I think I have said it before but I love to scrapbook, photograph and document everything relating to my little Alfie Bear all the way from pregnancy to the here and now. So I obviously have a baby book that I put together documenting his first year.
I think that this is a very personal thing as every family is completely different so I think that your baby book should reflect that. Someone was kind enough to buy me a baby book so I used that but customised it to reflect Alfies first year and if there was a page that I didnt think worked for us, I changed it.
That being said, I'm hoping that this post might give people some ideas for their own baby book and it also allows me to take a trip down memory lane.
Scan Pictures
The first 2 pages in my book are dedicated to scan pictures of Alfie and a baby bump pic along with a little explanation with each pic and a little introduction to the book. I was paranoid about losing my scan pics so I like the fact they have been included in the book.
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| Scan pictures and baby bump with little captions throughout. |
Fave Pics & Thank You Note
The next page has a few of my favourite pics of Alfie and a Thank You note that we had made and sent them out to our friends and family with his name and birth details on.
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| I think these cute, funny pics are a great start to the book |
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| This was our birth announcement and Thank You card. |
Family Tree
This seems a little unnecessary to me unless you have a really large family but I did one anyway but I didn't include pictures of everyone, just one of his favourite people, his cousins.
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| The family tree |
The Day I was born
I detailed the time, day, month and year Alfie was born as well as the Midwife's name, Dr's name and Star Sign. I also attached his bracelet that was on his ankle. I then detailed his full name, weight, height, eye colour, hair colour and our first thoughts. I also attached the first pic that was ever taken of Alfie.
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| Aww first ever pic of Alfie, he looks like a little old man |
My Birth Story
Here I wrote my Birth story, although I have written this whole book as though I am talking to Alfie so I haven't written any gory details but a family friendly version of my labour and delivery. Included on this page is also a little montage of newborn Alfie pics.
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| A little montage of early Alfie pics at the hospital and first days at home |
Events from around the world
This page is dedicated to things that were happening the year Alfie was born. For example, the diamond jubilee happened the year of his birth and the London Olympics. I also found some celebrities that share Alfie's birthday and Buddy Holly is one of them. I also listed the number 1 song, number 1 film and any other important news from his birth day.
Visitors and Gifts
Here I listed all of the visitors that came to see Alfie and the presents that he was given, these included the first teddy bear he was given and the fact that Mummy and Daddy bought Alfie everything a baby could possibly need and found we didn't use most of it.
Going Home/Nursery
Here I listed the day we went home and how by the time we got out the car Alfie was screaming to be fed and how for the first few days Mummy refused to drive with Alfie in the car (scary). I also detailed the nursery which was jungle theme as it was based on Sophie the Giraffe which Alfie loved. We did not decorate a nursery until Alfie was about 5 months old. I have included some pics of Alfie in his giant cot and fast asleep.
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| I love this pic of him in his new cot he looks so tiny |
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| He is just so edible |
First Bath
I included some pics of Alfie in a bucket having a bath even though that wasn't his first bath obviously and I described how he hated his first bath.
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| I know its not his first bath but I just had to put this pic in |
Prints
I included some baby handprints and footprints. These were not easy to get, I didn't do them when Alfie was a newborn, I wish I had done now as I think it would have been easier. Trying to get prints from a 6 month old is no easy task.
Cards
I then included some cards that we received in Alfies first year such as my first Birthday card to Mummy, my first mothers day card, first fathers day card and a card from everyone at hubbys work. I love to collect cards and chose the really special ones to include in this baby book. I also added Alfies card that he was given when we bought his first pair of shoes from Clarks. I also included a card we received wishing us luck in our new home as we moved to a bigger house just before Alfie turned 1.
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| Card when Alfie was born and my first Birthday card to Mummy |
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| My first Mothers Day card |
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| Alfies card that he got when he had his first pair of shoes. |
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| Daddy's first Fathers Day card that I had made is also in the book |
Baby Firsts
I included several pages of baby firsts such as first smile, finding my feet, laughing, sitting up, rolling, had baby food, crawling, playing, clapping, standing, walking etc. I documented the first of everything but you can include any that you want. I included some pics of Alfie rolling and sitting too and pics of him eating chocolate for the first time.
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| Pics of him rolling and sitting up were included in the book |
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| First chocolate face has to be included |
Baby favourites
Here I listed all the favourites Alfie had during his first year such as his Jumperoo and ball at 6 months and cars at 12 months. I also included his favourite song, games with mummy and daddy, favourite books etc. I listed favourites at different points throughout the year so you can see how their likes change. I feel that baby books concentrate too much on newborn stage and not enough on the older age but you can easily include more info.
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| Here he is on a trampoline with a ball during his first summer |
Development
I also included Alfie's weight and height throughout the first year and his teeth as they cut. I even included the immunisations but again its up to you if you want to include this sort of information.
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| Showing off his first 2 teeth |
First Steps
Here I detailed when Alfie could walk with help, stand alone and walk alone along with some pics of him in action.
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| Such a cool dude |
First Haircut
I wrote about his haircut and obviously I kept a lock of his hair which I put in the book too. I was quite upset when he had his hair cut as my brother decided to do it but he knew better than to not keep a lock for me
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| Babies first lock. |
First Words
I included first words and then had a list that I would add too as the year went on and then I added the sentences he could say too.
First Christmas
We go all out at Christmas in our house so I wrote all about Christmas and included a pic, Alfies first Christmas card that we had made, A Christmas card that I had made that we sent out to family and friends and his first letter off Santa. That Christmas was particularly special because not only was it our first with Alfie but it was when Hubby proposed and Alfie was apart of the proposal (another story)
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| Santa definitely came for Alfies first Christmas |
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| His first Christmas Card off Mummy and Daddy and our family Christmas card |
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| His first ever letter off Santa |
First Holiday
I wrote all about Alfies first holiday and included some snaps from it too.
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| Alfies first trip to the beach |
First Birthday
Here I wrote all about the preparations for his first Birthday, presents, party and cake. I also included the invitations that I had made. His first Birthday was Monsters Inc so there are also lots of pics of his cake, decorations and presents. Unfortunately, Alfie had tonsillitis on his first Birthday so he was quite poorly but I think he still had fun.
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| Alfies first Birthday Invitation |
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| Alfies First Birthday Cake |
Thoughts
I then wrote all about what Alfie's family think of him and how much we all love him and asked family and friends to write a little about their relationship with him and just how special he is.
That concludes Alfies baby book. I included tons of photos, anecdotes, funny things that happened, cards, stickers and mementos which I think sum up Alfie's first year quite nicely. I think its all about the extras that make a baby book really special.
If you have any questions or want to see anything in particular detail then please let me know.
Once I had finished this book I displayed it at his Birthday Party so everyone could take a look. I am also working on a scrap book for every year but I have fallen behind but once these are completed, I will show these too.
Take care
Adele xxx
