First time parents

We're officially on the countdown to K&T's first birthday, and DH and I have no idea what to get them. It seems especially weird, because we buy them "stuff" all the time. One week, we need boosters, the next some new clothes, shoes, etc. There's always baby purchases going on. So it just seems strange to pick something out and then reserve it for an occasion - they were simply too young for Christmas last year.

Anyhow. Just an observation. Anyone here mulling first birthday gifts? It seems like we have everything they could possibly need, and they'll get plenty of toys from family I'm sure. Lol. I may just wrap up some mum mum crackers - at least they'll like that!!

 

It definitley felt weird to me last year and then with Christmas trailing right behind their bday's it made it more weird (we didn't do the year before either bc we had just gotten home 3 days before)!
I bought them 1 expensive gift that they would have to share (FP laugh and learn barn) that I knew they would "grow" with and each got an outfit. Otherwise we put some money in their savings account and let everyone else go nuts on them We did the same with Christmas except they each got a toy to open along with 1 big thing that they shared
I'm thinking this year might be the same?!
I'm thinking this

 

I like the savings account idea!

 

It was really weird for us at first too. Their birthday is in the beginning of December so their first and second birthdays were low-key. They each got one thing and then friends and family got them a few toys and clothes. Last Christmas was a big Christmas for them. SO and I and the grandparents went a little nuts. But they loved it!

This year I'm planning on doing one big present each for their birthday. (Probably tricycles.) And again for Christmas. Then a few little things. I'm sure the grandparents will all go over board again! :laughing:

 

We are approaching that, too, and it is hard, especially since their birthday is 3 days after Christmas. They LOVE animals, so for their birthday I already got them the Fisher's Price Noah's ark and a set of books about animals. I had something picked out for Christmas (a race car thing), but my MIL decided to get it for them and go ahead and give it to them (which is annoying because they can't use it yet and won't be able to for a few months). So, I'm not sure what I'm doing for Christmas - probably will get them one or two toys together and let everyone else do the rest. That seems like enough for this year.

 

It is a bit weird. We always put any money they get in a savings account as well, and I contribute to it for special occasions. We usually buy them second hand stuff for special occasions. I think I have only purchased one or two toys new, and they have a whole living room full of toys that were either gifts from relatives or hand me downs. I am hoping that now that the first year excitement is over we don't get too many additions to their collection this year for Christmas. I am going to get them anywhere chairs and/or a kitchen.

After witnessing how all my neices and nephews react to the extravaganza of gifts from a million aunts and uncles and grandparents, we really want to try and keep special occasions more low key and get them a couple of things that they'll really like. We've also designated one family as the gift givers to each kid in the family so they aren't getting a bunch of junk from everyone but rather one or two nice things.

 

We didn't want to spend much money. Plus my twins' birthday is right after Christmas in early January. My mom asked what they needed and got them almost everything off of that list (mainly toys). For their birthday we got them a shared toy (a ride on toy) and that was it. For Christmas we got them each a small gift (Little People toys) They still got plenty of gifts from family.

 

With dd we didn't get her anything for her first birthday, and for Christmas we just got her a few small toys that seemed gratuitous ardon: She got so much stuff from everyone else (first grandchild on all sides) and really she didn't know what was going on. However, I'm thinking for the boys first birthday getting them something sentimental that they can keep for a long time. I'm toying with the idea of making quilts for them, but something along these lines. You could do something along these lines...a treasure that they may not appreciate now, but will later.

 

Take a look at a company called Wee Piggies and Paws.

You can get a hand / feet casting of the twins. We had one done for the twins when they were 3 months old --- but it would be an amazing keepsake for them / you as they grow up.

 

With our first son, it was weird buying a gift considering we constantly bought him stuff on a weekly basis. Its the same for the twins. HOWEVER, this year we are NOT buying them anything for their first birthday because they get spoiled from everyone else! We will put on the party and maybe do what you plan on doing (wrapping mum mum's) and call it a day!

 

honestly ours are 4 and a half and for their birthdays and Christmas we don't generally get them anything - Christmas everything comes from Santa and birthdays everyone gets them stuff so they don't notice there isn't anything with mom and dad's name on it!

 

My girls turn 1yr in 4 days!!! I bought them some PJ's and shirts that say "my sister did it, I'm innocent" just so that they would have a package to unwrap. We had gone to a swapmeet and I got a great deal on a toy that they can stand up and use. I wanted to save it for their birthday, but my husband convinced me there was no point since they don't know the difference. They might as well enjoy it now. I figure we might as well save our money and buy them stuff when they realize there is a "mall" later on For now my kids have used clothes and toys and are super happy to have it.

 

I'm somewhat in the minority. I get them the gifts-the big gifts, or whatever. Something to remember their first birthday by. For the boys, dh and I got them ride on vehicles. One was a power wheel, the other was not. For Annabella, we got her the pink Cozy Coupe. For their second Christmas, we got the boys the Laugh-N-Learn Kitchen.

This year for the boys birthday, I am looking to do over their room and put them in toddler beds. For Christmas, I am hoping to get them a tool bench thing of sorts. And for Annabella, clueless.

DH thinks we shouldn't get them anything. But his mom/dad usually do money of some sort, and our families don't go crazy with gift giving. So I don't mind too much. What $ they do get, we keep some of it to spend throughout the year-like a music class, or a concert-something fun. The rest goes into an account.

 

I probably won't buy anything for our twins for xmas (except stocking gift because our older child believes in santa) or birthday this year. I know other people will get them stuff, and that is plenty. we have SO MUCH STUFF in our house - we don't need anything.

 

Their gift was a gift for us - 1 year portraits...LOL. We just got so much from friends and family that we didn't buy anything.