Now that baby can sit up and roll over, it’s time for him to occupy himself. Sit baby in the playpen or crib. Give them one toy at a time and see how interested they are in each one. Toys that light up or play music will stimulate baby more. When my oldest son was a baby, we strapped a toy to his crib that played music and scrolled lighted pictures across a screen.

His little eyes were glued to that toy especially in the early morning while it was still dark and the light from the toy filled the room. My niece likes to play with an angel bear that sings “Jesus Loves Me” when you press his foot. Baby’s fascination with new things is refreshing. You’ll remember your own childhood wonder.

Picture Ideas:

As baby plays with each toy, snap a picture. The more intense photos will be the ones you take when baby is playing and squealing and not paying any attention to you. Try to capture the look of curiosity on their faces as they examine each toy.

Get photos of baby with the same toys over the months to show his growth.

Scrapbooking Ideas:

Stickers of teddy bears and other cuddly animals would be perfect to decorate this page. The title of the page can be “My Favorite Things” like the song from The Sound of Music. Here’s another idea if baby has chosen several favorite toys. Find a sticker of a clown or a juggler with their hands outstretched.

If juggling items are part of the juggler sticker, cut them off. Arrange your pictures of baby in a circle above the juggler’s head as if he were juggling baby and his/her favorite toys. To go along with the juggling idea, choose scrapbook paper with a Big Top circus design.

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It’s time! Your due date is nearing. My biggest worry was over where I would be and what it would feel like when my water broke. I had missed my due date so my husband and I knew that our baby could come at any time. Both of us longed to see our son’s face and kiss his forehead.

We were as ready as two nervous expectant parents could be. Was it that way for you, too? Two weeks before your due date, pack a bag for you and the baby. Daddy will make dry runs of the hospital route. Every family member will be on high alert.

Baby Photo Ideas:

Capture the blow-by-blow excitement. Let daddy take pictures of you packing your essentials for a short hospital stay. Next is baby’s bag. Choosing the cutest outfit for baby to wear home deserves a picture.

If daddy is a nervous wreck by the time you reach the hospital, have a friend meet you there to capture everything on camera. Otherwise, the nurses oftentimes will gladly grab the camera for you and take some pictures, when asked.

Take pictures of the birthing room and you in that fashionable hospital gown. If your picture taker isn’t squeamish, let them take pictures of the actual birth and daddy cutting the umbilical cord.

Of course someone will need to take a photo of you holding your precious child for the first time. Other photo opportunities are a picture of the doctor holding the baby, a family photo and a family photo with the doctor or midwife in the pictures as well.

Baby Scrapbooking Ideas:

Have a separate page for the packing and then one or two for the birthing process. Paste foam decorations in the shape of rattles, bottles, diaper pins, etc. around the page. Use colorful alphabet stickers for the title. Choose a title like “Getting Ready”. Scrapbook paper with a baby or cherub background would work well for the page with photos of the actual birth.

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My niece is the only female grandchild. My children are much older than she but they protect her like a sister. They play with her every chance they get. She, as a result, has become rather a tough customer. She’s just as rough and tumbling as they are. My niece has learned how to interact with other children from her cousins.

I have never seen my boys as gentle as they are when they feed her or rock her to sleep. I believe that they have learned something from her as well – girls aren’t so bad even if they are babies. You will find reliable babysitters in baby’s cousins.

Baby Picture Ideas:

Whenever baby gets together with their cousins, get them to pose for a few pictures together. Take a few candid shots of baby and cousins playing. She loves it when they make noises with the toys and crash cars together. She likes getting airplane rides and sitting on their shoulders. My niece also watches the boys play their video games.

You should also snap a few pictures of baby’s cousins playing babysitter. I remember the first time my son fed my niece her dinner. He was as messy as she was. Watching children interact with each other is interesting and fun.

Baby Scrapbooking Ideas:

If you wish, you can give each cousin their own page in the scrapbook if baby doesn’t have too many cousins that they see on a regular basis. Let the cousins’ help decorate their scrapbook page. They can choose the background and help you paste down the pictures and decorations.

They can even caption the pictures or write stories, explaining what they were doing with baby when the pictures were taken. Children love to draw pictures. Let the cousins draw pictures about their baby. Or guess what the baby will be when she grows up. Title the page with baby’s name and the name of each cousin.

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I liked to watch my children sleep. They would curl up into a little ball or pull their knees underneath their bodies, pushing their butts in the air. If they were lying on their backs, their tiny chests rose and fell with each precious breath. Your beautiful baby has been entrusted to your care. What a miracle of God!

I’ve heard it said that if a baby smiles while they are asleep, it means that they are playing with the angels. It brings a whole new meaning to the blessing, “Sweet Dreams”. Does your baby sleep like an angel? I pray that all babies dream of heaven when they close their eyes at night. The sound of my children’s breathing was music to my ears.

Baby Photo Ideas:

Babies, just like adults, sleep in many different positions. Each of baby’s sleeping positions is cuter than the last. Capture baby in the crib, on the blanket, on the couch, and in the playpen. Sometimes baby will sleep wherever they fall after playing.

Take a picture of baby sleeping on top of a teddy bear or mommy and daddy. Baby may even fall asleep in the corner of the couch. I have a picture of my youngest son sleeping in the corner of the couch wearing a pair of 3-D glasses. I laugh every time I see it.

If baby has a lovie or blankie he sleeps with, be sure to get lots of pictures of baby sleeping with it.

Baby Scrapbooking Ideas:

A background of clouds and angels would be an appropriate setting for baby’s snoozing pictures. Paste a picture on each cloud. Or, crop your pictures in the shape of clouds with a blue construction paper background.

Take a cotton ball and glue pieces of it around each picture to emphasize the cloud effect. Add angel stickers to round out the page.

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My mother always said that it was important to support baby’s head when cradling them in one’s arms. If you’ve ever noticed, baby’s head will flop back if you don’t. Their neck muscles aren’t strong enough to hold up their little heads. But, baby will try. Curiosity will get the better of them and each time you prop baby up on your shoulder, they will try to look around.

It’s funny. Baby’s head wiggles like one of those bobble head toys and then it falls back against your shoulder. But, the day will come when they begin to push themselves away from the back of the couch or the car seat as they strain to sit up on their own. Pretty soon baby will be turning his/her head when they hear a noise. Can walking be far behind?

Baby Photo Ideas:

Take a few photos of baby from a side angle to show that they are pushing themselves away from the couch or baby carrier. Have a family member or friend sit baby on their lap while supporting baby’s head and back. Tell them to slowly remove their hand so you can get a picture of baby sitting up on their own.

Take a picture with daddy and yourself and baby. Cheer baby on and encourage their newfound bodily control.

Baby Scrapbooking Ideas:

This page would be another place to use silly quote stickers. Mommy or daddy could be made to say something like, “Hurray!” or “You did it!”

Try to find a piece of scrapbook paper that resembles a stadium full of people or, if you can only find an empty stadium, draw some spectators. Or find stickers of cheerleaders to put around the page. Have baby’s pictures showcased in the middle of the page. Give the crowd various cheering quotes to celebrate baby’s accomplishment.

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