Does this sound alright for brother and sister?

[moominleigh94]

I've bought my brother and sister big presents for their birthday this year - DSis got a monkey adoption from Monkey World, we went there last year and she adored the capuchins and got very attached to one so I did the animal adoption for her, and DBro is difficult to buy for so I've got him a fairly expensive smellys set and some choc - it was his birthday yesterday so I'm giving it to him today.

So I'm struggling for what to get them for Christmas - I have no idea what sort of thing they'd like, and my brother has just had all his new PS3 games for his birthday so he doesn't need anything gaming related, and there's not really that much more he's into. Sister doesn't like boybands, is football mad but my parents get her loads of football stuff, she's just had a new Liverpool shirt (although if it was up to me I'd get her a west brom shirt but she'd refuse to wear it )

He's 14, she's 12, and they're both really excited because I'm having a baby next year - they keep talking about their niece or nephew, they keep telling everyone how excited they are - so I was thinking, rather than me struggling to find them something, if I should put a stocking together of bits and bobs - smellies and chocolate and stationary and stuff I know they like - and say it's from the baby. It then doubles as a chance to tell them if it's a girl or a boy, because we'll be finding out a few weeks beforehand. My parents will know straight away, but we won't be telling siblings until Christmas.

Just need some advice as to whether it's a good idea or not? It's hard to describe their personalities but I know while they'd think a stocking from me is nice, it might seem a bit weird - whereas they're the sort of kids who'd love one from their niece or nephew, even if it hasn't been born yet

[CloserLook]

That sounds lovely moominleigh94! I don't think it would be weird at all as they're obviously old enough to understand. Combining it with the announcement of the if the baby's a boy or a girl is a good idea too. Are you planning on putting some sort of clue to the baby's gender in the stocking?

[moominleigh94]

Thanks CloserLook, I was thinking of it but wasn't quite sure how to go about it - they call the baby Ozzy at the minute (it's doing the rock on sign in the scan apparently), but they know what names we'll be using if it's a boy or a girl, and they know we're finding out the sex, so maybe by attatching a tag to the stocking that says "from (girls name)" or "from (boys name)". They're both very intelligent so I think they'd get it straight away.

[YDdraigGoch]

Be careful though - they might expect a present from you as well as the baby . I think you're setting a precedent for extra presents every year, and I hate to say it, but what if the pregnancy goes wrong?

[moominleigh94]

Well they already know I'm pregnant - told them when we told all family members after the 12-week scan - so if it goes wrong before then, if we're in any mood to celebrate Christmas then the stockings will just be from us. If it goes wrong afterwards, there isn't exactly much we can do about it

They're pretty good with 'expecting' presents, they don't tend to expect anything - they're like me, prefer giving gifts to receiving them :)

[MARGUERITE18]

what about using blue or pink its a stockings or babies first xmas stockings for the reveal

[BigBadWolefPlum]

I think it's brill moomin and I wouldnt worry about it going wrong because it's a subject that will be painful if the worst should happen anyway regardless of whether stocking has been bought from baby!!

I ended up getting dsis some handwarmers cheap if that's an idea for the stocking? I know how bloody freezing football can be

[moominleigh94]

I like that idea marguerite thanks

Ahh that's great! My sister will love them for football, and brother travels by train to school so lots of waiting around on frozen platforms! Thanks BigBad, that's great