Be a storehouse of happy memories.” – Gretchen Rubin

Making memories is only half the battle…

…you actually want to remember them too!

Despite the fact that I have thousands of photos of the Goose on my phone and computer, I am a horrible keeper of memories. I didn’t even fill in her baby book. Eek! I already regret that blunder when she asks me when she got her first tooth or first walked. Thankfully, all of my photos are date stamped so I can at least give her an approximation.

I have tried (somewhat successfully) to keep a journal for her in the past. The Goose turned 5 this year. There are going to be so many changes in her life this year. I have been told by older and wiser mamas that Kindergarten is a magical year of incredible growth in personality and skills. This is the year she will learn to read and will start making lifelong friends! As such, I decided that I really need to step up my memory keeping game.

Here are seven easy tools I’m using to become an amazing memory keeper:

1) Day One App

The Day One App is the memory keeping method I have chosen to document the Goose’s 5th year. The free app includes one journal and allows you to include one photo a day. I upgraded to the pro version because I knew that I would want to include more photos and possibly start other personal journals. It’s a bit pricey at $24.99 for a year-long subscription, but it has totally been worth the expense.

It’s like making a little daily yearbook. I love it. You can even have the journal printed and bound into a book. I’m trying to be really honest about our days; including the times when she is annoying me and when we did nothing but watch TV. I love that it syncs between my devices too. I can input photos using my iPhone and then type the journal using my iPad and keyboard. It’s also easy to add a quick note on my iPhone while I’m standing in line somewhere.

2) One Line a Day Journal

I keep one of these One Line a Day – Five Year journals to document my life. As a history major, I absolutely loved reading old journals. Maybe someday, a future historian will want to read about the mundane life of a stay at home mom (it’s a super fascinating read). I tried keeping the Mom version for the Goose, but I felt like it was really redundant. I prefer the Day One app, but if technology is a little too much pressure for you, grab one of these books.

3) Chatbooks

I have not used the Chatbooks service myself, but my sister-in-law used it to send us the most lovely little photo book of a recent visit with my niece. The cover is colorful and beautiful and the Goose loves looking through an actual book of photos. The service syncs with your Instagram account or your favorites album and will then periodically send you a photo album based on your preferences.

4) Gmail

When the Goose was born, I set up a Gmail account in her name. Although I am not the best at this, I will sometimes send her an email with a memory. I plan to give her the email address and password when she is old enough to have an email account. I know she will love reading the special memories and notes I (and other family members) have sent her over the years.

5) Facebook

My step-sister has set up a Facebook account for her newborn daughter. I know a lot of you are probably resistant to technology, but I thought it was a clever idea. She tags her daughter in posts about her life. Kids and social media is a hot topic and I think you will have to use your own family preference and judgment for something like this. I recommend maintaining your child’s privacy when possible, so make sure the privacy settings are as high as they will go.

6) My Social Book

I used My Social Book to print a copy of my Facebook profile for the Goose’s first year of life. She may not have a baby book of her first year, but pretty much all of the major milestones are noted in this book. It also shows the comments and likes received, which allows your family and friends to have a part in your memories.

7) Memory Box

Want a super low-tech memory keeper? Just grab a simple box. I use these ones from Target that I got discounted after the holidays. I store them on top of my office bookshelf. If I want to remember something, I just throw it into the box. Event tickets, photos, announcements, cards, drawings, etc. all go into the box.

Comment or email me with any other suggestions you have for memory keeping. There are so many alternatives out there. Pick the method that is easiest for you and just start today.

And remember…