So first comes “Lost and lonely without you, dreamin’ only of little you”… Next comes,  “Gonna to the Chapel and I’m gonna get married”… Then, “Oh my B-A-B-Y…” And so now it is time to look into a Baby Photo Album. These are simply some of the funnest to make. Just becareful that your heart strings don’t make your eyes drop dew on the photos. Maybe it is best to make the albums every six months or sit down once a year. They get big all too quick, as any mother can testify too.

Baby photo albums can come in so many different formats and and styles. Sometimes I just put them all in order according to date and slip them into plastic like archival photo sleeves. I have purchased lots of different sized ones from Amazon or even Walmart. It is amazing how much thought goes into the products that are so readily available to us. As always, check for acid and lignin presence, to prolong the life and quality of the photos.

For baby books I like to make one for myself and one for the child. Even if my boys don’t want their book someday, I bet that thier wife will want it. CD copies of photos is a life saver. It is so nice to have the original develped for my book, then I print out a second one for the child’s book.

I love to dress up the outside of the album with dates and names, the address of the house we lived in at the time and important events. And I try to think of important events not just as from my perspective, but from my child’s. To my son the day that he got our little Yorkie is important to him. The week he got to sleep at hunting camp was another mile stone for our 8 year old.

My daughter thinks in terms of when she got this doll, when that dress was worn, and which song she sung for church. I love to add other incriminating photos such as big brother convincing her to make mud pies in her kitchen, crying when she had to have a bath, and the birthday cake mutilated by the barn cat that she let into the house “to hold and put straight back outside”.

There is not limit to the memories, so enjoy them cherish them, and live more of them with your kids every day.

Wedding photo albums are among my favorite. The bride and groom, the first kiss, the cake, and all the guests make this one of the most special of all the albums that line a shelf. For my wedding my sister-in-law hand made me an album. With soft lace, shimmery material, little rosettes from the shower favors, and navy baby breaths to match my bouquet, it is one of my most prized possessions. She even formed a picture frame on the front of it in the form of a Cameo. Two lengths of lace hold it closed when tied. Inside are mounted in a loose leaf format several clear photo holders. Each one can accommodate up to four 4 inch by 6 inch pictures. I use it to house the photos taken by my brother-in-law.

The photo album from the photographer was special as well. Though lacking the personal touch of the first, this leather photo album’s front does boldly announce, “The Lemmons Wedding”. The photographer, though a real ticket to have around the wedding party and guests, produced outstanding work. From two extra photo shoots at the studio, one for the bride in full bridal gown, and an newly wed session after we returned from our honeymoon, the wedding photo album contained a whole progression of photos. He also photographed me dressing for the wedding, dragging that long train around, the little five year old niece getting her hair french braided, and the little ring bearers, men of 3 and 4 years old, sleeping on the back of the church during rehearsal. Of course there was the ceremony. I will never forget the end of the wedding when this little fat man was running down the aisle in front of us backwards whispering at the top of his voice, “Kiss, Kiss, KISS!!”. Oh what a character to have. But he excelled at getting photos that no one else did, once all of the albums are laid out.

We chose to have our photos bound as in a book. The pages are hard, with one photo mounted on each side. It was sent away to a book binding company and it took months to return to us, but it was worth it. I don’t know how many ladies have commented on the quality and uniqueness of my album.

For the rest of the photos I chose to have them laid out in acid free lignin free photo archives from Pioneer Photo Albums. With just about every type size of holder that I could imagine, they met my every need. For other things of value, such as the guest book and wedding schedule that was handed out at the door of the church, I chose to purchase photo storage boxes also from Pioneer Photo Album. Though not cheap, I felt better having them preserved in that way.

My wedding was once and for keeps, so I don’t plan to ever replace or update any of the events of that special day. We’ve been married 11 years now and are just beginning. It takes depth of character and commitment on both sides to make a lasting relationship. And that is what I have. Our parents have both been married for over 45 years and my grandparents were married for 61 and 58 years respectively. That is what I look forward too. I hope your memories are just as special.