Hi Lifesaver -
Congrats on being an Uncle -- I have 3 nieces now (my sister went through a lot of trouble getting the first, and they didn't think she'd have anymore, so now we're all excited!) I love being an aunt (but I'm an "ant" not an "aahn-t). Anyway...here's some of the things I did in preparation for Emma. I got a very pretty (I used Precious Moments since we knew she was a girl) card from Hallmark, and wrote all my thoughts and feelings for her while my sister was still pregnant. Then, when she was born, I gave it to my sister (sealed of course) to keep for her when she got older. I also got her a very special stuffed animal -- one of the nicer Gund types -- that she will always keep. For every birthday, each niece gets one toy and one book from me (I love to read and want to pass that on). The books usually are significant to me, or they are new favorites that fit for them (I call my middle niece, Katie-Bear, so I have started her on the Paddington Bear collection). Each book has a special inscription for them -- for instance, in the first Paddington book, I wrote that I would hope she would have many wonderful adventures in life, and that she would always come home to her family that loves her. I think these would be things I would have wanted to read growing up in life from my aunts and uncles. I am so cheesy that I just cannot wait for Emma to grow up enough to read Charlotte's Web -- I'm going to write in that one that I would hope she would have wonderful friends to guide her path, and that in the end, she would be a wonderful friend and guide others. (I am so da^% sappy sometimes!)
Plus, each one has their own special nickname that I call them -- for Emma its "Angel" -- and if I call her Emma she'll say "no no no - I'm your Angel, remember?" (too cute!!) -- for Katie of course its Katie-Bear of 'lil Bear; and for Aly, its Aly-phant -- and of course she gets all kinds of elephant stuff from me. I just think that when they're in college and their roommate says, hey Katie, someone calling you "Little Bear" is on the phone -- that they will just smile and laugh about it.
Oh yeah -- I also bought my parents books to fill out for each one -- for my mom, I got "Grandma Remembers" and I can't remember the exact one for pop, but its something like that.
For my sister - I bought her a lovely maternity dress, and some of the Bath & Body works mint foot massage lotion. I think she'll do well enough remembering her pregnancy -- I figured it was better to pamper her.
Sorry this is so long -- can't you tell that I'm excited for you!!!
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