10 Valentine’s Day gifts for your toddler that don’t involve sweets

10 Valentine's Day gifts for your toddler

I absolutely love any excuse to buy gifts (it is totally my love language!) so there is no forgetting Valentine’s Day. And while I will gift my hubby something thoughtful, I love including my toddler in gift giving.

Growing up, my parents always gave me a box of chocolate and another small gift. I want to always show my love to Jericho, but without sweets. We are a sugar-free family, after all!

Last year’s gift guide was a big hit-including in our house! This year I wanted to share some of our current top favorite gifts that would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day gift for your 3-year-old. I’ve broken it down my category just for you, mama!

Keeping my family well during Cold & Flu season with Physician 360

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At Home Strep Test

You know that moment you are really sick but the last thing you want to do is go to a doctor’s office?

Yeah, me too. Especially with a toddler. I am convinced if he or I need to go to the doctor, we will both catch something else. I’m just not down with that!

Days after Christmas, Jericho and I both came down with a cough. He got it, then I got it, then he was better, then I, then we both caught it again. I was convinced it was strep….because without meds it can be the gift that keeps on giving.

The Best Christmas Children’s Book

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I have always been a lover of all things Christmas. It is the most exciting time of the year for me. Even before I was a Believer, it was the holiday I looked forward to January through November.

Now, as a mom, I have a whole new outlook on this amazing holiday. We take in all the local events, share the story of Jesus and enjoy shopping for gifts. Our three-year-old is beginning to love the season, too!

Here are a few traditions we hold dear to our hearts, and I hope it helps inspire you to build memories with your kiddos.

Santa’s coming to town: Where to see Santa in New Braunfels

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BabyCoolJ celebrating his first Christmas in Austin, 2015

It is my favorite time of year! I love the fall and lead up to Christmas. It all starts with BabyCoolJ’s birthday in September, our anniversary and pumpkin patches in October, my birthday and fall festivals in November….then DECEMBER! From Christmas events to gift exchanges, Santa sightings and holiday movies, our Christmas activity advent calendar and ultimately celebrating the birth of Jesus. I absolutely love Christmas!

It is our first Christmas in New Braunfels and I’ve curated an inclusive list of places you can catch Santa – and maybe Mrs. Clause or an elf!

Affordable kids’ clothes: Where I find the best deal on Toddler clothes

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Affordable Kids Fashion

Fashion means everything to me, and keeping my toddler hip & cool can come at a pretty penny!

I love finding awesome deals and still have some retailers for toddler boy clothes I totally dig, but after discovering Kids on 45th, my life will forever be changed…for the better.

Y’all, I know subscription boxes are all the rage. But, let me tell you why this one is SO MUCH BETTER. You’ll thank me soon enough.

My American Tale: I’m a daughter of an immigrant

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With my Welito & Welita on my wedding day — With my Welito & Welita at my wedding, 2014

My family’s history is so special to me. I have always loved sharing my abuelito’s story because it paved the way for me to experience freedom, faith and being born a United States citizen. Before we dive in, I want you to know this is not a politically driven post. But it is a story I want to share about my Mexican-American family and culture, and why I am proud to be a daughter of an immigrant.

How to build community as a stay at home mom

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How to make mom friends

When I made the transition to stay home with BabyCoolJ last year I went from having a very full calendar to not a thing to do. No mom friends, no playdates, no activites. As a social (yet love-my-alone-time) person, I knew I needed to work on changing that stat.

Within months I had met the most amazing moms, joined multiple groups and built real community. If we hadn’t moved, I like to think my kiddo would have grown up with all these friends, and I’d continue to have lots of play dates and mommy dates.

Now that we’re in a new town, I am starting from scratch. And I’m not letting any time pass! We enjoyed our first few weeks being home and getting to know our new town, but both my son and I need friends. We need community.

So I think I’m in a pretty good place to make some suggestions to moms out there that are seeking friendships. Here are some of my favorite ways I’ve met my mom friends:

I’m Not Scared: new children’s book will help your kiddo face their fears

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This is a sponsored post with Blessed Coast Books. All content and opinions expressed are my own. Affiliate links are used, and you may read my full disclosure here.

I decided to take a few days off from blogging to concentrate on my sweet boy. At only 2 1/2, BabyCoolJ has been such a trooper with our move. From staging our home, to running out the door, to living out of boxes, it has been such a great change being planted and building roots in our new community. We are now almost 3-weeks-in! And every day he says “I love our new home.”

For every season and change, I turn to books for my toddler. A good book can really speak to children, and it is amazing how a story can help them get through anything. Before we began packing, we read him Boomer’s Big Day on a daily basis. It really helped the transition of moving.

How to find a new church after a move

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Being a part of a church family is important to my husband and I. We want to be connected, be filled with His Word and grow in community. And we’ve learned (the hard way) what being disconnected does to our lives and our family.

But it can be hard to church shop. Hopping from church to church can be exhausting, and while I look forward to visiting a handful of new congregations, I wouldn’t want our list to be too long.

7 thoughtful & practical gifts to give a new mom

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7 thoughtful and practical gifts for a new mom — First time Tia Ray Ray and BabyCoolJ met, circa 2016

This week my oldest and dearest friend had her first baby! I received the news yesterday, so I immediately did what any long-distance girlfriend would do: ordered a few must-have items on Amazon Prime.