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!

A scrapbook is a short story crafted through countless, small moments. Those moments are memories where I can physically see, through a scrapbook, the time I have spent, the happiness I have created, and the life that is unfolding in front of me. Spending time scrapbooking allows me to see the growth, the changes, and the life from each photo. I know I am giving myself a gift by spending time and looking at my life and my family’s life.

What is it like as a modern parent to make the decision on childcare for little ones? The reality of becoming a parent for the first time or multiple times is beautiful and being pregnant is only the beginning of caring for your child. There are many years of childcare required before your little one enters the school system. How do you decide on childcare for your child?

There are only a few clear moments when I have actually felt like an adult. It has made me curious to learn more and ask “at what point does someone become an adult?” Through my research and personal experience, I’m not convinced there is a specific moment when a person becomes an adult. Being an adult is just a label - everyone is trying to figure it out, no matter your age or life experience.

When I’ve experienced death in the past, there has always been an adult to take care of things, to be there for those who are grieving, to make really hard decisions, and to help with closure. Over the past two weeks - I’ve been that adult helping my family through the unexpected passing of my mother-in-law.

Time can be illusive. Even though we can count the hours in each day and fill our day with activities, time is intangible. Two years with my son doesn’t feel like two years, especially when I’ve been with him every day of those two years. I don’t think I blinked yet here we are.

The last time I called you baby, I didn’t know it would be the last time. The last time I napped with you, shouldn’t have been the last time. The last time I changed your diaper was a change toward freedom and independence. There have been many “last times” we shared when you were a baby and there are so many more first times for us as a toddler. I miss you, baby. I miss who you were as a baby. I also love you as a toddler and who you are becoming as a person.

Taking a few moments to journal about your life can provide perspective, a little bit of self-care, and immense opportunities for reflection and gratitude. I hope this inspires you to take a little time for yourself to reflect on the life you are building, the influence you have within your family, and the legacy you are leaving behind.

We all were trying to figure out a better way to manage the week instead of having the week manage us. My husband and I intentionally created balance among our personal, family, and professional needs and we fiercely protect that balance each week. We use a “Sunday Family Check-In” to talk about these great conversation starters:

• Personal schedule

• Professional schedule

• Meal prep for the week

• Household chore checklist

• Personal check-in

• Marriage & relationship check-in

• Podcast pick

What has come from these conversations is a deeper connection with my husband, a clearer understanding of each other, and a team-based approach to managing our week. It’s been amazing and I hope you consider adopting a Sunday Family Game Plan in your life.

Learning about eczema was not on my radar when I first became a mother. There were so many other “priorities” and chronic skin conditions just weren’t on the list. I wish I would have known how common eczema is with children, especially under the age of 4, and how I could have better helped my son with his eczema. Hindsight is always 20/20. For those of you who are learning about eczema, checkout my beginner’s overview for eczema and tips on how we have managed this.

The hidden costs of hiring a babysitter or a nanny are far reaching and complicated. I recently learned the financial impact of this on a personal level and want to share my experience with you. I got really familiar with the IRS’ requirements, taxes, and laws around “household employees.” Let me walk you through it.

Summertime is right around the corner and the kids are getting out of school. Are you excited to spend the summer with them AND are you also looking for fun things to do that are free? I am too. I keep a list for those sunny and warm days and for the rainy and cold days. I hope you enjoy this list of free community activities and have an amazing summer with your family!

Everyone needs to eat and figuring out a budget for groceries can be a challenge. I like to approach my family as a business and understanding our cash flow really helps our family make ends meet. Our family uses these principles to manage our grocery budget:

• Get comfortable talking about money.

• Create and stick to a budget.

• Maintain a consistent grocery order.

• Limit the number of times we order take out.

How much money can a library save you and your family this year? Libraries offer free books, audiobooks, and e-books. They also have toys, tv shows, DVDs, and board games! Libraries connect people, provide learning and exploration, and support the community!

Sensory bins and play are a rising, modern parenting trend. Can we talk about these? Are they worth the money? Let’s have a conversation around: (1) defining sensory development and its importance, (2) defining sensory play, (3) identifying average attention spans of infants and toddlers, (4) sharing average cost of pre-made sensory bins, and (5) providing cost-effective sensory alternatives.

Hi! Who is excited for summer? I am! This pale body really needs some sunshine, warmth, and beaches. My ongoing mental to-do-list is growing with things like purchase sunscreen, aloe vera, bug spray, and other items my family needs for the summer. Before going on Amazon to purchase all these items - let’s take a moment to talk about how to pay for these items. It may not be what you think!

One of the biggest and heaviest responsibilities a parent has is teaching your child skills for them to become a well-rounded, respectful, and independent adult. Basically, for them to become a good human-being. Through intentional routines, purposeful play, and life skill building, I am turning my baby into a boy and my husband is turning our boy into a man. A man who has “real-world smarts,” not “book smarts.”

Speech development with kids is a highly anticipated milestone. When infants change from babbling to saying words and stringing ideas together into mini-sentences, they morph from infant to toddler. I had many concerns about my son’s speech development and felt that he was delayed. I tried many different ideas to help with his verbal communication. At age 2, he is now a little chatter box. Check out my story and parenting tips in my latest blog – Speech Development on mamasbookcellar.com/blog