It isn’t the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it.
~The Angels’ Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman

Yesterday, I received my first baby gift. It was a moment that was both touching and quite unexpected. I was on a shopping excursion to pick up a prescription from Pharmaca when I stumbled upon the Madison Park neighborhood sidewalk sale.

I confess to having the garage sale gene. If it’s marked down, lovingly used or sitting on a table on some sidewalk, driveway or front lawn, it already has a leg up in appeal for me. Wandering past candles and coasters and assorted knick-knacks, I slowed when I came to ‘The Original Children’s Shop.’

Bright colored geegaws lay splayed across the table, pint-sized clothing, toys and sorts of goodies for kids. All on sale at fifty percent off! Before I knew what hit me, I had a good stash piled table-side.

I should mention that, until this point, I have not been one of the mothers-to-be who already furnished her child’s room, packed the closet with outfits and the shelves with toys. I read about these moms every day, in online chat groups with prospective adoptive parents nattering on about coordinating crib bumpers to match the color scheme of nursery walls, all before they’ve even completed their paperwork.

My hesitation isn’t due to lack of thought about my future kiddo. I think about him every day. I imagine holding him in my arms, quieting his cries and watching him learn about the world for the first time. And, I’m definitely not a procrastinator. I don’t want to be in a last minute retail feeding frenzy, racing around the city to locate all the items we need for our wee one’s homecoming.

Some of my slow-out-of-the-gait buying behavior is self-protective caution. We haven’t received our approval from the Armenian Prime Minister yet, much less a referral. I don’t know whether our kiddo will be ten months or fifteen months when we bring him home.

The Urban Cabin is very small. With space at a premium, I need to edit my desires for stuff. There is also a small part of my brain that worries I’ll “jinx” the outcome by prepping too soon. Or that I’ll find myself more despondent spending months staring at a fully-furnished nursery sans kiddo.

I’ve allowed myself a few indulgences, mostly in the form of children’s books, which I love and have loved even before I imagined myself as a mom. I had a pretty healthy collection going for years. Turning the pages of a children’s book gives me outright joy, from the colorful pictures to the simple messages, whimsical story lines and side-splitting humor.

So there I stood, chatting it up with the sweet and friendly staff at The Original Children’s Shop. I told them my story of adopting from Armenia, as a first-time mom, at fifty. I asked for advice about rattles, teethers and Onesies…at what age would my kid still like this thing or that.

I fell for a few of the obvious, velvety soft My Own Monster Penguino and orange Two-Dees cat. I rationalized a couple of practical purchases: a plastic bib with a cool train on it, a rockin’ red Baby Bjorn potty chair, and plate and spoon set.

Filling in the mix were an assortment of rattles and teethers from Sassy, a brand of products that promise to nurture and edify at the same time. I debated, the ‘Shake and Sprout’ plus the ‘Coolin’ Teether’ or the ‘Fascination Station’ and the ‘Smile Baby Camera.’ Then I saw it, the Sassy ‘Welcome Baby! Gift Set with nine toys.

All the while, the Children’s Shop staff patiently answered my questions, listened supportively and smiled enthusiastically. I gathered my loot and laid it on the counter. As one young gal started to ring it in, she turned to the woman on her left and said, “Which one mom?” “This one,” the mom replied, pointing at the Sassy Gift Set. Turns out the owners are a mother-daughter duo.

Then she looked up at me and said, “This is our gift to you.” “Congratulations on your upcoming adoption. We hope you’ll bring him in once you get him home.” Tears welled up in my eyes and I thanked her. I walked to my car clutching my purchases and my gift, my first baby gift from a mom with a generous heart to a mom-to-be with a hopeful heart.