My H's birthday is this week, and then Christmas is coming up. He's filed for D, I haven't been served yet (2 weeks and counting). I did buy him presents - thoughtful things that I think he will like, but on a much lesser scale than if he were living with me. One of the presents is a framed picture of the kids, as sandi2 recommended, because he doesn't have any pictures of them in his apartment. The others are connected to his hobbies.
All of the gifts will be marked from the kids so that he can accept them without feeling obligated. I'm also making mini cakes today and will let the kids bring him one with a candle for his birthday. My kids are little enough that they can't pick out (or pay for) presents on their own, so he'll know they are from me.
I have no expectations whatsoever that I will get something from him, even labelled from the kids. And I'm okay with that. These are gifts - no response necessary. I would say don't give anything if you are doing it for a potential reaction, because that's not a gift, and your WAS will know it.
