Before long, most new parents find themselves adrift in a jumble of precious trinkets: tiny shoes, well-loved toys, embroidered gowns, the lock of hair from baby's first trim. With some creativity, you can use these things to create a poetic record of the first years of life. Save things from the beginning, and be expansive in your choices; an everyday item such as your baby's first milk bottle will spur as intense a memory as a christening gown.

Time Capsule
For a simple time capsule, place a few items -- we chose a teddy bear, a disposable diaper, and a pair of baby shoes -- in an archival box lined with acid-free paper. Include photographs, videotapes, and a cassette recording of your child's earliest words and feats of logic. A laminated front page from a local newspaper will situate the objects in time.

Book of Firsts
Use a ribbon-tied photo album to keep track of major events: baby's first smile, first teeth, first steps. The frontispiece should introduce the star of the story, newly arrived from his watery world.