1st birthday gifts

My son is about to turn one year old, so I thought I'd share a list of his favorite toys. It's no coincidence that 99% of these make some sort of noise. Do they even make quiet toys anymore? (All prices are from Toys R Us unless otherwise noted)

-Playskool: Busy Basics - Swing 'n Score Baseball - $18

-Lamaze Chime Garden - $25

-Infantino light ball

-LeapFrog Fridge DJ - $20 at Target

-LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table - $48

-Ty stuffed lion

-LeapFrog Learn and Groove: Animal Sounds Guitar - $22

-Fisher Price Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo-Choo Train

-"Pooh Dreamy Songs" book

-Tonka Wheel Pals ($8) and Tonka Wheel Pals Cushy Cruisin' Pickup Truck ($13) at HasbroToyShop.com

-Playskool Lullaby Gloworm - $11

-Fisher Price Laugh & Learn: Learning Toolbench - $21

-play dishes and food - try these: Fisher Price Musical Tea Set - $18 and Fisher Price Mini Meal Set - Lunch - $7.50

-Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn: Musical Learning Chair - $31.47 at Walmart

-Seasme Street pop-up singing toy, like this: Sesame Street: Singing Pop Up Pals - $22

Remember, you can often find great slightly used toys on ebay and great discounts at discount stores like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Steinmart and Tuesday Morning.

Quote of the Day

I'm brushing Katie's hair today and she says to me, "Mommy, I'm not going to be a parent. It's just too hard." I laughed and she continued, "But if I did, she would listen to everything I say."

Umpf...

My little thunder thighs

Jack is my first "non-petite" baby. I call him thunder-thighs (in a very loving way). He's got the cutest legs and feet, and of course that super-soft baby skin. Is there anything cuter than this?

In 2008, you have saved $3268

That’s what my library printout says. Every Tuesday, I take Mackenzie & Jack to the library for story time. A librarian reads a few books to the kids and we check out books for the whole family. I get some level 1 readers for Katie and Mackenzie chooses about 10 books to take home and read. Jack just loves to sit in his stroller and people-watch during story time. I’m really surprised about how much Mackenzie loves to go to the library and how she thinks so hard when choosing which books we read each night before bedtime.

After we check out books, the library’s computer prints out a list of books and when they’re due. At the bottom of the printout, it tells you how much you would have spent if you bought the books instead of checking them out. I love this free activity for the kids. If you want to find the nearest public library near you, visit PublicLibraries.com.

Top Momma

Vote for my blog at Top Momma. It's a fun site!

Babycenter rocks

I really love Babycenter. Even as I go through the first year with my third child, I can't remember things like, When do they start eating solids? When do they give up that morning nap? So I go check out babycenter and they have awesome guidelines to help. The age-by-age guide to feeding your baby helped me remember how much and when to feed that baby food. This chart tells you approximately how much sleep your child needs, detailing naps and overnight sleep. Also, they have fun stuff like the top 100 baby names of 2008.

You can also create a free account at Babycenter and enter your children's birth dates or your due date. Then, when you log on, it gives you articles about your children based on their ages. When you're pregnant, they can send you weekly emails that let you know how big your baby is and other helpful information. I love reading that my baby was the size of a fig, then a lemon, then an avocado, etc.

They also have a million searchable articles on everything imaginable and a ton a message boards to talk to other moms or moms-to-be.

Product of the Day

I just discovered the greatest product. They are called Stroll'r Swivel'rs and Babies R Us has them for $5.49 (2 hooks). You hook them on your stroller handlebar, and they hold your purse or shopping bags or whatever. You can use them in a lot of different places. They swivel 360 degrees. I wish I found these 6 years ago.

Kids’ Step Stools

Both my girls have a stool to reach their bathroom sink. Although, Mackenzie still has to jump up on the counter to get things or spit her toothpaste out.

I saw this super cute Pink Coco Step Stool at VictoriaPZurcher.com. It can be personalized and is hand painted. But at $68, some of us might want a less expensive alternative. SensoryEdge has the Fancy Butterfly Storage Step Stool for $41.95 and has many other cute designs to choose from.

My stand-by store Target has the Two-Step Stool in stores or online for $29.99. It’s plain white, but is sturdy and does the job. Sometimes you can find this on sale.If you want to go super-reasonable, IKEA has a plastic stool, also in stores or online. It’s a bargain at $3.49. We have one of these & it has held up way past its price tag.

Coolest Wallpaper

This is really cool wallpaper. Graham & Brown has some really beautiful wallpaper, and this is so original. It's called "frames," and it's black & white frames printed on wallpaper. So you can paint it or hang photos or kids' art in the frames or figure out other super-creative things to do. I'm thinking of putting it on one wall in the kids' playroom in our next house. It would be a perfect way to display some of the millions of pieces of art that the kids bring home.

Three-Year-Old Home Alone

So I'm getting ready to take the kids to day care yesterday morning. My husband has taken our oldest to kindergarten and gone to work. I start the car because it's 30 degrees out. I take Jack, my 11 month old, to the car and shut the door to my house on the way out so the exhaust smell doesn't go in the house (don't worry, the garage door is open). Mackenzie, my three year old is in her room putting "wickstick" (lip gloss) on. I put Jack in his car seat and walk back towards the door to get Mackenzie. All I hear is "Mommy, don't leave me." I get to the door and it's locked.

The lever works fine, but Mackenzie has locked the deadbolt. I don't have a key to the deadbolt. I don't have a key to the front door. I don't have a key to the back door. Now Mackenzie really thinks I'm leaving her. She starts to get upset.

"Mackenzie, unlock the door."

"Me can't."

I hear her trying to unlock the deadbolt.

"Mackenzie, do you have something in your hands?"

"Yes."

"Mackenzie, put all the toys on the ground and use two hands to unlock the deadbolt"

"Okay." I hear toys dropping. "Me can't unlock."

"Mackenzie, please try again with two hands."

"Mackenzie?" Silence. "Mackenzie?" Silence. "Mackenzie?" Silence. Great, she got bored and went to go play. "Mackenzie?"

"Yeah?"

"Hang on a minute." I call my husband, who I'm sure has a brillant idea. It takes a few minutes, but he figures out that she should try to open the front door because it's easier to open. She does that on the first try and runs to my arms for a hug. This morning's catastrophe is averted.

My Child is Obsessed with Infomercials

So my five year old is obsessed, and I mean obsessed, with infomercials. I thought it was weird that they played them during cartoons, but now I understand why. About six months ago, she came running into my room and said, "Mom, you HAVE to get the biggest little bag ever." I had no idea what she was talking about at the time. Since then, she'll come and tell me about some product I HAVE to buy.

When I was writing this blog, I looked up some of the products. When I pulled up the sites, the infomercial starts on the web site. She heard it and came running. She stood over my shoulder and wouldn't let me stop the sound. When the Mighty Mendit commercial came on, she screams, "Don't skip this. I love this part. Wait until the end. It's the best." Then she mouthed the words to the online commercial. Maybe my child watches too much t.v.

She told me about Green Bags and said "It goes for 9 days Mom!" And on and on with Aqua Globes, Mighty Putty and Big City Slider. The most recent is the Snuggie. She came in, told me about it and then walked away. Then she stuck her head around the corner and added, "Mom, if you could get me one too, that'll be great."

Sadly, we have yet to buy anything. But, Billy Mays, if you need a wee assistance, my very enthusiastic daughter is your girl.

Collecting Crap

Do your kids like to collect, well, crap? My girls (ages 3 & 5) think it's the coolest thing in the world to find and keep trash. They see every shiny sequin, piece of glitter, rock, bead, even threads, on the ground, pick it up and put it in their "jewelry boxes." They also take pieces from art projects and hide them away like little squirrels. I worry mostly because my 10-month old WILL put them in his mouth and try to eat them. The OCD in me also hates the mess.

Sometimes I throw their "prizes" away when they're not paying attention. I let my 5 year old make a piece of art with hers because she threw a tantrum when I told her she had to throw them away. Here's my 3 year's old stash after a recent cleaning by me.

Swaptree, anyone?

Has anyone tried Swaptree? It's my new obsession. You create an account for free and make two lists: one of the books (or DVD’s, video games, CD’s) you'd like to receive and one of the books you have to trade. Then you wait for a trade by another person or their computer or you can initiate one yourself. When a trade is accepted by all parties (some are three-way), you mail your book out and wait for another book to arrive. The whole thing is free except for the postage to mail your book (usually around $2.30), and you can print the postage label right off Swaptree. I've done about 5 trades so far, and it is fun. Now if I can just find time to read the books piling up on my nightstand.