It's totally amazing how quickly babies and wee children can grow.

When a baby is born, the excitement is captured in photos by parents, grandparents, and family friends to enjoy for years to come. However, as with many photos that we take, they either are not printed from the digital camera or remain in the drugstore photo center envelope. Printing the sweetest ones and making a creative scrapbook of baby’s first twelve months is the perfect way to keep the memories in an organized and original way.

Begin saving the memories by choosing a baby scrapbook that will house the collection of favorite photos and other memorabilia. Scrapbooks come with boy, girl, or neutral covers and many have a window for a photo on the front cover. Most are 12 inches by 12 inches, but some are sold in smaller sizes. Usually ten plastic protector sheets are included where you can place photos, scrapbook embellishments, and mementos by inserting them in the top of the sheet. Most books are expandable so additional sheets can be added to capture all twelve months. Prices average about $30.

As you are shopping for your baby's scrap book, start gathering your photos. Be sure you take some of baby's blankets, favorite toy, and beloved stuffed animal.

Once you have the scrapbook, you must decide on paper for the inside pages. Paper comes in individual sheets or in pads and, in many cases, the double-sided pages match a scrapbook for a coordinated look. Creatively adding stickers, foam shapes, background paper, and words made from letter stickers makes the book a true keepsake. Kits are available that include the basics including the scrapbook and decorative items to complete the pages.

Purchasing a scrap-booking die cutting machine would be helpful.

Using a Disney, animal, cowboy, butterfly, flower, or alphabet theme makes the book a truly memorable month-by-month celebration of baby’s amazing first year of life.