Organising Christmas in advance - top tips for those of us expecting in Dec please!

[Twiga]

Ok so Christmas is ages away but feeling large and waddly just as you need to tackle it all is a looming reality for those of us due around then. If you've been there done that, what are your top tips for getting it done before hand? What should we avoid doing? What do you wish you'd done diff? What can we not bother with if have to do the minimum? Thanks

I went to the midnight service at church (dd1 was due on 26th but didn't show up til January)

I informed the Vicar that I couldn't guarantee that my waters wouldn't break!!

Agree with other tips above, also make sure you have a few outings/sympathetic friends to visit over Christmas. You won't want to travel and see relatives and friends a long way away. Tbh we got v bored with inlaws (local) and Christmas seemed very long and uncomfortable while we were waiting and waiting...

DD was born 28 Dec - waters broke 5am on the 25th - but given I was due on Boxing Day it was nothing unexpected. Am now expecting no.2 on 13th Jan so obviously it wasn't all that bad.

I buy early anyhow to spread the cost but this year have already got all of DDs presents and most of DHs - just a few others to get but will buy them when I'm out. Doesn't help that DDs birthday on 28 Dec! But no one but myself to blame for that I'll start writing cards soon, and getting any cards due between now and about February so won't forget anyone! After cards and pressies are done I start on food, just get a few bits each week and freeze ahead. The year DD was born I bought my meat early, stocked up on M&S meals and prepared plenty of veg for freezing so all we had to do for the first few weeks was reheat stuff. I did Xmas dinner with the trimmings whilst in labour - but needed something to pass the time and was a nice distraction.

We've booked to go to Harrods grotto in November and on a Santa Steam Train trip in the first week of Dec (they also start in Nov) so will have done a couple of Christmassy things early with DD so she won't miss out too much when I am far too pregnant to be bothered with it all.

Totally agree with making the most of the nesting instinct, really kicked in with me, spent hours putting decs up - and whoever said photo frames for presents is on to a winner. We bought some from Debenhams last year on BOGOF and gave them to everyone with photos of DD and they went down really well and were a lot cheaper than they looked

my DD was born by section on 19th dec but was due on 28th.

best thing we did was buy ALL frozen food for xmas dinner. No stress at all. We also booked tesco delivery for 22nd dec (booked 4 weeks before) for any extras we needed.
All presents were bought well in advance and dished out at beginning of Decemeber.

just bumping for any more contributions, and thanks on behalf of us due in Dec ladies!

Twiga - please give yourself a break and buy the darn cake and cards! For goodness sake . And i'm serious btw!

Last year my SIL was due on 23 Dec. Christmas was moved to 1 Dec, and we went there along with her mum and MrNC's parents.

Food had been delivered from the butcher and online supermarket, presents from Amazon (BIL: 'If you don't have a wishlist, make one or email me, or you aren't getting any presents!), and SIL put her feet up and did almost no cooking. I think they had a small tree in a pot, but birth announcement cards were eventually sent instead of Christmas cards.

This year the plan is for the whole family complete with their 1-year-old, my ~3 month old, and 1 or 2 in-between babies to come to us. We will be relying on the internet to deliver, and the fact that the family will do all the active stuff and lots of childcare - if I had the families that many other people have, I wouldn't dream of it!

My friend who had an early Dec baby a while back says do not go for Christmas with a 3-week-old baby if your husband and in-laws are totally clueless that giving birth and looking after a baby are tiring, and expect you to be perky, sociable, and up for long walks!

Hi Ja9, you know me too well - was going to start cake next week while dh off work and have nearly got all my bits and pieces for cards (mainly coz I didn't get round to it last year so still have stuff). Did your ds have a nice birthday, haven't forgotten just a bit behind after the move!

notcitrus, having Christmas early was a nice idea, sounds like it was lovely.