There is no life achievement as significant or exciting as welcoming a child into the world. Whether you are a first-time mother-to-be, or an old hat at the parenting game, the birth of your child is a pivotal moment. Baby scrapbooking is the perfect way to capture the memories and feelings that occur around this miracle of life. By taking the time to preserve photographs, record emotions and chronicle milestones, you will create a keepsake and piece of family history for both you and your child.

Traditional baby books allowed mothers to record dates and events, save a clip of hair, or small pieces of memorabilia. Baby scrapbooking makes the preservation of your baby's history more intimate and personal. By combining the most precious images and artifacts of pregnancy and baby-hood you can create a personal history that includes feelings, funny stories and your hopes and dreams for your child.

The Book of You

You will start to personalize your baby scrapbook as soon as you choose an album. Choices abound from traditional pink and blue, to frilly, fabric covered books, to more specific designs like sailboats, footballs or ballet shoes. Purchasing a pre-packaged baby book kit is a good idea because it will have pre-cut paper, die-cuts, and matching colors to go with your theme choice. Don't worry about it looking like anyone else's book; you will still make it uniquely yours.

The great thing about these packs is that they are designed for a slightly overwhelmed and extremely tired new mom. Most allow you to attach a picture, write a couple of sentences and be done with it. And when you are up six times a night, that's important!

Long before your child is born you can start collecting items related to the pregnancy and your future progeny, such as; shower invitations and favors, cards, scraps of wrapping paper, hospital tags and forms, and anything else that will help narrate the story of his or her birth.

Project Albums: Other Ways to Make Your Album Special

One other way to make your baby scrapbook more personal is to invite other people to contribute pages. Maybe Grandma or Aunt Lesley would like to create a special page. What a good excuse for the women to get together for lunch, create a pretty page, and anticipate the upcoming birth. Remember, one day little Lucy or Eric will be sitting down with you on the couch leafing through the pages of this special history. Plus, it's always a good thing for a mom to know how to delegate!

One great place to have some fun with this book is at the baby shower! First of all, you can get women at baby showers to do almost anything. Raise your hand if you've ever diapered a doll for speed, or tasted baby food blindfolded. Most of your guests would actually enjoy creating a special page for the mother-to-be. Each page could include advice, a funny child-rearing story, or experienced ?what not to do whens??

An album of ?First Times? can be a fun theme for moms. You will already be on the lookout for the first visitors at the hospital, first trip home, first smile, first tooth, first diaper change and first bath. Now just have that always-present camera ready, record them, and your baby scrapbook is good to go.

Older children can be involved with the new sibling by creating inexpensive scrapbooks of their own. With proper supervision, a child as young as 3 can stick pre-cut pictures onto a card-stock book and decorate his own scrapbook. Elder children will probably amaze you with their creativity, as they welcome the newest family member in their own way.

The possibilities for a baby scrapbook are as infinite as your imagination. Find the time to create this meaningful keepsake for your infant now, and you will both enjoy it for years to come.