On the Record

When Lisa Garmendia of Odessa, Fla., was pregnant with her daughter, Sophia, 2, she bought a baby memory book to record her first words, first tooth and first steps. Once she discovered how hectic life becomes with a baby, Garmendia had to go out of her way to make time to record precious memories and keep track of her child's health and medical records.

"Having a baby definitely forces you to organize," Garmendia says. "I know my doctor, when he found out I was pregnant, made me do a whole family medical history so he could tell if there would be any genetic problems."

By researching your family medical history, you may be able to prevent your child from suffering from health problems. Because she is aware of the fact diabetes and heart disease runs in the family, Garmendia plans to encourage good eating habits in her child.

Garmendia keeps important papers such as social security cards in a fireproof box. "I keep all of her records from the day she was born until today," she says. "I keep them in a folder labeled just for her."