Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

Late in pregnancy, the last thing you may feel like doing is writing thank you notes – let alone cute, clever ones.  And while most folks will understand late or missing sentiments and the fact that your mind is otherwise occupied, writing thank you notes is still a very kind and thoughtful gesture on your part.  But if the thought of pulling out a pen and stationary leaves you groaning, relax!  There are a lot of ways to get creative with thank you notes…here are a couple to get you started.

Smile, baby!

Photo greetings snapped onto the scene years ago, and they’re just as great now as they were then!  Instead of writing a note that may very well be thrown out by the recipient, why not send a photo instead?  If your baby has arrived, then you can simply upload your favorite picture to your photo processor and use their editing tools to create a masterpiece.  You can add borders or frames, change the color tint (to black and white, pink, blue, sepia, and more), crop, and rotate.  Best of all, however, you can add text! 

There are three way to approach the photo thank you note.  One is to just enclose the print, often by slipping it into a photo card that arrives with a sleeve.  This option still leaves you with the bulk of the note to write, but the centerpiece is obviously the photo of your baby, which takes some of the pressure off of you for a clever note.

A second option is to add text to the photo itself.  A note that will be appropriate for everyone will get you started so that all you have to do is personalize it.  A sweet message offering thanks for helping you to welcome your baby is all you need to begin with.  After you print the photos with the text on them, flip them over and write a personal note of thanks for each recipient.  Be sure to mention the gift or thank the person for attending your baby shower where appropriate.

The last option may get you out of writing altogether!  Use the same photo and concept but change the text that will be printed on each picture so that it is personal for every recipient.  A cute “The rattle you gave me is my new favorite toy!  Love, (baby’s name)” is all you need to do for each gift.  Simply start with the same basic layout, then save the picture under a new file name for each note.  (Saving by the recipient’s last name is a smart way to keep track of which note goes where.)

Baby still on board?  This idea still works for you!  Scan the ultrasound photo onto your computer and add text and labels to help folks decipher it.  This unique view of your unborn baby is sure to make your thank you notes a hit!

Making news!

If you’ve had a baby shower, put together the best photos into a newsletter format.  Try to include each guest in at least one group shot so that no one is left out, and then write cute little “stories” about your shower.  Was it a surprise?  “Mom-to-be is amazed by the kindness of her friends!” and “Baby (last name) receives a warm welcome!”  If you haven’t yet announced the gender and are ready to spill the beans, a headline screaming “It’s a (gender)!” will no doubt create a buzz! 

After you create your newsletter format, leave a small box (like an advertisement) to write a personal message to each guest.  Incidentally, you can use this newsletter format even after your baby has been born by including favorite photos of your newborn and notes about your baby’s birth.  This is a fun way to share the news of your baby’s birthday with lots of photos and information, especially for friends and relatives who aren’t part of the online community.

Thank you notes don’t have to be boring or tedious.  Putting just a little thought into making something different is likely to give you just enough motivation to get those notes finished so you can get right back to the business of being a mama!