Special Blanket

Gabriel received so many wonderful gifts, many of them handmade, and a number of them beautiful blankets. Quilts, crocheted, and sewn, there was a little bit of everything. He also has a gorgeous blanket passed down from my Mother-in-love that his daddy used. We brought him home from the hospital in that, and you can see a picture in this post. It's the white one underneath him in the coming home outfit picture. His Grandmama (my Mother-in-love), made him a quilt, as did some other friends. They're all special, and if you'd like a post with pictures of all those let me know in the comments. I'll happily oblige! :)

This one's just about one of his blankets though. :) Here's a picture:

It's crocheted as far as I can tell. When I received this blanket, I folded it up and put it in his blanket box. I technically planned to use it, but there were a lot of other blankets, and really I was a little nervous to use it. You'll understand why soon. 

One night we got a little warm, so Josh turned the air down a bit. However, Gabe had woken up with cold hands the last two nights, so I was worried he might need more warmth. Josh volunteered to go put more blankets on him. The next morning I discovered which one he'd picked up. I'm glad he did. It sort of broke through the invisible protective barrier I'd put around it. 

That blanket, folks, was made by my grandmother's grandmother. In other words Gabriel's great-great-great-grandmother! She made it in 1943 for my grandmother. Now do you see why I was nervous to use it? Babies drool, and spit-up, and blow out of their diapers! But really, how special can an item be that's just passed down, but never used? I'm sure his great-great-great-grandmother would be glad it's being used instead of tucked away in a cedar chest. (Not that I have anything against cedar chests. ;) ) I know I would be. 

Do you have any special baby items (or other items)? How do you handle the decision between whether to use, or preserve? Have you been successful accomplishing both?