Help - DH December birthday and Christmas. Pregnant, exhausted and out of ideas.

[ActonBell]

DH’s birthday is December and there’s his Christmas present to sort too. Baby is also due beginning of December and I’ve had a really rough pregnancy (sickness, high risk of premature birth, in and out of hospital). I’m exhausted all the time now and though I’m slowly working my way through other Christmas stuff I’m totally stuck on what to get for him.

I look online for inspiration and all I see is lists of things like socks, whisky stones and multi tools! These do not appeal (and he already has whisky stones anyway!).

He likes:
Cooking/baking (but doesn’t have much time to do it)
Drawing (ditto)
Growing veg (ditto)
Music, including classical
Lego
Gaming
Running
Biographies

He desperately needs some more clothes - wears things to death - but has no interest in clothes so that would be a practical present more than anything else.

I usually get an experience gift (concert tickets or something like that) but he still hasn’t been able to use his gift from 2019 (!) because of Covid so I’m reluctant to get any more tickets for something.

Help! Any ideas at all?!

I’ve got DB the Lego starwars helmets. Might get some lighting kits for them for his January birthday.

How about a subscription food box like gousto or curry club? That way he can prepare food when baby is born quickly and easily?

My DH gets running gear every year..this year it's a belt that fits to his skin under his top to put phone and keys in because he hates wearing the armband thing I got last year.

Apple Watch was a massive hit one year and airpods because he can time his runs and listen to music!

How about a subscription food box like gousto or curry club? That way he can prepare food when baby is born quickly and easily?

I think that is a brilliant suggestion.

I'd also buy new versions of his favourite worn out clothes.
Also think about some treats for him to have at home once the baby arrives - his favourite nightcap & snacks; nice coffee; his favourite chocolates.

Just came to recommend Hello Fresh and Lego but can see it's already done!

I wouldn’t buy Lego, it’s time consuming activity. Subscription food box is nice idea. Do you have smart speaker like a John Lewis HomePod ? Or shower speaker ?

A drawing tablet? Someone on the Christmas bargains thread last year recommended Wacom refurbished. I bought three of their Intuos smalls for young adults. They were well received and are still used now.

Wacom refurbished. The Intuos are part way down page.

I'm a dad in my 30s, sound like I have similar interest to your DH and this year I'm hoping to get something from the below:

• Digital notebook so I don't use so many paper ones
• voucher for my console (Xbox / PS4) so I can download a game of choice
• m and s chocolate houses set
• after shave

I wouldn’t buy Lego, it’s time consuming activity.

But the OP's DH likes Lego and I'm sure they both know how time consuming it is? With a new baby, they may be spending more time at home so having something he can do a little bit of when he has the time is great. It doesn't have to take over from his helping OP with the baby (if that's what you were inferring), and ensuring she gets some down time to do something she enjoys also .

My DP has a December birthday and we had a baby in March. Last year I got him an Apple Watch for combined birthday and Christmas. For Christmas he got me Bluetooth headphones- we both use them when we’re up in the night with the baby!

How about casual “ordinary” clothes from a running/outdoorsy brand? Eg: New Balance, Howies, Patagonia ?

Indoor hydroponics system - they look fun
Ooni - Altho he won’t be able to use it till summer
Book classical concert tickets for you both

Also get him biography of someone he’s really interested in and get him some clothes but a lovely jumper etc.

My DH loves socks, our DC got him socks from the odd socks company and he thinks they’re very funny and has worn them out (I had to buy two set as they come in three’s and I couldn’t handle that!😆)

Thank you so much! There are some brilliant ideas here. Going to look into lots of these.

OP you sound like me! DH also has a December birthday, really similar interests and I have also had a similarly challenging pregnancy (HG, 2 vessel cord, IUGR and risk of premature birth!) albeit due November

I'm getting my DH a posh cast iron casserole dish for his December birthday. He has wanted one for years and there is a really wide range of price points available. My sister got one last year reduced to £45 in a local kitchen shop and then they go right up to the fancy le creuset ones which are hundreds.

A butcher near us does a "steak club" that I'd considered as a gift or one of those cookery night experiences. DH was invited to one by a client at a posh local restaurant and he has always raved about it.

For Christmas he is getting a leather jacket. A bit unfashionable these days but he wore his old one to death.

I saw B&M had a load of Marvel (Venom), Mandalorian and Harry Potter lego during the week, all for around £60ish if that is any good to you

Dwarf fruit tree, veg trug or similar?

I think you've had some great ideas already. Could also look at the at home restaurant boxes for his birthday meal if going out is unlikely to be an option. I don't know if all the chefs/restaurants are still doing them but I think some are. There have been threads on here in chat I think about the best boxes.

Record player/Vinyl.
Leather backpack.
Six by Nico dine in box.
Cookery course.
Clothes- Replace some of the worn out items.
A really good waterproof coat for pram pushing.
Leather boots.