parker is big time into puzzles these days. we have a good bunch of ’em but if i happen upon some puzzle sale, you can be sure ima STOCK UP. he loves them and i love them because when i glance over and he’s happily putting pieces correctly in their spots, i am quite sure that he is terribly advanced, that i am a fine, fine mother, and that no other baby is as good at puzzles as he. all true things!
(he has one verrrrry similar to this
beauty and he loves it. aannnnd this
one, while technically not a puzzle, is on our wish list. hear that, grandmom?)
beauty and he loves it. aannnnd this one, while technically not a puzzle, is on our wish list. hear that, grandmom?)
also, puzzles can soooort of stress me out a bit because i really dislike losing their pieces. but alas! unless said child throws them in the trashcan, they do turn up again. like this past weekend when i tore apart the couch to clean the slipcovers and there she lay! the missing cat piece!!!
kermit the hermit
is so stinking sweet, you just must add it to your library. please? no? well let me tell you the synopsis before you make up your mind: it’s about a selfish crab who collects things he couldn’t possibly ever have a use for and as a result, he has no crab friends because he is, well, crabby. so in seeking out his silly treasures one day, he gets into some trouble when a dog nearly buries him alive (don’t worry, he asked for it). a young boy saves him and returns him to safety. to repay the boy (how can a crab ever repay a boy?!), kermit makes a trip every day for three months to a sunken treasure chest where he collects a gold coin in each claw until he empties the chest. then, a pelican flies kermit to the boy’s home (which is the littlest ramshackle cabin of all) where kermit drops the coins down the chimney thus helping the family afford things (and, put most of it in savings). now you’re convinced? thought so.
is so stinking sweet, you just must add it to your library. please? no? well let me tell you the synopsis before you make up your mind: it’s about a selfish crab who collects things he couldn’t possibly ever have a use for and as a result, he has no crab friends because he is, well, crabby. so in seeking out his silly treasures one day, he gets into some trouble when a dog nearly buries him alive (don’t worry, he asked for it). a young boy saves him and returns him to safety. to repay the boy (how can a crab ever repay a boy?!), kermit makes a trip every day for three months to a sunken treasure chest where he collects a gold coin in each claw until he empties the chest. then, a pelican flies kermit to the boy’s home (which is the littlest ramshackle cabin of all) where kermit drops the coins down the chimney thus helping the family afford things (and, put most of it in savings). now you’re convinced? thought so.
also, i’ve professed my love for bill peet before but let me say it again: his books are the greatest kids’ books of all time. shannon and steve knew what was up when they started a pretty decent sized bill peet collection years ago.
snacks for the car, snacks for the car! these are mostly not messy (sticky-ish hands, is all, but a wipe saves the day!), not chokey, anddddd not terrible for you… they’ll give you just enough time to get home, and keep your baby awake and happy. thanks trader joes! i grab a handful of fruit leathers at checkout and keep them in my bag for “emergencies” (it really does belongs in quotes). and at just under 50 cents, they’re affordable too. and the nibs are a special treat. parker is quite sure he hit the jackpot when i give him a few of those babies.
what else? give me your tricks of the trade – toys, food, and otherwise – oh mothers more seasoned than myself!! i beg of you!
I bought the Melissa and Doug latch board for my two year old grandson and he loves it!
Puzzles are on my list of toys to add to our collection. I'm the same way with pieces and whatnot tho.
uhm i am obsessed with fruit leathers from TJs.
I am so checking out Kermit the Hermit and Bill Peet books now! I've been looking for some "boy-ish" books!!
And right on on the snacks too!! Stocking up before our big family vacation next month!!
xo,
Christen
ChristenKrumm.com
I am so checking out Kermit the Hermit and Bill Peet books now! I've been looking for some "boy-ish" books!!
And right on on the snacks too!! Stocking up before our big family vacation next month!!
xo,
Christen
ChristenKrumm.com
I have yet to step foot in Trader Joes. I need to do that ASAP! A friend of mine said she didn't like the quality of the food, but I hear others that hoot & holler about it, so I must try it!
As for toys, we LOVE anything that rolls. Tractors, big or little. He loves them. We recently were gifted a Bruder truck for his birthday, and let me tell you, that thing is like GOLD! It's amazing! Fully functional and built to scale of an actual truck! All working, moving parts. We love those!
And, stickers. And scissors. Left handed scissors. with Construction Paper at the table and a little glue stick and he will go to town! SO MUCH FUN!
Don't have any Bill Peet either…must fix.
bill peet is AMAZING.
and! construction paper and glue! have not tried that one yet, thanks annie. and those bruder trucks… i have seen them and i do believe one will be on his 2nd birthday wish list. the wish list that i make for him, you know.
@love being a nonny, thanks for letting me know!! i think we'll be adding it to the repetoire soon.
my favorite little trick that's come in handy time and time again?
tuck a couple new (or old and forgotten) small toys (think matchbox-car sized) into your bag to pull out when you need some entertainment in a pinch – like at a restaurant.
it's never failed me!
have you gotten parker a bruder truck yet? you must. d got his first on his second birthday… just sayin'!
thanks for the book recs, too. oh we love the books over here – must check those out!!
I have a list of books to add to Zion's bookshelf. This one has just made the cut. Thank you!:)
@sara, i like that trick. sometimes i put them away (a rotation of sorts) in the house so they keep interest, but stick em in my bag… of course! bruder. it is happening i think… 2nd b-day?!
yep, it's all about the bruder. bob got a fire truck for his second birthday and he played with it pretty much straight on til three. our favorite books for age two were probably… mercer mayer's little critter series. so darn cute.