| A memory book is something that your child can | | | | After the day of birth, write down your reflections |
| keep forever and even pass on to the next | | | | of the process and how you and everyone else |
| generation. Here are a few ideas to help get you | | | | reacted to seeing the child for the first time, what it |
| started. | | | | was like to finally get him or her home, and what the |
| Gathering Your Thoughts: | | | | first few days were like as you adjusted your life to |
| Gathering the material for your child's memory book | | | | make way for the new one. |
| can be a project that can take months or years, it all | | | | It should go without saying that you should make |
| depends on what it is you want your book to | | | | sure that plenty of photographs are being taken of |
| represent. Regardless of what the scope of your | | | | the new baby, the home he or she was brought into, |
| project is, you will want to start at the same place: | | | | and you and your co-parent. |
| the day you find out you are pregnant. Start to write | | | | From Here: |
| down your feelings no matter what they are, even if | | | | Now you can decide what you really want the scope |
| you are scared to death. Just be yourself. This | | | | of your project to be. You can either end the book |
| project is as much for you as it is for your child to | | | | here, or, for instance, you can resolve to write |
| be, and it is your first act of emotional bonding. | | | | something on each of the child's birthdays, a sort of |
| You can also write down what it was like to tell your | | | | reflection of the year that has just passed and all |
| co-parent, family and friends that you were | | | | that was seen and accomplished. You can do this |
| expecting. Write down all the joy that was | | | | year after year, and present the book to your child |
| expressed, so that whenever your child gets to read | | | | at some point in the future: upon graduation, when |
| these words, he or she will know that news of his or | | | | he or she gets married, or perhaps even when your |
| her impending arrival was greatly anticipated | | | | child has a child of his or her own. |
| something that brought a lot of people a lot of | | | | Binding the Book: |
| happiness. | | | | Since your book is for an audience of one, you may |
| Progressing: | | | | want to make it into a scrapbook using a three rig |
| Whenever you have some time during your | | | | binder. However, if you decide to put something |
| pregnancy, create a page or two for your book. Be | | | | together that is a little more elegant and permanent, |
| sure to take pictures as your belly grows, and include | | | | you can purchase a hardcover binding machine and |
| them as well as any ultrasound images that you have. | | | | make the book yourself. These machines are very |
| Write down what it is like to have this life growing | | | | inexpensive, easy to use, and great for a multitude |
| inside of you, and how you are looking forward to | | | | of home projects, such as photo books, family |
| meeting your child. | | | | yearbooks, cookbooks and so many more. |