Clara is officially six months old today, which means we’ve reached the halfway point our weekly photo project (you know, the one with the fabric backdrops and photoshopped onesies).
At 12 weeks in, we broke down the “how to” behind the project right here, so this post is just more of an update – since we’ve now accumulated another three months worth of pics. Here’s a snapshot of the first 25. You can check them all out up close here on Flickr.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve taken 26 weekly portraits already. And thankfully we still look forward to our Friday afternoon appointment with the camera, some fabric, a white onesie, and our model. We worried that we’d regret the weekly decision and wish we opted just for monthly pics, but we actually look forward to Friday photo shoots and whatever facial expression adventure Clara will take us on each week. Whether it’s yawning…
…deviously twirling an invisible mustache…
…or even breaking out a ballerina costume to celebrate Halloween (pointed toe and all).
And in the affordable but meaningful holiday gift idea category, even though there are still 26 more photos to go before we hit our one year mark, we plan to package the collection-so-far in a little photo album Christmas present for the grandparents (I realize I sort of just gave away what they’ll find under their tree, but they’ve gotta know it’s already coming). And once we amass a full year’s worth of weekly pics, we’ll do a fancier hardbound book version for everyone (using Shutterfly or Kodak or something).
Oh, and lately we’ve been thinking that we may carry on the tradition past the one year mark because we’re enjoying it so much. But we’ll probably scale things back to just monthly photos at that point. We can only afford/use so much fabric after all. And speaking of all those swatches, from a DIY quilt to framed art or a fabric bunting, we’re so excited to repurpose all of the fun textiles we’ve been collecting thanks to this little daughter documenting project of ours. Can’t believe our baby girl is already half a year old. They grow up so fast.
Amy says
Just you wait! My son is going to be 1 Nov. 30. It seems unbelievable that we’re planning his birthday party!
Jill Stigs says
Clara is truly a most expressive and adorable baby! Yes, the time flies!! Wouldn’t it be funny if you go into labor on a Friday with the next one? :O
Delta says
Congratulations on keeping up with your photo sessions! It takes a commitment to keep it up! If I could turn back time I would have way more pictures of my two growing up – being a parent in the dark ages of film, however, it was a bit more challenging. Now I am just trying to take pictures of our puppy as she grows – trying for weekly but have already missed a few in the short 5 months we have had her. Clara is beautiful… continue enjoying every second of her. xoxo D.
sophie says
All those fabrics together look fabulous. that will be one fine quilt by the end of the year (or picnic blanket, or , or, or…)
Eve says
I love these!! She’s so cute and it’s a great way to see how much she’s grown. I’m expecting a baby boy any day now and I may just do the same :) Where did you get the onesies? Did you make them and how determine what sizes to get?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Eve,
Just follow the link in this post where we mention the how-to post a few months back, which explains how we made the onesies in Photoshop (free! instead of buying/making weekly ones). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
jessica says
I love your fun tradition! And I can’t wait to see what you do with all the fabric once the year is up. My fav so far has to be ballerina Clara…the pointed toe just kills me!
Holly says
Happy half-year birthday to Clara! Love her little smiling face.
Shannon R. says
I definitely think you should make or have a quilt made with the fabric!
Laurel says
Also consider that she would make a great self-made calendar model! The super thing about the onesie being photoshopped is you can always change it to say something else, right? How about “January, February, March…” you get the idea. That’s something I think grandparents would love – hanging on the wall all year long. She’s so cute even people unrelated to you would probably buy it! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, that’s a super cute idea! Love it.
xo,
s
Holly H says
I really love this, and think your decision to go with weekly photos was spot on. I just went and had a look through the whole set – you would have missed alot especially between week 7-12 where it seems that her personality really starts to break out had you gone for the monthly ones.
You guys rock!
Angela says
i love this, and i’ll definitely be doing the same once my husband and i have children :-) your daughter is adorable! she is so cute!
and your blog rocks :-)
Monica says
She’s so precious! This is such a great idea, and one day when I have kids, I will definitely find a way to make this idea my own.
It’s amazing to see how much she’s grown over the weeks.
J says
This is so cute! I love the fabrics and of course the model.
liz @ bon temps beignet says
Happy Half-Year Clara!! She makes the cutest little faces.
You two hit the baby jackpot!
Jyl says
I used that same fabric you used for the Halloween picture to make an apron from my girly punk rock friend last year. I still have a little bit left and I love it! I squeed a little when I saw it, and on my favorite holiday no less!
This is a great idea that I totally plan on stealing once we have kids (With the addition of Babo, because he’s our mascot, and he’ll help show baby’s growth over time). I love Clara’s sweet little expressions!
Kim J says
Happy half birthday, Clara! It’s my half birthday, too!
Mandi says
Super cute way to document her growth. I remember wanting SO BADLY to know how our new baby was going to look when she got bigger (yet of course not wanting to wish away her “newness” either) . . . and then, when she did get bigger, I’d think – “Well, duh – of COURSE that’s how she’s going to look :-)! It was in her face all along!” (Said baby is 20 now, LOL!)
HeatherBakes says
These are so cute! I really want to steal this idea when baby #2 comes along.
Our son is almost 1, and I’ve been taking the monthly Picky Sticky onesie photos. It worked great until last month- when he started crawling. Now it’s next to impossible to get a good shot! He’s a man on the move.
Anyway, Clara is precious. Great job, you guys!
Julie says
LOVE her expression in this one! I’m admiring your photoshop skills too – especially to get the the type to look “wrinkled” to match her onesie!
Also, just read Mandi’s post – SO true! :)
Eve says
Sweet – I like free! Thanks for the tips!
Jackie says
What a cutie! An amazing online book creator is blurb.com – Fantastic site, with a downloadable applet that allows you to design, manipulate your own book which is then available for family to purchase for their own online. I have made my nephew a book for his first birthday, my husband a book for our first year anniversary (paper). They are fantastic with a wide variety of choices in material and sizes.
PS – I don’t work for them just a big fan!
ginger says
I think you were super brave to choose do it while she’s awake! LOL
Cynthia says
Happy 6 months! Time sure flies by. I love this idea that you did with her. We do a monthly photo with our boys and they of course pose with a football. :)
beth says
she is so sweet! in her most recent picture, i can really see both of you “in” her. :)
Emily says
Happy half birthday! It’s so fun to watch her grow up! We’re also giving the grandparents a photo book of some of our daughter’s pictures this year. I already ordered it b/c we wanted to take advantage of Snapfish’s buy one book get two free. I imagine they’ll have similar promotions in the future. There are lots of fun sewing projects that require little fabric- like little dresses, skirts, throw pillows, etc. It would be so fun to keep some of your favorite fabrics around for future kiddos or in blanket or toy form for Clara.
Victoria Klein says
Look at that amazingly happy look on her face! That is the happiest baby I’ve ever seen :)
Jenn says
AHAHAHAHAHAHA Invisible mustache Clara is def my favorite!!! Happy 6months! The fun never stops <3
xoXOxo
Jenn L @ Peas & Crayons
Bella says
Oh I’d definitely make a quilt out of those fabrics for Clara that will probably be a really nice memento of her Childhood when she’s grown up =) Quilts are something that is for forever I think =)
Kayt says
Man, I want that skull fabric. So adorable! I might keep your swatches of fabric and use them for each week every year instead of buying new ones, so you have a snapshot of how much bigger she is. Or, make a blanket for each month with the four or five pieces you used in each month and take the pics on that blanket.
You could make one big blanket, and do a giveway for the remaining pieces. If you make a blanket, you wouldn’t use anywhere near a full yard of each color, it’d be kind of fun for all of us nerds who have been drooling over your fabric choices ;)
Erin says
I’m so glad you guys came up with this idea! My twins are just a few weeks behind Clara, and I look forward to our photo shoot every Monday. I’m kicking myself for missing a couple of weeks in the very beginning, but these pictures have been so much fun and the hot topic! My onesie photoshop skillz are nowhere near yours, but I’ve been able to fool more than a few people :) I was just thinking this week about what to do with all the fabric…can’t wait to see what you come up with! Here’s the latest photo, if you’re interested :)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5930851&l=184dd352b2&id=580767061
Bryn says
I really wish I had done this with my boys(now 10 and 8). It would be amazing if you had a quilt made and gave it to Clara, along with a hardbound first year photo book, when she has her first child. that would be an amazing keepsake!
Oh, and the pointed toe in the ballerina pic is priceless! Happy 1/2 birthday Clara!
robin says
When our daughter was an infant, I took pictures of her in her bedroom glider on the 12th of every month during her 1st year. Now, on June 12th, her birthday each year, I take photograph her in that chair. She’ll be 6 for her next photo shoot. I’ve made a Shutterfly photo book for each year of life – June 12 -June 12. Her June 12 photo is always the last page in the book. My plan is to keep making them until she heads off to college or elsewhere at 18. I will gift them to her so she can take her childhood with her wherever she goes. It’s hard to believe that we’re almost a third of the way there. **sniff**
***I’m hoping she’ll eventually help make them with me since she’ll surely have memories of high school and summer camp etc. that I was not able to photograph.
KatieL says
Every Christmas Eve, my parents took a photo of me sitting at our upright piano. They started it when I was a baby and 27 years later, we are still doing it. They showed the series of photos in my wedding slideshow last year and it was amazing! Love the photos of Clara, thanks for inspiring us!
robin says
also, the collection of those monthy photographs in a grid design (just like the ones you have in the grid above) was the invitation for her 1st birthday party. I even made a party game out of it by having guests guess the chronological order of the photos. One of her grandmothers had only 1 correct answer! oops!
Michelle says
I love your weekly photos and am embarassed to admit I find myself stalking on Friday’s to see the latest one! It is truly amazing how quickly they change in that first year.
Sophie says
Man – Clara is just so dang cute! I can’t wait to see what shennanigans she’ll be up to when she starts crawling! We did monthly photos – and even that was a commitment for us! I totally do not regret doing it though!
Flynn says
She’s got so much personality! You guys are really lucky folks. I made a photo book for my husband using My Publisher and was really happy with the results, in case you’re looking about for a company; they have really good coupons ;)
Bridget says
I feel like there should be a place in the new home where you can put up this fabric every week and take pictures—I’d go so far as to say a portrait of the family plus one of your child(ren) would be a wonderful family heirloom. And think of all the things you could do with the fabric! I’d personally bundle it off and send it off to the next mom-to-be, or as you say, make a quilt, or pillows. So many options!
Bridget says
Err, I mean every month past age 1. That’d be a lot of photos (though I’m sure I’d get a lot better at deleting photos if I took so many!)
Nikki says
Happy Half-Birthday Clara! I love that you guys have made this project which is not only something fun for you to look back on, but she’ll have this that she can look at later in life to see how fast she grew just in one year!
Shreya says
Happy half birthday Clara :)
Marcie says
I think in some previous post I have seen John make that same face. This week Clara looks just like her Daddy!
susan says
Wonderful idea. I wish I would have done it with every one of my 6 kids. I think I will start now. My 13 yr old will look very different in a year as will the other 2 still at home. You have created a memory for all of us. susan
Ami @ beyondpeasandcarrots says
Aww so cute :)
Amy @ The Nifty Foodie says
Aww…happy 6 months to Clara!
I love the quilt idea…I’ve been collecting scraps of fabric from my first year of learning how to sew to make a quilt out of.
I also love the fabric choices you’ve made for the weekly pictures. :)
Connie says
Happy Half-Year Clara! Hey Petersiks, you know what would be cute?!?! Zoom in the photo, capturing her face, on all the pics and make an organized collage for her first birthday! I dunno, what cha think?
YoungHouseLove says
We do love her face…
xo,
s
jessie says
you two have the most beautiful baby girl!! i love your ideas and how much of a family you are. congratulations and happy 6month to clara!!
Alexandra says
I was going to add that in my humble opion Blurb is by far the best for photo books. I wouldn’t waste my time with the other ones. here too just a big fan, don’t work for them either.
Ashley @ According to Ashley says
I can’t handle the cuteness of Week 24. Absolutely precious.
Caitlin @ That House on the Corner says
Please tell me you are going to make a quilt with a piece of each of these fabrics! What a fun keepsake that would be!
xoxo,
Caitlin @ That House on the Corner
YoungHouseLove says
It’s definitely a possibility! We have so many ideas – we’ll see what we end up going with!
xo,
s