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3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year

Jul 20, 2018
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We are all part of the visual era and with so many #instagood and Pinterest perfect ideas on how to document baby’s first year in the prettiest and most unique way it’s super easy to get carried away. This 3rd time around I certainly did…

With Eliana I just took a photo every month. With Lia I used a blackboard and monthly stickers. I still love her photo series (see it here), but storing the massive blackboard for a year wasn’t very practical.

Then with Ava, I didn’t just opt for one or two, but three ways to document every month of her 1st year.

Less is more:

Is there anything more beautiful than a baby in a crisp white vest? I don’t think so and this 1st collection proves that keeping things simple can be beautiful.

I love how her expressions and reactions changed over time as she felt saver when being held by her dad. You can also see her becoming stronger as Mr. Perfect’s hand moves down towards her lower back.

These photos are fun and cute, was easy to take and simply just Ava but I really struggle keeping track of each month when not looking at the image dates, especially after around 8 months old. So that’s where our 1st photo prop proves very handy…

Monthly wooden milestone disks:

These are so trendy at the moment and I prefer them to milestone cards purely because baby can handle and chew on them without compromising the design. The set designed and made by Nectar & Ink are easy to read, gender neutral and our favourite. The set is also very durable and can be used over-and-over again for other siblings.

Of course I couldn’t just take a pic with the milestone disks. I wanted a theme. Being a girl that shares a birthday with Frida Kahlo, flowers instantly sprung to mind. Florals are always a winner and would compliment the wooden disks.

The outfits needed to be special too so I decided to do touches of knitwear (another big baby trend at the moment). It could be a knitted romper, bloomer, bonnet, jersey… As long as Ava wore something knitted.

I used a combination of store bought and home picked flowers for every month.

The mayor challenges of this series:

  • Finding 12 items of knitwear, especially during summer months wasn’t easy
  • This was expensive with me needing to buy flowers and also Ava’s outfits
  • Ava really liked ALL the photo props so set-up and “getting the shot” took a lot of time and patience

Still, I think the trouble was worth it.

“GROW”-ing with your 1st teddy bear:

Neither of the 2 above mentioned collections illustrated Ava’s growth in relation to an object. So, why is this important? Because it’s the best way to really see how MUCH your little one grows in the 1st year.

Being a mom herself, Chantelle from La Fede created the perfect companion for all little ones; Grow bear. He’s soft and cuddly and sure to compliment any baby nursery. He’s even available as a she in blush.

At first I propped Ava into a sitting position next to Grow. He looked huge in comparison to her but as the months flew by Ava grew “into” Grow. She also started sitting unsupported and noticed her bear.

The idea is to keep taking photos with Grow. One on each off Ava’s birthdays and who-knows, maybe someday in the future, Grow will be playing model with our grandchildren too.

Next time…

Looking at all these photos, I treasure them all but if we were blessed with a fourth little person to love, I’d definitely do a combo. Keeping baby’s outfit simple (like the 1st collection), using the disks to easily keep track of every month (like series 2) and having a special friend, like Grow, to show how baby grew each passing month.

So what can you win?

Learn from my mistakes and go with the perfect combo. An adorable Grow bear (in white or blush) and a set of wooden milestone disks. Keeping track of baby’s first year will be cute, easy and fun.

Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year

How to enter?

Find this adorable photo of our cutie-pie on our Instagram (@justamamma) and make sure to follow the instructions below it.Just a Mamma Babys 1st birthday

SOMETHING EXTRA!!!! For an extra entry leave us a comment below telling us which one of Ava’s 1st year series you like the most. Visit our previous post, “Turning 1: Celebrating with a cake smash and giveaway” for full terms and conditions regarding this competition.

Give La Fede and Nectar & Ink some love too.

Follow both on Instagram @lafede_designs and @nectarandink

Like them on Facebook @lafededesigns and @nectarandink

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29 Comments

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Chantelle Jul 20, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    Dis die mooiste 12 maande saam haar beer!!!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Zeenats Carrim Jul 20, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Love the different and interesting ways too document the years ❤️

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Nicke Theron Jul 20, 2018 at 6:31 pm

    I love the floral one! I can just imagine it took a lot of work to keep it going, but it is beautiful and whimsical!!! ❤

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Lia Jul 23, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    Definitely the one where your husband is holding Ava. Just so personal and special. Xx

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Joanna Wolfe Jul 23, 2018 at 2:36 pm

    In love with the floral version, I’m a sucker for babies with flowers! Such a beautiful giveaway!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Michelle Graham Jul 23, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    The wooden milestones with the flowers and knitwear is really special!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Salome van Wyk Jul 23, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    Wonderlike idees!! Dankie Mamma van mooiste Ava en Lia en Eli!!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Khadija Fakir Jul 23, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous. I love all 3 ways. My favourite is the crisp white vest. I love it because it’s easy and it’s always available ?. I love doing easy things especially with two busy bodies and a third one on the way. Thank You for showing us how it’s done. Didn’t know it’s so easy. I always look at all these pics and they sooo perfect, and think okay they use a photographer every month . Great post.

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Michaela Jul 23, 2018 at 5:21 pm

    I love the Growing with your first teddy bear idea ?

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Lize Buitenweg Jul 23, 2018 at 5:47 pm

    Als is so mooi en oorspronklik – maar hou veral van die blomme-tema en Ava se pragtige uitrustings!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Lindsay Kolbe Jul 23, 2018 at 6:43 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous ?

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Lauren Hogarty Jul 24, 2018 at 6:32 am

    I LOVE the Frieda series…. Adore the colours and outfits! What a great competition!
    As always just love this blog!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Anine Jul 24, 2018 at 9:09 am

    Loving the grow bear!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Anmar Jul 24, 2018 at 11:27 am

    This is just way to beautiful ?

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Robyn Jul 24, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Next to her bear is super cute

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Aimee Stander Jul 25, 2018 at 7:25 am

    My favorite is the first one in the white vest with your husband holding her.

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Megan Gibbons Jul 25, 2018 at 2:27 pm

    Love the plain white, so simple and beautiful!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Mahnaaz Essa Jul 26, 2018 at 6:32 pm

    Definitely the floral version. It’s so beautiful and girly

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Joy Jul 26, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    Gosh I cannot choose! Love them all!!!

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Beaugary Jul 27, 2018 at 10:03 am

    Floral version is my fav

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Beaugary Jul 27, 2018 at 10:18 am

    Milestone Cards n floral is my fav

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Tasjka Ackerman Jul 27, 2018 at 10:21 am

    I absolutely love all these beautiful ideas wish I had seen this sooner to do with my little ones… Luckily have one with his teddy, but not every month…

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Claudia Mc Namee Jul 27, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Such a lovely idea …….and I am so stealing it ?

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Taneale McFarlane Jul 27, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    I love the simplicity of the white vest on a plain background – I think it makes you focus more on her, and how her expressions and body posture changes with each month ❤️

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Kristin Hofmeyr Jul 27, 2018 at 1:04 pm

    I absolutely love the photo series of hubby holding Ava! It’s so special, and simple and you can see how his arms strain as she grows 🙂

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Ninette Jul 27, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    I love the crisp white babygrow and having daddy involved in the series makes it just so much more special.

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Jacqui Trinder Jul 28, 2018 at 12:32 pm

    I loved the grow with me floral series!!! I adore Frida ? and the idea of “having an excuse” to buy some beautiful flowers?️ every month seems like a great pick me up during the first few months. Our baby girl is due on Oct and those wooden discs and bear are a super cute way of getting a perfect pic (which is not easy!!)

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Vikki Jul 28, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    The flowers and milestone cards are beautiful! ??

  • Document baby's first year, 3 Easy ways to document baby’s first year
    Reply Jade Hattingh Jul 28, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    I LOVE the grow bear from La Fede!

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