Though we didn’t have an elaborate party to celebrate our baby girl’s first birthday, we did take some fabulous photos to help preserve our memories of the occasion. We own an excellent, easy-to-use DSLR camera (Cannon EOS Rebel T5), so we decided to take our own photos of our daughter’s first encounter with cake instead of hiring a … [Read more...] about DIY Cake Smash Photo Shoot
Raising an Inheritance
10 Ways Traditions and Rituals Benefit Families
It was during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons of the years before I met my husband that I was most keenly aware of my single state; I longed to share holiday traditions and rituals with a husband and children of my own. I was so interested in sharing traditions because I remembered enjoying a number of these when I was growing … [Read more...] about 10 Ways Traditions and Rituals Benefit Families
12 Outdoor Activities for Babies to Enjoy During the Fall
Autumn has arrived and ushered in some cooler temperatures. This means that we can be a little more comfortable as my little one explores outdoors. Here are 12 age-appropriate outdoor activities that we hope to try in the coming weeks. Outdoor fall activities for infants Go for a walk and look at the bright fall foliage. Rake … [Read more...] about 12 Outdoor Activities for Babies to Enjoy During the Fall
14 Gratitude Activities for the Whole Family
Though I do try to be grateful throughout the year, I really appreciate the general air of gratitude that pervades the month of November. I want to take advantage of this to boost my family’s focus on thankfulness. One easy way to do this is to engage in gratitude activities. These take many forms, so there’s bound to be one or more … [Read more...] about 14 Gratitude Activities for the Whole Family
Why and What to Read to Babies
It felt very natural to read to my daughter throughout her first year. Though she didn’t understand many of the words in the books, I figured that reading provided an opportunity to cuddle, to instill in her a love for reading, and to foster her intellectual development. It turns out that I figured correctly. The American Academy of … [Read more...] about Why and What to Read to Babies
How to Kindly Bring Safety Issues to the Attention of Other Moms
Several months ago my husband and I were visiting with another couple when the wife mentioned she was eager to turn her daughter’s car seat to face forward once she turned one year old. This statement concerned me because I’m familiar with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that babies remain rear-facing in their car seats for … [Read more...] about How to Kindly Bring Safety Issues to the Attention of Other Moms
Choosing to Have Simple Kids’ Birthday Celebrations
My daughter, Amaris, will turn 1 year old in less than a month. What a bittersweet milestone! Though it may be trendy to celebrate a child’s birthday with an elaborate party that includes a bounce house, mobile petting zoo, food trucks, and party favors, we’re choosing a much simpler approach. We’ll go on an outing as a family and enjoy … [Read more...] about Choosing to Have Simple Kids’ Birthday Celebrations
Finding Peace with the Reality That You Can’t Do It All
A couple of weeks ago my husband started a new job. Instead of seeing him off on his first day with a kiss and an encouraging word, I was asleep in bed. I felt awful when I woke up and realized I had slept through his departure! My 9-month-old daughter was going through a rough phase where she was waking about every two hours. Having … [Read more...] about Finding Peace with the Reality That You Can’t Do It All
