| A baby's first year is a magical experience, especially | | | | bring pictures of your one year old that have been |
| for the new parents who watch their helpless | | | | taken throughout his first year of life. You can then |
| newborn develop into a little person (sometimes | | | | have your guests write a short summary of the |
| even walking) by their first birthday. Parents | | | | picture; be sure to include his age in it and then paste |
| everywhere want to pay tribute and memorialize | | | | the story and the photograph in a book for the baby. |
| that special time in their lives and their baby's. | | | | Even babies as young as one love looking at pictures |
| Keepsakes and traditions are symbols of how | | | | of themselves and this will make a wonderful |
| important your child is in your family. They also are | | | | memory keeper for years to come. |
| what help you to create a family identity. Traditions | | | | · Chronicle the months - You can easily make |
| also convey to children that some of the most | | | | a special keepsake for your baby. Start by posting a |
| precious possessions a family has do not come with | | | | newborn photo in the center of a page (perhaps with |
| a high price tag. The true value of keepsakes and | | | | a birth announcement by it) and then every month |
| traditions lies in the time and love that was necessary | | | | surround the picture with photos. Your crowning |
| to create them. So if you are a doting parent, | | | | achievement for your collage can be a one-year old |
| grandparent or even aunt or uncle, here are some | | | | picture of the birthday boy or girl. |
| special first birthday keepsakes and traditions- | | | | · Write a letter to your child - While the |
| · Save special outfits - From the outfit you | | | | actual birthday of your child may be too hectic to |
| brought the baby home in to a cherished christening | | | | write him or her a letter, try writing one a few days |
| gown that has been passed down through | | | | before or after the celebration. Include your feelings, |
| generations, saving special outfits can mark important | | | | what happened at the party and include some |
| times in our lives. One creative family took a picture | | | | highlights from the past year. While your child may be |
| of their one-year old baby next to the outfit he | | | | too young to fully appreciate the letters, for many |
| came home in leaving them with a great photographic | | | | years to come you will have a written record that |
| reminder of just how much he had grown over the | | | | chronicles your child's life and the special place they |
| past year. | | | | hold in yours. |
| · Find a new use for special outfits - While | | | | · Scrapbook the party - Even if you are not |
| saving special outfits can be great you can also find a | | | | an avid scrap booker there are many ways to |
| new use for them. One crafty grandmother gathered | | | | commemorate the party of your one-year old. Have |
| up some of each of her grandchildren's outgrown | | | | a scrapbook page or two where everyone can sign |
| newborn clothes and other outfits that were worn | | | | and give best wishes to the birthday boy or girl. You |
| the first year and turned them into beautiful quilts. Or | | | | can take a picture of the guest of honor with |
| you can mark your baby's first birthday by donating | | | | everyone who attends and then send out pictures |
| his outgrown clothes to a charity that helps the | | | | later. Or perhaps have a picture of your little darling |
| underprivileged. This way you can mark your | | | | with a plain matte around it where everyone can sign |
| celebration by helping someone else. | | | | as well. Either way you are left with a precious |
| · Let photos (literally) tell a story - For a | | | | keepsake of that special first birthday celebration. |
| special keepsake why not ask family and friends to | | | | |