A reader recently asked this question:

“This Christmas will be my (birth) daughter’s first Christmas. She is just three months old and I am struggling with what to get her. What do you give a three month old?”

Obviously a three month old isn’t going to know what you have given her. She won’t remember it later. But as a birthmother, I can understand why you want to give her a gift and why it is stressful to come up with a gift that is just right.

Charlie was just around three months old his first Christmas and I can remember thinking... more

Over the past few days in some of my Christmas posts, I’ve mentioned that I give Charlie an ornament each year as part of his Christmas presents. This really didn’t start out as a tradition but it certainly has turned into one.

When searching for something to give Charlie his first Christmas, I came across a really neat Precious Moments Christmas “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament that had a spot to write his name, birth date, weight, and length. I purchased the ornament and thought what a neat keepsake item it would be for him to have one day in the future.

The next... more

I love gifts that incorporate a child’s photo into the gift and nowadays there are so many different kinds of gifts that you can give that use a photo. These gifts are great for anyone in a child’s birth family such as their birthmom or birth grandparents and some are also appropriate for a birthmom to give her child. Below are some of my favorite photo gifts.

Calendar ~ You can have calendars made nowadays that feature a different chosen photo for each month. I don’t know any birthmother who wouldn’t love a calendar starring her child! I just made one of these easily through Shutterfly... more

That is one very special ornament you are looking at. It’s special to me for many different reasons.

First of all, I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday of the year. Although at times, being a birthmother during the holidays can be tough, it is still one of my favorite times of the year. I love decorating my home for the holidays and decorating my Christmas tree. In years past, I have had a “themed tree” where all the ornaments and decorations on the tree and in my living room were a part of some sort of theme like snowmen or angels. But this year, I just wanted to put... more

A birthmother recently asked me this question:

My child has a sibling via adoption. When I send a gift for my child should I send a gift for her sibling too?

This probably just personal preference and not all birthmothers may agree, but when giving a gift to Charlie, I do give a gift to his sister as well. I do this for a few reasons.

First of all, Charlie’s sister, N, is important to me too. One of the reasons I chose the family I did to be Charlie’s adoptive family was because of N. It was important to me that Charlie have a sibling... more

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... more

As the Christmas holidays are drawing closer, I find myself thinking of what I will get Charlie for Christmas this year. Each year, when I talk to A. on Thanksgiving I ask her what Charlie and N want for Christmas. I make notes and I look for the things they have on their “want list”. I usually get them each a couple of small things and then of course, the ornament I give them each year which has become a tradition.

This year, I find myself wanting to buy so much stuff for Charlie. I see things everywhere that remind me of him and that are things that A. mentioned he wanted... more

Yes, that’s right! Merry Christmas from all of us – no matter if we are separated by miles between adoption situations or separated by earthly boundaries for reasons unbeknownst to our hearts. Today, on Christmas Day, in this spirit we wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

I love this little card I created just for YOU! That’s me, yours truly, dawning my pink (fave color!) sequined Santa Hat, Noah, being the clown he is, Charlie showing off his Dad’s too big tie, and Jason placing some poinsettias at the grave to honor his mother, whom he lost in July of this... more

The song, Grown Up Christmas List made popular and sang by Amy Grant, has been one of my favorite Christmas songs for years now. Each time I hear it, its heard in a different manner, a different time in my life, therefore the songs mean something different each year; something different yet familiar as I do know the song.

Grown-Up Christmas List By David Foster and Linda Thompson Jenner Sung By Amy Grant

Do you remember me? I sat upon your knee; I wrote to you With childhood fantasies.

Well,... more

Oh the holidays! Sometimes I cry over the smallest little things, like BICYCLES!

Let me back up….

Last night, I was running in Wal-Mart to get a few things I needed to finish some holiday baking for gift baskets we are making for the many members of my husband’s large family. The parking lot was busy and crowded as always at this time of year, so I parked near the Lawn and Garden entrance and walked in that entrance, which is where a lot of the Christmas stuff gets moved to at this time of year; including the bicycles.

Oh the bicycles! There... more