In that first year of your little schmupkin's life, you happily snap away with the digital camera (best purchase ever!), capturing every single moment, right? It's great, documenting the everyday awesomeness -- that's a word, isn't it? -- of being a parent. But, how can you tell a picture of a random Tuesday, although terrific, from one on a big milestone day, like Junior's 6-month birthday?

Thankfully, the Internet and even a few moms in our own CafeMom family have some cool ideas on how to photograph your baby's first year. Not crafty? Don't worry, you don't need a PhD from Martha Stewart University to do them.  

There's nothing cuter than itty bitty baby fingers. And there's nothing more common than the Thanksgiving hand print turkey. But common doesn't have to mean un-cool.

On the Glenwood Mother of Preschoolers (MOPS) blog, a mom came up with an adorable and pretty easy way to commemorate Thanksgiving with turkey hand prints in a simple but long-lasting and adorable way that even non-crafty moms can do easily.

Did you read that? Long lasting! Make memories! And even the not-so-good with crafts moms can handle it. Check out how easy this is:

I shouldn't be surprised to learn the old-fashioned baby books with their carefully cropped photographs and handwritten notes are being replaced by some parents with a website -- for their baby. It is 2010, after all.

Baby websites (and even pregnancy websites) are becoming more and more popular.

It's a great idea -- but as someone who has yet to finish a baby book for either of my children, what I want to know is who are these parents and when are they finding time to do this?

Or, should I say five must-haves for my baby's first birthday, but perhaps you'll love these ideas, as well.

Now, a first birthday party can go one of two ways, and I fully support both: 1) a low-key family affair or 2) a huge bash that's solely for the mother and father to celebrate the fact they made it a year with their sanity in tact.

I chose option #2.

I'm going to a family BBQ for July 4th and realized I don't have any festive clothes for my babies to wear. And since I shop almost exclusively online, it's a little late for me to buy something and have it get here on time. So I looked in the drawer and in the clothes that no longer fit pile and decided to make my own.

All you need is a onesie -- in red, white, or blue. And then you can choose the color of your star and outline from there. I had a red onesie and the blue fabric is from jeans I cut to make daisy dukes for my daughter. The white string is a shoelace. Plus, scissors, marker, and needle and thread.

It's easy to craft. Here's how!

Photo from Sew Can DoFeeding a baby in a high chair is about as clean an activity as overturning a bowl of food directly on the floor. In fact, I'd advise any new parents-to-be to buy a dog. It's worth it in the long run, trust me.

If I could go back to when I was pregnant, I'd forgo buying the fancy, pretty, expensive high chair and instead get an older, used one, then re-purpose it with a laminated cotton high-chair cover, like this one I saw on Sew Can Do's CraftShare today.

Personalized puzzles and raising a mean kid. These (and more!) are the links I loved this week.

Photo by Jennie Canzoneri

• My kiddo (pictured above; isn't he too cute?) is becoming interested in puzzles, although interested sometimes translates to "likes to toss puzzle pieces at his mama's face." But when he does (occasionally) sit and focus on the puzzle at hand, you practically see the wheels turning in his cute, little head. So, this fantastic, handmade puzzle from Pink and Green Mama inspired me, with taped family pictures under the pieces. I love, love, love it!

• No one wants to raise a mean kid! But how do you avoid it? I thought this was a nice reminder for parents from author Rosalind Wiseman (author of Queen Bees and Wannabes, the book that inspired the movie Mean Girls). Wiseman tells parents to remember that they count and their kids do care what they think. So, don't forget, even with your small kids!

Read on ...

It's hard being a new mom (or even an experienced mom to a new baby) and sometimes we do things we know we shouldn't, despite what all the experts say. But this is a safe place to share your secrets (PM me at CafeSona) — we'll never tell.

This Week's Secret:

Photo by ruby*love designs

I have to admit, I started a baby book for my first child before she was born, but between breastfeeding, diapers, and my lack of sleep, I just can't be bothered anymore. I know these are supposed to be precious memories, but I'm just too exhausted. So I haven't updated it in months. I feel like such a slacker. -- anonymous