Parenting

The 4-6 Weeks Project (Week Two)

I’m taking a photograph of Eleanor each day until the new baby arrives, to document our last 4-6 weeks as a family of three.

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Eleanor, it is such a pleasure to watch you grow into the person you are becoming. You are sweet, inquisitive, funny, and bright. Every day you make mama and daddy so happy, and so very proud of you.


Your hair is getting really long in the back and you’ve been sporting a baby mullet for a while now. You haven’t had a haircut yet, and it’s starting to bother you when your hair gets in your eyes. You do love to have your hair done though, often in pigtails or with the front held back by a barrette.

Today was one of the coldest days of the year so far. The high temperature was 4˚ but the windchill brought it down to -20˚. Brrrr! You weren’t outside for long, which is good because you don’t seem to enjoy the cold and snow very much.

Mama and daddy are having the basement finished so that we can make room for your new ‘big girl’ bedroom. You love running around down there and checking out the progress. Hopefully the basement will be done before your little brother arrives!

The Bears played the Packers today to see who would be going to the Super Bowl (the Packers won). Everyone on daddy’s side of the family gathered at Aunt Portia’s house to watch the game and cheer for Chicago, but you were more interested in the dogs than the Bears.

You were a bit out of it this morning. You probably weren’t feeling well. Lots of rest and some chicken soup for lunch seemed to help though, and you were back to your usual sunny self later in the day.

You’re getting better and better at drawing. You used to just make dots, hitting the crayons against the paper, but now you scribble and draw lines. You also like to have other people draw things for you that you can name. Cats, dogs, birds, hearts, and stars are all popular choices.

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  • Alice
    January 26, 2011 at 9:13 am

    I love this series you’re doing; what a great idea. She looks so grown-up, especially in the last picture from the 25th! She will love poring over this with you when she’s older :)

  • Erika
    January 26, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Eleanor is just gorgeous! What a fantastic idea, and something she will treasure for a lifetime.
    p.s. The pig tails are so cute!

  • liz @ btb
    January 26, 2011 at 9:33 am

    I love her picture from the 22nd(?) She look like she’s thinking “hmmmm, yes… I like what you’ve done here”

  • libba
    January 26, 2011 at 9:34 am

    Ok, this is so adorable! She is a beautiful little girl, and what a great way to capture the everyday moments. Love it!

  • Brandy
    January 26, 2011 at 9:39 am

    So cute!

  • Tanya
    January 26, 2011 at 9:41 am

    She is so adorable!

  • Renée
    January 26, 2011 at 9:56 am

    This is such a sweet idea! When she’s older she will be so happy to see all these photos and your comment!

  • jamie @ happy house, happy home
    January 26, 2011 at 9:59 am

    Your daughter is beautiful in all those pictures, but I have to say, the first one is my FAVORITE! Brought a smile to my face. Hope you’re doing well!

  • Elisa @ What the Vita
    January 26, 2011 at 10:00 am

    :-) :-) :-) :-) What a pretty little girl, what a sweet little book. Made me smile on a sad morning… I am looking forward to having a little one of my own so I can copy all of your beautiful ideas :)

  • DebZorn
    January 26, 2011 at 10:02 am

    This is such a good idea. Eleanor is so cute. She is going to be crafty and creative, just like you! It looks like she will be left-handed, too. I have a left-handed daughter. (She’s 30!, but cute and creative.) I found your blog just before Eleanor was born. It such a joy to see kids grow and change. I’m looking forward to seeing her little brother, too.

  • Katie @ explanation required
    January 26, 2011 at 10:35 am

    She should be required to wear pigtails all the time. So adorable!!

  • Millie
    January 26, 2011 at 10:35 am

    I love this idea! I’m in a very similar stage (my daughter will be 2 in March and her brother is due in April). I think I may borrow your idea for our last 4-6 weeks, too!

  • Andreina
    January 26, 2011 at 10:59 am

    I love how pondering she looks in the picture from the 22nd…simply precious :)

  • Lauren @ chezerbey
    January 26, 2011 at 11:04 am

    That last photo is the best…the pigtails! What a cutie!

  • Danielle
    January 26, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Such a sweet idea! :)

  • Katie Truelove
    January 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    I just love the January 21st & 22nd shots! Eleanor is so lucky that you’re capturing all these fun moments (she’ll thank you someday;)!

  • cd
    January 26, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    I’m so, so, so in love with this project idea. It’s going to be such a treasure!

  • Karen @Sugarspicelivin
    January 26, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    Those pictures are just to die for. She’s beyond cute!!! Love them all.

  • Bethany
    January 26, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Just out of curiosity, what program do you use to format the photos- I mean how do you get it to look like a scrapbook? Also, are you going to print them up into a book for her?

  • Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise
    January 26, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    Is the new little one’s nursery almost complete?

  • louise
    January 26, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I’ve been watching these on Flickr… And I love them! I’m only having one child, but if anything changes, I am going to have to copy this idea (what’s that saying, copying is the sincerest form of flattery?? something like that). I just love it. And I love the 22nd and her ‘inspecting’ the remodel! This is so special!

  • Christine, just bella
    January 26, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    I adore this idea. That photo of her in the basement is priceless! Looks like you got a mini renovator on your hands!

  • Shannon
    January 26, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    She looks so much like you in that last picture! What a cutie!

  • Rebecca Mellor
    January 26, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    The picture of Eleanor drawing is beautiful – she looks so cute in her bunches! I love the one of her in the snow too – little ones look so gorgeous all wrapped up! My son is a month younger than Eleanor, so this year was the first time he’s really been able to play in the snow too. He loved poking it, with his mittens on, but was definitely ready to come back into the warmth indoors!

  • Felicity
    January 26, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    N- she’s your mini-me. I adore her!

  • sunny
    January 26, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    loving the photo of eleanor deep in thought.
    pondering future decor decisions perhaps?!

  • Elizabeth
    January 26, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    What a great idea!!! I feel like younger generations will get such a great look at their baby/toddler days! For example, myself and most of my friends have maybe 100 photos each of our babyhood, and that’s it!!! No cute projects like this one to look back on!

  • Miss B
    January 26, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    I love this, so darling and thoughtful. Each photo is cuter than the next. I especially love the one where she’s all bundled up and with your cuuuute pig tails.

  • bolanle 'emioga'
    January 26, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    I would not know where to even begin to say thank you for sharing your adorable angel with us.

  • Athina
    January 26, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    adorable!!!!!

  • Eileen
    January 26, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    best. eyelashes. ever.

  • Paula/adhocmom
    January 26, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    I wish I was better about my photos. My daughter is almost three and it went by so quickly. I need to start taking photos that are more thoughtful, i.e. NOT with the phone.

  • Ellen
    January 26, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    Eleanor is so beautiful….she is really looking more like her mama every day, especially her expressions!

  • April
    January 26, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    Seriously this kid is so cute. Cute! With a capital C!

  • Lisa
    January 26, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    She is adorable! What a great creative idea. Snapfish makes a wonderful photo book when your project is complete! I may steal this idea as my 7 year old is growing much too fast!

  • cristina
    January 26, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    so much love in this gift for Eleanor!!

    Cuore di mamma!!!!!

  • Nina
    January 27, 2011 at 1:53 am

    She’s so cute! She looks so much like you in that last photo!

  • Renata
    January 27, 2011 at 6:29 am

    As soon as I spotted this birthday party, I thought of Eleanor — I bet she’d love this!

    http://www.hostessblog.com/2010/04/real-parties-olivia-the-pig-theme/

  • Joy_UK
    January 27, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    This is such an extraordinary idea! I love it so much :)

    You’re so creative, Nicole…I admire you so much!

  • Sarah Jane
    January 28, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    Such a sweet idea. She’ll cherish that later in life.

  • Sarah Jane
    January 28, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Forgot to mention we have a little girl (almost 2) and are expecting a boy in 4 weeks! Sounds like we were drinking the same water! We’re kind of mourning the loss of our little family of three…but I’m sure it will be great when we’re four!

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