Clear the Clutter Time Capsules

(Photo Courtesy: Nancy’s Fancy Gifts)

Dear Diary,

I am officially a mommy!  And perhaps a hoarder.  My junk drawers are now filled with baby related things.  Things I think I’ll one day need but know I’ll never use.   There are professional pictures that I took for Christmas cards I never sent.  There are  dozens of pamphlets sent home from the hospital that I never read.  And in another drawer, there are stolen swaddles that I never wrapped Baby C in an infant.  (OK, the swaddles weren’t really swiped from the hospital.  Someone told me I could take them.  I did pack up more than I actually needed!)  So what do you do with all the stuff stuffed inside your drawers?

I decided to clear the clutter and make a time capsule.  I’m an Undomestic Diva, so this is a pretty simple project.  However, you can opt to buy a kit online.  Whether you make it from scratch or not, make sure that the container you bury will survive the elements.  Think cool and dry.  Some sites sell metal containers, which you can have engraved.  If you think you may move or don’t want the capsule to be destroyed, store it someone in your house, which is what I plan to do.  You can pack it away in the attic or make it part of your baby’s nursery decor.

Here’s a list of items you can include:

1.  Hospital ID bracelet (The hospital I gave birth at gave me, dad and daughter a bracelet.  I put one in a picture frame with Baby C’s first picture and will use the other in the time capsule.)

2.  A Copy of the birth certificate (If you are a military family, the government waives the fee to obtain an extra copy.)

3. Baby’s first booties

4. Birth Announcements (You can also cheat and create a keepsake on Shutterfly or a similar site.)

5. Hospital Swaddling Blanket (My hospital allowed moms to take home several.)

6. Letters from siblings and other family members (You can get your friends and family to write about their first impressions/feelings.  My sister passed around a journal at my baby shower and asked guests to give me parenting advice and well wishes.)

7. Front page of a newspaper (If you didn’t save this, you can pull it up online!  At the Newseum in D.C., there is an exhibit that displays newspapers from around the world, so you can print out news from other countries (especially those making up your baby’s nationality!) or cities you or the father resided in the past.)

8. TV Guide

9.  Coins/Money with the Birth Year

10. Photos

11.  CDs (You can make your own and include the top ten songs on the music charts.)

12. Video

Don’t forget to select an unsealing date!  Perhaps dig up the treasure on your child’s birthday or another special occasion.

Hey DFTM family–What other items would you include?