Personalised Newborn Gifts

I love buying gifts for newborns and always have.  Before I had given motherhood a second thought, I would browse the aisles in Mothercare looking for the perfect little outfit for a new baby.  Now as a mother to two beautiful boys, I still get  excited when friends and family welcome new babies and I have an excuse to shop for a newborn.  I love personalised presents, and thought I would round up my top 5 personalised gifts for new babies.

My 1st Years

My 1st Years sell a range of personalised gifts suitable for newborns, but it is the summer romper that I love as a Newborn gift.  The romper comes beautifully packaged in their signature green box with white bow.  The material is light and strong and you can have any name embroidered on the front, with a choice of threads.  I love this as a gift for a new baby as it looks incredibly comfortable, easy to put on and good quality.  Most new parents end up with a huge amount of newborn clothes and not much in the bigger sizes, so this is a great gift all year round as you can plan ahead.

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The Day That Review and Giveaway

I sat down this week to sort through my maternity clothes.  There are no plans for another baby here anytime soon and as a friend has had the lovely news that she is expecting, I thought I would see if there was anything I could lend.  As I looked through the piles of vests, dresses and bump bands, I remembered buying each item with excitement about how I would fill it out, and I remembered wearing each item, the proud bump shots I took in a top, or the wedding I attended at 37 weeks pregnant in that (incredibly) stretchy dress.

It seems like so long ago that I fitted into these clothes.  So long since I felt my little squish kicking from inside.  I sat down and read his birth story, remembering the excitement and anticipation.  14 months has passed since that day, and the beautiful newborn with eyes so bright is now the cheekiest toddler, with the same blue eyes and a lot more hair.

I was so lucky to have the birth I wanted.  It was calm, quick and perfect, and as the sun was rising, I was getting into the water, ready for my little man to make his big entrance.  I don't remember much from that day other than my baby.  I know it must have quite cold, as it had been a bitter winter, and I know it was clear.  I had watched the sunset the night before with it's rainbow of red and orange, but Archie's first day was all about him.

This photo was taken early on that chilly Sunday morning, while most people were still nursing a hangover or enjoying a lie in.  This is the sun rising on the first day of Archie's life, the first day of our lives as a family of four and for that reason alone it is beautiful.

The Day That have photographed every new day since June 2005, to remember the moments we are too busy to and I adore the idea.  There is no sunrise more magical and more full of memory than the first day of a new life, even if I didn't witness it myself and my photo proudly sits on our wall.

The quality of the photo, the hand written caption, the choice frame and the fact that there were seven photos from the day to choose from give this photo a unique and beautiful touch and I love this new addition to our house.

The Day That are now offering digital downloads as well as framed pictures that you can print, frame and stick on facebook and I have one to give away to three lucky readers.  The entry is via simple rafflecopter below - Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Day That

On this day exactly one year ago I made the decision to go into the local maternity unit.  I had not been able to sleep for a couple of days and was worried that with my impending due date I would be too tired for the labour.  We left early - just as the sun was rising but I was too busy worrying about what might happen to pay any attention.

Dylan was born later that day and I can honestly say I have no idea whether the sun shone or the heavens opened.  I was absorbed in my labour and in my newborn baby boy.  It was the biggest day of my life and one I remember with a tear in my eye, yet I missed much of it's beauty.

I have always been a fan of sunrises and sunsets, and although I have been awake for very few of the former, I remember each and every one:

  Walking down to the beach after staying up all night as a 13 year old at the millenium.  Watching the first sunrise over the waves, struggling to stay awake but knowing it was an important moment

 Staying up all night for a full moon party on Thailand's iconic island and realising it was 6am.  The picture I took of the sun rising over the sea is coloured pink and purple and remains the best picture I have ever taken.

 Arriving at Angkor Wat in Cambodia after

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