Memories and traditions of the first birthday

A baby’s first year is a magical experience, especially for new parents who watch their helpless newborn grow into a little person (sometimes even walk) by their first birthday. Parents around the world want to pay tribute and commemorate that special moment in their lives and the lives of their babies. Memories and traditions are symbols of her son’s importance in her family. They are also the ones that help you create a family identity. Traditions also teach children that some of the most prized possessions a family owns do not come at a high price. The true value of keepsakes and traditions lies in the time and love that went into creating them. So if you’re a doting parent, grandparent, or even an aunt or uncle, here are some special first birthday memories and traditions:

Save special costumes – From the outfit you brought the baby home in to a treasured christening gown that has been passed down through the generations, storing special outfits can mark important moments in our lives. A creative family snapped a photo of their one-year-old along with the outfit she came home in, leaving them with a great photo reminder of how much she’s grown over the past year.

Find a new use for special outfits – While saving special outfits can be great, you can also find a new use for them. A crafty grandmother collected some of her grandchildren’s out-of-fit newborn clothes and other first-year outfits and turned them into beautiful quilts. Or she can celebrate her baby’s first birthday by donating her outgrown clothes to a charity that helps the underprivileged. This way you can mark your celebration by helping someone else.

Let the photos (literally) tell a story – For a special keepsake, why not ask family and friends to bring pictures of your one-year-old that were taken during their first year of life? You can then have your guests write a short summary of the image; be sure to include her age, and then paste the story and photo into a baby book. Even babies as young as one love to look at photos of themselves and this will be a wonderful memory keeper for years to come.

Chronicle of the months – You can easily make a special keepsake for your baby. Start by posting a photo of a newborn in the center of a page (perhaps with a birth announcement next to it), and then every month surround the image with photos. Your crowning achievement for your collage may be a photo from a year ago of the birthday boy or girl.

Write a letter to your son While your child’s actual birthday may be too hectic to write a letter, try writing one a few days before or after the celebration. Include her feelings, what happened at the party, and include some highlights from the past year. Although your child may be too young to fully appreciate letters, for many years you will have a written record that tells of your child’s life and their special place in yours.

Party Scrapbook – Even if you’re not an avid scrapbooker, there are plenty of ways to commemorate your one-year-old’s party. Have a scrapbook page or two where everyone can sign and wish the birthday boy or girl the best wishes. You can take a photo of the guest of honor with everyone in attendance and then submit photos. Or maybe have a photo of your little love with a simple matte around it that everyone can sign too. Either way, you’re left with a precious keepsake of that special first birthday celebration.