Cataloging Wedding & Baby Shower Gifts

When I started receiving gifts in anticipation of our new baby, I wanted to find a way to remember them. At each of my baby showers people wrote lists of the gifts I opened, but many of the gifts included lots of small pieces of clothes and other tiny items that were hard to list in detail. I wanted to remember what came from whom long after the thank-you notes had been posted.

On a whim, I decided to photograph each of the gifts along with a piece of paper with the gift recipient’s name, and file them away on my computer. I did this after the first shower, and then as other random gifts were given or arrived in the mail, I continued to snap a picture of the gift and the gift giver’s info.

After the second shower, I stopped writing tags with the gift-givers’ names. Instead, I included the signed card in the photo. That worked just as well.

Now, with the little sapling here, I’ve been so glad I cataloged her gifts this way. I’ve been dressing her in the outfits she received, and it’s nice to know where everything came from, down to the tiniest pairs of socks.

Speaking of baby socks, I thought they’d be silly but they come in so handy! Not only do they keep her feet warm in outfits that don’t have feet (why is this?!) – they also are useful for covering her hands when she tries to scratch her face . . . which is apparently all the time.

But back to my photo gift list – I love how well it worked for remembering who gave us what. It will also serve as a nice way to remember the items long after they are gone.

I only wish I’d also done it with all of our wedding gifts!