Continued...

The Annual T-Shirt Photo

Purchase an adult-sized t-shirt when your baby is born. Put it “on” him and a snap a photo. Re-create this same photo with the same t-shirt every year. It will fit him before you know it!

Read Aloud Daily

It might seem silly to read Tolkien or A. A. Milne to your infant since she can’t understand the story, but it’s worth it. She’ll enjoy listening to the sound of your voice and will enjoy this special time together. As she grows, this time will become even more cherished by the both of you. Reading aloud has many benefits, so go ahead and start now! 

Fill Her Room with Balloons on Her Birthday

This is a special birthday tradition even a one-year-old can appreciate, unless she’s afraid of balloons like I was! Fill her room with helium balloons, and for a special effect, make them glow in the dark! Buy a pack of glow stick bracelets, crack them to make them glow, stuff one or two inside each balloon, blow them up, and tie them off. So cool!

Yearly Scrapbook

When my son was a baby, I started scrapbooking. It was really nice to put all his photos and mementos from the year in one place. We like to flip through those scrapbooks together from time to time now that he’s older. You can keep party invitations from parties they went to, zoo tickets, movie tickets, and more all in one creative keepsake album.

Memory Quilt

Don’t you just love those cute baby clothes? They outgrow them so fast though. Instead of getting rid of them, turn them into a beautiful memory quilt! Check out this how-to article from Quiltkeepsake.com.

Keepsake Jar

No time to create a scrapbook? I totally get it. Instead, buy a large mason jar and put photos, special memories, tickets, etc. inside and seal up at the end of the year. Include your child’s weight, height, handprint, footprint, and current favorites, too. Here is a sample jar from Babble.

Annual Goofy Family Photo

Go ahead and buy those ugly Christmas sweaters, or dress up like a famous group. Make the silliest hats you can think of, or go for silly faces and crazy poses. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as it’s hilarious and fun!

Keepsake Shadow Box

Where will you put those first baby shoes, the lock of hair from baby’s first haircut, and that first lost tooth? In a shadow box, of course! Martha Stewart shows us how here.

Related Article: To the Mom Who is Too Hard on Herself

Rebecca Eanes is the bestselling author of multiple books including Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide, The Positive Parenting Workbook, and The Gift of a Happy Mother. She is the grateful mom of two boys.