In continuance of my birthday series, I can’t leave out gifts! As the old saying goes it isn’t the gift itself that counts, but the thought behind the gift. While I do give Charlie age appropriate toys, I also have two gift giving traditions that sometimes require a little thought but are meaningful.

Each year on Charlie’s birthday, one of the gifts I give him (I give him a few small gifts usually) is always a book. It’s not just any old book, but a book that is special or might have special meaning to him or me.

For his first birthday, that book was a Precious Moments Bible that was baby blue and had his name engraved on it. Other books have included his life book, a personalized book, and a children’s adoption book. I always write something in the inside of the book and then put the date as well. I didn’t start off doing this every year as part of a tradition but it has developed into one. I like it and Charlie will know to expect a book each birthday and hopefully will hold on to those books when he is older.

Then I also have an ornament tradition and give Charlie a Christmas ornament each year for Christmas.

A few of my birthmother friends have told me that they too have some special gift giving traditions with their children and they have shared these neat ideas with me. My best friend, Lani has a neat tradition that she does periodically when she sends her daughter a gift. She has a special Bible verse that is kind of like hers and her daughter’s special verse so over the years she has given her daughter different things that have that verse on it such as a blanket with the verse embroidered on it, a stuffed bunny with the verse embroidered on it, a locket with the verse engraved on it, etc..

My friend Jamie created a neat tradition by giving her daughter a charm bracelet and now she buys charms for her daughter for different gift giving occasions to add to her bracelet.

Another friend, Leigh also has a neat tradition that she initiated when her daughter turned one. On her daughter’s first birthday, Leigh gave her a piggy bank. It has her daughter’s name on one side and then her nickname for her daughter on the other side. So now, each time Leigh sends her daughter a card or gift, she includes a dollar for her daughter’s piggy bank. So not only has she given her a daughter a neat keepsake but she is helping her save money. I love this tradition and wish I thought to start it when Charlie turned one.

If you have a special gift giving tradition that you have started with your child, I'd love to hear about it!

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Other Posts about Birthdays:
The Emotional Side of Birthdays
A Trip Down Birthday Memory Lane
Birthday Party Tips
Honoring your Child when you Can't be Together

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