Melissa A. Gibson wants to capture memories of her 8-month-old son, Jacob A. White, but she just doesn't have the spare time to become involved in scrapbooking.

The 20-year-old mother, Chaumont, is receiving some help for that, thanks to a $4,000 grant from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield to the North Country Children's Clinic's Adolescent Pregnancy Program.

The program, which is offered through the Women, Infants and Children federal supplemental feeding program in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, received the grant to help improve bonding, attachment and nurturing parenting skills for pregnant and parenting teens.

Ms. Gibson and other pregnant or parenting young mothers will accomplish that by developing a personalized baby scrapbook and growth log, created in conjunction with one of the program's nurse educators.

"I just thought it'd be fun, and a good way for me to write down things in an area other than this baby book," Ms. Gibson said. "I haven't scrapbooked before, and I just want to remember each month. I can't even remember him being a newborn, when he fit just right in my arms."

During each WIC appointment, Ms. Gibson and the other mothers write a journal entry and have their child's picture taken. The entry and picture are saved for when a few of the women can gather to complete a couple of pages for their scrapbooks.

They may also bring in their own pictures.

Ms. Gibson's first page consisted of a blue, bubbled background underneath a picture of her son smiling, and a picture of her holding Jacob. The time of his birth, weight and height were written on smaller bubbles she cut out and used as accents.

Phyllis F. Myers, registered nurse and manager of the clinic's Adolescent Pregnancy Program, said the idea of scrapbooking is to help mothers connect with their babies.

"The first year or two passes so quickly," she said.

Mrs. Myers is overseeing the work with fellow avid scrapbooker and nurse educator Kathleen S. Robinson.

"This is a project that'll go on for a while," Mrs. Myers said. "What they should end up with is a book that tells a story. We'll track their babies' weight and other developmental milestones."

The grant, she said, was used to buy materials such as scrapbooks, colorful pages, stickers, stamps, stencils and other items. The clinic also received plenty of donated items, Mrs. Myers said.

Rhonda D. Lowe, 19, attended Thursday afternoon's event to work on her scrapbook and to have some alone time.

"The kids are with my husband," she said of her 2-year-old son, Daniel J., and 8-month-old daughter, Deseray A. "I think this will be a wonderful project."

Mrs. Lowe, who has started her own family scrapbooks at home, said she was happy to learn creative ideas for new pages.

"You can't get those memories back," she said. "The kids grow so fast. They are the best things to happen to me. Being a teen parent has been great."

Another scrapbooking afternoon will be planned in December for Jefferson County residents in the program, and there will be one later this month in St. Lawrence County.