Watching as They Grow: Mary Poppins DIY Portable Growth Chart

Here it is!  Our family growth chart/measuring board!  I don't know how I caught the "DIY bug" but man am I in love with doing projects all the sudden!  I think I blame Kirsten mostly (is there anything that girl can't DIY with flair?) and also the fun Halloween costumes.  After I created Thing 1 and 2 I just couldn't stop creating!

Our inspiration for the growth chart design comes from Mary Poppins.  I say "our" inspiration, because Kirsten played a huge role in making this look so awesome.  If you're like me, then it's been awhile since you've watched Mary Poppins all the way through... so watch this youtube clip so you can remember the part about her measuring tape.  Skip to the 2 minute mark if you're in a hurry ;o)

I wanted the growth chart to look like a huge ruler, and Kirsten was immediately like "OH we should write 'practically perfect in every way' under your name!" and then after watching the clip I laughed right out loud because Michael's "measurement" kind of perfectly describes Jesse ;o) and my Monkeys ARE rather inclined to giggle and definitely DON'T put things away!  It was a perfect match for us all!

Total cost for the project was a little less than $20.  I didn't do much besides pay for the supplies and put on the three coats of yellow paint.  Well, I guess I had the idea (part of it anyways.)  K did all the cool scripting.  And measured the girls for the first time so I could snap pics.

Apparently getting measured is a bit traumatic, as they both needed to whip out the fingers/thumb for self-soothing.  Or it was right after naptime and they were still a bit groggy?

So we measured them at their approximate birthday heights this year and I plan to do it again every six months or so.  I also wanted to write down their "starting height" so we put their names at their birth lengths, with their birth dates.  

Having a portable growth chart is a must for a military family.  But even my Dad had to transfer our family measurements from house to house.  So anyone who doesn't plan to live in the same house forever should have one of these beauties to measure their kids!  I also plan to measure the cousins on it, because I remember that we would always do that growing up.  It was fun to get out the sharpie at family gatherings and see who'd grown since our last get-together!

Three cheers for recording your kids' heights as they grow like weeds!

Thanks so much for all your help Kirsten!  Another awesome project perfectly executed thanks to you!  I will treasure it forever, not just as a record of my babies growing into young women, but as a memory of your willingness to drive half an hour once a week to spend the day with your stay-at-home-mom-friend.  I will always think of you and smile when I measure my girls.

-------

Like this post? You might also like my newest kid project, our ABC Tree felt board!

Want to know how I grill my "famous" pizza? You can find the tutorial here.

In the potty training trenches? You are not alone. Let's commiserate together!

Feeling stressed? Make a list of things you don't do! It's okay to admit you can't, and won't, do it all.