8am : reading books with her (more than one at a time of course).
8:20am : seeing what's happening outside her window.
8:45am : a quick couple of sips and email checking.
8:46am : she's interested in checking email too.
10am : on our way to a weight check-up with her doctor (she's a skinny little thing).
10:01am : from the dashboard.
11:15am : grocery shopping with my girl – she got a cookie from the bakery – man I loved that as a kid.
noon : home again.
1:30pm : late lunch of lentil soup, carrots & ranch, and grapes.
1:45pm : pushing her baby dolls around.
2:45pm : waiting for him to come home on the bus – my peonies are in bloom – I could not love them more.
2:50pm : here comes the brother.
4:30pm : after a trip to Target he gets down to the business of homework.
5:10pm : acting out the scene from Fantastic Mr. Fox where Mr. Fox and the badger lawyer have an argument (there's lots of growling involved).
5:40pm : gardenburgers with avocado, sprouts and tomato for dinner (simon had a chicken burger)
MONDAY THOUGHTS
Monday was a bit of a crazy day for me as our babysitter was sick. Instead of a normal "working" Monday I had a "mama to a really cute & fun toddler" Monday and took care of some domestic things on my list.
I used my camera's self-timer in many of the photos above. Chris took the top photo and I took the rest with the timer. I also used
my iphone a bit when Anna and I were out and about.
I took some time last night to read back through my Monday journaling from 2008 and I definitely want to do some more in-depth, list-style documentation on an hour by hour or task by task basis. Today, I just went with it. For me that meant thinking way too much and not writing enough stuff down as it was happening or soon after – it's really hard to try to write at the end of the day and really capture what I would like to about the day.
Don't be discouraged if you feel like you didn't "do it right" yesterday. There is no right or wrong. There's always room to change and embrace and adapt and do things different today.
Hello Tuesday.
Click here for a complete list of Week In The Life posts & don't forget to leave your comment for the REALLY BIG GIVEAWAY.
SPRING STAMP SALE : I also wanted to let you know that Two Peas is having a spring stamp sale where you can get some of my stamps for 30% off. Here's a few that are all about celebrating everyday life:
Everyday Words We Love by Ali Edwards
Today You Storytellers by Ali Edwards
![Two Peas](http://www.avantlink.com/gbi/10513/24901/21775/26723/image.jpg"width="120"height="240"style="border:0px;"alt=)
what a fun series of photos. reminded me much of when my girls were little. thanks for the fond memory!
Yay to day 1
) I’m still getting the hang of things and decided my album will be a week plus. The first few days have really been a learning experience (I started Friday). Thanks for yet another way to capture moments in our life.
Hi Ali,
So glad I asked. So glad you made me think of that!
How was Anna’s checkup?
Morrisons was ok.
He is actually not skinny, but the doctor said he is small for his age. But he said not to worry about it, because he eats like a horse
He is 73 cm now and 10,3 kilos (so that would be just under 29 inches and 23 lbs).
I gave my camera to the nurse and she took a few pictures when Morrison got his shots. Although it also hurts to think about my little guy having pain, they’re also brilliant pictures
Thanks!
Great photos of the Edwards family! Self timer shots not so great here. Trying tho!
You are a master.
Thanks for sharing and mentioning that there’s no right way…ahah…sometimes I feel like I want to take more photos, then somehow I forgot. It’s pretty bizarre to step through your day again via the photos… this is definitely a cool project!
Hi, Ali! I am really enjoying “a week in the life”! Yesterday I was feeling a little bit stressed. I went to bed and felt exhausted. And I thought: what happened? Besides raising one year old twin boys with no help (we are expats) I was feeling more tired than normal for a Monday night. And I realized I was feeling too much pressure, as if I was in some kind of “The Truman Show” movie or something like than. And then I thought: RELAX! Nobody is watching you! And you don’t have to publish all this stuff if you don’t want to. It is just something for you and your family. So today I woke up and had a great time with my kids, my camera, my journal, my dirty laundry and messy living room. And I loved it! I thought of sharing this because maybe others are/were feeling the same way. Thanks for sharing your pics and suggestions. They do help a lot! Funny thing: I have almost the same picture of myself driving to the supermarket! Cool! Hello Tuesday. Looking forward to Wednesday! Have fun!
Heh heh, yeah, as a the mom of an 11 month old I wondered how long she can keep Anna out of it LOL.
In the process of capturing all of these moments, the typical and the unexpected, I keep thinking that I wish I had something like this from my mom from the 70s when I was growing up. How much fun would that have been!!! My 9-year-old daughter is helping me document this now and I hope she will still LOVE this 30 years from now.
Would love a chance to win
I really enjoy peeking into your process. I have a question for you. I find that I’m taking so many photos I’m worried about how I will go through them when I’m ready to put the album together. Are you selective with which photos to take in the first place or are you selecting them later on after taking a lot more than the 15 or so you’ve shown? Just yesterday I took over 50 pictures.
THANKS!
So…I ment to say on the second comment…”how you MAKE things simple”…I guess I hadn’t had my 2nd cup of coffee yet…LOL.
It is interesting the you feel you wished you had documented more on Monday. I think I did too much!! I have a 3-page typed document about yesterday
And NO photos! What happened?? But today I’ve taken some pictures and have decided to approach each day differently. Yesterday it was all about the going-ons in the house and some thoughts/feelings I had. Today it is all about random thoughts. I’m thinking tomorrow I’m going to focus on my feelings for people that I interact with. Just taking it day-by-day and doing what feels right for the day. Thanks for inspiring me to do this!
It’s amazing to me what energy it takes to everyday things. 845a has to be my fav it just a few minutes for yourself.
i’m doing week in the life too, but just as a blog project, because i don’t do scrapbooking (but my sister does, she was the one that linked me.) doing it in norwegian too!
love your photos from monday, nice documentation
Thanks for the words of encouragement! I am getting more ideas as I go along, not all can be accomplished and I have to realize that. I like that style in which you wrote the post above though. A combo of play-by-play and actual writing. HA! Wish I could come over and share books with you! I will bring the snacks. The girls could keep each other occupied
Love your photos.
I would be totally curious what Anna weighs! My daughter has a lot of weight issues (well, they are slowly getting better now) but we used to go to the doctor for weekly weight checks, so I know the feeling!!
Ali thanks so much for not being “perfect” in your shots. I keep thinking that I can’t take a photo of myself as I don’t look good today!!! I just took a pic of myself in my dressing gown with hair all messy….LOL. Love this project. I took pics last year trying to do this but never quite finished. This year, with your guidance, I will succeed.
PS I love that some of the other girls are adding links to their blogs as I love seeing how others are capturing the day.
love the use of your timer, Ali…will definately keep that in mind this week.
I also love your blue shirt..can I ask where di you find it?
Ali, I love the very casual style of the photos, really helps to give it the “this really is my day” feel. This will be so much fun for all of you to look back at thru the coming years.
wow, Ali, I did not know you had a baby (just started following your blog). When you posted this idea -a week in the life- I thought, “well she has a lot of time on her hands. I have a one year old and two older children, I don’t have time to take pictures of my days for a whole week.” After seeing today’s post I have been put in check – we are all busy, we have time for what we make time for, right?! A few photos takes a few moments. I can do this.
very special – two days down but for me, I may have to replay to get the photos I want – I will have the journaling though. Wish I had the grandkids around so I could include them a little more often.
She was 17 lbs 14 ounces yesterday…still below the growth chart for weight. She’s 14 months old.
I took 92 yesterday. Many are repeats of these same shots above – blurry, different angle, etc. Often times when I do this project I end up creating other layouts from stories that develop from all the photos I take…
This is completely random, but I love the blue shirt you are wearing! I don’t know if you read your comments, but if you have a moment to mention where you got it, especially if it’s something that would still be available in stores, that would be awesome.
My daughter was 16 pounds 10 ounces at a year. She gained five pounds in two months though after a week long hospital stay. Prior to that she hadn’t gained any weight in six months…12 pounds at 10 months old. Our last weight check was 17 pounds on the dot at about 12.5 months. I have a feeling, though, that this big weight gain is going to taper off now that she is finally mobile! I know how stressful the whole weight thing can be!! Hopefully Anna will start growing soon!
I love this week in the life project. Instead of me just living, I am observing the life that I live.
Well day two is almost over for me. After reading the comments here and looking over what I’ve done theirs some new ideas I have. I took 3 pages of notes yesterday and 2 pages today, 56 pictures yesterday and 44 today. What I discovered might be easier and more fun is every day I will really journal more about a few things then let it a little on the other days. For instances yesterday I really took a lot of my kids and my self getting ready in the morning and my morning after they left but didn’t do a lot at bedtime. Today only a few at morning and really did a lot between 3:00 -6:30. Tomorrow I plan on doing more at bedtime, their actual brushing of teeth, pj’s, stories, their beds,etc. I’m still going to do all day but just zone in one particular time of day more then the rest. Just thought I’d share my ideas for anyone who might need them, also take your camera everywhere it really is cool to take some pics of things you usually drive right by everyday. Have fun tomorrow everyone.
Way to go keeping her rear facing, in her car seat! Such an important thing to do.
Quick questions for anyone using their iPhone to take some of their pictures. How are these photos looking when printed out? How large can you make them? I had read somewhere that iPhone photos were useless and not worth printing, but I use mine a lot to snap quick pictures. Some of my favorite photos of my 11 week old son are on my phone. I have never tried printing them out. I have used the phone already during this project and would love if those photos were usable. Anyone have any advice?
awesome.
Hi Jennifer – it’s from Anthropologie…last year I think
.
Totally right…it’s all about what you make time for…and it is totally a challenge with small kids (it’s harder this year than it has been in the past because there is just more happening with another person in the family). But man, it is so worth it. You CAN totally do this.
Thanks for sharing your documentation! This is harder than I thought it would be, however, I’m loving it.
Hey Ali, is it too late to start? I really want to do this but neglected to take more than one photo on Monday and due to a crazy schedule today — no pics today! Any suggestions?
Oh my gosh, just like Tuesday! She is 15.5 months and 18lbs (on a good day). Zero percent on the charts (which is so weird, really zero?) I have a layout planned called 0%.
Em I was thinking of you and Miri too!
Ali, I am loving this project! Thank you for all your inspiration. I love the pictures of your daughter. Mine is about the same age! LOVE your house, can you tell me the color of paint in your dining room? Thanks!
Ali,
Thanks for mentioning the self timer….after I read that the boys and I went to town taking photos of us while reading stories for bedtime…it made that ritual that much more special! Insert several squeals of excitement here! Thanks for the idea. I will use that a great deal this week! I’m so excited to be playing along!
Hi Ali. Love the photos of your sweet family.:) I also love this idea and while it doesn’t fit into my schedule right now (end of semester demands lots of attention from faculty) I plan on keeping this on file for future. Maybe this summer. I would love to capture my days when I am writing (or trying to!). I also wanted to say a big thank you…because of your Christmas digital templates I am thrilled to say Christmas 2009 is finished and it looks awesome! I created a simple theme using your twills and a basic color scheme and focused on the stories (your words of wisdom guided me!) and it is the best book I have created by far. Everytime I look at it I get the same feeling…that it’s perfect. Good lessons learned that I plan to keep. Big hugs and blessings
I’ve been using my remote a lot. Unfortunately, sometimes the focus point lands in the background or something, and I get a lot of trash. But I do have some sweet moments of me with my kids, and I love that.
I got your journaling cards from DD, and printed draft copies for each day, just jotting some notes right on them. Can’t seem to manage a play-by-play, and that is okay.
Off topic and somewhat random – looks like you have a Subaru Outback. Me too (a 2005 XT), and I need to get a convertible carseat for my (big) son who is about to outgrow his infant seat. I am having a hard time finding something that fits without moving the seat very far forward. What model Britax does Anna use? Is there plenty of room for a passenger in the front? Thanks!
I’m in the same boat! My baby girl just turned 2 (March 10) and was barely 24 pounds. The doc isn’t overly concerned, it’s just alarming when your other babies are big (my first was HUGE)!
Hi Jen – we do have an Outback and we decided on the Britax Boulevard CS. There is definitely not a ton of room in the front seat – it’s ok…but not spacious. It will be better when we turn her forward facing.
Awesome Bonnie
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It’s never too late to start
. You could start today or next week or anytime. You definitely want to make the photography a pretty big part of the project…I would suggest starting fresh one day this week or next Monday. You can do it.
I love the shot of the Simon at the table and the reflection of the flowers on the table. I have a reflection shot on my Monday page too!
They are definitely usable Anne (but not likely as enlargements). I will print some out this week and let you know specifics next week.
Different doctors, different charts?
Sometimes I think all those charts and things are invented just to make us moms nervous.
Compared to Anna, Morrison is huge, I just don’t understand why they are calling him tiny. At the charts they use here he is at the total bottom, but not below.
Oh well, as long as I see a happy healthy good-eating kid, I’ll try not to worry about it!
Anna looks like a happy kid, you never know when she might get a grow spurt! They will always keep you guessing…
Thanks Ali. Looking forward to the rest of this week’s documentation and creating next week.
Monday I did a really great job.
Tuesday not so much, but I will have a great photo of my Son with his championship trophy (of course I forgot my camera!)
Will try harder for today!
Thanks Ali, I am really thinking about this project alot each day.
So in love with this project, and so inspired to see your in-progress posts!