My niece is pregnant with her first child. She and her husband have tried to get pregnant for several years, so they are very excited about getting their family started. I was invited to a baby shower. I knew that my niece had been doing a great deal of shopping for the baby already; so I wanted to purchase special baby gifts that she had not already purchased or seen. The department stores did not offer any special baby gifts; they had items that have been around for years.

I mentioned to one of the sales clerks that I needed special baby gifts for my niece’s baby. She stated that the store did have a line of infant things that can be personalized with the baby’s name. This sounded intriguing to me so I asked to see what was available in this line of merchandise. The clerk had several items in stock that she was able to show me. She showed me bibs that were embroidered with the infants name on them. She showed me a baby blanket that was embroidered with not only the baby’s name, but the date of birth and weight and length at birth. Each of these special baby gifts needed to be special ordered and would be available in a week to ten days after the order was placed. The clerk also showed me several items in a catalog including diapers that were personalized with the baby’s name. I did like the unique aspects of these special baby gifts; however the shower was going to be held prior to the baby’s birth so I would not have the information that was needed to have the items personalized.

I found a small store that was filled with special baby gifts. This store had many of the same things from the department store, but they have a local seamstress that will complete the personalization within a day. I decided to purchase several of the special baby gifts. I bought the baby blanket that could have the baby’s personal information embroidered on. I also bought a picture frame that had a place to engrave the baby’s name. The picture frame also had space to frame the birth certificate next to the baby’s photo. I had the clerk wrap the gifts and she included a card with the shops name and telephone number so that my niece could have the embroidery and engraving completed once the baby was named. The shop charges a flat rate for the embroidery and engraving, which I paid for at the time of purchase. My niece would not have to pay anything to complete the personalization.

My niece was very happy with the special baby gifts. She knew where the shop was, but had not gone into it. We made plans that I would go with her during her maternity leave to have the special baby gifts finished off.

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Originally Posted on 12/7/2006 3:08:36 PM