| After having confirmed the pending arrival of a new | | | | keepsake. It can end with pictures of the newborn |
| baby, just what does a parent do? | | | | baby, or the book can grow with the child. It could be |
| For many, the months preceding the birth of a child | | | | the beginning of a book just about that child, from |
| rush by as they ready the nest. Physical needs are | | | | conception through high school graduation, although it's |
| those that we think about most. The baby's room, or | | | | more likely that multiple books and journals would be |
| corner of a room, is readied. Parents buy beds and | | | | needed to track the entire life from baby to toddler |
| bedding, clothes, diapers, changing tables. And they | | | | and through school years. |
| hope and pray that someone will have a baby shower | | | | In the nine months leading up to birth, there are so |
| (or showers) so that all the early needs are met. | | | | many things going on in the lives of parents-to-be. |
| Both genders - both moms and dads - experience a | | | | Those should be included in the book - the physical |
| myriad of emotions as the baby's arrival date looms | | | | changes in mom, the emotional changes in both |
| closer and closer. It's sad that more parents do not | | | | parents, even the changes in the home. |
| keep a journal of those emotions, of the doctor visits, | | | | Pouring over the pages and pictures later will let the |
| of discussions they have about the child who will one | | | | child know how special he was from the very |
| day be an important part of the family. | | | | beginning. Hearing the words of joy written about him |
| From the very beginning, from the moment that the | | | | even before he was born will help the child understand |
| pending birth is confirmed and future parenthood has | | | | his important role in the family. |
| been deemed a reality, both parents should start | | | | And then, as your "baby" treks off to college or to a |
| journalizing about the event and how it makes them | | | | married life of his own, be sure to give this book as a |
| feel. | | | | gift. Of course your "baby" may not act like he is |
| How you go about creating such a treasured | | | | thrilled with such a gift at the time. But later in the |
| keepsake it up to you. Some parents write daily or | | | | private confines of his own room, he might just sneak |
| weekly letters to the future child and put them in their | | | | a peek at the comings and goings of his parents as |
| book. Others make diary entries. Either one is an | | | | they anxiously awaited his arrival into this world. He |
| excellent way of keeping track of the thoughts and | | | | might just be secretly proud and glad that he was so |
| feelings as they happen. It's easier do to that from the | | | | loved even before he entered the world screaming. |
| beginning than trying to go back and reconstruct what | | | | Perhaps he will save that book to share with his own |
| happened later. | | | | son or daughter later on. And he, most likely, will think |
| Such a journal can be simple or not so simple. It can be | | | | to start a book of his own during the waiting period |
| more of a scrapbook, filled with pictures of mom as | | | | before the birth of his own child. And so, a family |
| her belly grows. Having pictures of mom and dad | | | | tradition can begin, one that shows that children are |
| splattered with paint as they decorate and get ready | | | | treasured. |
| for their precious bundle is a great addition the | | | | |