Scrapbook gift

[BeckyG86]

Hello.

Sorry, this is probably the wrong place to put this but I couldn’t see the best place to put it either!

I like doing craft projects, and one of the things I like to do is scrapbooking, but it has been a little while since I have done a scrapbook. It is early days, but I am thinking of making three scrapbooks- one for us, one for my parents and one for my Husband’s parents. The thought was to make the parents’ scrapbooks for a present and have it detailing different aspects of the journey leading up to the arrival of their new grandchild, but then there are pages left over to put in new memories when the baby is born (I am due 2nd January). Obviously I won’t include things such as when they were conceived! Hehe!

I wondered if anyone had any ideas on page topics? I am thinking of a page about finding out we were pregnant (photos of pregnancy tests maybe), one when we announced to our parents, one with the early scan and date, one with the first hospital scan, one with the official announcement, one with the second hospital scan, one with the private gender scan, one with the hospital 20 weeks scan, one about appointments (nothing really personal or graphic), one with maybe things the grandparents have brought, if I have a baby shower (not planned one) then one for that. I can keep some pages blank and ready to decorate like when they are born, their first cuddle with Nanny and Grandad, first steps, crawling, rolling, etc. They can then add their own photos to it and it can be like their own album then. Again they are just ideas at the moment, but definitely want something like a scrapbook for them.

This is our first baby and my parents’ first grandchild (my Husband’s parents have two grandsons from his brother), so wanted to do something a little special and personal. I have made scrapbooks before and people have loved them, and I have loved making them, so it can be a project I can work on whilst my Husband is at work or watching TV.

Thank you in advance.

It’s a lovely idea, but I have felt like there have been very VERY long periods of nothingness in this pregnancy. I’m 22w! So still got a long way to go.

I mean, are you talking cut outs of the prams and breast pumps etc you might look at, snapshots of your urine samples....? I can’t imagine, past scan photos, that there’s much to fill a book with! Sorry to sound so pessimistic or negative. The idea’s a sweet and well-intentioned one, I can see. Just maybe manage expectations....!

Unless you’re paying for lots of additional scans, you’ll get one at 12w then one at 20w...the rest of your appts are MW from 24w, and pretty boring...

It won’t be things like urine samples. We will have scan wise a minimum of 5 scans as I had an extra hospital one and paid for an early private scan and gender scan, but if parents have brought say the cot then memories of going out to choose/buy it, set up, etc. The blank pages will be their own memories of key moments.

I'm a crafter too and I think it's a lovely idea

Sure. Up to you.

I think they'd much prefer one of his/her first year, rather than of your pregnancy. Obviously I've still got them, but I never look back at my scan photos.

I agree with @carpetburns but you know your family best.
Mine would definitely prefer the first year book maybe with a page or two included about the pregnancy and labour. I would still do the pregnancy book but keep it for yourself and you can include more personal things in it if you like as no one else need ever see it.

Pinterest is great for scrapbooking ideas @BeckyG86 if you are looking for inspiration for individual pages.

I love these type of projects too 🙂
I did a first year album of my little girl and now do one every year. This included a few pages on pregnancy. There are a series of photos next to each other with the growing bump, selfie of me with positive pregnancy test, baby shower photos and scan photos.
I do somewhat agree with previous posters that it might be a stretch to fill a whole book just with pregnancy, especially for other people. Pregnancy can be such a personal time...

Make sure you take a photo of your midwife holding the baby when they are delivered! I didn't think to do one at the time as we didn't want photos in the delivery room (my choice). But now, looking at the book I really wish I had. She was a lovely, supportive midwife and I will always remember her. Fortunately, since we live in a country with a private midwife system, she will most likely be delivering my 2nd baby in a month and we can get a picture then!

I did a photobook for us to keep rather than a scrapbook and put in photos of me/my bump e.g. at a music festival we went to at 17 weeks, on holiday at 30 weeks, in a hallowe’en costume at 36 weeks etc. I also had some fun photos of my partner trying out prams and some photos of the nursery being decorated. I’ve also got a birth announcement card, hospital wristband, hand/footprints and SCBU cot card in an envelope tucked in the back.

I’m not sure how much of that grandparents would want to see though. For my parents it was only really interesting once he was born! They have asked for a photobook of his baby photos like first cuddles, first bath, first smiles, first Christmas etc.