The Rocking Chair Pictures

When I was pregnant with Andrew, I read an article about a mom who took a picture of her daughter every year, starting at birth (or maybe age one), in the same (adult) bathing suit. Until she was 18. Just to watch the progression.

So I got a similar idea that I would highly recommend to new moms. I decided to take a picture of my children each month during the first year of their lives in the same outfit and in the same chair. The outfit is a 3-month outfit, but thankfully (so far) I have had children that start out kind of big but who don't grow that big. (And, yes, I also have a matching pink one in case we ever get our Katherine Elizabeth.)

First I will show you Andrew's pictures. We lived in our first house during all of these pictures. Matthew and I painted the stripes in Andrew's nursery ourselves. It was super easy and we're not that handy. Seriously. Let me know if you want to know how.

Andrew's Monthly Pictures

One Month Old--April 2006



Two Months Old--May 2006



Three Months Old--June 2006



Four Months Old--July 2006



Five Months Old--August 2006



Six Months Old--September 2006



Seven Months Old--October 2006



Eight Months Old--November 2006



Nine Months Old--December 2006



Ten Months Old--January 2007



Eleven Months Old--February 2007



Twelve Months Old--March 2007



And now to Benjamin's pictures. Let me first say that for many months, I was very sad after doing these pictures. I knew I wanted to do it and I needed to do it. But it made me sad.

They tell you not to compare your children. Even if you have nothing but typically developing children, you're just supposed to take each child for his or her own.

But, come on, we all do it. When you have a child who is developmentally delayed, it is hard. But we still do it.

So every month, I would grow more and more anxious that Benjamin was never going to be able to sit in that chair by himself. It stressed me out that he needed so much assistance. It made my heart hurt that while Andrew could hold himself up in the chair relatively early, it took Benjamin much longer. And I know he has Down syndrome. And I know he had two major surgeries.

Still.

But remember, I didn't really start to accept this whole Down syndrome thing until B was about 9 1/2 months old. So everything that was different was just a slap in the face to me. Now, not so much. (Sometimes, but not all the time...) :)

OKAY! Enough blabbing. Here are the pics.

Benjamin's Monthly Pictures

One Month Old--May 2008



Two Months Old--June 2008



Three Months Old--July 2008



Four Months Old--August 2008



Five Months Old--September 2008



Six Months Old--October 2008 (Three weeks and one day after his open-heart surgery!)



Seven Months Old--November 2008



Eight Months Old--December 2008



Nine Months Old--January 2009 (Exactly two weeks after his intestinal surgery.)



Ten Months Old--February 2009



Eleven Months Old--March 2009



Twelve Months Old--April 2009



Sigh. I love it. Hope you enjoyed!