Sanity or Patience: choose one.

Do you ever have one of those moments where you think, "HA! I am sane!" Then you step in dog poo with your bare feet and remember it was your idea to get the puppy...?

Tuesday, November 17

Expectations suck

My nephew's first birthday party is Saturday. I have no idea what to get him.

I know, I know, they're kids - they outgrow clothes in weeks and get bored of toys within months (or days, even). What does it really matter?

On Monsoon's first birthday, my sister gave him a child-sized wooden rocking chair, engraved with a loving note. It's something he still enjoys, and maybe someday will give it to his children. It was a great gift.

See? There are some expectations to live up to here. I also have trouble finding gifts people actually like - or that are appropriate. It's just not something I'm great at.

For Prissy's first birthday, I gave her a necklace made of pearls and her birthstone. It's beautiful, and something she will treasure when she's older.

Had I known my sister would have another kid so soon, I might have thought twice about such an extravagant gift. Like I said, I have no idea what to get my nephew. No idea.

He loves to eat, he needs pajamas and socks, and he likes toys that play music, but those things aren't timeless. They aren't special enough for his first birthday from his best aunt, or at least not compared to an engraved rocking chair and fine jewelry.

I need help. Fast. Oh yeah, and cheap. I'm screwed.

18 comments:

Heather of the EO said...

I'm HORRIBLE with gifts! I give clothes and toys...nothing timeless. I wish I were more creative.

This comment is of absolutely NO help to you....

sorry...

and GOOD LUCK!?!

Corinne Cunningham said...

Hmm... you could find a really beautiful copy of a timeless children's book (The Velveteen Rabbit is the only thing that comes to mind... don't know why! Or maybe a story that has meaning for you and your sister?) and write some beautiful inscription?

That's so tough. Good luck, let us know what you decide on!

Unknown said...

HMm, wow this is tough and hard to compete with a pearl necklace lol.. Kinda hard to buy a boy pearls rofl..
how about a /bank/ love jar.. you can find a small bank that he can hold money in or make one with a na empty glass jar decorated up with things a boy likes..and fill it with love notes from you, memories you have of you and his mom that she may not remember and some money to start a fund for him.. like for a car or college..

Jennifer said...

How about a wooden rocking horse? One of the nice ones tht can be played with or used as decor.

The Only Girl said...

When each of my boys were born my Dad gave them a gift set of coins for that year. I thought it was a lovely keepsake that they will appreciate one day.

Holly said...

i have 9 nieces, no nephews... girls are so much easier than boys when it comes to sentiment... i have an 18 year old son and he had a favorite story book that his meme bought for him and they read it together all the time... he still has it and loves all the memories they have together reading it...

Hyacynth said...

The gift Gabe loved the most when he turned one besides the boxes from most of his toys was a green froggy picture book filled with photos of his favorite people. We looked at that picture book tons of times every day for that entire first year of his life. He even still sits by himself on the floor looking at the pictures, smiling and naming the people. Maybe that would work?

joanofalltrades said...

My suggestion is a frame or album with pics of all of his closet family members that can be displayed in his room.

Jenny-Jenny said...

Both of my ideas have been suggested. We have some beautiful nursery rhyme books and my other thought was a rocking horse. Also a riding wheeled toy is always a hit or a wooden train. Good Luck!

Grand Pooba said...

I went to a baby shower last night and it seems the favorite gift was a hard back copy of Where The Sidewalk Ends. You could get him that or a book similar and either have it engraved or write a note on the inside of the cover.

That's all I got and I stole it from someone else. I'm good for nothin.

adrienzgirl said...

I have gotten each one of my nephews and my nieces personalized banks for 1st birthdays. Along with my favorite childhood books.

Good luck!

Unknown said...

'm afraid I have no ideas for your nephews present, but when you need one for your sister I have a great idea.....check my blog tomorrow (Wednesdays post).

Lifeofkaylen said...

This is really hard - you ruined it by giving too good of a gift the first child around!

I like the idea of something personalized - maybe you could just make some kind of framed photo and use matting and decorate the matting with some fancy stickers and write their name and birthdate...cheap, simple, lasts forever.

Jenn said...

I would agree that finding a book that has meaning for you and your sister and then writing a special note in it would be a really cool gift. I know I still have some of the books I got when I was younger and they are really special to me.

Unknown said...

A set of wooden blocks will be much loved, played with, passed on to others and can be purchased at WAL-MART. The ones with letters and numbers are my favorite!

Annelie said...

Books, baby. You know the kind that were read over and over and over when you yourself were a kid. The classic ones last a lifetime.

I would suggest something by Astrid Lindgren (Swedish author of Pippi Longstocking & TONS of other amazing stories)if you are stumped. I still have all of mine (in Swedish) and have started to collect them in English too, for when we have kids.

RebeccaMom said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog on my SITS day and for the sweet comments :) I really appreciate it! hope you have a great day!

Anonymous said...

I wish I had ideas! I love the rocking horse idea someone suggested though :-)