Adoption Party - Mesa,AZ

hpw about a Family gift.. something they can use/do together, like a zoo membership or a subscription to a magazine (like Family Fun)?

Gosh, I would think tha twould be totally overwhelming for the little girl!! Is it like a shower for mom before the child arrives?? I think either thing would be fine - Mom needs 2 year old appropriate dishes, cups, diapers, books, and toys. Get anything or both.

What about a family membership to the zoo or a childrens museum?

Absolutely bring a "welcome to the family" gift! I hadn't thought about something for the parents, but you certainly could if you wanted.

Some suggestions:
- a locket or other piece of jewelry that she can grow into.
- a photo album or scrap book.
- a journal for her folks; they can write her adoption story & "back story" to start with, then keep it up as she grows. You could even start it off with a "welcome to our family" letter.
- books, puzzles (a "name" puzzle is great -- and maybe a last name would be particularly appropriate for an adopted child), child size table & chairs.

Congratulations on this terrific addition to your family!

Buy for the little girl!!! Ask your niece what size she wears. If you don't feel comfortable doing that..Get a gift certificate.

I agree with the responses below - it's like a shower but for a 2 year old. A friend had a party to celebrate adopting her young nieces. They had already been living with her for over a year by the time the adoption went through so they already had everything. I got the girls keepsake silver bracelets with a charm that had their initials and the adoption date on them. If your nieces situation is such that she is all set for gear and "stuff" then perhaps a savings bond or some sort of keepsake would be a nice idea. Congrats to her!

Think "baby shower" but the gifts should be for a 2yr old instead of a newborn (clothes, toys, bedroom supplies, diapers if she is not yet potty trained, gift cards, etc). Another idea is a picture frame w/ a gift certificate to get pictures taken (think family picture).

*added w/ your P.S.* If she already has the stuff she needs since she's been in the home so long alredy maybe a locket or trinket that can be a keepsake for her. I think the family picture is still a good idea.

Your niece is welcoming a little one into her family. Granted it is not a newborn, but I'm sure she is equally excited about adding to her family. She can probably use many things for the little girl, such as clothes, books, toys, hair accessories. I would certainly buy a gift! If you are uncomfortable picking items out, because you're unsure of sizes you could get a gift card to any of the stores that you would shop.
As far as a gift for the parents, that's an individual decision. If you have the means financially to do so, I'm sure your niece would appreciate the thought. For a suggestion, perhaps a book on parenting? or one on explaining adoption?
Congratulations to your niece and the rest of your family!

Get a gift for the little girl. A gift certificate for clothes if you are unsure of the size, a toy, books, etc

Just treat it like a shower. Get them something they can use with the baby. Books are always a nice gift and it is for the parents and the baby.

Yes, buy a gift! I never go to a party empty handed lol.

Get them a gift certificate to Toys R Us. They can use it for toys, clothes, pull-ups, etc. Toys R Us has everything. Congrats to the happy parents.

I agree to treating it like a baby shower and bring things for both, gifts that would be helpful to the parent and engaging for the child.

Maybe a doll or piece of kid jewelry for the little girl, (anything sparkly is usually a big hit) and for both of them a copy of Jamie Lee Curtis' beautiful storybook about adoption:
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born

Here are the reviews from Amazon and below that is the link so you can see which book it is.

From Publishers Weekly
Actress Curtis's return engagement amply confirms the promise shown in her debut picture book (When I Was Little). A sweet and sunny look at adoption, the story is framed as a much-loved and clearly much-requested family tale, and rings true from beginning to end. Combining wit ("Tell me again how you carried me like a china doll all the way home and how you glared at anyone who sneezed") with candor ("Tell me again how you couldn't grow a baby in your tummy, so another woman who was too young to take care of me was growing me"), Curtis deftly addresses the logistics of adoption in a matter-of-fact manner that radiates love and reassurance. Cornell, who also illustrated Curtis's previous books, again serves up whimsical, Roz Chast-like watercolors crammed with amusing visual asides: a jar of diaper cream sports the label "Tub o' Lard"; a tiny bandage on a newborn's tummy carries the notice "future bellybutton"; a little girl and her dog, tucked cozily into bed, wear matching curlers (the girl's in her hair; the pup's on his ears). It's hard to imagine a warmer celebration of the special joys of an adopted family. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2?While Curtis's fame as an actor may get this adoption story special attention, it deserves recognition in its own right. If the title suggests a blow-by-blow description of the birth process, readers are quickly set straight; the news arrives by telephone. The narrator's adoptive parents rush to the hospital via plane, and any questions about the identity of the birth mother are brushed aside; she is simply "too young" to take care of her child. The new parents see their daughter in the nursery, howling wide-mouthed and oblivious to their pleased and loving gazes. Both participate equally in this tale; the first night home with the baby, the father tells her about baseball, holding her and a bat cradled in his arms. The humor implicit in the text is made explicit in the illustrations: watery, cartoonstyle watercolors with fine-pen accents to show outlines and facial features. This book exudes action and light; nothing here will lull children to sleep, except the warmth of feeling and comfort. It does not delve into the complexity of adoptive dynamics, but simply affirms family love, the pleasure parents feel about new babies, and how pleased children are to hear the story of their birth.?R. K. MacDonald, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Again-About-Night-Born/dp/0060...

All of these ideas are awesome! You might consider a gift certificate for a family portrait from your favorite studio or photographer. We made sure that we did a new family portrait right away when we adopted 4 years ago.

Speaking as an adoptive parent even though mine was an infant the child is still new to the family so the family will need things for her. If she is still in diapers those are always needed. Now that the weather is getting warmer summer clothes and shoes would be good to get. Toys and books are fun items too and you know kids love bubbles so some kind of bubble toy would be good. For the Mom you could get her a pretty picture album so that she can put her new daughters pictures in. Bath accessaries are also good for Mom as a way to unwind after a long day. Have fun with your purchases.

Do it like a baby shower - the girl needs gifts, the parents need gear.

My Aunt and Uncle are adopting and their having a party also. They have wish lists set up for the child who just turned 9 years old at some stores. Were gonna get her something decorative for her room that she'll always have and remember. Hope that helps.

i say yes, yes, yes! Gifts all around. What a wonderful occasion to celebrate. Gifts for the parents to congratulate them on becoming parents, and gifts for the little one to welcome her to your family.
What you choose is not as important as being there to celebrate this special event.
Congratulations, Grand Auntie!