Keeping a Baby Book

AyeOhKay · **Keeping a Baby Book**

With my oldest, I kept a fantastic baby book. I didn't leave anything blank. With the next two, I did a so-so job. And, with DD, I planned to scrapbook her baby book. I have the book, some supplies and a pile of things to include. But, I've never gotten started on it. I hope to tackle it sometime before spring.

Do you have a baby book/scrapbook? Do you keep up with it? Do you have any tips for others?

melsb · 01-02-2008, 08:28 AM

With my oldest I was so much better at this sort of thing -- though even then I kept a baby calendar. I just had more time, more cash available and there were more pictures. With the baby though everything has been completely different. With his birth going a little hay-wired we didn't get anywhere near the pictures that we did the first time around. My husband, who had just taken a new job, had to go to work the next day because he didn't have any PTO and we needed the money. Even his first bath, the nurses came and took Logan in the middle of the night and I didn't get any pictures!

Can you tell that this subject kind of bugs me?

I realize that I can't change everything - and at least it was our son and not our daughter (aren't girl's usually more sentialmental about these things?) but I'll get them caught up!

SAHMto3boys · 01-02-2008, 09:15 AM

With DS1 I kept the baby calendar to keep track of things he'd done! I had professional pics taken of him at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 3... every year after.

DS2 the baby calendar was not updated as much, but still pretty good! Had the professional pics done at 2 weeks (with older son's 2 year pics), then 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2...

DS3 had pics taken at 1 week (with DS1s 4 year and DS2s 2 year pics)! He's almost 5 months now and hasn't had any other pics taken!

I'm hoping to get a 6 month pic taken!

I keep scrapbooks, but havn't been in a while - I'm WAY behind! I have a scrapbook for each of them and then a family album that I'll keep! I'm thinking I'll give them their albums when they get married, so I'll have mine to keep!

I try to get stuff journaled with each years pics, etc! But when I get behind I can't remember what they were doing at certain ages!! I was pretty good with ds1s, but getting worse with each kiddo!!

Sore subject for me too!

maggie · 01-03-2008, 09:15 AM

I, like most, did a great job with my first son's baby book and he has a couple of photo albums with the places to write a couple of lines next to the pictures from his first couple of years. I don't scrapbook, but I think he will enjoy looking at the photos one day and reading about how old he was when he did things like walk and talk.

DS #2's baby book is pretty much empty, but he does have a photo album from his first year and he has a box. I got a pretty keepsake box from redenvelope.com as a gift and it has his name and birthdate engraved on the front. It is great. I put all kinds of random things in the box (it has little drawers and compartments) but I don't have to do anything to it.

I also have a little book called Babytime that I can write one page entries in whenever I feel like it. I have written lots more in the last few months since he has been 2 just because his personality is really coming out and he is doing and saying funny things alot. I just take it off the shelf and write in it whenever the mood strikes me. No guilt for all of those empty pages with fill in the blanks about the first this or first that! I think since both the boys will have something, they will be pleased. My MIL doesn't have any pictures or anything of her kids. She didn't save anything! And when they had kids it kind of bummed them out, even though they are boys. So I wanted to make sure to do something, even if it wasn't perfect.

ChickyHip · 01-03-2008, 09:32 AM

I am horrible at this. I had intended to make my own baby books because I just didn't like any that I found in stores. I've done about 3 pages for each of the boys. Maybe that can be another 2008 project.

prettyfeet · 01-03-2008, 09:52 AM

I have 4 scrapbooks full for my oldest son, newly 4 years. I have 1 scrapbook full for my second son, newly 2 years.

I have my oldest's baby book completely filled out for birthdays, height/weight, teeth record, pregnancy pictures, etc.

My second son's has a lot of blanks, but I did an okay job. I think. haha

This thirds is going to be hopeless. Ugh.

Nadino · 01-05-2008, 01:43 PM

I bought a baby book...Does that count? My DS is 5 months now and I haven't written one word.

I got a tip from a friend to buy a week at a glance type calendar without the time-slots and make quick notes in it each night. I picked one up at the dollar spot at Target to start 2008 and so far it is really easy. A good friend gave me a scrapbook she put together with everything but the pictures. She said it was a kit that came with instructions for every page. It is absolutely darling. I counted how many pictures it will hold so I know how many favorites to save each month. I bought some quart-sized freezer bags and anything I think I might want for the month goes into that bag with 2 favorite pictures. So far these ideas are working for me.

Also, we bought a fairly inexpensive photo printer ($99 + paper/ink) we absolutely love and use all the time. It's very compact and it was worth every penny. When friends and family visit we send a photo of them with Jonah home with them.