In two days, Jaxson will be 9 months old. What? How did this happen? He will have been out for the same amount of time he was in.
As I reflect back on the last 9 months, there are SO many memories, milestones, trials, tribulations, firsts… the list goes on… I can honestly say that I am so grateful that I kept a record of all of these things!
I remember my mom giving me this piece of advice “write everything down?” I even had a close friend buy me a journal to keep track of Jaxson’s special milestones.
I took this very seriously. Too seriously, actually. I started to get anxiety about making time to write these things down, or forgetting and questioning certain tidbits. I think keeping track of dates is what stressed me out the most. I think I would rather focus on the age that Jaxson did certain things, rather than the exact date it happened. Don’t make this a stressful thing — it takes the fun out of it.
Rather, have fun with it. Make a point of keeping little notes on the counter, or setting aside one day a week to update what your baby has accomplished in the last few days. There are many ways to do this without feeling overwhelmed. Keep a small journal. Buy a baby book. Make a scrapbook. Use a calendar. Keep a file folder to put special mementos in. Whatever the method is that works for you, it is so worth it.
What have I done? I have a little book that I record the “milestones” or “special memories” in, and then I transfer that to a baby book which I spend about 20 minutes a week on (I usually pick one afternoon when Jaxson is napping). I also have a file folder that I have organized so that there are various pockets for various things: passport, birth certificate, special cards, handouts I received at mom and baby group, his first plane ticket, etc. I have also kept an updated health record as well — each vaccination, illness, etc. This is also something I feel is so important, especially as children get older.
But like I said, you have to do the method that works of you. I know some people literally write everything on one piece of paper that they keep in a drawer. Others write nothing and save nothing. That’s okay, too.
I should also add that this doesn’t just apply to babies and children. Anyone can keep a journal of their life and a box of their special things. In addition to this being a way to remember and look back on in the years to come (for both you and your child), I also use it as a time to reflect in the here and now as I spend my couple minutes each week updating Jaxson’s book and file/box. Further, if you haven’t done anything up to this point with respect to “record keeping”, it is never too late to start.
Memory fades us. Life gets busy. Babes grow up too fast. For all of these reasons, and so many more, I am so happy that I have a record of these special times.
Happy baby booking/journal writing/scrapbooking/safe keeping!
M.J.
