The Memory Mom

I have always been sentimental. I save scraps of paper, journal religiously, and take a million photos. For whatever reason, living a well documented life has never felt like an option, more like a calling. I can’t help but collect, remember, and record. It’s second nature.

Because of who I am, I knew my children’s lives would be well documented too. What I didn’t count on was losing my first, and then feeling the weight of every moment afterward on a deeper level. It’s not just his first outfit, it’s the first outfit we got to bring a living baby home in. It’s not just a hospital bracelet, it’s a sign of life. It’s not just a collection of papers and things, it’s a collective hope for the future that Wolf will one day open his trunk and think…

“Why did Mom save all this stuff?”

Just kidding. But also, I know his reaction will be a little anticlimactic. Less angels singing in the background, more “Okay… thanks… why is this tiny hat making you cry?”

Either way, it’s my duty to document and remember. It’s more than a trunk full of things. It’s a reminder that God answers prayers.

After KC passed, I began searching for a beautiful way to store all of her little treasures. I can’t remember how I found Petite Keep, but I bit the bullet and ordered it in time to arrive for her celebration of life. Grief caused me to make a lot of bad decisions, but this was not one of them. It was perfect for the celebration, but it’s also a way to keep her memory alive & present within our home.

After that, I realized what an upgrade it was to give our memories a real home, instead of stashing them in cardboard boxes around the house. We got a wedding box next, and ordering one for Wolf before he was born felt like the biggest leap of faith.

I get asked about these trunks all the time. Whether it’s for grandparents, new brides, Christmas ornaments, or childhood treasures, we all have things worth cherishing. In a world full of disposable items and marketing madness, real heirlooms feel like a thing of the past. As mothers, I think it’s our duty to preserve memories, both for us and for generations to come.

Trunk Sizes & Specifics:

KC’s Trunk: Pink Petite Trunk (strawberry fabric was limited edition). Her trunk size is perfect for a single occasion or a memory box for a loss mom.

Wolf’s Trunk: Beige grand trunk w/ PK Plaid. His trunk is MUCH larger than KC’s trunk and will be able to hold a lot more over the years.

Wedding Trunk: White petite trunk w/ Spring in St. Louis print. Again, perfect size for an occasion. Perfect size for displaying & storing on a bookshelf.

Discount Code: “Karissa” for 10% off!

Right now, Wolf’s trunk holds notes, newborn outfits, hospital bracelets, and footprints. I know it will keep growing, and that thought makes me giddy. What “things” will one day mean so much more than things to us, and to him? Stay tuned (for his whole childhood) to find out.

As usual, I love asking more seasoned moms for advice, and you came through with so many good ideas for keeping memories alive. Here are a few.

• Record long videos of your kids

• Mom, be in the photos and videos. Kids want to see what you were like when they were little

• Digitize VHS tapes and printed photos. So many people said this makes an incredible Christmas gift for adult kids, file that away for next year

• Give each child a hard drive and upload photos monthly

• Use a birthday journal to write a letter each year
  (Close second: interview your child on their birthday, video it, and compile over time)

• Write down the funny things kids say because YOU WILL FORGET.

Kept & Promptly Journals: I have both of these, I like the Promptly journal better for pregnancy and Kept for childhood.

Hard Drive: We have all KC’s photos stored on this and in her trunk. I also want to store another copy in a safety deposit box, ha. We will not lose the photos of you, baby girl! Mama promises. I asked my photographer friends for the safest hard drive and this is what they recommended.

Monthly Photos: I haven’t started this yet for Wolf but plan to! I take soooooo many photos of him (usually 100 by noon on a good day!) so narrowing them down to the best ones and printing them will be great to preserve the best ones and keep my camera roll sane.

Make Your Own Yoto Stories: One of my goals this year is to get recording of all our grandparents/parents to record a bedtime story for Wolf. I love the idea of Marmie reading him a book, even when she’s in sunny Florida (jealous!)

I’ve already forgotten what it felt like when Wolf was this tiny. I can’t even imagine how fast the rest will fly by. Here’s to living in the moment, and preserving the memories that matter most.

With love,

Karissa

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