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!

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?

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.

That little voice in your head that tells you, just for a second, to do something. Or that little tingly feeling you get in your gut that points you in the right direction. Well, what happens when you either don’t hear the voice, don’t feel the tingling, or you ignore it? Some call that following your instincts or trusting your gut. Well… last night, I didn’t and that was a mistake.

I’m a creature of habit and really enjoy the consistency of my morning routine. When my routine, and our family’s routine, works then our day is a well oiled machine. But each day is not a perfectly oiled machine with consistent predictability. There are variables each day that can throw a wrench into the morning routine. I am constantly being pulled between wanting a consistent routine and embracing the messiness of everyday life.

When parents ask - how do I get my child to sleep? My first response is, what is their sleep routine? Many parents will share that they don’t have a routine to help their child sleep. That is a main contributor to poor sleep. Babies and children cannot fall asleep as soon as they are put in their bassinet, crib, or toddler bed. We as adults are unable to immediately fall asleep. We need a routine, a ritual, and a way to relax into sleep. Let’s talk about how to create that routine for your child to improve their sleep!