I have twin nieces who are turning 1 this month. They will have a big party and get lots of toys and clothes. Does anyone have an idea for a special, memorable gift that won't break the bank?
How about savings bonds? They hold and gain value fairly steadily and are a great way to start saving for them.
Hi J.,
I loved the other mom's ideas of piggy banks. For our kids' first birthdays we always got them their own dinnerware set. The plate, bowl, cup, fork and spoon in a character they seem to really like. Baby's at this age like to bang and hit so a good sturdy wooden spoon to bang on the floor with or some jingle bells were always a hit with my kids. Hope I've helped you some. Good Luck!
C.
My absolute favorite gift that a friend gives us every year is a zoo membership. We use it sooooo much! You can go as often as you want - stay 20 minutes, or stay all day! Then you don't feel like you have to get your money's worth every time you go, you can just follow the kids' lead and stay as long as you want. I also like to give books - you can never have too many books. Put together a basket including some of your 3-year old's faves. Include an inscription in the front of one of the books to make it extra special.
Hi J. - Both of my boys received the same gift from their great aunt when they turned one - a silverplate old fashioned pig-shaped piggy bank.
I liked the gifts because it's what I call a "legacy gift". They're simple, old-fashioned, will never break and are something they may keep for a very long long time. It teaches them saving and patience and acts as a way to help them remember their great-aunt who they dont get to see very often at all.
Hey J.,
Good luck finding their first gift. My suggestion would be a savings bond of $25 in each of their names. You pay have the amount of the saving bond you get. So if you do two $25 bonds you will only pay $25 total. And by buying them now by the time they are old enough to use them they will have appreciated :) I got several from people when my baby was born and thought this will be perfect to give her to cash in when she decides to get her first car or go to college. Plus it teaches them early about money, savings, and investments... Just a thought.
p.s. how many toys do they really need??
C.
I had my husband watch our two and I picked up my turning one niece and took her to one of the pottery places. They helped me do prints of her hands and feet. It went so well I also made a set for each grandparent. They loved it. I also loved it, I never get alone time with my niece. I now try and see her at least once a month without my little ones so I get some love time with her.
Hi J., When kids obviously have everything they really need, I like to give several books and picture frames that can be used in Baby's room or in Mommy's room for pics of the babies. Lots of great ideas here! I'm sure you'll figure out something great!
Take pictures at their birthday party, pics of the cake, the decorations, pics of each guest holding them, and pics of them blowing out the candles, pics outside holding flowers, pics w/ mom and dad, pics with the presents, picks licking a little frosting off the cake etc. Mom and dad will be too frazzled to even get one shot, so that can be your gift - on-site photographer. Hand them the cd of the memorable event. Offer to ink up their feet and then have a special pic w/ footprints that you give AFTER the party!
Cost: showing up early, camera, cd, and cost of the two frames. :D
How about piggy banks?
J.-
I suggest something like a coupon for "A Fun Day with Aunt J.". Their Mom would love it, and it wouldn't cost you much. They will get so many other material things, no sense in adding more. You can pack a picnic and go to the park- take pictures, and then make a scrapbook of your fun day with them leaving room for other activities that you do with them later on. Maybe you make it a tradition, now that would be building great memories!
Have a wonderful day!
H.
www.naturalchoicesforliving.com
My thought, something I would love for my kids. Get a portrait setting. A gift certificate to a studio and then they can get 1 year portraits taken. Longer lasting than any toy!
At my daughter's 1st Birthday party she recieved tons of toys and clothes as your nieces will this month. However, one of my sister-in-laws gave my daughter a hardcover book that came with a mother stuffed lamb & a baby lamb. It wasn't a baby book...more like a learning to read book. My daughter loved holding the lambs while reading the book. My sister-in-law bought it from Kohls. Of course this was 3 years ago...but we still read the book & cuddle the lambs & I know who gave her the book. It was a great gift that will last a long time!!! The book we have is by Arnold Sundgaard and is called The Lamb and The Butterfly. Perhaps you can find a book for each neice that comes with the stuffed animals that have to do with the book.
You could get them washable paints and smocks along with a large pad of paper. Usually the big bottles are $1.99 at Michaels but if you wait for their sale, they are $.99 each. My daughter loves painting and I don't have to worry about her ruining her clothes or anything else since it's washable.
Good luck!
Alpha Buddies has really cool shirts, totally practical and teaches children too. You could pair them with a book that corresponds to the shirt's image.
The company is Denver/Littleton -based and run by two moms.
Hi J.:
I think a book for each of them with a note from you in the cover would be a nice gift. You could even get them each a different book. The velveteen rabbit is a great book and should be on sale at a lot of bookstores this month since it is Easter time. It might be kind of neat to get them a book about Spring or Easter since their Birthday is in April/May? That way, their mom could even put the book away and each year get it out to commemorate the time of year it is-making it more special. Also, Max Lucado (Christian writer; written many children's books) is good. Happy Birthday shopping! Take Care, K.
I usually go for books.
My inlaws gave my daughter a small honey locus tree on her 1st b-day so that we could watch it grow over the years compared to how she has grown, even though we have moved from the house where it was planted we drive by it once a year.
J.,
I would make a sock doll. They are SO easy and cost very little. You can make each one for less than five bucks each. They are so sweet. If you want I can send you directions and info about them. I made them for all my nieces, they were princess representations of themselves, and much better than traditional dolls. They are so kid/baby friendly. I've made them for new babies even. :)
Good luck.
I've been doing magnetic pictures for the first birthday of my family members. I started out with just a picture in a dollar store plastic magnetic frame. I try to get everyone in the family that I have and extra supplies so they can add the family that I don't have. My last batch I bought sturdy sticky magnets and attatched directly to the photo and clear contact paper on the other side and cut the people out.
These are always a hit as one year olds are learning to say names and pretty special for them to learn to recognize family members they don't get to see often.
I've also had fun making an ABC book with family pictures. This can be done pretty cheap too.
Have Fun.
Go to http://www.iseeme.com . They do these personalized books that are fantastic. You can do an alphabet one with animals, a princess one that uses all sorts of different flowers and they have several other really great books as well. My son got one when he was born....it spells out his entire name using animals that begin with each letter and he LOVES it now. You can also have it personally inscribed. The price flucuates depending on whether you use their middle names and whether or not you order a cover. I also got one for my neice for her first xmas and she is really into it now. I didn't think the price was too much, especially for something that's really personal and with GREAT pictures that they'll love....it's something they can have as a keepsake for years to come. Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Photographs are cheap and you can make all kinds of things with photos. I love to get pictures of my girls that a freind has taken, if it is a nice framed 8/10 that is just about the best gift in my opinion. Matching tee-shirts that have a picture of the two of them on the shirts would be cute too. A letter about the children and what they are like right now is precious too, they can save it to read when they are grown up. Or a CD of music that they like or might like would be good.
