Then you get that next round of invitations and start racking your brain for baby shower gift ideas... and then it's off to Babies R Us (unless you can find another great source for unique baby gifts)! I decided I didn't just want to check off items on a registry, however, and began knitting cute sweaters for my friends' kids.
I had two main varieties; one, for anyone with any sort of Celtic origin, was an adorable Irish sweater with a wide neck to get over those little baby heads. It was a perfect baby boy gift OR baby girl gift! And could be knit in colors that would work as either! The second was a variation on the J-Crew rollneck sweater, with the initial of the child's last name knitted in-or sometimes a first name; one of my dear friends, whose son was the recipient of an "M" shirt for his "Matthew", spoke of how he considered it his "Superman" sweater and wore it well past its prime.
I was so pleased that I had established a unique and personalized baby gift until suddenly my friends began moving Southwest. And I simply couldn't justify knitting away on adorable sweaters that couldn't be worn in the 100 degree PLUS weather of Texas, or Arizona, or what have you. While certainly baby sweaters, as a personalized gifts, have a much longer "shelf life" than the 3-6 months, they still couldn't be worn nearly enough in hot climates to make it worthwhile.
So I had to come up with a different signature, personalized baby gift. In that moment I had my children and I could see, what really worked with them. They have had two favorite books that would be happy if they were made of tiny little and too light, so far, at the age of 6 and 5 These books together are the backbone of the baby gift basket I made. I also have a CD by a great singer Kid "Ralph's World," I launch into this new baby gift. My car traveling near and to have extended considerablyadding the voice of Ralph, and I have great reports from everyone I gave this gift.
Best of all the elements are all available online for ordering and shipping easy. They are proven winners, road tested with my own crew, so I still feel that they are individually and specifically. And if a parent is here or there, sometimes call to complain about not getting a particularly catchy song by Ralph out of his head, it is better to give as a baby crying! EThis is really the point, no new baby gift, I think!
