Sue Madex's post from last week reminded me about my own experience with baby scrapbooks and a project I'm very proud of. To set the backdrop to the story first though, I started a cross stitch when I was pregnant with my first child. I had grand intentions of tending to it with love and attention each week when I lay on the couch with my feet up glowing with maternal bliss. It's still waiting to be finished and my son started prep this year (go on, I know I'm not the only one!)

When son number 2 came along. I was presented with a lovely named album by some scrapbooking friends and another project was embarked upon and this time I was determined to finish. To journal (not just photograph) the details of my son's first year. Read more to see how this one turned out...

Firstly, I should warn this project was completed a couple of years ago (who can recognise the product?)and my scrapbooking style has evolved somewhat since then, so no laughing OK!

It was a pretty simple 8x8 album, and I started it with a page about the friends who had given it to me, and then my son's first family photo. From then on, I dedicated a whole page to journalling about his first week, and each month. I have always wanted to include heartfelt journalling on my pages, so it's not just about milestones, but about my thoughts and feelings to share the journey month by month with my precious baby. One month I included song lyrics and I still recall sitting there listening to that song and how much it summed up my feelings about being a mother.

Here's one of the monthly entries:

Since then I have seen many other great ways to record baby's first year. Another common one is would be where a photograph of your baby is taken with a favourite soft toy at each month to visually record growth. Whatever way you go, make sure there's lots of journalling on the pages as well! I remember someone telling me when I first started scrapbooking how lucky I was to have discovered the hobby when my children were so young. As I peer over my shoulder at the albums bursting at the seams, I so agree.

The baby this album was made for is now a boisterous 3 year old, and as I write this, I have just checked on him to find him asleep under his doona with his arms tight around his soccer ball. Another page in the making!

Until next time,
Claire