Christmas at home just me and OH - how to make it special?

[Felix90]

So me and OH have been together for 5 years but have always parted ways at Christmas. I've always gone home to my parents and he's gone to his (mine is 40 mins drive, his is 1.5hrs). We decided this year we would both go up to his parents house for Christmas and I've really been looking forward to it! I am 36 weeks pregnant and not due until 8th January, but it turns out I've got to be induced at 38 weeks. I am 38 weeks pregnant on Christmas Day and the hospital advised they will do a sweep to try and start me off next Wednesday (37 weeks) and book me in for an induction at 38 weeks so a day or so after Christmas. Potentially we could have a few day old baby on Christmas Day or I could be very close to giving birth around that time.

Due to this, we have decided to stay at home for Christmas just the two of us, and I am terrified that it's going to be rubbish. His Mum has been very kind and is going to order us some posh Christmas food from the farm shop they go to and bring it down with presents closer to the time, so that's dinner sorted. Has anyone got any ideas of what we can do to make it feel 'Christmassy' and a bit special? I have a feeling we will eat dinner then just sit and watch telly, like we do every day.

I know I'm probably over thinking the whole thing but I feel under pressure for it to be a nice day. We are both used to having big family Christmases so it will be weird just the two of us. Any ideas would be really appreciated!

Can you get him to make you breakfast in bed ( he makes it and then joins you in bed?).

Do you like board games? If so get a new one for Christmas.

Any neighbours who you could pop round to say Happy Christmas or them to yours for a quality street and drink?

I think Christmas should be the least of your concerns lol ...good luck!

i say really enjoy your last "just couple" christmas... (if you dont have little by then obvi )

*sleep in to ATLEAST 830-9
cuddles on the sofa whilst eating yummy stuff.
buy a new board game?.. they do chocoalte chess which can be quite fun.
a walk to "help" get things started?

if you do have little one.. enjoy gazing and sniffing your little one whilst on the sofa whilst oh does all the cooking

He makes me breakfast in bed regularly anyway (yes I'm very lucky haha!). We have board games but he hates them as he said its rubbish playing just two people! Also we have literally just moved house this past weekend so don't know any neighbours (and I'm sure next door are dodgy dealing), and our friends are all going back to their hometowns for Christmas. Sorry didn't mean to knock back all your ideas! Please keep them coming

I was thinking we could have a drive out to a nice park and go for a walk, but I have severe SPD so can't walk further than about 5 minutes so that's out of the question

The only thing I can really think of is just enjoy eating all the lovely food and just have a lazy day. It's not what I'm used to though on Christmas Day!

Breakfast in bed with posh croissants and non alc bucks fizz/posh coffee. Then do presents followed by a long bath. Lunch later, have a nap, then pudding, maybe a short wobble round outside. Then lovely picky tea.

If you have the baby before, stay firmly in bed with lo while dp brings you food and drink.

Could people come to you so you have company (on condition they do all the cooking etc)

clothes, either wear PJs all day or dress up but dont wear what you normally wear, or maybe dress up in fancy dress...

I think lazy day with nice food sounds like the best option. I know I'm being totally irrational worrying about making it 'special' and OH keeps telling me not to stress about it.

We can't really have people come to us, as we live in a tiny back to back terrace (we don't even have a proper table and chairs!) and it would be a squeeze. Also don't really fancy having people round as I'm a bit nuts and always feel like I have to be the perfect host!

I like the idea of dressing up differently! Even if it's just rubbish Christmas jumpers

I would say make the most of your one and only opportunity to have Christmas as just the two of you, whilst waiting for the best present you can ever receive:-)
Enjoy a lazy morning in pjs, a long bath. Do all the things you never have time to simply enjoy.
If you have Skype then Skype your family as you open their presents.
How about the game, how well do you know your other half!
Such random questions will really get you thinking.
Lastly just don't build the day up, yes it will be different to what you are used to, but that's not to say you won't enjoy it.
Merry Christmas . X

Skype is a really good idea! Never thought of that. Thank you

This is probably not going to be a helpful post but a day spent laying on the sofa, eating yoummy food and watching TV sounds great to me.
I absolutely guarantee you won't be doing that next Christmas, with LO's 1st birthday thrown in the mix as well.

Sensible ideas now:

Spend the day doing all the things you enjoy doing as a couple, as you may not get the chance again for a long time

I read something on here about not having any electric lights on for the whole day at christmas, just candles etc (ok probably not practical if already mid-birth by that point)

Have a long soak in the bath, festive scented bubbles/candles, maybe a glass of (non-alcoholic) fizz and choccies

This is a bit of a weird one but do you have any photos of you/OH as babies. I spent ages looking through family album of us when expecting my first trying to work out what she was going to look like but how about looking/thinking back to your childhood Christamases and guessing what the future ones will be like?
N.B this is the perfect time to have the very important discussion about whether all gifts are from Santa/just the stocking/he's the delivery man only, so you are both in agreement before LO comes along

I had the exact same issue. I swerved it by giving birth! Now that's how you avoid making the dinner.... My advice, OP, would be to focus on quiet and calm, rather than Christmas; nowt can match Christmas with children so you will make up for it next year - quiet and calm is much harder to come by than Christmas cheer... Good luck with the birth!

Thank you everyone. I definitely need to just focus on having a calm relaxing day rather than pressuring myself to make it something 'special.' I'm sure we will look back on the day in a few years time and think how good it was!

Felix90.. Now that's the idea:-)
Xx

First Xmas that it was just DH and I, I was dreading it as I'm used to big family Christmases. But I often reminisce about that humble Xmas when we had to make things special for each other. It was truly lovely and relaxing and made me realise how much I loved DH.

A bit of sexytime? Only joking!