Leighton's First Year Scrapbook (pt3)

Click to view:
Pt 1
Pt 2
All 50 pages on my shutterfly account HERE.

This is the final installment aren't you all excited! ;)

Some FAQ I have gotten on this:
(if you have any questions I didn't cover just leave a comment)
1. How did you do this?
I did all of this on Photoshop Elements. It is nothing too fancy, just basic, but it gets the job done. I am NO PRO by any stretch of the imagination and still have lots to learn. However, I am pretty please with how it turned out for a first time digital scrapbooker.


2. How did you print them off?
I asked a lot of my photoshop pro and design friends for suggestions and decided to go with Scrapbooksplease. The did my 12x12 pages for $1.99 each.


3. How was the quality?
I was overall impressed with the quality. I did a matte paper b/c I don't like glossy, but I am re-thinking that now.

4. Would you use this company again?
Yes, and no. The price is right, but I did think the shipping was a little high $14 for 50 pages. There is another company called Scrapping Simply that ships for a flat $5 (or so it appears) that I may try next time. If one of you uses them please let me know what you think!

5. Is digital scrapbooking easier than regular scrapbooking?
A resounding YES, in my opinion. I have "tried" my hand at the old-fashion way, but it is time consuming, creates a mess, and expensive. The old-fashion way does yield really cool 3-D pages, but I think digital gives you more bang for your buck, once you get over the headache that is photoshop!


6. Do I have to have photoshop to do this?
No, there are lots of free sites out there to use. Sorry I can't think of any to link you to, but google is your friend use it! :) However, basic photoshop elements runs around $100, so it could be a worthy investment. But you might want to pick up the Photoshop for dummies book while you are at it! (Thanks Erin for the tip :) ).


Happy Saturday!

Growing up together

These two girls are some of my most favorite people. One is my sister and the other might as well be. We have been through high school, vacations :), weddings and now babies together. Thus, beginning a new generation of growing up together.

I am sure they are going to hate me for this picture...but it is the only group shot of us I have on this computer.

We have had several playdates over the past few months and as I was sorting through pictures I just couldn't get over how much each baby has changed!

Landrey 2 weeks old, Brody and Lo 8 weeks old.

Landrey 5 months, Brody and Lo 7 months

Landrey 7 months, Brody and Lo 9 months

Landrey 9 months, Brody and Lo 11 months

I look forward to many more playdates and who knows maybe one day these may make for good wedding slide show pictures ;)

The power of sign language

Some of you may have read in my monthly update that Leighton is starting to sign. This is something I always wanted to do with my child from the beginning, but like everything it sounded good in theory but actually carrying it out was a whole other thing. I hit and missed with it since she was about 6 months, but then I read this post from New Mama's Corner and it inspired me to get more consistent.
I started out with "more" and "all done" because she was always screaming at the dinner table. After maybe 3 weeks she was doing it. So I have since added "eat" and "milk", which she now knows after only showing her a few times. I use other sign language (play, sleep, yes, no, thank-you, hungry, and good) but she only seems to care about the eating ones...hmmm. I am less consistent on those, so that is probably the problem...yes, I am sure that is the problem. :)

My point, it has cut down on lots of tears and frustration, for both of us really and it is easy to learn. I googled baby sign language to learn some of them, but most of them I knew from somewhere. I think once upon a time I was big into learning sign language.

Here is a clip of Lo in action. I apologize that it is hard to see, poor lighting and a baby who didn't want to be a performing monkey :)

Please note: "More"--putting both hands together in touching motion.
"Milk"--is an open and close of one hand like you are milking a cow.
"All done" is a waving of both of your hands.
My descriptions here are stellar, I know, I am more of a show you girl than an explain it girl. So I beg you to go to the listed websites to really get a good idea.

Here are some sites I found useful if you are interested:
Baby Sign Language
ASL

Bottom line, it is never too late to start with your baby. I am truly amazed at how fast Leighton is picking up on all of this daily. She understands what I am saying to her and I am about 97% sure she is happy she can tell me what she wants!

Leighton's First Scrapbook (pt2)

Here are a few sample pages from her scrapbook.
2months-5months

And they are for sure uploaded to my shutterfly site now...sorry that took longer than I thought...shocking, I know.

I am excited that the printed pages will be here soon! I love being able to thumb through albums rather than just scroll through pics online!

Leighton's First Year Scrapbook (pt1)

As some of you know I have been frantically steadily trying to get Lo's first year scrapbook done by her first birthday. When I started I had 12 weeks to do it in...somehow those weeks quickly dwindled away. However, (thanks to the bitter cold snap we had) I got it done with 4 weeks to spare!
This is my first attempt at digital scrapbooking...really scrapbooking in general. But it is way easier and cheaper?! than regular scrapbooking in my opinion.

Now for your viewing pleasure :) I am going to post in parts but if you are super anxious it will all be on my shutterfly account (hopefully) by tonight.
Birth-Month 1

11 Months

You are 11 months old.

I have been incredibly reminiscent since Christmas. I keep thinking about what I was doing last year and how different things are this year. What on earth did I do before you?
I have been desperately catching up on your scrapbook in order to have it done for your FIRST birthday party and it has been a bit emotional looking back at how much you have changed and grown. Those first 6 months about did me in. I love each new stage that comes almost more than the last, but definitely embracing the "toddler" stage more...not a big fan of the newborn stage. You are so fun and entertaining now. You are beautiful and I love having you in my life, the joy (and headaches) you bring have taught me so much about life, love, and faith.

"I don't want my picture made"

"Fine just make it quick"

Ok enough mushy stuff. Here is what you are doing this month:
Warning: Several bunny trail stories ahead!

* You can sign "more" which makes mealtime very entertaining, since you never stop signing. I am pretty sure you are signing "all done" too, but it's similar to a wave...so the verdict is still out. But overall, you are picking up on the sign language thing pretty quickly!

I think she is trying to say "NO more" HA!

* You are starting to stand alone (no support) more and more, but still a little chicken about it!

* You have taken a few tiny steps and are doing it more and more everyday.

You and your "bestie"

This Wed. (jan 13) you actually walked to...TOBY (our poodle)! I just knew you would do that (since he seems to be your current bestie) and break your mother's heart. On the upside you are starting to walk and daddy and Auntie Meg were here to see it. But seriously Toby?!?!

*You are basically on table food. We are finishing up the last of the homemade pureed stuff. You also nurse still early in the morning and then get 3 more formula bottles throughout the day.

*You play peek-a-boo with us. You will cover up your face in the car with poodle and yank it off and just giggle.

*You give these BIG happy smiles.


*You are (finally) starting to clap your hands. I have been waiting for this trick forever. I just think it is so cute when babies clap.


*You know who your daddy is and verbalizes "da-da." Again with the breaking your mother's heart thing. What about me? You only say "ma-ma" when you are steaming mad.

*You "fake" laugh at stuff.

Almost every toy we own in 2nd hand. She got several new toys for Christmas. I put up this particular toy so she could enjoy her "new" toys. Nope. She keeps dragging it out of her toy box b/c it is her favorite thing to play with...maybe I can sell the rest?! ;)

*You love to watch Elmo's World. Don't judge...it is educational. You get all excited when a "kid" program comes on. You will just clap your hands in approval.

The other day you were playing with the remote and flipped the channel and it landed on PBS kids and you threw the remote down and just clapped and clapped. I think it is amusing to see how you can tell the difference between Regis and Kelly and Sesame Street!

*Most recently you are crawling in my lap with poodle and laying your head down for a "rest" time! Melts my heart like a Popsicle on the 4th of July! AND you are even letting me rock you some too.

The other night you woke up at like 430am and wouldn't go back to sleep. I went in there to soothe you. Normally we just pace around the room to "Jesus Loves Me" but you weren't having it. You kept pointing to the rocking chair. I sat down and you curled up in my arms and let me rock you! AHHH! Best moment EVER (at 430am;) ).

I know there are lots of bunny trail stories, but I want to include this last story because it melts my heart into a big puddle and I never want to forget it.

A friend's 2 year old little girl met Lo a few months ago at an overnight thing. She fell in love with her I guess. She goes around commenting on "baby Lo" all the time even though she hasn't seen her since. The other day this little girl got a new doll. Her mommy asked her "what are you going to name your new doll?" The little girl thought and thought real hard. Then her eyes lit up and said "baby Lo!" Seriously? I am about to tear up just thinking how sweet that is! Her mommy says she takes good care of her 'baby Lo.'

Well, that about sums it up. You are learning and changing so quickly these days it is hard to keep up! I can not believe that you will be ONE in one short month! I am really excited to enter this phase and plan your party.

We love you sweet girl. Happy 11 Months!
That is IT...I am done!