Project Life

I really like the idea of project life. I love the everyday life aspect of it. I love seeing random photos, notes and bits of life all together. It's fun to look back and remember the ordinary. I love that you can make it what you want. I love that tons of people are doing it and nobody's project looks the same. It's a great, real scrapbooking project.

Last year I was all excited for project life. Mid-January, I bought a kit with some amazon gift cards and jumped right in. The first month or so went great. But the rest of the year, well, I was not terribly successful. It may have something to do with the fact that I was a pregnant first year teacher finishing her teaching certificate courses and working on her master's degree for the first half of the year and a new mommy for the second half. My album went along great for the first couple months. I fell behind somewhere in March or April. My 2011 album has unfinished spreads completed through the month of June. I have a giant stack of memorablia and notes I kept to put in the album and have all my pictures filed by month on my computer. I would like to finish the album, at least partially. I've adjusted my view on 2011's album and will be happy with how ever it ends up, finished or not.

Here's a couple pages from my 2011 album. Cover page:


A finished spread from February:


Where things start to fall apart (you'll notice this is a multi week spread):


Fast forward to December and the all the buzz on the project for 2012. Given my unsuccessful attempt at Project Life in 2011, I was hesitant to commit to the project for 2012. I still love the idea of the project. The project seems to have gained in popularity and blogland is full of people participating this year. I knew I'd be sorry I didn't at least attempt it again, especially as I watched others share their albums. I've changed my expectations this year. Project Life 2012 will be a no rules, no stress project. If I get weekly spreads done, great. If I lump 2 weeks together, great. If I only manage a monthly recap, perfect. I will let the project unfold how it will and be happy with the results. This year, I'm using my stash and mixing up the page protectors. Making it more my style and less what I thought it should be. Some weeks may just be photos and ephemera. Some weeks maybe full of journaling. Some weeks may be embellished. Some may be plain and simple.

This weekend I finished up my cover page and my first two weeks. I'm excited about the project again. I'm happy about how things are unfolding. I hope I can keep up the momentum, but if not, I'm not going to stress about it. This time around however, the iphone is my friend. Most of my pictures these first couple weeks are instagram pictures and I've downloaded a couple apps to help me keep track of journaling and memories in case I do get behind.

Here's what 2012 looks like so far. Cover page:


Week 1:



I added an insert with a couple new year's cards we received:




Week 2:

2011 Recap

Truth be told, I started this post on December 30th. It's now January 16th and a bit late for a 2011 recap. I hate to let all the work on this post go to waste, so here goes...2011 remembered:

January

• Pretty much consisted of school work, lesson planning, crafting and baking.
• Shawn celebrated his 33rd birthday.

February

• Chinese New Year festival
• Found out we were having a boy :)
• Maternity clothes shopping and baby room planning.

March

• New windows in the house
• Registering for baby stuff
• Contemplating baby names
  
• Grad school projects

April

• Decided on the name Aiden Matthew
  
• My baby shower
• Hanging with Jessie and Nicole
• Citrus and berry obsession

May

• School baby shower
• End of school year
• Maternity Photo Shoot
  

June

• Shawn and I spent our 5th wedding anniversary in Sedona.
• Our niece Camryn was born (on our anniversary).
• Finished my classes and got my regular teaching certificate.
  

July

• Aiden made his debut and changed our world completely.
• Baby, baby, baby 24-7 and loving it.

August

• Aiden's first vacation to Greer, AZ.
• Jessie and Eloise visit and meet Aiden
• I completed my M. Ed.

September

• More baby, baby, baby and lots of little outings to visit people, shop and lunch

October

• I celebrated my 34th birthday.
• I went back to work after maternity leave.
• Pumpkin patch and Aiden's first Halloween.
  

November

• Aiden's first airplane trip to spend thanksgiving in Chicago with Shawn's family.

December

• Aiden visits Santa Claus
• Aiden's first Christmas

2011 was a big year around here. Here's hoping 2012 brings us more great things.

5 Months

Aiden will be 6 months in 11 days...about time I posted a 5 month update. December has been kind of a crazy month, so we just got around to taking photos. It may also have had something to do with Mommy's delay in knitting a hat she wanted to use in December photos. I didn't finish it until after Christmas, but it was definitely worth waiting for in my opinion. Super cute, right?


At five months Aiden:

-is wearing mostly 6 months clothes, though he still fits in a few 3-6 month things
-not sure exactly what he weighs, but he is getting bigger by the minute
-is eating about 10 oz and a little cereal while Mommy is at work and every 3-4 hours when she is home
-is quite interested in any food or drink you might have near him
-is still sleeping only 4 hours or so at a time (he likes to eat) and often ends up in bed with Mommy


-is sucking his thumb
-is chomping on everything and drooling like a mad man
-I'm pretty sure we are working on a tooth


-is rolling and scooting all over the floor
-is wanting to stand up often
-is sitting up by himself, sort of. He can do it on the couch or in your lap pretty well, but only for a few seconds on the floor
-loves being upside down


-likes rough and active play
-is very ticklish, especially under his chin
-thinks peek a boo and silly noises are the best thing ever
-shakes his head side to side like he's saying "no" and thinks its pretty funny


-still loves Sophie the giraffe and his assorted blanket animals
-thinks spinning toys and music toys are pretty great
-often freezes and listens intently when he hears music (that's my boy)
-enjoys being outside
-loves his bath and being naked
-still has his tongue out all the time
-is about the cutest thing you ever did see

Christmas

Aiden's first Christmas seems to have come and gone with a blur. We had a good holiday, enjoying plenty of time with family. Christmas eve was spent at my parents having our traditional Christmas gumbo (thanks to my time in New Orleans) and Christmas crackers (thanks to a holiday spent in England). Sadly, I have no pictures of everyone in their Christmas crowns. I do however, have a picture of Mr. Aiden in his cute Christmas sweater vest.


Look at those rosy little cheeks. Love! Aiden also enjoyed hanging out with his great grandparents. I am so thankful for this great picture I happened to catch in the midst of several less than stellar shots.


Christmas morning Aiden and I headed back to my parents for Christmas breakfast and gift opening. Here's a view of my parents tree full of presents.


Before opening presents, my sister tied Aiden with a bow. He was certainly my favorite Christmas present this year!


I think Aiden most enjoyed the wrapping paper and ribbons, especially the sparkly ones.


We were all quite spoiled this Christmas, with lots of fabulous gifts all around. Aiden had the largest box amidst the bunch, getting a fun play center to use when he visits his grandparents.


Here's a peek at one of my gifts, a Lisa Leonard necklace with Aiden's name, a jar of hearts and a pearl.


The festivities continued and later Christmas day, we all headed to my aunt and uncle's house for a large gathering with family. It was a lovely evening of family and food. It was fun to show Aiden off, especially since many of my family members had not met him yet. He was particularly interested in my cousin's little boy, who is only 3 days younger than Aiden. The two of them make quite the Christmas pair.





We had a nice holiday, though I can't believe it is already over. All the anticipation up to Christmas and the actual event seems to fly by so quickly.

Hoping your holidays were as merry as ours!

Weekending

This weekend was a true December weekend, full of holiday parties, decorating and holiday shopping.

Aiden and I went to work parties both Friday and Saturday nights. He's such a good baby, it's so easy to take him with me every where I go.

I spent the rest of the weekend decorating, cleaning and doing laundry. I did manage to squeeze in a little baking too.

This weekend I finally ordered my Christmas cards from Shutterfly and used a 5 free card code to order a few customized thank you cards. I think this is a pretty fun way to send thank you's, don't you?

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Four Months

Aiden turns five months later this week, so I figured it was about time I posted his four month update. Time is definitely moving fast. I can't believe he will be five months in just a few days.


At four months, Aiden:

-weighed 15.1 pounds and was 25 inches long at his 4 month visit.
-eats every three to four hours, including 2 five ounce bottles (sometimes a third) while mom is at work.

-started being supplemented with rice cereal and a couple ounces of formula, because mommy can't pump enough for this hungry boy.
-sleeps about 4-5 hours at a time at night.
-takes 2-3 short naps (or sometimes a long one) most days.

-loves to play.

-enjoys peek a boo, tickles, being upside down and any other rough or silly play activities.

-loves Sophie the giraffe and his keys.

-is working hard during tummy time trying to army crawl and sometimes rolling over.

-grabs everything in sight, especially food and drinks.

-loves to be outside.

-has started fake coughing and fake burping...such a boy already!
-still blows bubbles and raspberries all the time.
-loves to imitate mouth and tongue movements.
-is probably teething, as he's chomping on everything and drooling like crazy.
-gets cuter and cuter by the day!