The Belly Book: A Nine-month Journal for You and Your Growing Belly (Potter Style) Hardcover-spiral – March 7, 2006

I'm currently using this journal and From Pea to Pumpkin: A Pregnancy Journal to record my first pregnancy. I'm 26 weeks in, and after using them both (after reviewing tons of journals on Amazon), I have to say this one is my favorite. I almost didn't buy this one because the graphics and the emphasis on the "belly" really didn't appeal to me. I'm so glad I did, though! I've found that this is the journal that I've been most able to make my own. The structure of the journal allows for a lot of flexibility, and the number of extra pages allowed me to make some entries the book didn't anticipate (I had an extra ultrasound in my first trimester and it was very exciting; I used one of the extra pages to journal about it).Each page has room for a photo, which I love. There are separate pages for ultrasounds with room enough for even two photos per page. On most pages, you have room to write whatever comes to mind, which I really enjoy. From Pea to Pumpkin uses a "fill-in-the-blank" format that only allows you to follow their prompts. I find I'm much more able to express myself with the freedom to write what I want. However, The Belly Book also has some pages with multiple choice questions and some called "Snapshot of My Life" which takes up the whole week's page (but I really enjoy). These weeks ask:"Music that I (we) have been listening to lately:Recent movie I've seen:Book I'm reading:Top news story at the moment:"I like the balance of pages with tons of room to just write whatever comes to mind and other pages with direction that help ensure I'm including the important stuff.At the end of each trimester, there are several pages to list your reflections on the last 3+ months. I've really appreciated that, as it's allowed me to really think about the changes and get ready for the next trimester.I also appreciate the fact that each week has you list the dates of that week of your pregnancy (I've referred to this over and over as people ask or I wonder which week I'll be in on that date), and that there are many places to fill in info on your prenatal visits, with lines that ask pertinent information about the visit (like your size, the baby's size, etc.).Other fun pages include one where you list the names you've been calling your little one, places to list your cravings, and pages that ask about your feelings as you get bigger, tell people the news, etc.This journal is really well put together. It's a treasure for me and will be one for my child someday, I hope. It even has enough room (and a rubber band to keep it together) to put cards I've gotten in the back. I can't recommend this enough!

I am 25 weeks pregnant with my first child (a little girl!). And I don't know anyone who's ever had this book through their pregnancy. Thankfully I bought this book while TTC and had it ready to go from the positive test at home! It starts from week 1, which it has humor and says "Mommy and Daddy didn't know I existed" Or "See that shine in mom's eye? that's me." I LOVE THE HUMOR in this! It's meant to be fun and intriguing to those reading it.I love that it's not 'typical' each week or trimester. "How are you feeling" gets really boring to hear and respond to through pregnancy... why would you want a book that has you answer that same question!? I wouldn't!Only thing I don't like about the book is that each picture has to be horizontal... 4x6. A vertical 4x6 wouldn't fit within the given space for a picture. Also they need about 1-2 more spots in the 2nd trimester for prental appointments. And 1-2 less for the 1st trimester (since most doctors won't see you till 8 weeks!) I think there is 4 spots for prenatal appointments in the 1st trimester (I had two appointments) and then 5 spots for the 2nd trimester (I had six appointments) And in the 3rd trimester I don't know for sure how many spots there is since week 25 is the start of 3rd trimester in the book (?? Yeah didn't understand that since it's 28 weeks on everything else I've read!) but there is double what there is for 2nd trimester, atleast. Which is awesome. Only 15 weeks left... so I'm sure it'll work out great.Also has a ending of delivery and baby's arrival so it's like a 'internal baby book'. Which it really is when you think about it. It's about the baby in your belly not really YOU. I love it! And I'm so happy that my daughter can look back and see her growing from a positive line on a test to being born. Not just being born to age one or older.I recommend the baby book as well. It starts off where the belly book ends. And it's the same humor and fun questions as the belly book. Not typical same questions as typical baby books. We also just ordered the birthday book a couple days ago. So I'm excited to see if that one leads off of the baby book in any way.Great series!