Starting a Tradition

[FoxFireEMT]

Tis the season for the holidays and although I do not have a family of my own I do have a sweet 10 month old nephew that I love dearly!! He is really my world & I look forward to seeing him everytime I go home (Pa) to visit. For Christmas and every year after that I would like to start a tradtion (from his Auntie) :) (Thats ME!) Here are a couple of thoughts I have, I'd like to get your opinions & any other suggestions you have... Thanks!

His gift this year is going to be a WAGON (one of those hugh plastic type ones with seat buckles) hee hee... His mom likes to take him for walks N such.

My Tradtion Ideas:

1. Christmas Ornament : Will have year & love Aunt Leah & Uncle Matt

2. Christmas book: A little note written inside

3. A book of pictures that I took of him over the year.

...... ummm okay I'm out of ideas........

Reminder he's only 10 months will be 11 come Christmas. So far my Ornament idea is my favorite. I know that I have a bunch of ornaments from when I was younger. :innocent:

Thanks in advance for the suggestions.

[Annie&Dixie]

I love the ornament idea too but then again, now that I've gotten older (I'm 18 now), I love to go back and look at old photos so I think that's my favorite, it seems more personal and sentimental to me.

[WashingtonBay]

I like the ornament idea but the child probably won't care about it so much until he's older.

But if you use the neat ornament as an embellishment on his real, fun present each year, you'll be a favorite aunt. :)

[oursarge]

You can do a Snapfish book of photos from the year. I have been doing that for friends and they enjoy them.

The ornament idea is nice too.

[RackinRudy]

speaking of snapfish ... did anyone see oprah yesterday???

you can get a free photobook (normally $29) if you do it by midnight tomorrow.
follow the link from the oprah site to do so .. start here - http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20081029_tows_messyhouse/7

[FoxFireEMT]

YES I saw Oprah that's what got me thinking about the book!! LOL.

WB yeah that will be a suppliment gift!

Ya I'd admit he won't really appreciate any of those gifts till he gets older. But it't not nec. ment to be appreciated until some day he wants to look back on something!

[John Boy]

how bout an annual calendar for the rest of his life -- --
playboy puts out a pretty nice one ! ? !

[lovesfortune]

I like the ornament idea too. Along with WB'si idea to have it go with something else. You can get pretty neat personalize Ornaments these days to go with his favorite sport, getting drivers license, braces, etc. for when he gets older.

Great idea!!!

[starkitten]

I like the ornament idea too.... My parents have always given me one and I didn't think much of them when I was younger, but when I moved out my mom gave them to me along with my first tree and it was so nice to have 'things from home' that year :)

[rums_mom]

I started getting the kids a special ornament each Christmas starting when they were about 9 and 5 respectively. So they have a pretty good collection by now. I tried to find one that related to that year. I also was able to find matching sets as well. I was so excited a couple of years ago when my son became a Barista, I got him a set of coffee related ornaments. Last year I got them some that our county historic society put out with our historic courthouse on them. Just to remind them of home.

I also like the book idea, kids books are pretty inexpensive. I am a big reader and I love to give books as gifts with a little note with the date written in them. Holiday related books are fun. Some of your childhood favorites will be very special.

[FoxFireEMT]

You guys all have such great ideas... so many choices! Well I did do the free book from snap fish of him. :) Added bonus for him. I'm gonna do the ornament thing (I believe) I really like the idea. Like Rum said you can go with the themes of the year, or what they are into that year or like loves said they have some decent personal ones too. Get his pictures on them... who knows the possiblities are endless.

Thanks again everyone!!

P.s. You think the wagon is a good idea??? For a big present? He's still to lil for anything REAL fun yet!

[rums_mom]

Oh yes the wagon is a great idea. My kids always had a blast with their wagon.

[alittleoffkey]

I really like the ornament idea. :)

[Apaches Mom]

but since he's your nephew, you need to get him something electronic and noisey. That's the "tradition" my brother started when I had the little ones first. He ALWAYS got them something that made music, or sang or just something that made sounds. So now that mine are older and HE has the little one, guess what I do each year. :p Of course, that's more of a tradition between siblings and not aunt/nephew. But it's always fun trying to find the loudest thing possible.