These Are a Few of our Favorite Things!

It's been a long time since I've done a "favorite things" post, and the list is quite different now than it was when he was a little baby. He's hardly even a baby anymore - more like a miniature little boy.

For now, here are some of our (and his) favorite things!

Step 2 Water Table

Carter is absolutely obsessed with this toy, which was a gift from Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jason for his birthday. He will splash in there for a very, very long time. It is perfect for hot days and when he is getting fussy - he forgets his problems when the water table is present! :)

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Kiddie Pool and Ball Pit Balls

Instead of buying a ball pit, I instead bought a small baby splash pool for $4 or $5 from Target and filled that with the ball pit balls, which were purchased with birthday money from Aunt Erin and Uncle Matt! He LOVES this, and is giddy when he is playing in it. A good buy for sure. And cheap, which is always a plus!

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Flashcards

Though he may not speak yet, Carter loves these flashcards from One Step Ahead. He will take them out one-by-one and walk them over to Seth and I, waiting for the "thank you" before returning to get another. He will sit and play with them as content as can be. We tried to use them in church to keep him quiet but he got excited and things got a bit out of hand. ha!

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The Snack Trap

I've said it before and I will say it again. I want to hug the person who invented this contraption. No messes + happy baby = happy mommy. Mostly, we use this in the car, but I cannot say enough good things about a $4 purchase.

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Foaming Sunscreen
Oma and Opa got this for Carter in his Easter basket and I looove it. No mess at all, and it goes on quickly (an essential for an excited little boy) and covers well. All pluses in my book. I'm having a hard time finding it around here, but I'm determined to before our beach vacation. According to the web, it is available at Target, so I will check again!



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Radio Flyer Wagon

If there was going to be another person I was going to find and hug, it would be the inventor of this wagon. It is the instant fuss-stopper and all-around happy baby guarantee. He got this as a birthday gift from mommy and daddy, and little boy has loved it from the second he set his eyes on it. We love it because it is sturdy and easy to pull/steer AND it has a great storage bin in the back for a small bag, drinks, phones, etc. Can't beat it!

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Golf Clubs

I can't find a picture of these anywhere online, but in his Easter basket, Gramma and Pa got him a set of kids golf clubs with 3 plastic golf clubs, 3 balls, and a wheeling bag for it all. He carries around the golf clubs all the time, and occasionally chases Bentley with them. We've even resorted to taking them in the car so he can hold them while we drive (when he's fussy). I like to say that maybe he'll be like Tiger Woods (minus the infidelity part).

Well, I think that's good for now. But those are, hands down, the little guy's all-time favorite things right now. I'm sure we'll have lots more as he grows!!!

 

Busy Baby=Happy Baby

It has become apparent to me that Carter is JUST like Seth. Neither one can sit still. Ants in the pants, I like to call it. Carter is moving everywhere, and pretty much needs some form of "entertainment" at all times. Be it an empty paper towel roll, a tambourine, an empty diaper box, blocks, you name it - the kid needs something to do.

A few weeks ago, I put out a plea on facebook to get some ideas from other moms about good activities for an almost one-year-old. And I got some GREAT responses. Some were already in my back pocket for spring/summer weather, but some hadn't even crossed my mind.

Here are some things we'll certainly be doing to keep busy this spring and summer. I'm so excited!!!

Going to the park and for walks. We took C-man there for the first time a few weeks ago and he loved it. And, we have a bunch of parks within walking distance of our house. Easy peasy. Plus, he's getting a new wagon for his birthday (which he's already tried out) and he LOVES it. I think many, many walks are in our future.



Finger Painting. Call me crazy, but I can't WAIT for the little guy's first art project. I would have done this by now but the baby finger paints are in his Easter basket, and I'm forcing myself to wait. Self-control, they call it. :) Apparently, pudding is also another great option for this (thanks, Salli!) - totally makes sense too...they can play AND it won't matter if they lick their fingers. Win-win.

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Sensory Tubs. I saw this idea on a blog and love it. Basically, you take a rubbermaid tote and fill it with different objects - most popularly pasta or beans and then add some small objects in there to build the child's senses of touch, etc. You can do color tubs where they sort things by colors (he's too small for that), shapes, size, and on and on. I think we'll stick with large pieces of pasta to reduce choking hazards and add in a dump truck, wooden spoon, some dishes...we'll keep it simple!

 

Play-doh. He seems a bit young for this, but I'm willing to give it a shot, mainly because I also love the stuff. I think it'll only take one taste of the saltiness, and there will be no more in-the-mouth play-doh, which was my only concern anyway. Not worried about the mess. A vacuum will take care of the mess.

Water. In any form, really. Water table (which shhhh, but he's getting for his birthday), random bowls with watter, a high chair tray filled up with warm water for splashing, color tabs in the bathtub, inflatable pool outside when it gets warmer, garden hose, Bentley's water bowls - anything involving water excites the little guy, and it is the cheapest toy available! :)

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Nonsensical "toys." You know the ones - empty boxes, pots and pans, pennies in a jar, and on and on. The child loves anything non-conventional, and we'll come up with some new ones.

What kinds of activities do you like to do with your kids? Have any more ideas than what is listed that might be extra fun for a one-year-old?