Roy Austin's first birthday is fast approaching. The other day I went to go record a date into his baby book and realized that I wasn't even halfway done with it! I think I had Caroline's book just about completed by her first birthday. The only thing lacking was her birthday page. I kind of panicked because I realized I had SO much to write, document, so many pictures to find and print out to finish his book. I promised myself when I had Caroline that I was going to do a baby book for ALL of my children...you know, be fair and equal with all of them. Remember how I found my baby book when I was around 11 and just saw my name, weight and height? Don't worry, I'm not holding any grudges, but I will say that it did affect my self-esteem. It took years and years of constant uplifting myself up, looking myself in the mirror DAILY and telling myself that "Donna. You ARE somebody and you can accomplish great things". Seriously, just kidding. I threw that in to tease my sweet mother and make Smalley laugh. Hey, I think if I had 5 kids, I'd probably wear myself thin trying to finish a baby book. Forget the stupid book...who cares at that point!
But in all honesty, I do try to do things equally with my children. So, the past few days I have been documenting moments in RoyBoy's life, scouring my picture files looking for pictures, visiting the photocenter at Wal-Mart copying pictures. I have to say that once I get scrapbooking, I can't stop. So the goal is to finish this book by October 26th. Think I can do it?
And while I was at it, I consulted our family scrapbook to see where I left off. New Year's Eve, 2007...Cissie and Corey's wedding! I have almost a year to catch up on that one, too! Why, not...just throw it all on me at one time. This is what I get for trying to make memories for my family. So, I'm working on the family book, too. Anyone local want to have a scrapbook party where you come over and scrap with me? I'm serious!
23 comments:
Donna, all I can say is you've certainly got it all together. You've always had very high ideals, and you strive to do what you say you're going to do. I'm proud of you.
I have PLENTY of catching up to do in our albums too...you seem like you have it all together and I am confident you will have it done by Oct 26. Norah is now 16 months old and I don't have her baby book done yet.
Ah, Donnie. Don't feel bad. I still have tons of catching up on AP's and she's my first. I've discovered the online scrapbooking and I love it! Just as personal and creative but somewhat quicker. I don't know if you've visited Karen Lim's blog in a bit but she's on the same scrapbooking goal. She's trying to complete like 33 pages or something. I'm sure she'll comment on this post before it's all over with! I'll come cheer you on while you crop till you drop OR I can do mine on the puter while you do yours on paper. Good idea!
Don't feel bad, Donna, Shae just turned 16 and she is 5 years old in her scrapbook, indsay just turned 11 and she is 2 in hers, and sweet Anna is 2 WEEKS old in hers!
I keep telling myself that I will catch up...have you or your friends ever been on a scrapbook retreat? I have friends that do that for a WHOLE weekend (They are so obnoxious...they are all up to date!) They watch movies and eat and scrapbook...maybe someday my life won't be in such high demand by others and I will be caught up, but for now I guess I will try to enjoy the moments..and TAKE MORE PICTURES OF THEM!! Ha Ha
Good Luck, you can do it! What kind of banner did you get from emmiecakes? I can't wait to see the pictures of the big day!
Donna, I just bought a small scrapbook to make for my nephew to document our trip this summer to DC. I want to have it done by Christmas to give him as one of his presents so if you want to get together, let me know. :O)
(I know that it may not be the most exciting gift for him but he has asked me for the pictures and since it was the first time to DC for both of us, I thought that it would be neat to do.)
Again, Donna, you have it so together. Martha S. would be proud!
You are a wonderful wife, mother and homemaker!!
Girl, I am impressed. A family scrapbook too??? I am pretty good about their baby books but I wanted to scrapbook their first year in pictures. I am at 10 months with Preston and have stopped. At this rate, Parker will be 40 and Olivia will probably have her first before I am through.
Hannah, do share what site you go to to do online scrapbooking. That sounds intriguing.
ALSO, Way to have good self-talk Donna. You keep it up girl.
Sweetie, one word for you, SHUTTERFLY! Just upload your pictures, and click/drag/drop into a photo book.
I just finished one for Dan Dan and I am getting ready to start Harry Jack's. I am making one for each of my children for their birthdays each year, so by the time they are in college, they will have several books.
You can also crop your pictures, reverse your pictures, and change them to various shades of black and white. Just try it for something like a Christmas book or something. You will be hooked.
Yeah, yeah. I know all about Shutterfly. I will probably start our family books that way, but I like to have some of the books done in my handwriting. You know, so when I'm gone, they'll look at their books and see Mommy's handwriting. Isn't that sweet?!
Oh you just started such a panicked feeling in my heart for my poor sweet middle and youngest children. My first...done! The other two...so sad! I had 3 babies in 4 years and I am just catching up! Thanks for lighting a fire under me!
I'm impressed. You are way far ahaed of me! I get overwhelmed even thinking about all I have to catch up on for Kathryn's 1st year album!
Stop it, stop it, stop it...the guilt is too overwhelming!!! I may have 2-3 things written in Max's baby book and I only started blogging a little over a year ago. I do have a ton of pictures though, so I may have to do the Shutterfly thing too, Denise. Anyway, Donna, when you start feeling really bad about yourself just think of me and what a loser I am. :)
By the way, I can't believe sweet Roy Boy is going to be one...say it ain't so! Are you having a big party or just a small family affair? Do tell...or maybe you already have a blog post in mind. Which, in that case, I will just have to be patient. :)
hahah, Jennifer, I feel like a loser too because I'm getting ready to have a baby and haven't even bought a baby book! I guesss I need to get on that. I did bid on one on ebay so maybe I'll win it. We'll see! Creative Memories takes so much creativity and again, that's where I need help! I'm going to have to check out this shutterfly thing too!
Okay, Jennifer. When I have a bad day, I'm going to say, "At least I'm not a loser like Jennifer"! FUNNY! You're hilarious.
Poor Roy Boy! I feel his pain and yours. I dont have a baby book at all. My older sister and younger sister have one...but not me. What gives Patty? I used to get very upset about it and suffered greatly from middle child syndrome. But now that I am a mom and realize I cant even do it for my one child so I have forgiven her. :) Thus the reason why I started blogging. As soon as I saw the link on Denise's blog that said turn your blog into a scrapbook...I was in!
I am laughing at Inger saying her kids are 2 weeks,2 & 5.
I'll scrapbook with you anytime. I went to the scrapbooking event last Friday at the ROC at Carmel. There is another one mid-November on a Friday from 3:30 - 9 p.m. and Andrea and I are going. It's free. Can you join us? Everyone brings a snack to share, but they have great tables and chairs up.
Also, we are going on a scrapbooking weekend the last weekend in February to the mountains. So, if you have lots to do please think about joining us. It is with a Creative Memories group and around $150 or so, but covers housing and meals!
I'm one of only 2 children in my family, and my baby book has exactly one entry: my birthday stats. Nothing else. It's so empty that my sister teased me that I could just recycle it for AK - it was in "like new" condition! My mother did not laugh.
Listen, preachin' to the choir Donna.
I wrote a long letter to Will before he was even born, documented every kick and dr's appt while I was pregnant. I have a million pictures of him.
Poor Wes. He doesn't have a letter from me yet. And I call him WILL all the time. He will probably be having the "looking in the mirror moment" all his life.
So, A+ for catching this early before he knows about it. The early bird gets the worm.
I am No. three of four children, and I don't have a baby book. I have made so many scrapbooks and Shutterfly books for other people over the years that just *knew* that I would be so great at keeping up with Kate's baby book. Wrong! I still have some catching up to do. Like Hannah mentioned I also set a goal last month to complete 30 scrapbook pages. I didn't quite make it, but the admin of this quest (me, of course--LOL!) extended the deadline another month. haha I love the site www.howfasttheygrow.com--I recently discovered it, and it's awesome! So easy to use, and excellent quality, too. The only thing is I feel a bit guilty using it because I have soooo many supplies and tools, etc. I just don't like the mess. Good luck with your goal--you'll have to post some of your pages if you get a chance.
Don't worry about it Donna. It's totally possible. I committed to the same thing and have all the kids' albums done except Micah's and she's only 14 months. That's the latest I've been on making a one year scrapbook for my kids and it's killing me, but I take one month at a time, develop the pictures, scrapbook that month and wait for time to do another month. It'll come around and youl be glad when it does. I just love going through all their books to see the similarities. Fun for sure!
Of course there is digital scrapbooking. Creativememories.com has a free program you can download that has a lot of themed albums from babies to inspirational; graduation to weddings, etc. Of course there is shutterfly and places like that, though I haven't seen their choices of album themes. It's worth a try. Totally fast and easy. I have a wedding album, 5 kid's 1 year albums and so far, 5 years of family album all done the old fashioned way. I am quite tempted to go digital but I just love taking the time to create the pages...call me crazy. Boy, I have a lot to say...
Shelly, I'm with you. Somethign about "Hand making" them is special!
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