Memories that will last

One thing that I promised myself having kids, is that I will record important things that happenin their lives, especially when they are little and won't have memories of their own. My mom kept some of our birthday cards and had a journal for a short while of my life, and it is so nice to read it now.

I found that through scrapbooking(the traditional way with cutting and pasting), you can do the nicest memory recording with pictures, small sentimental items, text and so on. (For Lella I am busy with her 4th one, just started brother's 1st one) It is hard work though, especially when you want to make it just perfect, but thats just me. (and sometime I wish it was not!)

Another easy way is to use online photobook software. This is a quicker way to organize photos and text into memory books, although I think it can get quite expensive, but try it for yourselves. Or collage on your computer with software like PicColage.

I like doing things I can showcase in my home, this was done just after my babies were born (can you believe they were so tiny!) and hangs in our hall together with both their maternity shoot photos and newborn shoot photos.

Another photo thing I'm doing for my son (so sad I did not see this 3 years earlier to also do for my daughter), is this recording of each months milestones. I saw this on Pinterest (total addict!) where you take a photo of you baby each month in the same spot (I use the one chair in our room) and write on a chalkboard important milestone or things you want to remember at that time of his life, (I'm using sister's chalkboard, but you can use a nicer one if you have or a big cardboard etc) oh, yes it is in Afrikaans, sorry for those English folks! Some things I write down is of course the month, weight, behavioural things eg "Laughing out loud", "blowing bubbles", "almost sitting" etc. You won't believe how many small things you tend to forget!

I have a piece of paper on the fridge and all Lella's cute words I write down. This I will transfer to her scrapbook one of these days. I saw another nice idea on Pinterest where you use these frames to write down funny or cute things you kid says, take a picture of them with the quote (remember to add the date) and make a book of their quotes. I must do this, starting today!

There is so much one can do, I have a "special" box for each child with their "firsts" in, their 1st clothes they wear after they were born, 1st shoes,1st craft project, 1st swimwear(too cute and tiny!) etc.

Another thing we started with Lella is the Birthday Book, where every year with her birthday mom and dad write her a letter in the book, and we'll give this to her on her 21st birthday. Will add a picture of the whole family each year, just to give her something to laugh at on her 21st birthday!

And still I get more ideas, will share some again in the future!