Holiday Gift Ideas: Toys We Love

This has been the year of downsizing at our house. So! Much! Stuff! How did we accumulate so much? No trendy KonMari methodology here; just some good old-fashioned purging of items we don't use anymore.

My closet was first; next Andi's; then 20+ totes of baby clothes I'd stored away for a rainy day. I gifted several of Tory and Aden's gently-used baby outfits to friends and family with newborns and it filled me with delight to see those sweet babies wearing tiny outfits I'd once loved.

Next up, TOYS. I'll admit, I'm the culprit in wanting my children to have every single toy on the market. We have a pink Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, for example, but my brain keeps telling me Aden needs his own blue Little Tikes Cozy Truck. Isn't that excessive? They also make a gas pump for the little cars, and wouldn't it be adorable to have one? (Ahh, make it stop!)

There are some toys Tory and Aden absolutely adore and play with often. I'm totally fine with those things taking up real estate in our house so long as they're being used. I thought I'd share some of our favorite toys for anyone looking for winners in the toy department this holiday season:

Fisher-Price My First Dollhouse

Hands down, THE BEST toy we've ever purchased for Tory. She received this dollhouse for Christmas in 2013 and has played with it non-stop since then. Like, every single day for hours at a time. Tory loves the little dollhouse family and affectionately calls them "Mom," "Dad," "Big Girl" and "Baby." Sometimes, the dollhouse people even sleep with her tucked into bed at night. It's fun for me as a parent to listen to her imagination run wild as she plays. I also like how sturdy the pieces are (no small parts) so Aden can play with it, too.

Fisher Price Learning Home

This toy has seen a lot of mileage in our house, too. Tory received it as a first birthday gift and it continues to be played with by Tory, Aden and every other kid(s) who happens to visit our home.

Pottery Barn Anywhere Chairs
Tory and Aden each have one of these over-sized kid chairs and they LOVE them. I'm not sure why exactly, but the kids play with them everyday. They tip them over and build forts underneath them; they sit and read books in them; they fight over who gets to sit in which chair (even though they're exactly the same).

Disney Dusty the Plane 4-in-1 Ride-On

Aden received this as a birthday gift last year, and it's been a great transitional toy. We keep it inside the house, and he used it in the rocking mode with safety belt when it was on the younger side of age one. We've since removed the base and now he tears around the house using it as a ride-on toy.

Melissa & Doug Princess Dress

Tory received this princess dress last Christmas, and it's my favorite of all her dress-up clothes. The material is soft (not scratchy) and sturdy (no rips like many of our Disney-brand princesses dresses quickly aquired). It's definitely held up to many hours of play. Best of all, Tory can pull this dress on and off by herself.

Disney Magic Clip Princesses

These Disney Magic Clip princesses have been a top toy in our house this year. Tory plays with the tiny princesses in her dollhouse, carries them with her in the car and on airplane trips, and totes them to the cabin on the weekends.

I love the holidays, but I am already dreading the amount of *stuff* we'll collect when it's all said and done. (Total princess problem, I know; don't I sound horrible saying that?) I have a feeling there'll be another round of purging and donations in 2016 to make room for all the kids' new toys and gadgets. At the same time, I'm also excited to see what new, fun things they'll receive.

Happy shopping!

*Amazon affiliated links

Holiday Gift Ideas: My Favorite Things

Okay, I admit it; I've been listening to Neil Diamond Holiday station on Pandora for a couple weeks now. Andi overheard me the other day, raised an eyebrow and said, "A little early, isn't it?" Eh, I disagree. Christmas music makes me happy. Why not enjoy it for a few extra weeks?

It's not like I put up my Christmas tree ... yet. No shame for those who've started decorating; if it weren't for Aden's birthday this week I probably would've, too. I ordered my Christmas cards this week, and I began plotting advent calendar ideas into our December happenings. Fun takes planning!

Planning ahead means I've also started shopping for Christmas gifts. We're driving to Nebraska for Thanksgiving next week, and my goal is to bring gifts for anyone we won't be spending the holidays with this year (vs. shipping them to my parent's house in December). All this gift-buying has me thinking about some of my own favorite things. In my opinion, the best gifts come with a referral -- "I tried this, I love it, and I know you will too!"

In the spirit of Christmas (and Oprah!), here's a few of my favorite things:

Heat Holders Winter Socks


Winter is coming, and so are the cold temperatures. I live in these socks during the cold weather months (so, in Minnesota, basically November - May). My feet are always cold, and these socks warm them right up!

Snoozie Slippers


Speaking of cold feet ... if I'm not wearing my Heat Holder socks, I'm usually wearing my Snoozie slippers. My mom gave me a pair of these slippers a few years ago, and they're ridiculously ugly (the patterns!) but so comfortable. I have two pairs -- one for home, one for the cabin.

Tervis Cup (with Straw Lid)


I am obsessed with my Tervis tumbler. I like it because it keeps my water cold and doesn't spill when the cup's knocked over. Tervis comes in two sizes (16oz. and 24oz.) and has two lid options. I prefer the 24oz. tumbler with straw lid because I personally drink more water when it's through a straw. That's just me, though. Andi likes the 16oz. size with regular lid for coffee and/or cocktails.

Electric Wine Bottle Opener


This is possibly the best invention ever. I (happily? sadly?) use my electric wine bottle opener quite often. We've owned a few different ones, but I like this brand/version best.

Brownie Pan


My mom gave me this brownie pan for a gift last year and while I don't use it daily, I do love having it in my baking arsenal. It's perfect for making my favorite homemade granola bars, as well as brownies or other dessert bars.

Mesh Strainer


This was one of those silly purchases that has made my life so much easier. Why didn't I buy one of these sooner?! I use my mesh strainer every day to drain boiled noodles, canned fruit, homemade chicken stock, and more. Seriously, love it!

I Love Mom mug


Andi gave me this mug for Mother's Day a few years ago, and I love drinking my coffee out of it. I don't know why, but it makes me smile.

Cheese Knife


Andi's sister Lindsay jokes that every time she visits us at the cabin, we serve a cheese plate. Well, seriously, who doesn't love cheese? Andi and I discovered this cheese knife a few years ago and it's the best invention for cutting cheese ... or any food with a weird texture (i.e.: hard boiled eggs). The plastic blade slices right through cheese without any of it getting stuck on the blade. Magic!

DSLR Camera Strap 


I love taking pictures of my kids (#1 subjects!) but I rarely have an extra hand to hang onto my camera while I'm chasing after them. Love this strap for my DSLR camera because it keeps my camera secured by my side, and allows me to draw the camera up and shoot quickly as it slides along the cross-body sling.

JJ Cole Picnic Blanket


I use this all-purpose blanket every single day in the summer for trips to the park, picnics, outdoor concerts, etc. Spills wipe off the material easily, and sand and dirt just shake off. Best of all, it folds up nicely into itself with a carrying strap so I throw it over the stroller handle and go.

*Amazon affiliated picture links

Must-Have Baby Gear, Round Two

The good thing about having Baby #2 (or #3, #4, etc. ) is the feeling of preparedness. All you really need for Baby is clothes, diapers and milk. The rest is just icing on the cake.

In the days leading up to Aden's birth and in the months after, I wasn't too worried about reusing all the pink stuff we accumulated with Tory. The little mister is using his sister's pick bathtub, sporting some of her pink and purple blankets and even wearing a few of her old PJ's sometimes. I think he's secure enough in his masculinity to take it. Ha!

But, there has been a handful of things we picked up for Baby #2 that made our lives just a little bit easier. Here's my (second time around) favorite baby things:

Tiny Love 3 in 1 Rocker Napper

When Andi purchased this bassinet for Baby Aden a few weeks before he was born, I rolled my eyes (secretly, not to his face, of course). I didn't think it was really necessary; couldn't Aden just sleep in the pack-n-play we already owned on cabin weekends? Yes, of course Aden could have ... but I have to admit, this bassinet was one of my favorite baby things. We used it mostly for naps and nighttime sleeping next to our bed, though I suppose you could use it for hanging out. The legs on the bottom of the bassinet can be flipped up or down to allow for a "steady" or "rocking" motion, so I flipped one up and one down to create a lift on one side. Since Aden spit up so much, this really gave me piece of mind having him sleep at an elevated angle.

Fisher Price Cradle N' Swing

Oh my goodness, this swing has been a lifesaver with Aden. It's very possibly he's just a good-natured baby, but Aden loving this swing has saved my sanity so much. I was a little apprehensive to invest in another piece of baby equipment with the second baby (and luckily we didn't have to since Andi's parents gifted it to us when Aden was born), but it was worth it. I love this swing because it's so cozy and lays flatter than others I've seen. The number of naps Aden clocks in this thing are numerous. Best baby gear purchase EVER.

Breathable Mesh Crib Bumper

I'm in the "play it safe / not a fan of the crib bumper" category of mothers, but I've also never had a baby who used a pacifier until Aden. One little nuisance I never saw coming is the task of searching for pacifiers lost in the crib during the night. Good lord, what a pain! The other day, I moved Aden's crib away from the wall to find four pacifiers underneath there. No wonder I can't find them in the night -- they're falling through the rails! So, I purchased a breathable crib bumper to keep those little guys safely secured within the walls of the crib.

Uniden Wireless Video Surveillance Portable Security System
aka: our baby monitor

I'm one of those parents who just can't sleep unless I've got a view of what's going on in my little kiddo's bedrooms. I'd be peaking in the door a million times throughout the night if it wasn't for this baby monitor. Actually, I don't think it really is classified as a "baby monitor," but let me tell you ... it does a great job as one. My favorite feature of this video surveillance system is that you can switch to up to four different cameras using the same picture receiver. I can even set it as split screen view if I want to see both kids' rooms at the same time. It's the best.

Things I Love: Toddler 18-24 Months Edition

Just when it seems like I've got a handle on things as a parent, something changes and I'm left scrambling to figure out Tory's new "thing." This past month, it was Tory's refusal to sit in a high chair which had me re-learning how to manage meal times with her. I mean, obviously it isn't an Earth-shattering problem I'm facing over here (I can almost hear Andi say "that is your biggest worry?") but it was an interruption in my daily routine; a new road block to navigate.

Tory started eating meals at the dining room table (my expensive dining room table which I've prided myself in having decorated and pristine over the years). After a handful of meal periods, there was yogurt smeared all over my table runner and food smashed into the grooves of the table. I sighed with defeat at the end of every meal time, thinking there had to be a way to contain the food mess previously controlled by her high chair tray. Then, a mama light bulb moment hit: a placemat.

Of course, I turned to trusty Amazon to see what options were available to two-day ship to my doorstep. I thought they were fairly expensive for simple placements, so I picked up a Minnie Mouse one at Target for $1.99 (can't find the link online). The good news: the placemat discovery is working ... mostly. The $1.99 Target version slips around on the table, so it doesn't always contain Tory's food mess, but it helps. I might have been better off spending $10 for a non-slip placemat on Amazon (and I may still buy one.) Now I just need to work on getting Tory to actually *sit* at the table to eat her meal vs. getting up a million times to play.

- USEFUL -

Placemat

Source

Sippy Cup
Tory's been off the bottle for a while now, but she still demands a cup of water at naps and bedtime. The only no-spill sippy cup I've found is this Nuby Super Spout Gripper Cup and believe me, I've tried a lot of different cups. They all say they're no-spill but this one really, truly is. If you have a Wal-Mart near you, buy them there because they're about half the cost of anywhere else.

Umbrella Stroller
Another helpful purchase as of late has been this umbrella stroller. I have a feeling we're turning into one of those families who has 17 baby strollers in their garage (we have three currently), but this one is great for toddlers. A few months back, Andi and I took our expensive City Mini stroller on a flight to Nebraska and found it returned to us planeside with a bum wheel. Technically, the stroller wasn't broken completely but the front wheel's brace was loose from poor handling. We immediately purchased an umbrella stroller to use for travel that a) we didn't care as deeply about, and b) was smaller to maneuver through airports. I like this particular umbrella stroller because it's still high quality (comfortable for Tory, turns nicely) compared to some of the very-cheap umbrella stroller versions out there. My only gripes about this stroller are that it's difficult to turn using only one hand and the sun shade is virtually useless as designed. For the purchase of airport / compact travel though, it's perfect.

Source

iPad Mini Car Mount
I've mentioned this find before, but one of my favorite purchases lately has been this iPad Mini Car Mount. It's no secret Tory isn't a fan of car rides and a little Mickey Mouse Clubhouse goes a long way to make our cabin trips on the weekends more pleasant. This car mount fits easily over a car headrest and the iPad attaches with Velcro so it's easy to install / un-install.

Fruit Bowl
One recent 'a ha parenting moment' has been the addition of a fresh fruit bowl in Tory's view. I usually have a fruit and veggie bowl on the counter, but I ran out of room the other day and set it in the center of the dining room table. Suddenly my never-eat-fruits toddler turned into a bananas / peaches / plum hound. I know most parents don't have a hard time getting their toddlers to eat fruit, but I realized that putting anything in her eyesight made it more visible and appealing.


- FAVORITE TOYS / PRESENTS -

Kitchen and Accessories
My parents gave Tory a play kitchen for her 2nd birthday and it's been a big hit every since she opened the package. But even before that, Tory loved pretending with toy food, plates, spoons and cups. Her favorite thing to do is "make soup" by stirring a pot and serve "tea" with little cups. Even measuring spoons, silicone muffin cups and muffin tins make it into her pretend play.

The kitchen set my parents gifted is this one with electronic stove burns and a play phone. Tory really loves all the action and shouts "oh no!" every time her pot boils over for too long. There were some "fancier" kitchen sets out there, but I specifically asked for this one because it's plastic, easy to move around (it's currently stationed in my living room but will eventually make it downstairs to the playroom) and perfect for Tory's size at age 2.

Cozy Coupe
There's a reason just about every kid on the planet has a certain toy and the Cozy Coupe is one of them. Tory loves this toy. Actually, every single kid I've ever seen play with this car loves it ... even my six year old niece. Andi's parents gave Tory a Cozy Coupe car with trailer for her 2nd birthday and she's obsessed with it. I've never seen the trailer before, but it's a great addition. Tory puts all her babies and toys inside for a ride and I can picture her little brother riding in there someday, too. Too cute and so much fun.

Books
Tory's always loved books and they were still a big hit between the age of 18-24 months. We read the same few books over and over and over before she initiates a new one into the rotation. Some of Tory's favorites the last few months have been Amazing Airplanes (which is a great way to introduce / explain airport travel), Press Here, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? (responsible for Tory learning to recognize colors), Noisy Barn and the Animals book.

Things I Love: Toddler 15-18 Months Edition

I'm continually amazed how blips in time fly by at record speed since Tory entered our lives. I suppose time always marched on, but I'm surely more aware of how different our lives seem to fly by as directed by a growing (infant, now) toddler.

The 15-18 month stage is my favorite, favorite, favorite by far. Suddenly, there's a new sheriff in town with her own opinions on what cups, plates and bibs to use and most certainly in clothing, blankets and toddler gadgets. Some of our old tried-and-true kid stuff is still in the mix, but I've also discovered some new things the last few months that have made our lives much easier.


-USEFUL -
Aden + Anais Cozy Slumber Four Layer Sleeping Bag
The Aden + Anais sleep sack has been on my "things I love" list since the beginning, but this winter I discovered the Cozy Slumber Four Layer Sleeping Bag and it's quickly become my favorite product. Tory still wears a sleep sack at naps and bedtime, partly because she's quite the climber and I'm confident she'd learn to monkey right out of her crib if her legs weren't contained, and also because I worry about her sleeping uncovered in the night. She has the coldest bedroom in the house and I want to make sure she says warm and snuggly (and sleeping!) through the night.

The Aden + Anais sleep sacks / sleeping bags are very durable and actually become softer the more times you wash them. I have two Cozy Slumber Four Layer Sleeping Bags in rotation because inevitably, one is in the wash due to a leaky diaper, poop, puke, etc. What makes this sleeping bag better than the cotton sleep sacks is the four layers of warmth it provides without causing overheating.

Bumkins Bibs
Tory is quite insistent on wearing a bib during meal times (hallelujah for protecting her clothes!) and the older she's gets, the more I've grown to love the Bumkins Bibs. I remember people telling me about these bibs months ago when Tory first started solid foods, but for us they never caught all the food she was dropping and therefore, didn't cut down on the mess. Back then, I liked the Tommee Tippee bibs much better. Now that Tory can efficiently feed herself (as in, most of the food on her spoon actually makes it to her mouth), the trough-like function of the Tommee Tippee bib isn't necessary. The Bumkins Bibs provide a nice shield on the front of her shirt to combat food splatters and I like how small they fold so I can toss one in my purse if we're going out to eat.

Columbia Snowsuit and Fleece Jacket
We purchased these two items for Tory during the winter that just wouldn't end (aka: winter 2012-13) and I have to say, we got our money's worth. I have been so pleased with the quality and warmth the fleece jacket (Tory's everyday coat) and snowsuit (Tory's heavier winter coat on blustery days and/or snowsuit for playing outside) provided. I've washed the fleece jacket numerous times and it's still held its shape and color perfectly. The snow suit is easy for Tory to move around in and protected her perfectly through all our winter outdoor adventures.


-FAVORITE TOYS / GIFTS -
Tea Set
Tory received this tea set from my parents at Christmas and she's played with it non-stop ever since. The tea pot makes a "pouring sound" she finds very life-like and therefore, our tea cups are never empty.

Baby Dolls
We have our share of baby dolls in this household and surprisingly, they are receive equal amounts of love from Tory. We have several versions of this cheap Target baby doll and they've held up well to her continual playing. The legs, arms and head also wipe clean easily.

Doll Stroller
No baby doll would be complete without a doll stroller! Tory received this one at Christmas from Andi's Grandma and she plays with it constantly. It's more sturdy than some of the other ones I've seen in stores, but probably wouldn't be sturdy enough for a baby who's just learning to walk on their own. For Tory's age and skill set, this doll stroller fits the bill.

Things I Love: Toddler 12-15 Months Edition

Tory turned 16 months old recently which means we've hit another milestone point in chronicling the stuff that made our lives easier the last few months. If feels like watching paint dry when I'm typing these things up, but more than once I've gone back to these posts to see what baby items were our favorite. I'm glad I take the time to jot them down. With Tory, it seems every three months she hits a big developmental leap and we're onto the next stage. New likes. New hurdles. New interests. Here's some of our favorites during 12-15 months of age:

Items we continued to loved:
Tommee Tippee Bibs
Aden + Anais Sleep Sack

-Useful -
Snack Cup

I've mentioned it many times before, Tory is a bit of a picky eater. Her delicate palate even extends into the snack category. (She's never liked Gerber Puffs or Cheerio's cereal and her interest in Gerber Lil' Crunchies was short-lived). Normally, I wouldn't be so intent on peaking her interest in munching, but at times when she's melting down in Target or flying on an airplane, snacks provide a great distraction.

Enter these toddler snack cups (well, and animal crackers inside of them). No surprise, Tory loves the ability to control the flow of her own snack dispersal. She stays busy with the cup for several minutes, removing the crackers from the webbed top, and it's usually enough of a distraction for me to wrap up a shopping trip and avoid a major meltdown.

Dr. Brown's Plates

We're finally at a stage where Tory can be trusted with a plate. These are my favorite because they're on the smaller size and fit perfectly in Tory's highchair tray. The equally portioned sections help her see the difference between foods and remind me to balance out her meal with fruits, dairy and vegetables.

Anti Monkey Butt for Diaper Rash

Over the last three months, Tory gained three of her four one-year molars and they didn't come easy. We battled many unpretty bouts of diaper rash and many times, regular diaper creme didn't cut it. Andi picked up this powder one day and it works wonders when alternated between Butt Paste creme. Basically this is corn starch powder like the home remedy my mom recommended in an easy shakable/storable container.

Robeez Shoes

During the age of 12-15 months, Tory was really learning to move. It was over this stretch she went from toddling along to full-on running. Robeez shoes were an excellent first shoe because they held up to wear and tear (compared to other "first" shoes she had from Old Navy) and they were easy for her to walk in (shoes with a big sole were clunky and harder for her to maneuver).

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-Favorite Toys/Gifts -
Some of Tory's favorite toys this age were a little more "creative." A playroom full of colorful, noisy toys and everyday this kiddo played with the following items:

Plastic Eggs
I took an old egg carton and painted the insides of each egg nest? egg hole? (whatever the heck you call it) a different color. Then, I put matching colored plastic Easter egg in each spot. Seriously, this was Tory's favorite (favorite, favorite, favorite) toy for months. She dumped the eggs out. Put them back in (not necessarily in the correct color spot, although that was the intention) and dumped them out again. Sometimes she loaded the eggs into a bag and waved "bye-bye" as she walked away. Leaving the grocery store perhaps? Aside from my kitchen floor being littered with plastic eggs all the time, it was the best toy ever.

Baby Photos
Another handmade favorite? Old photos. For Tory's birthday, I'd cut some pictures into circles for a craft project I was making. I didn't end up using the photos, so I gave them to Tory to play with. Every day, Tory lined up the photos on the ground and pointed to all the babies (herself, ha!). She put the photos in a bucket, emptied them out and put them in the bucket again.

Learning Home
Tory's favorite toy this stage was the Fisher Price Learning Home. She played with this house every single day and with its many gadgets, lights and sounds there was plenty to occupy her.

Push Toys
Anything pushable like the Corn Popper toy and Activity Walker were big hits. Tory played with the activity walker more once she knew how to walk than she did when she was learning. One day I tied her baby doll to the front of the walker like a make-shift stroller and she lost her marbles in a full-on meltdown. Apparently this type of creative play was a little out of her realm. Oops.

Things I Love: 9-12 Months Edition

The 9-12 month stage ... oh, it's a fun one! Tory developed such a lively personality in the span of a few months. Her preferences and schedule changed quite a bit, too. I'm always trying new products and baby gadgets to make life a little easier. I think I've found the perfect bib or sippy cup until I stumble upon a product even more functional. With so many baby items out there, I wanted to jot down a few of our favorite things during this baby stage.

Items we continued to use/like in the 9-12 month range:
Nuby No-Spill Super Spout Sippy Cup
Sleep Sheep
Adan + Anais Sleep Sack
OxyClean Baby

New to us items for this age which quickly became our fav's:

- Useful-
Britax Boulevard Convertible Car Seat
Around 10 months, we transitioned Tory to a convertible car seat. I did some online research and asked around to see which car seat all of my mommy friends had purchased. There were mixed reviews - most people said they were happy with Britax but other didn't think a big, bulky, expensive car seat was necessary. I read a review online somewhere (Amazon maybe?) where a lady said she's been in a severe car accident and her two boys walked away without a scratch thanks to the Britax Boulevard. SOLD. We bought that car seat the very next day. My verdict? I love it. It's absolutely worth the money. I can tell how solid and supportive it is just by touching it. The material's soft and comfortable and all the straps and clicks function like they're suppose to. A few days after we bought it I thought to myself, "this would be better if there were Velcro here to hold the straps" and lo and behold, there they were! Perfect. The Boulevard is big and somewhat heavy (28 pounds) but it's obviously safe. Best of all, Tory loves it (and she's the biggest car seat critic around). Regularly, she falls asleep minutes after she's strapped into her seat.

We also purchased this Evenflo Tribute Convertible Car Seat as a back-up for the nanny to use and for traveling. It's alright; definitely less supportive when compared to the Britax Boulevard and more cheaply made. It works fine for the nanny's occasional trips to the library with Tory or when we travel through the airport. It's lightweight at 13 pounds (half the weight of Britax) and buckles into vehicles easily.

We also purchased this JL Childress Car Seat Cover and it's works great for lugging around either car seat. It fits both car seats and is comfortably worn like a backpack. No complaints about this at all. A must-have if you're planning to travel with a car seat and don't want it to be dirty and damaged by baggage handlers.

Tommee Tippee Explora Bibs
A-mazing! On a whim, I threw these bibs in my cart one day at Target and I am in love. I dreaded meal times like math homework because Tory was seriously such a messy eater. I spent 15 minutes deconstructing her high chair and wiping it down 3-4 times a day and it was getting ridiculous. Once I started using these bibs, messy meal times were drastically reduced. Tory doesn't mind wearing the Explora bibs at all (she ripped the Bumpkins bibs off in two seconds flat) and these bibs catch 99% of the food she drops. In fact, they're so good at catching crumbs, Tory often says "oh!" and re-eats the food she dropped in the little bib flap! I like the button-hole latch at the back as well (vs. Bumpkin's Velcro) because she can't pull them off either.

Baby Bath Sponge
Around 9 months of age, Tory outgrew her baby bath tub and I started giving her baths in the regular tub. She was still learning her balance and definitely wasn't comfortable sitting in the tub alone. I heard people talk about those bath seats but as wiggly as she is, I imagined her popping right out of that. My mom sent me a baby bath sponge and it worked perfectly for our needs. I think it's intended for small infants to lay on, but I used it to give Tory something to sit on and provide traction in the water. It allowed her to explore and learn to balance in a bathtub environment while giving her some stability at the same time. Although she doesn't need it as much now, I still put it in the bathtub with her to lay and crawl around on. Cheap, easy solution to the slippery baby learning-how-to-function-in-a-bathtub stage.

Old Navy Sun Hat
Of course I can't find the link on their website any longer, but it's still worth mentioning. The Easter Bunny bought this sun hat for Tory with a matching pair of little baby flip flops. The sandals were crap because, duh, shoes on crawling babies are kind of awkward (lesson learned). However, this sun hat was perfect for Tory because it actually stayed on her head. The bill was short enough that she it shaded her face without hanging over her eyes in a floppy way and most of the time she forgot she was even wearing it. That's the best kind of baby hat in my book.

-Favorite Toys/Gifts -
Poppity Pop Dino Toy
Goofy name. Great toy. Around 11 months, the nanny picked up this toy at Target for Tory and she loves it. Mostly she carries around the balls and is completely amazed by watching them shoot out the dino's mouth. I like how the same balls are used with multiple Fisher Price toys.

Baby Dolls
Tory's not attached to a blanket, pacifier or stuffed animal but she adores her baby dolls. She has two babies and carries them all over the house with her. Yesterday, she had one stuffed in a trick-or-treating pail. It may have been the cutest thing ever. I'm amazed by her natural instincts to love them, hug and kiss them and even put them in her toys and push them around. What a little mommy girl she's become.

Touch and Feel Books
Tory's a little book worm, she has been from an early age. I like to think it's because she's a baby genius but likely it's the one-on-one attention she gets when we read her stories. Anyway, during this age (and still today), her favorite books were touch and feel ones. Specifically, she likes On The Farm because she's obsessed with farm animals and Curious George at the Zoo.

Sesame Street Stacking Cups
Cups of all kinds were a big hit with Tory during 9-12 months of age, especially these Sesame Street Stacking Cups. It was right around the time she starting drinking from a cup and I'd see her pretend to drink from these all the time. She never really learned to nest them into one another, or stack them for that matter, but she carried them around with her constantly.

Hope this helps share a few of our tried-and-true favorite things. I think I'll seriously refer back to these lists for every baby gift I ever buy because who doesn't love getting things that really work.