Quote Originally Posted by birdgirl73
Is anyone else here into documenting your kids' development? We only have one son, and we've always been in his face with cameras. I also always kept all the requisite baby milestone books, keepsakes, report cards, etc., and we took videos of his soccer games, school events, Christmases and all that. I think as a writer, I've always had an urge to leave various types of records behind. A close friend helped plant an idea in my head the year I got married to do a video chronicle if I ever had a baby, and I've done that faithfully. My younger sister, who's a trained video producer, helped.

Every year on my son's birthday, which is in May, we'd set up a camera and shoot about 5 minutes of video of him and me and his dad. We started it with video footage of him coming home from the hospital and as a newborn. And then on his first and second birthdays, it was mostly just us sitting there next to him in his high-chair, listening to him coo and babble and talking briefly about his likes/dislikes and key family and baby-development milestones. But as he got older and could converse, I'd ask him questions about his year, the high points, the low ones, his attitudes about life, his favorite toys, animals, activities, friends. There is a funny one from his 14th birthday where he was furious at us and was in a sullen teenage mood, arms crossed tightly across his chest, just enduring the torment and barely answering my questions.

I began sorting through that footage today to begin compiling some of it into a DVD to show at his 21st birthday party this spring. I guess I'll end the chronicle with 21, but I may wait till he graduates college and is fully on his own. I haven't made my mind up yet. I think he and his future wife and kids and grandkids are going to love watching the video chronicles someday. I had tears pouring down my face as I was reviewing some of the footage because, of course, those baby years won't ever come again.

Just wondered if anyone else has done anything similar and figured it'd be neat to share the idea with those of you out there who are planning kids in the future or have small children and babies now.

I love you like a sister but,,, if you showed that at my 21st birthday I would be so embarrased I would need an ice pack... I hope he is different and can take the heat...