I was asked - what is your proudest life achievement (and you can’t say anything related to work)? Well… that is a GREAT question!

Want to talk about the freezing weather? Our little family is chilled to the bone! How do you get outside, if at all, when the weather is like this?

Kitchen and entire main floor remodel in a Michigan winter with a toddler? Yes, please! Day 16 my friends of not having a kitchen. I’m stressed about providing high quality food and I’m also adjusting to the new temporary kitchen we’ve built. 55 more days to go!

It’s scrapbooking season for me again and I’m chomping at the bit to get started! I have kept the tradition of creating an annual scrapbook for our family since 2017 when my husband and I got married. It started as the “traditional” first year anniversary wedding gift (paper) and has continued ever since. Spending time scrapbooking allows me to reflect on the previous year, to see the growth, the changes, and the life I am building from each photo. I know I am giving myself a gift by spending time and looking at my life and my family’s life. Let the crafting begin!

So, did you make some new year resolutions? 

I did not. I don’t believe in them - change doesn’t happen overnight. Change takes time, discipline, and serious effort. Most people can’t make even one, lasting change yet most people make long, long lists of things to change overnight. 

What would be a more impactful and lasting way to enhance or modify your life and the lives of those you care deeply about? How about actual behavior change that has a lasting impact… that sounds much better to me than new year resolutions.

New year, new you? What did you learn from the previous year? What would you maintain and what would you shed? 2024 was incredibly difficult for my family and I - we were hit with significant blows and loss of life. The year gave me perspective and, as they say, when you are at your lowest, there is nowhere to go but up.

What has been your experience when telling friends and family that you are pregnant? A close friend of mine just shared with me that she is newly pregnant with her first. Her experience with telling people has been a bit of a downer which I don’t think is the right tone we want to set when new moms enter the parenting community.

New monthly newsletter from Mama's Book Cellar. Let's talk about back to school transitions, mamas who are breastfeeding, and book recommendations!

Q; Tell me about your son.

A: Well… he is the best. Just simply the best. Let me tell you a story about him.

Storytelling a person’s life is so much more fun and memorable than reducing a person down to adjectives. If someone were to ask you about your child, what story would you tell them?

There is a fine line as a parent of doing what your child needs and also stepping back and doing nothing so they can learn. I’m at that tipping point where my baby is not a helpless little baby anymore. He is a little toddler who has a strong desire to do things on his own. I have to step back and start doing less, or nothing, so he can grow.

This is for us ladies… I recently learned that ALL women start losing bone mass by age 40. I am 30 years old, why should I worry about what is going to happen 10 years from now?

Now is the time for me to proactively strengthen my bone mass so I can have an active, pain-mitigated future. Check out what I’ve learned about women losing bone mass - which happens to all ladies!

Being married to my best friend has filled me with so much joy and wonder. Our 7 married years together bring happy tears to my eyes. The 7 years of love, laughter, growth, and appreciation have truly humbled me. I love celebrating life with my husband - happy anniversary to us and the life we are building.

I changed just one thing in my child's routine and it paid for itself in giving us more freedom and opportunities.

Give yourself the gift of time off from the hustle, from the to-do-lists, and from the routine. You may just surprise yourself with what you do with your free time and how that can re-prioritize your to-do-list when you come back to it.

August 2024 updates from Mama’s Book Cellar!

What is your child’s relationship with food? If you had to list the top foods your child eats, how many would be processed foods and how many would be foods that you, as the parent, also eat? The example parents set for their children on healthy food habits starts when you first introduce solid foods to your child. It is an ongoing, important relationship that we, as parents must prioritize.

Dog sense. Often referred to as ‘common sense about dogs” was absolutely lost with a recent interaction I had with my dog and a random woman with her toddler. It made me furious. It also made me think about how grateful I am for my lifelong experiences with dogs. I know each of you has great dog sense. Take a moment to read about my experience with this random woman and what I recommend moving forward.

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” - Elbert Hubbard

I love, adore, and cherish each of my friendships. Each one of you are a puzzle piece to my heart, the steady and comfortable shoulder, the rib-hurting laughter, and the crows feet surrounding my eyes.

My husband and I wanted our son to learn how to swim so we looked at swim lessons. We quickly learned that swimming is not a lesson, it’s an experience. My son started his swimming experience at 8-months-old. Now at 2-years-old, my son has a strong foundation and exposure to water with the skills he needs to be safe and have fun.

When you think about your child and open water, how does that sit with you? Many parents would say fearful - what if my child drowns? That is a valid fear… and there is a huge opportunity for our children to learn water safety skills. I didn’t say learn how to swim, I said water safety skills. Each child has their own way of interacting with water. Being safe while interacting can give yourself and your child the confidence needed to enjoy summertime.