Am I crazy??

[StitchIsOurHero]

Ok, here goes. And, keep in mind, that I probably AM crazy, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't alone in my craziness on this particular topic!!

As you know (not that I babble about it or anything ), I have a 5 1/2 month old. I have 80-hundred-bajillion pics of him! (Yes, that is a scientific number!!) Starting from 6:30 a.m. on August 1st when we left for the hospital, I've probably got close to 800 printed. . .YES, PRINTED pics. These would not be counting the ones I have yet to order (from Jan 1st on) and also not counting professional pics. I know it's a lot, but I sort of feel like I waited so long to have him, then by golly, we're going to document it!

Here's where the crazy part comes in (and NO, the 800 pics was not the crazy part!). I need to start scrapping them. (Also, not crazy). I want him to have a baby book--don't get me started on MIL's "baby book" for DH. . .yeesh. I know how to scrap (or at least how I scrap), and I have the concept of how to do the pages. . .but I can't get started. It's not that I don't WANT to work on them. . .I'd rather work on them than any other pics. . .but I have this bizarre "fear" almost that I'll do it wrong. I've agonized for a week over what to put on the dang cover page.

Is this ridiculous? If I were reading this, I'd say, "yes, it's ridiculous. Just start and see where it goes." But, I'm the one stuck in this. Give me words of encouragement here!! Or just a slap on the back of the head. . .whatever works!! Does anyone else ever feel this way or should I go to the scrappers' loony bin??

 

[rlovew]

I think you want every page to be just perfect and you are probably agonizing that it won't be. I think you just need to start and give yourself permission to do your best and realize you can always go back and change something if you want to later.

Have you added pictures to the baby book we made you- it might be easier to start there?

Give yourself permission to use what you have and figure you can always rescrap it if the perfect paper comes along later. The ones you consider to be messed up can be passed along in a small book to MIL later.

Rebecca

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

I think you want every page to be just perfect and you are probably agonizing that it won't be. I think you just need to start and give yourself permission to do your best and realize you can always go back and change something if you want to later.

Have you added pictures to the baby book we made you- it might be easier to start there?

Give yourself permission to use what you have and figure you can always rescrap it if the perfect paper comes along later. The ones you consider to be messed up can be passed along in a small book to MIL later.

Rebecca

Thank you! I needed to hear that. The MIL part sort of made me chuckle. You are right about the agonizing. I have added pics to the beautiful pages you all made me--and then I worry that mine won't be as pretty! My mom says, "You're worrying over this, and he'll grow up and marry someone who won't even want them." It's my mom's humor!

Thanks Rebecca! I needed the pep talk!!

 

[rlovew]

You are welcome- we all need it from time to time- remember it isn't the bueaty of the pages but the love that goes into them.

Rebecca

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

My mom says, "You're worrying over this, and he'll grow up and marry someone who won't even want them." It's my mom's humor!

Or worse - she'll say "I see you scrapped those in the early 2000's."

I have not started a book for either boy yet. I too worry about doing it "wrong". So I started by doing the challenges & scrapping with swap stuff. I just now divided them up into two books for each boy. Is it nice, uhm kinda. Is it perfect, nope, not at all. Is it started, yes by golly, it is finally started.

That is what you need. Do a single page. From any point. Don't start at the beginning. Just jump in anywhere with a photo you like. You can do it.


Oh, and yes SIOH, you are crazy.
Welcome to the club.

 

[ddavis860]

But, your books and pages have "your" look to them. I can pick them out, and they are beautiful, and your handwriting is so pretty. I say, jump in in the middle, and scrap today. Sometimes it's the beginning that is hard, but the middles are fine...KWIM?

Share the first LO with us OK?

And, I'm a firm believer that kids make you crazy anyway. And then Mommy Brain sets in, and you can't remember stuff, and then the kids think you are crazy too. I finally just went with it, and I figured, if they thought I was crazy, I was going to be the funniest, craziest mommy anyone had...so far it's working for me

 

[party of 3]

i must confess that i have not scrapped many of my little man's pics either. really not that many at all. i too am afraid that they will not be perfect.
so if you're crazy Brooke than so am I!

 

[lck33]

You are both crazy! Crazy about your little ones! And rightfully so. But do cut yourself some slack and realize that your children are going to cherish those books and want to look at them over and over and over again. Why? Because it is about them. It is not about whether or not your got it perfect. Just the fact that you took your time to create those books will be what they cherish most. So get scrapping. They are not going to scrap themselves.

Elsie

 

[lewdyan1]

Yes.

 

[Mickeyteacher]

I went through this with myself when we started printing DD's pictures- I had so many and I did not know where to start. My advice is to get the pics from one subject that was extra special like the ride home or his first bath or pics with you and dh at home and scrap that one event. It will help you get started and it will not be so overwhelming.

HTHs,
S

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Thanks, everyone!! It's good to know that while I AM crazy, at least I'm in good company!

I'm going to take y'all's advice. . .this weekend there WILL be at least one two page layout done! Maybe if I start with Christmas (something recent) that'll be a jumping off point!

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Yes.

 

[aroyer]

Another one that needs to go the scrappers looney bin right here!!! I agree with whoever said that the most important part is that you are doing this for him, someday he will cherish your thoughts, words, and time that you spent making his book.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yes.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I say go through the pics and find one grouping that inspires you. Or just group them and start your journalling, the pages will work themselves out in time.

One tip:
repositionable adhesive is your friend, if you don't like it rip that sucker apart and start over!

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

yep, you're crazy, but I'm a proud member of that same club!!

JUST DO IT!!

 

[estherhead]

Here is your other option. Don't do it. And then he will be 8 and you still won't have one. Yup. That's me. And then have 2 other kids and they don't have them either. And instead of starting, you just say, "I'll do this year's Disney & THEN start on baby photos," knowing perfectly well you'll just find another excuse.

Get started! Then you'll still remember all the cute stories that go with the photos.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

See, when I need inspiration, I know where to come!!!

Thanks, y'all!! We have a long weekend this coming weekend, so I'm determined to do some scrapping (even if I do my normal weekday getting up at 4 a.m. and use that time to scrap!).

Y'all are the BEST!!!

 

[DisneyIsTerrific]

When I started scrapbooking, my DS was 10 so I had millions of pictures I wanted to use in a scrapbook for him. I got overwhelmed at first and didn't know where to start so I just jumped in with a set of pictures that were my favorites. They weren't baby pictures, they were of him at about 2 years old. He's 16 now and his book still isn't done, but I don't think it ever will be! Right now, it's a mixture of pictures from all different ages (baby to now) and I still pick the pictures I want to scrap and don't feel like I have to scrap everything and in order.

So, don't feel you have to scrap everything. Just grab the set that you love and go for it. It'll all come together and he'll love every page because it comes from your heart.

 

[Lisa]

And this thinking is crazy? I'm not seeing it.

Do you think people will be criticiquing your layouts, oh my dear, they are going to be gushing over SIOB, they will barely notice what the color of the album is.

Seriously, I know exactly how you feel, I have similiar feelings when I start each and every new album. I've now come to the realization that my life isn't perfect why should my albums be. With that motto, I can tackle the first layout and be on my way.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept is to do one layout by the end of this week. Post your homework here.