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Young House Love » Kids & Pets » Our Weekly Baby Photo Project: Halfway Point!

| By John Petersik | November 14, 2010 | 151 Comments

Our Weekly Baby Photo Project: Halfway Point!

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).

Twenty Six 26 Weeks Old

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.

Twenty Six Grid Of 25

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…

Twenty Six 1 Week

…deviously twirling an invisible mustache…

Twenty Six 13 Weeks

…or even breaking out a ballerina costume to celebrate Halloween (pointed toe and all).

Twenty Six 24 Weeks

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.

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Comments

  1. Amy says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Just you wait! My son is going to be 1 Nov. 30. It seems unbelievable that we’re planning his birthday party!

    Reply
  2. Jill Stigs says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:30 am

    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

    Reply
  3. Delta says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:32 am

    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.

    Reply
  4. sophie says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:35 am

    All those fabrics together look fabulous. that will be one fine quilt by the end of the year (or picnic blanket, or , or, or…)

    Reply
  5. Eve says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:37 am

    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!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 14, 2010 at 10:44 am

      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

  6. jessica says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:49 am

    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!

    Reply
  7. Holly says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:50 am

    Happy half-year birthday to Clara! Love her little smiling face.

    Reply
  8. Shannon R. says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:54 am

    I definitely think you should make or have a quilt made with the fabric!

    Reply
  9. Laurel says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:55 am

    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! :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 14, 2010 at 10:56 am

      Oh yeah, that’s a super cute idea! Love it.

      xo,
      s

  10. Holly H says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:58 am

    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!

    Reply
  11. Angela says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:59 am

    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 :-)

    Reply
  12. Monica says

    November 14, 2010 at 10:59 am

    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.

    Reply
  13. J says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:00 am

    This is so cute! I love the fabrics and of course the model.

    Reply
  14. liz @ bon temps beignet says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:06 am

    Happy Half-Year Clara!! She makes the cutest little faces.

    You two hit the baby jackpot!

    Reply
  15. Jyl says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:12 am

    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!

    Reply
  16. Kim J says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:15 am

    Happy half birthday, Clara! It’s my half birthday, too!

    Reply
  17. Mandi says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:17 am

    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!)

    Reply
  18. HeatherBakes says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:22 am

    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!

    Reply
  19. Julie says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:24 am

    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! :)

    Reply
  20. Eve says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:27 am

    Sweet – I like free! Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  21. Jackie says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:28 am

    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!

    Reply
  22. ginger says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:38 am

    I think you were super brave to choose do it while she’s awake! LOL

    Reply
  23. Cynthia says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:40 am

    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. :)

    Reply
  24. beth says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:42 am

    she is so sweet! in her most recent picture, i can really see both of you “in” her. :)

    Reply
  25. Emily says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:46 am

    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.

    Reply
  26. Victoria Klein says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Look at that amazingly happy look on her face! That is the happiest baby I’ve ever seen :)

    Reply
  27. Jenn says

    November 14, 2010 at 11:49 am

    AHAHAHAHAHAHA Invisible mustache Clara is def my favorite!!! Happy 6months! The fun never stops <3

    xoXOxo
    Jenn L @ Peas & Crayons

    Reply
  28. Bella says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    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 =)

    Reply
  29. Kayt says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    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 ;)

    Reply
  30. Erin says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    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

    Reply
  31. Bryn says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    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!

    Reply
  32. robin says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    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.

    Reply
  33. KatieL says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    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!

    Reply
  34. robin says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    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!

    Reply
  35. Michelle says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    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.

    Reply
  36. Sophie says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    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!

    Reply
  37. Flynn says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    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 ;)

    Reply
  38. Bridget says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    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!

    Reply
  39. Bridget says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    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!)

    Reply
  40. Nikki says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:55 pm

    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!

    Reply
  41. Shreya says

    November 14, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Happy half birthday Clara :)

    Reply
  42. Marcie says

    November 14, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    I think in some previous post I have seen John make that same face. This week Clara looks just like her Daddy!

    Reply
  43. susan says

    November 14, 2010 at 1:29 pm

    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

    Reply
  44. Ami @ beyondpeasandcarrots says

    November 14, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Aww so cute :)

    Reply
  45. Amy @ The Nifty Foodie says

    November 14, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    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. :)

    Reply
  46. Connie says

    November 14, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 14, 2010 at 1:57 pm

      We do love her face…

      xo,
      s

  47. jessie says

    November 14, 2010 at 2:17 pm

    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!!

    Reply
  48. Alexandra says

    November 14, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    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.

    Reply
  49. Ashley @ According to Ashley says

    November 14, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    I can’t handle the cuteness of Week 24. Absolutely precious.

    Reply
  50. Caitlin @ That House on the Corner says

    November 14, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    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

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      November 14, 2010 at 3:05 pm

      It’s definitely a possibility! We have so many ideas – we’ll see what we end up going with!

      xo,
      s

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