Gifts for the Kids

If we, by some miracle (given the recent challenges we've become aware of), pass court on February 11th, we will be able to visit our children again and give them a few small gifts that we have purchased.  If we don't pass court on that date, the gifts will be held there by Imagine Adoption's staff, and given to the children when we eventually do pass court.

A number of people have expressed interest in what we plan to give them, and I know how helpful it was for me when other btdt families shared their gift ideas...so I thought I'd tell/show you!

Here's what we plan to give to our five-year-old boy:

 

•  a blue, corduroy bag (hand-made by my mother)
• a cozy, polka dot, polar fleece blanket (also finished by my mom)
• a photo album with 50 photos in it
• a teddy
• a book of nursery rhymes
• a giraffe toy
• three hot wheel cars
• a super-bounce rubber ball
• a sketch pad
• markers
• a digital tape recorder 

And for our three-year-old daughter:

•  a pink, corduroy bag (hand-made by my mother)
• a cozy, polka dot polar fleece blanket (also finished by my mom)
• a photo album, with 50 photos in it
• a small doll
• a book: I Love You Always and Forever
• a giraffe toy
• a Littlest Pet Shop
• a super-bounce rubber ball
• a sketch pad
• markers
• head bands
• a digital tape recorder 

I later added a package of heart-shaped stickers to each of their piles.

(don't you love the blanket fabric...and it's so soft and cozy!)

We had some fun with the digital recorders.  Geoff, Matthew and I recorded them together.  On each recorder, we introduced ourselves and shared some opening thoughts we had about their joining our family. Then we read the book that we bought for their gift bags, and also read the one we gave to their sibling.  We took turns with the nursery rhymes, and sometimes said them all together, and we even sang a few of them.  Then, I 'interviewed' Matthew as he talked about how much he was looking forward to having his brother and sister come home.  We concluded by taking turns telling them how much we loved them, etc etc.  We had a great time, first with his recorder, then with hers.  We hope they like them.