When I was newly pregnant with Caroline, my mom brought out the journal she kept during her pregnancies and my early childhood. It’s one of those black and white composition notebooks – the binding falling apart and full of so many memories and stories. She loves reading it as much as I love hearing the things she wrote, and I want the same for myself and my kids.
It wasn’t until Elyce was born that I found a system that works well for me. It took me a long time to find a journal that fit my very specific requirements. It needed to have prompts but with some flexibility, enough room to write, blank space for my own stories, and it must encompass everything from conception to college. The Childhood History journals from Promptly Journals checked every box.
Journaling, however, is only one aspect of my archive. What do I do with all the other stuff? I toggle between wanting to throw away everything and not being able to let go of anything related to my girls. My goal is for each child to have a reasonable but not overwhelming collection of childhood mementos to share with their own families one day. Each kid has a traditional baby book, journal, baby clothes box, memory box, and school artwork file. All of this fits on the top shelf of the girls’ closet making it easy to access throughout the year, which for me is key to maintaining.
My one big piece of advice is this. Done is better than perfect. Again, future you will agree that getting these done imperfectly – whether it’s a baby book, a journal, or a memory box – is 1,000% better than not doing it. You’ll never be able to capture everything. You will stumble across pictures you wish you would have included. Your handwriting won’t be perfect. Figuring out a system that works for you and sticking to it is such a special gift to give your kids when they leave the nest.
Baby Book and Journal
I used Artifact Uprising for the girls’ baby books. These are your traditional 0-12 month baby books with room for pictures and written memories. In terms of a baby book, I’m very happy with the quality of these but I never felt like there was enough room to write everything I wanted to remember which is why I sought out a journal. I’m so happy I found the Promptly Journals Childhood History Journal a few years ago. This is honestly my favorite and most recommended baby item to any new mom. It has chapters from pregnancy thru year 18, and after the first year, it only takes about one hour per year to fill out. Even if you have older kids and don’t want to fill out all of their early childhood years, going back to write down your pregnancy and birth stories and keeping this journal for your child’s remaining years at home is such a special gift to give them someday. I cannot recommend them enough.
Baby Clothes and Memory Boxes
Caroline and Elyce each have two of these 16qt. storage boxes – one for baby clothes and one for special mementos. These boxes aren’t huge which forces me to be very choosy on what stays.
Baby Clothes Box
This box holds their baby blanket, first pair of shoes, and special outfits. My mom saved a few things from my baby/childhood years that both my girls have worn so my rule is that if it’s not heirloom quality and can’t be worn by future generations then it doesn’t stay. I’ve saved their going home from the hospital outfit, 1st birthday outfit, first pair of shoes, a high-quality sweater, and a few of my favorite random outfits.
Memory Box
This box holds random mementos like extra ultrasound pictures, nice cards, prediction/advice cards from their baby showers, the blanket or blocks I used for their milestone pictures, special gifts like a jewelry box and embroidered handkerchief for their wedding days. These boxes aren’t very full yet so over the years I’ll add more like their favorite toy, lovie, books, etc.
School Memory Files
I got this schoolwork file idea from Instagram and it’s been the best way to keep my favorite pieces of the girls’ art. With 19 pockets, these file folders allow you to keep baby years thru college contained in one place. I’m pretty ruthless on what stays and what is thrown away so I’m only ending up with ~15 pieces per year.
Shop the Supplies
Artifact Uprising Baby Book // Promptly Journals Childhood History // 16qt. storage boxes // Label maker //
19-pocket expanding file folder
