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Pregnancy Scrapbooks

helpful hints for documenting and preserving your pregnancy memories

by Krystal Kitchens Grant, Scraplink.com -
Top Line Creations Independent Consultant

As an avid scrapbooker, one of the first things I did when I learned I was pregnant was start my pregnancy scrapbook. I was so excited, I needed something to document the experience and share with others. I chose to do my pregnancy scrapbook separate from 'The Baby Book" but you could include all of this in your baby book.

Suggestions

  • journaling
    • when/how you found out you were pregnant, and how you felt
    • reactions of people you told
    • finding out baby's gender, including "old wives tales"
    • baby name debate
    • anything on your mind!
    • pregnancy symptoms
    • food cravings
    • baby dreams you have
  • record your stats from the dr's office--weight, bp, etc. (it's interesting to look back on, and if your baby is a girl she might like to compare her pregnancy to yours someday)
  • poetry, such as this ultrasound poem or songs, such as Elton John's "Blessed" or Creed's "Arms Wide Open" or Rod Stewart's "Forever Young"
  • Photos to include
    • positive pregnancy test
    • mom (and dad) the day you found out
    • belly shots at regular intervals, whether it's weekly or monthly or by trimester--from the side please!
    • sympathy pregnancy - pics of dad's belly gain
    • maternity wardrobe
    • dad (or mom) assembling baby furniture
    • decorating the nursery, finished nursery
    • baby showers--the hostesses, the guests, the gifts, the food, the games
    • ultrasound photos - notorious for deteriorating much more rapidly than photos. To increase the longevity of your ultrasounds, consider preserving them by scanning them into your computer and/or using a photo kiosk (like the one at Wal-Mart) to make actual photographic prints of your ultrasounds
    • siblings with mommy's tummy
    • Professional portraits--many women have professional portraits done of themselves alone, or with the father, or with older children, with the focus on mommy's tummy. I've seen some really nice ones done with window light.
    • belly shots of siblings kissing or hugging belly
    • shower photos and gifts
  • Memorabilia--this one's wide open! Just be sure that your memorabilia does not touch your photos, in case it contains harmful chemicals that could destroy your photos. There are many clear plastic envelopes on the market that are ideal for displaying memorabilia
    • receipts or tags from maternity clothes or nursery items
    • swatches of fabric from maternity clothes or nursery items, or paint chip or wallpaper from nursery
    • shower invitations, cards
    • appointment cards to the doctor
    • if you were TTC and charting, why not include your chart?
  • Calendar Pages -- use these to record special dates, such as
    • the day you found out you were pregnant
    • doctors appointments--mommy's weight gain, baby's heart rate, special comments by doctor
    • when you told family & friends
    • due date, and actual birth date
    • date you chose baby name
    • what Mommy was feeling like - things that made her feel nausea
    • shower dates
    • decorating the nursery

Materials

  • album - for a pregnancy scrapbook which is separate from the baby album, I recommend a small album, such as 6x6 or 8x8.
  • adhesive - look for adhesive in the scrapbooking section of your local hobby store or Wal-Mart, or even some drug stores and grocery stores. Scrapbooking adhesives are acid and lignen free and photo-safe. They are designed to last for a long time without damaging your photos or memorabilia--"photo splits" and "tape runners" are the most common and popular.
  • paper - both albums mentioned come with white cardstock pages, but you may wish to substitue different colors or even patterned paper for backgrounds. Just be sure the paper or cardstock you select is both acid-free and lignen-free.
  • journaling pen - buy a pen sold in the scrapbooking section - or look for one that promises to be light-proof, waterproof, fade resistant, acid-free, archival, etc.
  • stickers - if you choose to use stickers, be sure they are acid-free!
  • die cuts and stationary - there are many die cuts and lots of stationary on the market featuring baby stuff, and several silhouettes of pregnant women

Page Ideas (not all are original, many have been collected from internet bulletin boards)

  • Ultrasounds
    • A Womb With A View (great for peek-a-boos)
    • Sneak Preview
    • Under Construction
    • Baby On Board
    • Ps 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mothers womb. I priase you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
    • Inside and Out
    • Pink or Blue, we love you
    • Coming Soon (like a movie theater attraction)
    • A Pea in the Pod (visit the layout section of http://www.dmarie.com for examples of this layout--they're adorable!)
  • Pregnant bellies
    • many of the above ideas work well
    • Blooming Bellies - take a photo each month, silhouette the pictures and use gardening pots (clay pots) across the bottom of the page and on each pot label the time frame ie. one month two months etc.... then cut out a stick different lenghts so the pictures are kind of staggered across the page and put a pregnant belly picture on each stick
    • Weighting for You - include bathroom scale die-cut
  • Random Page Titles
    • Coming Soon
    • Weighting For You
    • The Waiting/Weighting Is the Hardest Part

Song Lyrics

  • "Arms Wide Open" - Creed
  • "Baby Mine" - Bette Midler
  • "Blessed" - Elton John
  • Brahm's Lullaby
  • "Could Not Ask For More" - Sara Evans
  • "Godspeed" - Dixie Chicks
  • "Little Pearl and Lily's Lullaby" - Clint Black
  • "Love Without End" - Randy Travis
  • "Lullaby" - Creed
  • "Remember When" - Alan Jackson
  • "Taking You Home" - Don Henley
  • "Things We've Handed Down" - ??
  • "The Voyage" - The Irish Tenors

"Arms Wide Open" - Well I just heard the news today It seems my life is going to change I closed my eyes, begin to pray Then tears of joy stream down my face With arms wide open Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I'll show you everything With arms wide open With arms wide open Well I don't know if I'm ready To be the man I have to be I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side We stand in awe, we've created life With arms wide open Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I'll show you everything With arms wide open Now everything has changed I'll show you love I'll show you everything With arms wide open With arms wide open I'll show you everything ...oh yeah With arms wide open..wide open [Guitar Break] If I had just one wish Only one demand I hope he's not like me I hope he understands That he can take this life And hold it by the hand And he can greet the world With arms wide open... With arms wide open Under the sunlight Welcome to this place I'll show you everything With arms wide open Now everything has changed I'll show you love I'll show you everything With arms wide open With arms wide open I'll show you everything..oh yeah With arms wide open....wide open

"Baby Mine" -Baby mine, don't you cry. Baby mine, dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine. Little one, when you play, pay no heed what they say. Let your eyes sparkle and shine, never a tear, baby of mine. If they knew all about you, they'd end up loving you, too. All those same people who scold you, what they'd give just for the right to hold you. From your hair down to your toes, you're not much, goodness knows. But, you're so precious to me, sweet as can be, baby of mine.

"Blessed" Music by elton john Lyrics by bernie taupin Available on the album made in england Hey you, you’re a child in my head You haven’t walked yet Your first words have yet to be said But I swear you’ll be blessed I know you’re still just a dream Your eyes might be green Or the bluest that I’ve ever seen Anyway you’ll be blessed And you, you’ll be blessed You’ll have the best I promise you that I’ll pick a star from the sky Pull your name from a hat I promise you that, promise you that, promise you that You’ll be blessed I need you before I’m too old To have and to hold To walk with you and watch you grow And know that you’re blessed

"Brahms Lullaby" Lullaby and good night In the sky stars are bright 'Round your head Flowers gay Set you slumbers till day Lullaby and good night In the sky stars are bright 'Round your head Flowers gay Set you slumbers till day Close your eyes Now and rest May these hours Be blessed Close your eyes Now and rest May these hours Be blessed Bonne nuit cher enfant Dans tes langes blancs Repose joyeux En revant des cieux Good night dear child In your white sheets Rest happy Dreaming of Heaven Quand le jour reviendra Tu te reveilleras Quand le jour reviendra Tu te reveilleras When day will be back You'll wake up again When day will be back You'll wake up again Lullaby and good night In the sky stars are bright 'Round your head Flowers gay Set you slumbers till day

"Could Not Ask For More" - Sara Evans - Lying here with you Listening to the rain Smiling just to see the smile upon your face These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive These are the moments I'll remember all my life I found all I've waited for And I could not ask for more Looking in your eyes Seeing all I need Everything you are is everything to me These are the moments I know heaven must exist These are the moments all I need is this I have all I've waited for And I could not ask for more I could not ask for more than this time together I could not ask for more than this time with you Every prayer has been answered Every dream I've had has come true And right here in this time is where I'm meant to be Here with you, here with me These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive These are the moments I'll remember all my life I've got all I've waited for And I could not ask for more I could not ask for more than this time together I could not ask for more than this time with you Every prayer has been answered Every dream I've had has come true And right here in this time is where I'm meant to be Here with you, here with me I could not ask for more than the love you give me 'Cause it's all I've waited for And I could not ask for more I could not ask for more

"Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" Dragon tales and the "water is wide" Pirate's sail and lost boys fly Fish bite moonbeams every night And I love you Godspeed, little man Sweet dreams, little man Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings Godspeed Sweet dreams The rocket racer's all tuckered out Superman's in pajamas on the couch Goodnight moon, we'll find the mouse And I love you Godspeed, little man Sweet dreams, little man Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings Godspeed Sweet dreams God bless mommy and match box cars God bless dad and thanks for the stars God hears "Amen," wherever we are And I love you Godspeed, little man Sweet dreams, little man Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings Godspeed Godspeed Godspeed Sweet dreams

"Lullaby" Hush my love now don't you cry Everything will be all right Close your eyes and drift in dream Rest in peaceful sleep If there's one thing I hope I showed you Hope I showed you Just give love to all Oh my love...in my arms tight Every day you give me life As I drift off to your world Will rest in peaceful sleep I know there's one thing that you showed me That you showed me Just give love to all Let's give love to all

Links

Send me a link to articles about pregnancy scrapbooks or layouts online, or send helpful information to be included on this page.

 

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