Wishful Slacker

Toddler Gear Guide- 15 months

Here is an update on the toys, books, etc, that strike Ellie's fancy, now that she is almost 15 months old:

1) Baby dolls
Jim and I got Ellie her first real dolly for Christmas.  There are many makers of baby dolls, and the brand that Jim and I were really looking at were those made by Corelle.  They have a plastic head and limbs with a cloth body, and come with different outfits.  The big problem is that they are PRICEY.  And the thing is, does our toddler really understand that she's been given an expensive dolly?  She's thrilled playing with cardboard shipping boxes, so there's our answer.  We got Ellie a $20 Madame Alexander plastic baby doll, and she is really starting to carry her around.  In addition, Ellie has started playing with her Baby Stella doll, which we received as a baby gift.  Baby Stella is an all-plush doll.  Ellie seems to really enjoy both- she picks one up, drops it, and then picks up the other one.  She likes getting Baby Stella's magnetic pacifier to stick to her mouth, and she slings both of them into her grocery cart and baby stroller.


This morning at our toddler class at Pied Piper Eleanor began to feed the baby dolls there with a plastic bottle.  She took it very seriously.  So, apparently we must now add "doll feeding accessories" to our list of future do-dads to acquire around here. 


2) Push carts
For Christmas Ellie received a little plastic shopping cart, which she really, really likes.  She places her bunny or one of her dolls in the front, and sometimes throws the others into the back.  Having a shopping cart at this age is great for her infatuation with constant movement.  At first, she kept leaning on her shopping cart as though it was a walker, and it would tip over and she would get frustrated.  She seems to now have gotten the knack of it.  There are many brands of shopping carts for kids. 


At a friend's house over Christmas break, Ellie had a great time playing with their doll stroller which my friend said she found at Target for about $10.  Sure enough, Target has these umbrella strollers (that actually fold up), and Ellie really loves hers.  I didn't know if there was a need for her to have both a stroller AND a shopping cart, but she really does seem to enjoy having both. 


3) Crayons.  Ellie is starting to enjoy coloring.  Jim got her a set of jumbo Crayola crayons for Christmas, and now we have one more thing to do on rainy days.  :-) 

4) Mega Bloks or other Lego/block sets
I got Ellie and Jim a killer set of Mega Bloks for Christmas.  I got a great deal- 100 pieces in a plastic tub from Walmart.com, for just $10!  It was right before Christmas, so I think I benefited from a good Christmas deal because I haven't seen them that inexpensive since.  Other Mega Bloks sets come in a zippered pouch, and I like the sturdy bin that came with our set.  The Mega Bloks are really easy for Ellie to snap together.  In the play area of a Barnes & Noble she was really enjoying playing with their Lego table.  My biggest issue with the blocks is that she always knocks down my amazing skyscrapers.  Sigh. 


Along the blocks theme, Ellie also received this train set for Christmas and really likes it. 

5) Corn Popper.  Yes, I am referencing that classic toy that we all enjoyed when we were kids.  We got one for Ellie for her birthday.  It took her a while to be able to push it forward properly without falling, but now that she is much sturdier on her feet it has become one of her favorites, especially when she needs to run off some steam. 

6) Laptop.  I still feel that I don't want all of the toys in our home to be electronic and an imagination-zapper.  But there are some battery-operated toys that Ellie just LOVES, and her little laptop is one of them.  We now bring it along for long car rides because it is great entertainment for her when she starts to buck in the backseat.  Hers is a little Vtech laptop, and there is a larger model at Pied Piper.  She loves that one too, and today almost launched into a full temper tantrum after another child TOUCHED it.  Yikes. 


7) Shape sorters.  My mom got us this one for Christmas.  I knew Eleanor would enjoy playing with it, but I was surprised to find after the holidays that it was probably her favorite new toy.  After she inserts the shape into the hippo's body, she pumps the plunger at the top and the shapes spin around inside and come spitting out the hippo's mouth.  She really likes that part. 

8) Maisy books.  Ellie likes all of her board books, but we have gotten several books about Maisy (who is a mouse, apparently, but I think she looks more like a rat.  Don't tell Ellie that).  They've got great illustrations and Jim and I like the stories.  Okay, maybe it's really Jim and me that love Maisy, and we are pushing that onto our child.  That may be more of the underlying picture here.  But, I have to say that if you tell Ellie to go get her Sweet Dreams, Maisy book, she goes and gets the correct one, which tells me that she must like it, right?  Oh, and we have gotten many of ours used (but in quite good condition) from Amazon.  We also like Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton. Ellie is starting to say "BOW WOW WOW" in a deep and husky voice when we get to that page.  Cracks me up. 

So, yes, bottom line is that Eleanor received many toys for her birthday and the holidays, and I am pleased to say that we will be taking quite a toy-purchasing break for the time being.  In 2-3 years, when I need to buy another munchkin a gift and my memory is fried, I can look off of this list.  :-)

Oh, one more thing!  We have had some friends inquire about the little play area that we have in our living room.  It is the playzone sold from the One Step Ahead catalog, but we found ours used on Craigslist.  We have the basic set plus two extensions, and then we got the foam tiles to go inside. 

What to do with Bunny One?

On a chilly April day, 5 month old Eleanor and I sat in our parked car while Jim ran into Toys 'R' Us.  I had clipped a coupon that gave a great discount when you bought two toys from the company Vtech, and the coupon was due to expire soon.

"Just see what they have and choose whatever," I suggested.  Several minutes later, Jim returned with a musical bath toy, and Yellow Bunny.  We didn't introduce them to Eleanor right away.  Soon after her 6 month birthday, it seemed that she finally might be ready for more than what dangled from her activity center, and I brought out the box containing the next stage of toys- stacking blocks, a shape sorting basket, and Yellow Bunny.

Yellow Bunny was more than a plush toy.  She came from Vtech, meaning that within her tummy was a battery pack nestled inside, sealed by a velcro flap on her back.  Each of her paws had a function.  One got her to enthusiastically cheer, "Clap your hands along with me!/Dance with me!/Sing with me!/ Playing with you is SO MUCH FUN! I looove you!!!", while another paw caused her to jump into a rendition of peekaboo.  "Where are you?  HERE I AM!"  And another setting switched her over into lullaby mode.  "I feel sleepy," she yawned, as quiet lullaby music emanated from her insides, and a yellow heart positioned in the middle of her white circular belly glowed and dimmed, glowed and dimmed, while everyone got sleepy and snuggly.

This is how we first used Yellow Bunny, setting her in a corner of the crib so she could sweetly sing Eleanor to sleep each night.  We soon learned of a new function of Bunny's.  If Eleanor awoke crying, the night light on Bunny's tummy automatically began to pulse, and her peaceful music came across the baby monitor to our ears.  Miraculously, Eleanor was often soothed back to sleep by Bunny's performance. 

We were fans, but at first Eleanor didn't seem like she would really gravitate towards Yellow Bunny as any type of lovey.  As the months went by, we began noticing something.  We'd flick on our video monitor, and would find Eleanor with her arms around Bunny's body, clutching and softly carressing Bunny's ears in the dark.  She began carrying Bunny around outside of the crib too, and with her usual stance, clutching Bunny around the waist or neck and squeezing Bunny's ears while she sucked her thumb.  On long car rides, all Eleanor needed was for Bunny to be on her lap and she was set.  Eleanor finally had a lovey.


One day, Eleanor would not drop Bunny as we headed out the door for daycare, so we brought Bunny with us.  She then wouldn't leave Bunny in the car, and so Bunny came inside.  Starting at age one, children at daycare could start to have an item in their cribs at naptime.  It won't hurt anything to try having Bunny at school, I thought.  I set Eleanor down on her feet in her daycare room, with Bunny snug in her grasp.  The other toddlers instantly noticed the newcomer, as though they had a built in radar system for these types of novelties.  Brent ran over to Eleanor and reached out his arms.  I heard the "pop" of Eleanor's thumb being yanked out of her mouth as she lost her grip to Brent.  Then Malcolm ran over, and he pulled on Bunny, and Trixie followed by Ava came running over, and like a loose ball in a football game they all scrambled for possession.  And my poor baby ran after them, arms out-stretched, with a growing look of panic on her face as Bunny drifted further and further away.  It broke my heart to witness this first experience for her, as mild as it really was.  We kissed Eleanor on the head, restored Bunny to her arms for a brief reunion, and once morning snacktime was served at the table I was able to hide Bunny out of sight in Eleanor's cubby for the duration of the day until we could get her safely home again.

As you can imagine, Bunny is looking a bit loved at this point.  Her yellow fur is faded and her ears appear to be a dirty gray instead of yellow.  At least once a week I notice a new spot on Bunny's originally-snow white belly, and try as I might to sanitize and surface wash Bunny's exterior I cannot get that dingy hue to go away.  I think it is here for good.


Last weekend, Bunny let us know that she was getting hungry for a fresh set of batteries by occasionally letting out a mechanical honk in the middle of a song.  Her stomach stopped glowing as well.  Just as he did during her last battery change, Jim used our mini screwdriver to open up Bunny's battery pack.  He popped in two brand new Energizers, tapped Bunny's paw, and- nothing.  Not one giggle, not one round of applause, just a hollow click came from her paw after being pressed.  No soft light glowed on her tummy.  Jim grabbed the screwdriver, swapped in two other new batteries, and...still nothing.  Bunny was silent.

"Uh oh," we said to each other, using Eleanor's favorite phrase.  We handed Bunny back to her, and she assumed her usual Bunny position with her thumb in her mouth and her fingers curled around Bunny's ears.  She didn't seem to really notice Bunny was different, but then I saw her chubby toddler fingers squeeze Bunny's paw.  "I think Bunny already fell asleep," I explained. 

That night, I hopped onto Amazon, and after three clicks of the mouse another bunny was being sent via two day shipping.  $14.  This is actually a good thing, I thought.  I can retire old Bunny, and now Eleanor will have a nice new yellow bunny that still works.  And, if new bunny is ever lost, we will have old Bunny on reserve.  Perfect.

New bunny (let's call her Bunny Two) arrived this afternoon.  I set her on the counter, pushing her back from the edge where Eleanor couldn't see.  Speaking of sight, I almost lost mine when Bunny Two came out of that box, she is so bright and sunshiney.  The white of her belly is spotless, and my fingertips sunk into the softness of Bunny Two's fur.  She is luxurious, the Lincoln of bunnies, and quite the catch.  Her checks are dabbed with two very bright bursts of rouge.  I didn't think Bunny One ever even had this blush, but sure enough, in peering across the kitchen to where Eleanor was clutching her, I saw two faint dots on her cheeks.  I think I had just assumed that they were stains.

A few minutes later, Eleanor became distracted by something in her bedroom right off the kitchen, giving me the opportunity  to snatch Bunny One up from the floor.  I set Bunny One on the counter, right next to Bunny Two.

And my heart melted.

There was Bunny Two.  Bright, enthusiastic, eager to start on the job.  And then there was Bunny One, not even one year old and already entering the world of coveted heirloom teddy bears, the ones with missing button eyes and stuffing poking out of fatigued seams, kept up high on a shelf or carefully positioned on a quilted bed every morning.  I looked at Bunny One, and I swear she looked back at me.  Sitting next to Bunny Two, Bunny One's smile was deeper, more genuine.  Her blotchy coat and discolored ears were signs of my daughter's love, love that even I am finally just receiving in hugs that come to me with a running start, and kisses formed by lips that quickly dissolve into smiles.  Bunny One?  She's been getting Eleanor's love this whole time.

Did Eleanor really need Bunny's music and songs?  They were really nice to have, sure, but maybe there were times when Eleanor just wanted to sit and not clap, or read a book and not play peekaboo.  Just maybe.  And as much as we appreciated Bunny's lullabies playing to a restless infant at two in the morning, there were also plenty of times when "THERE'S A TRIANGLE ON MY PAW!" screetched across the baby monitor and bounced off our pillows like a pinball, the effect of Eleanor rolling on top of one of her buttons in her sleep. 

I took a picture of Bunny One next to Bunny Two and sent it to Jim, with the caption, "I just can't do it."

When I was little, I lined up all my stuffed animals and one by one loved each of them as my favorite for one week before switching to the next one in line.  I wanted them all to feel loved, and the more of them I loved, tucked next to me under the covers and curled around my head, the cozier I felt.  My sister and I had a recurring nighttime game of make-believe, where our bed was a boat and we, with all our stuffed toy children, were together in the dark night, bobbing in the waves.  All the things I love in life, Christmas or snow days and summer rains trapped indoors, give me that feeling of belonging, that sense of coziness.  And wouldn't we all love to be loved like a teddy bear in a child's arms?  To be that very special someone...

So Bunny Two is now up on the top shelf in our closet.  She can serve as our back up, if God forbid something happens to Bunny One, or if Eleanor one day asks, "What was that song that Bunny used to sing, Mom?"

Or maybe, Bunny Two can one day be passed on to a little friend, and just maybe, if she is loved enough, she will become that child's Bunny One.

From The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

 The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive.

But the Skin Horse only smiled.

 

Christmas Came Early

First Christmas gift of the holiday weekend- a giant tub of Megabloks for Eleanor. We are hoping this will keep her occupied! We've been chasing her all day are tired out!!!

Toddler Gear Guide

Yes- that's right- TODDLER gear guide.  Because I think that is officially where we are now- we no longer have a little baby.  In fact, right now our "baby" is sleeping off a fat lip that she got this morning from falling. 

And on a similar note, it has been a while since I have posted here, in part BECAUSE of the fact that our child is now a toddler.  She moves CONSTANTLY, is starting with separation anxiety (for example, I now can't even go into the bathroom without someone assuming I have left her life forever and will never return), and is also not sleeping half as well as she used to.  The past two nights were better (knock on wood 20 times please), but still, the bedtime process is becoming a long and arduous journey, complete with me slithering out of the baby's room on my belly after having rubbed her back for 20 minutes with my tired forehead pressed against the crib bars. 

In essence, I am tired, and have had no energy to write.  I am on my third cup of coffee and it's not even noon.  BUT, I have been wanting to post this for almost two weeks now and am finally forcing myself to get to it!  Eleanor turned one two weeks ago, and she received a collection of fabulous birthday gifts.  When I started the "Baby Gear Guide" posts, it was mainly for me and my ever-fading memory so that when it came time to buy gifts for friends I could look up the items that really worked for us.  I want to remember what Ellie got for her one year birthday for when it is time to buy gifts for our future little friends. 

So, here they are!


Jim and I got Ellie a pink chair from Pottery Barn Kids.  She LOVES it far more than we even thought she would.  It is a bit pricey, but we managed to get it using a sale where the chair itself was discounted plus there was no delivery surcharge.  We highly recommend it, and suggest you keep a lookout for any future sales. 

We also got her this puzzle by Melissa and Doug which she really, really loves.  Her daycare classroom has the same one.  It would be a great first birthday gift. 



Other great gifts:

LeapFrog My Pal Scout/Violet- This is awesome.  It is a cute plush puppy that plays music when you touch its paws.  You can connect it to your computer and upload information specific to your child.  So Violet says, "I love you, ELEANOR" and spells her name.  Jim got it set up, and it kind of freaked me out the other day because it started to play Christmas music.  So, you can change the songs it sings and everything.  Ellie's very favorite lovie is Vtech's yellow bunny, so she really enjoys these types of toys.  She likes chewing on their ears :-)

LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set- Another great toy.  It includes a magnetic barn that attaches to a fridge or other magnetic surfaces.  We have ours on the door to our clothes washer, which is great because while Ellie is playing with it in our kitchen we can still get into our fridge.  There are animal pieces that you can place inside the barn, and it plays the cutest songs depending on which front and end animal pieces you add.  Ellie loves the animal pieces on their own (we are finding them all over our house!) and she also loves to carry the barn around too.  There is a button on the barn that plays music that she likes to press.  She hasn't yet fully mastered being able to get the animal pieces in place by herself, but she tries and we know she'll get it sometime soon.

LeapFrog Cook and Play Potsy- I am including this here, though technically Jim and I broke down and gave this to Ellie before her birthday on a day when I needed to keep her occupied in the kitchen while I made dinner.  We didn't realize that my sister had also purchased Potsy for her, and boy was she mad when she learned we had beat her to it!  And with reason- it is a hilariously awesome toy, randomly yelling phrases like, "Vitamin A keeps me healthy every day!"

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case- this is a toy of the future, a nifty gadget that holds your iphone or ipod touch in place so that your child can play with it.  A protective cover keeps the ipod from getting destroyed.  You can download free Fisher Price counting or animal name apps.  I think this will really come in handy for travel or other times when we are waiting for something and need a stationary activity. 

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*UPDATE*
To prove the statements in the second paragraph are indeed true, it has now been four days since I initially started this post.  Yes.  Four days.  And I am operating on about three hours of sleep.  Three hours!  It was the night of the crying baby and wailing cat.  But enough of that.....

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Little People- Anything Fisher-Price Little People is becoming a big hit around here.  Ellie received the airplane from her aunt and uncle for her birthday, and for her christening she received the A to Z learning zoo playset that has 26 little animals for each letter of the alphabet.  We also received the school bus and farm sets second hand from one of our friends.  She carries the figures all over the house, tucked beneath a pudgy arm or clasped in her hands.  It's pretty cute.

Melissa & Doug latches board and Magnetic Hide and Seek board- Grandma Rhodes also found these for Ellie, and they are great.  The latches board is full of doors with special latches (hmmm, great description, Lindsay) which the baby isn't able to get just yet.  However, we have all the latches and locks undone, and Ellie keeps going to the board to open and close the doors and is getting a real kick out of that.  The Hide and Seek board is also really cool, however for the moment I have put it away because the baby is teething and keeps scraping her teeth along the magnets which is in turn starting to ruin the pictures.  We will pull it back out soon for her to play with.

We can't forget good books, and Ellie especially loves this Very Hungry Caterpillar finger puppet book.  It really makes her laugh. 

I love toys that give kids a good starting point for their imaginations, but leave enough room for them to carry it through the rest of the way.  All of her first birthday gifts were so lovely. 

Anyways, I hope that you have found this list helpful.  I know I will thank myself in the future for when I need some good gift ideas.  But I will now end here.  It is time to go exercise off the ten tons of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and Pequods pizza that I consumed this past Thanksgiving weekend :-)

Happy Holidays!