A to Z April Challenge: B is for Baby Stuff

Genealogists and family historians get a lot of satisfaction from chasing their ancestors’ stories. Finding a diary, a message on a postcard, or a photo with a name attached is like the sun coming out after a storm. One day we will be somebody’s ancestor. We need to leave our descendants a little bit of sunshine too. So here is my story told alphabetically, not chronologically: Growing Up in Cradock.

is for Baby Stuff.

My daughters are new moms. Even though their babies are not even six months old yet, they are already experiencing that emotional realization of time passing too quickly as they pack up the newborn onesies and sleepers to make way for the 3-6 months ones. The need to hold on to those sweet moments is probably why mothers the world over since the beginning of time save SOMETHING for sentimental reasons.

My mother was no different. Here are her reminders that I was sweet once:

Book – a Christmas gift from my grandaunt Violetta Davis Ryan. It is called “Off to Bed” and includes seven stories “for Wide Awakes.”

Blonde locks – there used to be MORE hair in that little clump, but over the years, strands have come loose. Most baby books and memory boxes today have a special spot for that souvenir of baby’s first haircut. I cannot remember where Momma kept mine, but many years ago we attached the blonde locks to a velvet heart to go into a shadow box, one project that never was completed.

Box of baby teeth – well, what can I say? I guess the Tooth Fairy didn’t keep them after all.

Baby beads – A NECKLACE! That is how hospital personnel identified babies back in the 1950s. Yeah, with a strangulation hazard. Pink beads for girls. Blue beads for boys. They ARE cute though. By the late 1960s when my sister came along the hospital attached pink or blue bead bracelets instead, much safer yet still worthy of saving. My little grandchildren will not have anything like this. They had electronic security devices on their ankles like criminals on house arrest might wear. A sign of the times.

Bonnet – A crisp French bonnet was the ultimate gift for baby girls. My mother saved it and had it cleaned and starched for my daughter to wear on her first Easter.

Jordan wearing my French bonnet 1982

Be brave beholding a bounty of blogs at the A to Z April Challenge.

© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.