Buying Christmas gifts (or any gift for that matter) for our birth children can sometimes be very emotional. It’s often hard to know exactly what to get our children too since we are not with them every day.

I think Charlie’s second Christmas was my most difficult. Noah had just had major surgery and been in and out of the hospital for the surgery and rehabilitation afterwards so I was sleep deprived and stressed anyways, then add the emotions of dealing with Charlie’s second Christmas and it wasn’t a very happy holiday. I had a major breakdown wrapping Charlie’s gift that year and many mini breakdowns through out the whole holiday season that year. Buying Charlie’s gift and everything about the whole holiday season was difficult that year.

But now, six years later, I’ve developed a routine for gift buying which is helpful for me. Usually around Thanksgiving I give A. a call and ask her what Charlie is into and what he wants. She’s usually pretty good at giving me some suggestions or telling me a few things he wants. I also ask his sizes just in case I want to get him any clothes. Also, if you are doing this I’d ask if there is anything that your child isn’t allowed to have. For example, Noah isn’t allowed to play with toy guns therefore; someone buying gifts for him would need to know that no toy guns are allowed in my home. Each family has different rules as far as that is concerned, so find out what those are.

I always write down whatever A. tells me just in case I am emotional or forget or something. Then I hit the stores. Sometimes, things come easily and find something right away other times it takes me forever! Once I purchase something, especially if it is something on his wish list or a movie or something that could be easily duplicated, I call A and let her know what I have bought so that she (or another one of Charlie's relatives) doesn't buy the same thing. I also always hang on to my receipts or get gift receipts if possible, just in case.

This year, I found a great deal on a portable CD player for Charlie and that was on his wish list so he is getting a blue one and his sister (whom I also always give a gift to) is getting a pink one. I plan to get them batteries (always get batteries if the gift requires them!) and a CD too and maybe a case that holds the portable players (so they don’t get roughed up too much) if I can find a good deal on them.

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