Looking Back

I needed to get something out of my cedar chest this morning and while looking for the item I needed, this little valance popped into view. It was made for my sister when she was born to match the little crib quilt that was also made for her. The quilt is long gone, worn out or passed along to another baby in the family.
I looked at the carefully made stitches and laughed a bit at the fabric, wondering if someone actually had clothes made out of them at one time and these were the scraps.
When families were waiting for the blessed event of a baby's arrival, they passed the time in making the needed items. The father or grandfather made the cradle, the mother and grandmother sewed tiny little outfits with perfect stitches. Knitting needles flew as booties and sweaters were made, each stitch in love.
I think now to how baby showers are lacking all those home made "pretties" . We see plastic wrapped blankets, clothes with tags and hangers on them. Big boxes of equipment and toys that replace the hours of simple "patty cakes" and "peek a boos". There are now throw away diapers, disposable bibs, wash cloths and baby wipes. Baby clothes and toddler clothes often just miniature adult clothes in the most current adult fashions. I long to see babies in bonnets and dressed in outfits with smocking and tiny tucks. You see a few now and again and its a delight to see a baby looking like a baby and not a tiny Britney Spears or some hip hop singer.
For all the gadgets on the market for babies, it sure doesn't seem to be making them smarter or more advanced or even more content.
I vote for bringing back the old ways with babies and preparing for them with stitches made with love and having family around so that there is always someone to hold the wee one.
Yes, I know I am looking back for modern society, but in the "plain" world it is not one bit modern concerning babies and I like that.