Mommy Moments and Milestones

It seems that the past few weeks for me have had their fair share of special (and fleeting) moments and milestones – ones I would hate to forget but that I know will soon be replaced with new ones.

Like when my 4.5 year old daughter showed me a picture she drew with our family’s names spelled out and written perfectly and I could not have been more proud of her. I was also emotional watching my 21-month old son for the first time I’ve been with him in a classroom setting. Holding my tiny nephew on the second day of his life is a moment that will never be replaced. On the flip side, my stomach sank the moment my husband called to say that my son fell and hurt his arm so badly that he wouldn’t let anyone go near it and couldn’t move it (thankfully it was just a case of “nursemaid’s elbow,” for those who are wondering).

Each of these little moments are a reminder of what it means to be a mom, and in-between the fevers, fights, falls, sleepless nights, dirty laundry and dirty dishes, it really is a priceless job. It’s so easy to pass the days with the mundane tasks we all face, whether we work or stay home. Sure, we manage to get the laundry done, pay bills and buy the groceries, but how often do you hit “pause” on a moment with your child to take it all in and stare in amazement that you created this little person who is so full of life? Before you know it, one of those special moments will be long forgotten and in their place will be new ones. Some great ways I’ve found to preserve my kids' special memories are to keep a personal blog, post monthly digital pictures and for the crafty person in me, create a scrapbook for each year of their lives.

What are the ways you keep the moments and memories of your kids lives fresh in your mind? Do you scrapbook, journal/blog, or photograph everything? Share your ideas here!