Perhaps you have been planning for quite some time, or maybe it's an unexpected - but welcome - surprise. Well, congratulations! Regardless of how it happened, you are now pregnant and will be for quite some time. Pregnancy is a very exciting adventure and, even though it lasts for nine months, it can go by fairly quickly. If this is your first pregnancy, you are anxiously awaiting every new physical and emotional feeling. If you have been pregnant before, then you know what to expect and even that isn't a given. Whether this is all brand new, or you are old hat, there will be new memories made with this experience and you want them to be worthwhile.



A great way to start off your pregnancy is by keeping a diary. You can write in it as often as you would like - monthly, weekly, or even daily. You could keep a record of what excites you about pregnancy and what scares you. Maybe you will want to write down the basics, such as physical and emotional changes caused by the pregnancy, or get more involved and write down your hopes and dreams for your unborn child. Whatever it may be that you choose to keep in your pregnancy diary, just make sure that it is important to you. You will have this book as a window into the past that you can share with your child when he or she is older. You may even be surprised at the things that you have forgotten over the years.

If writing isn't your thing, try keeping a scrapbook. This is another idea that will give you a personal keepsake of your time being pregnant. Include pictures of yourself pregnant, with captions that say how far along you were. Put in magazine clippings of decorating ideas for the baby's nursery, or photos of the finished project. Have friends put down their wishes for your child, or sound words of advice. Ultrasound photos of your baby will help to make the scrapbook that much more special. Work on it alone, or get your partner involved. Just be creative and have fun. You will love the finished product and so will your child. You can even use this scrapbook as a start to future scrapbooks of your child.

Traditional ideas, such as a diary and a scrapbook, require creativity and energy and maybe you just don't have that. A new trend in pregnancy memorabilia is a belly cast. This is something you can do in one afternoon. You can do it yourself, with the aid of a few friends, or you can go to a professional. However you choose to do it, the final result is a uniquely personal replica of your pregnant body. You can even take it one step further and decorate it.

Remember, you are the only one who knows what it feels like to be you during this amazing time. Although you may think that you will always carry with you the memories you have from being pregnant, they can fade over time. Your pregnancy will eventually end with the long anticipated birth, but don't let the memories end there, as well. Make your pregnancy a memorable one.