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Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

Spring Gifts for Newborn Babies

February 20, 2023

As the weather warms up and flowers start to bloom, it’s the perfect time to welcome a new baby into the world. If you’re looking for a special gift for a spring baby, there are plenty of options to choose from. From cute and practical clothing to toys and accessories that celebrate the season, there are so many ways to help the new arrival feel loved and cherished.

In this post, we’ll share some of our favorite spring-themed gift ideas for newborn babies. Whether you’re a new parent, grandparent, or friend, we hope these ideas will inspire you to find the perfect gift for the special little one in your life.

Read more

Filed in: Guides, Uncategorized • by Olivia • Leave a Comment

Happy Easter Weekend!

April 16, 2022

Happy Easter weekend!

I know Easter is the time for rebirth.

What part of you needs to be reborn? Restored?

I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships. How they change over time, how my reaction to them changes over time. I truly believe that strong relationships are the key to a fulfilling life.

My relationships are being reborn, as we re-enter the world.

I, in particular, am re-entering the world as a mom. When the pandemic started I was not even four weeks pregnant.
I went into it as an overworked, burnt-out girl and I’m coming back as a refreshed, confident (and maybe a little burnt out) mom.

The way that I relate to my friends and acquaintances is different because I am different, they are different. The world is different.

We need rebirth. We need to listen to our needs. I find myself craving intimacy, in its truest sense. I crave truth and meaning. I’m so grateful to have relationships with deep roots during this time.

I know they haven’t officially called it “over”, but I’m hoping it is.

What part of you needs to be reborn this year?

Let me know below.

O.

If you are interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel, please check out our Guest Post page for guidelines!

Filed in: Personal • by Olivia • Leave a Comment

Vintage Style Easter Decor

March 19, 2022

Here are some vintage and vintage-style Easter decor items to use this year! Bunnies are a super cute way to bring playfulness and nature into your home.

Easter is right around the corner! What better way to decorate than with these adorable vintage style decor items!

Links in this post are LTK affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you.

Do you decorate with bunnies? Or decorate for spring? Is your style more vintage or contemporary?

Do you celebrate Easter?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Easter Traditions to Start with Your Baby or Toddler
  • The Best Farm Books for Babies
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week
  • The Best Easter Books for Babies
  • The Best Spring Books for Babies

If you are interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel, please check out our Guest Post page for guidelines!

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 1 Comment

The Best Easter Books for Babies

March 11, 2022

Here is a list of some egg-cellent books to share with your baby or toddler this Easter!

If your little one loves to read, why not fill their Easter basket with books? These books make great Easter gifts, too!

Keep reading to see the best Easter books for babies.

How do I get my baby to read more?

You can get your baby to read more by incorporating books into your daily routine. Snuggling up with a book is a great way to start a peaceful morning. Reading before nap times and bedtime is the simplest way to read more books with your little one.

It is important to always have books easily accessible and at eye level!

Cloth Diapering with Charlie Banana

When is Easter 2022?

Easter will be on Sunday, April 17, 2022.

What is Easter All About?

Here is a condensed explanation from the BBC (click link for reference):

“The Easter story is at the heart of Christianity. On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. His body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave.

The tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

On the following Sunday, some women visited the grave and found that the stone had been moved, and that the tomb was empty.

Jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead.”

How to Survive Your 1-Year-Old’s First Blood Test

Does my baby need an Easter basket?

Technically, no. Your child does not need an Easter basket. However, it’s a great way to wrap up things you already need for your little one and wrap them up in a basket for them to inspect! Even if it’s just a new sippy cup, a few books and clothes that they will grow into, your little one will be overjoyed to have something to open. Keep reading to see what we put in our one-year-old’s first Easter basket.

Little Things I Do To Make my Baby Feel Loved

The Best Easter Books for Babies

See below for the best Easter books for babies and toddlers!

The Itsy Bitsy Bunny by Jeffrey Burton

Happy Easter, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff

I Love You, Funny Bunny by Zondervan

Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Easter Colors by Eric Carle

Easter Chunky Lift-a-Flap Board Book by R.I. Redd

The Story of Easter (Little Golden Book) by Jean Miller

Llama Llama Easter Egg by Anna Dewdney

God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren 

The Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs by Stan Berenstain

Hippity, Hoppity, Little Bunny by Cottage Door Press


Does your child have a favorite Easter book?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • 5 Free Indoor Places to Go with Baby
  • 10 Mom-Influencers I Follow for Inspiration
  • The Best California Books for Babies and Toddlers
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • Leave a Comment

Easter Traditions to Start with Your Baby or Toddler

March 4, 2022

Are you looking for Easter traditions you can start with your little ones? If you want to keep it simple this year and pick a few special moments to have with your baby or toddler during Easter, look no further!

I might be getting ahead of myself, but Easter is really around the corner!

Here on Long Island, the early spring usually still feels like winter. Easter is like the unofficial start to spring and always brings up warm feelings of rebirth.

Growing up, we had a few different Easter traditions. One that I loved and that I will be passing along to my children was the way my parents the Easter Bunny hid our baskets. They He would hide them in different places around the house. If one of us came across our siblings basket, we would keep quiet and keep it moving. 

It was of course followed by a puzzling egg hunt, but it was the hiding of the baskets I remember vividly!

Easter is the season of renewal, rebirth, and coming together to give gratitude for the lives we lead today. Whether you take a more religious approach, or use it as an secular unofficial start of spring, Easter can be a special time with your family.

When is Easter 2022?

Easter will be on Sunday, April 22nd this year. Let’s all hope for a warm sunny day!

Easter is always on a Sunday and changes year to year.

Here is an explanation from the Osprey Observer (click for link):

“Because the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ happened after Passover, they wanted Easter to always be celebrated following Passover. Because the Jewish holiday calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles, each feast day is movable, with dates shifting from year to year.”

What is Easter all about?

According to the BBC (click for link):

“On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. His body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave.

The tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

On the following Sunday, some women visited the grave and found that the stone had been moved, and that the tomb was empty.

Jesus himself was seen that day, and for days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead.”

Does your baby or toddler need an Easter basket?

Technically, no. Your child does not need an Easter basket. However, it’s a great way to wrap up things you already need for your little one and wrap them up in a basket for them to inspect! Even if it’s just a new sippy cup, a few books and clothes that they will grow into, your little one will be overjoyed to have something to open. Keep reading to see what we put in our one-year-old’s first Easter basket.

Can babies and toddlers have Easter candy?

Candy is not appropriate for babies and toddlers. While I’m impartial to the occasional bite of ice cream or pie for my toddler, candy isn’t appropriate. Stick to other “bunny food” like cooked carrots and broccoli or eggs (obviously).

Easter traditions to start with your baby or toddler:

Here are some easy and fun ways to celebrate the Easter season with your little one!

Take a family walk

I think taking a family walk is an excellent tradition for any holiday. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and make room for dessert! A walk also lets your little one get their energy out, if they’re walking yet.

Easter basket

Easter baskets are fun for us because Baby M’s birthday is right next to Christmas, so a lot of her gifts end up being winter themed. Having an opportunity to get her some new clothes and books in the spring is a welcome treat! We filled our basket last year with swimsuits, bunny books, sunglasses, and a stuffed duck! They were things we would buy for her anyways, so it was cute to see it all in a basket ready for her to inspect.

Paint eggs

This one is a classic! It might be harder to do with extra tiny babies, but painting eggs can bring joy to any age! For an easy clean up, put your little one in an empty bathtub with the paint and the eggs- you won’t have to worry about mess. Remember to always use non-toxic, kid-friendly paint, especially during the “put everything in my mouth” phase.

Easter egg hunt

This does not have to be a complex, all-out Easter egg hunt. “Hiding” colored eggs in plain sight for you to point out to your baby definitely counts. As they get older, opening and closing plastic Easter eggs is an egg-cellent fine motor building game!

Make an Easter craft

A quick search on Pinterest will reveal hundreds or Easter crafts for all stages of development. I love using pastel paints for handprints and footprints in the springtime. Basically, anything that you can do with your kids together is a tradition they will treasure even into adulthood.

Plant a tree or flowers

I love, love, love this idea. Here on Long Island, it would depend on how early or late the holiday lands and if the ground is frozen. Sprucing up your garden with a special new bush or flower (or even a tree) is a wonderful holiday tradition. Your child will be able to point it out and enjoy its special meaning.


Did you have a favorite Easter tradition growing up? Do you plan to start any this year?

Do you practice any on this list? Let me know below!
O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • The Best Airplane Books for Babies and Toddlers
  • Decorating with Mapiful
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week
  • Mommy and Baby Day Off Schedule
  • How to Create a Home Learning Corner for Your One-Year-Old
  • Little Things I Do To Make my Baby Feel Loved

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 8 Comments

The Best Spring Books for Babies

February 28, 2022

Spring is in the air! What better way to celebrate the change of seasons than with these awesome spring themed books? 

The season is all about baby animals, plants and flowers, and new life! 

Keep reading to see the best books to share with your little one this spring.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

What is the Vernal Equinox?

According to the Franklin Institute (click for reference):

Vernal Equinox occurs when the tilt of the Earth’s rotational axis reaches a particular position. We’re all aware of the imaginary axle the Earth spins around once every 24 hours. While we might imagine that axle to be vertical – that is, perpendicular to Earth’s orbital plane – the axle is tilted 23.5 degrees from vertical. It’s this tilt, not our proximity to the sun, that causes our seasons.  Let’s see what this might look like if we could be far enough out in space. 

The Franklin Institute, “What is Vernal Equinox?”

When is the first day of spring 2022?

The first day of spring is March 20th, 2022. Spring will end on June 21st, 2022.

How do I celebrate spring with my baby?

A great way to start off your spring celebration is with some bunny shaped pancakes. Taking a family walk and looking out for bunnies, budding flowers, and other signs of spring is a wonderful tradition as well. We love to celebrate the first day of each season! We write down the traditions on an index card so we’ll remember them year to year.

What are the best spring themed books for babies and toddlers?

Keep reading to view the best spring themed books for babies and toddlers! If you don’t feel like buying them, check out your local library!

Planting a Rainbow is my favorite on this list. The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle comes with actual seeds to plant! Let me know at the end if you’re a fan of any of the books on this list!

The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall

Some Bugs (Classic Board Books) by Angela DiTerlizzi

The Tiny Seed: With seeded paper to grow your own flowers! (The World of Eric Carle) by Eric Carle

Spencer Knows Spring: A Charming Children’s Book about Spring by Tiffany Obeng

Springtime Babies by Danna Smith

The Little Gardener by Jan Gerardi

Spring in the Forest by Rusty Finch

Bright Baby Touch and Feel Spring by Roger Priddy

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes


How do you welcome spring with your little one? Are you looking forward to the season change?

Are you familiar with any of the books above?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week
  • Our Experience with Baby Led Weaning
  • Your Baby Doesn’t Need to Sleep Through the Night
  • The Best NYC Books for Babies

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Olivia • 4 Comments

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Leaf and Steel is a collective on all things motherhood, growth, and living. Read More…

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