didn't want to paint. You could google childrens handpainted furniture to get some ideas. It would be special and they would use it for years to come. Good luck!

I make and sell I Spy Bags online that are a hit with young children. I have sold them to Moms with children as young as yours, all the way up to school age. You can check them out by going to my online store:
http://www.bumblebeebaby.etsy.com

If you decide against the I Spy Bag idea, check out other sellers on Etsy, everything on Etsy is all handmade items, you may find some awesome items for others on your shopping list as well!

I think savings bonds for little ones are great.

One thing we did was actually a dual gift for my husband. We took some memorobilia from my husband's childhood and put in a shadow box. we hung the shadow box in my 16 month old son's room. This way it will always be a treasured piece and daddy benefitted from having his memories in his boy's room. Babies don't really know the purpose of Christmas but Daddy's love their baby boys!