About a year ago I received an invitation to a baby shower for one of my best friend’s sisters. Of course the invites were absolutely adorable and I could not wait to take advantage of this opportunity for one of my favorite pastimes – shopping! Armed with registry list in-hand, it didn’t take long for my brain to go into overload… so many choices! Although I was perfectly capable of picking something off of the list, finding the corresponding item on the shelf, and delivering it to the shower in baby-themed wrapping and a big tulle bow nothing was jumping out at me saying, “Pick me, I’m the perfect gift!” I was caught between the practical (baby monitor, burp cloths, diapers) and the practically perfect (have you seen all the adorable outfits there are to choose from?!).
I wandered around the store for a little while up and down aisles, in and out of rounders filled with the most irresistible articles of clothing. Then, I saw the familiar green and orange cover of Goodnight Moon. Remembering how many times I had read that book to my younger sister when she little, I picked it up and began flipping through the pages. A light bulb went on… books! I finally decided on my gift – copies of Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are (one of my younger brother’s favs), and The Velveteen Rabbit. Then I added some less exciting (however more necessary) items off of their registry (baby 1st aid kit, bottles, burp cloths, etc) and I had a shower gift I was excited about! I was able to help build baby’s library with books I had loved growing up plus give the parents-to-be some very practical items that didn’t sound like glamorous gifts on their own.
Since then, I always try to include some of my favorite children’s books with a shower gift. Although it’s so tempting to buy one of the zillions of to-die-for miniature ensembles for baby, it’s just as satisfying to know that mom, dad, and baby will be sharing many moments over the years enjoying the stories in these books.
