Precious Baby Gift~Old and New

Great, Great Aunt Marian’s baby jewelry

This has to be one of the most precious baby gifts ever given.  Great Auntie Jeannette presented her newborn niece, Vivian Rose, with antique baby jewelry.  This finery belonged to Jeannette’s Aunt Marian.  That would make her Vivian Rose’s Great-Great Aunt Marian.

Since falling heir to these treasures, Jeannette has been waiting for a baby girl to be born to the family, heavy with sons.

The jewelry included two baby rings, an engraved gold bracelet and a gold beauty pin.  Making it even more special, Jeannette included photos of Aunt Marian and a tiny envelope with her newborn calling card.

For this special presentation to Vivian Rose, Jeannette had a silver jewelry box engraved with Baby’s name and birth date.

Gifts like this make ancestry very real for children.  I hope one day Vivian Rose will want to know about Marian Louisia and other family history.

Perhaps some of the things I’ve sewn for Vivian Rose will be around for her grandchildren to wear, to help them make a connection with their past, to learn about those who loved family and even those who were yet to be born.

Do you have any special family heirlooms?  Do you have any you are passing down?  I’d love to hear about them.