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 Christmas it only seemed natural to give him another ornament, thus it has become a yearly tradition. I plan to continue this ornament tradition for years to come and when he is all grown up and leaves home, he will have years worth of ornaments to put on his own Christmas tree. I also give his sister an ornament of her own each year too. After purchasing the ornament his first year, I decided to start making the ornaments. The ornaments from his second and third Christmas each hold a picture of Charlie and I taken at a visit during that particular year. On the back of the ornament, I usually write the year and that the ornament is from me so that he will know this in years to come. The pictured ornament is this years ornament, but I cheated and bought a personalized ornament at a local craft fair this year instead of making the ornament.

I know other birthmoms have ornament traditions of their own as well. One birthmother, Amy, purchases two ornaments and keeps one for herself and sends the other to her daughter. I love this idea and wish I had thought of it that first year when I bought Charlie’s first ornament.

I think ornament traditions like this one are also great for adoptive parents to do for their child’s birthparents. When the child is still small, the adoptive parents could pick out the ornament but as the child grows older, he or she could help choose the ornament each year.

Do you have an ornament tradition? Tell me about it!

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More on Ornaments:
Amy’s Ornament Tradition
Crafting with Coley: Holly Wreath Ornament

Photo Credit: Coley S.