Oh, baby toys. They’re fun, cute, obnoxious, expensive, & outgrown so quickly.
Basically, the bane of my existence.
We lucked up with a few toys from consignment sales, plus receiving tons of toys & books as gifts from both friends, family, & companies. So Harrison is NEVER without fun in his life, although we try hard to keep toys at a minimum so that we don’t look over-run. He had a swing & a bouncer as a baby. & the play gym mat, which was always a favorite. Then came the jumperoo, which is still out.
Then the walker, which he doesn’t really know what to do in (yes, yes, I know some people think walkers are the Antichrist next to George W. Bush & freezing rain). & now that he’s mobile himself, the little bitty piddly toys that just run amuck.
This is what our loft looks like every day:
& I love it. Because it usually means this has happened:
You can find Harrison’s Paddington gear here. YoTToY is a small, five-person company & y’all know how I love to support small business. Plus, they personally chose Paddington for Harry when they sent him the gift. The sweetest story e-vah & the little bear is too cute for words (it usually sits on his bedside table).
Or that he’s done his favorite activity, which is to push toys around the floor. He’s not “missing” them – he’s intentionally pushing them away so he can crawl after them. Seriously, my kid is SO SMART that it hurts my brain some days because I’m going to look like a drooling imbecile next to my kid that will be a budding brain surgeon/astronaut/president/physicist.
& his new jam? This bad boy:
Some family friends gave it to us as a baby gift & he LOVES rocking out to it. Sometimes he moves his little butt & feet & I SWEAR, he’s dancing. Even though he is the whitest kid I know.
& then there are the snuggle toys. You know, the toys that ::gasp:: go in the crib & allow the child to snuggle in. Every night when we lay him in the crib, Harrison rolls to his side & grabs for Monkey, which is this little stuffed monkey that Nate bought him when I was pregnant. Every single night. & when Monkey is in the wash, covered in lovable slobber & baby vomit? Mouse, compliments of Ever After Store, takes his place.
& the good news is, someone will win a Mouse, aka My Little Friend Mouse by Jellycat! Ever After will be giving away one Mouse in honor of Harrison’s snuggle time. She’s deliciously soft, sturdy, & oh-so-darling.
So to win?
Sign up for Ever After’s newsletter.
Either be a fan on Facebook OR follow on Twitter. Your choice.
That’s it. Two actions, but only one comment. Y’all know I like to streamline these things, & these are the actions Ever After requires for giveaways. & sorry, only valid to US residents 
I follow them on twitter and subscribed. AND H is getting curly hair, do I see this? Because if so, Molly and H are getting married and they will make beautiful blonde haired brown eyed little curly head kids, right??
A mom can dream……
I'm already a FB fan of theirs and I receive their newsletter.
That mouse is just too cute!
Rory has that Leapfrog music table and it's been her favorite toy for MONTHS. I'm amazed she hasn't grown bored with it, but every day she's standing there dancing to the tunes!
I can't believe H is crawling and standing up already! Miller is definitely behind, and she's a whole 24 hours older! You have an over-achiever on your hands
I'm not sure if I agree with the Harrison being the whitest kid out there…you have not met the veeeeeeeeeery French Canadian Aiden yet!
Allie looves snuggling! She would LOVE a mouse friend!!
Aww we need a mouse to love on at the Ludwig household!
One of my guestrooms is referred to as the 'baby gear graveyard'. It's full of toys/gear that S has outgrown. She has so much stuff!
I joined the newsletter and follow on Twitter. @butterfly1979_
Following on Twitter! SO cute!
So… Harry is only 15 days older than my DD and he's so kicking her butt in the gross motor skills. She rolls to get where she wants, and she sits up. She's freakin brillant thought, and has SUPER advanced fine motor and social. Her head's just too big for a lot of the gross motor stuff!
He's ADORABLE!
We've been thinking about toys lately and decided to hide half of them and rotate them so he doesn't get bored. I also turn random things into toys, enjoying this easily entertained stage for sure!
following on twitter and signed up for their newsletter.
Wow, I'm amazed you could even FIND a babywalker, let alone buy one! They're illegal to sell in Canada (even at yard sales) and parents who use them can face stiff fines or even jail time. Check your local laws!
Favourite toys? Anything 'Parents', like the drum that comes filled with fun instruments that look like bugs & the giant blocks that 'stick' together with plastic pokey things. (Bad description, sorry.)
And on the cheaper side…kitchen implements. Oh how both my kids loved a good potato masher or a couple of wooden spoons to chew on & whack the sofa with. Textures, sounds, shapes…kitchen utensils do it all.
I signed up for their newsletter and followed on twitter
FB fan and signed up for the newsletter.
That mouse is so stinkin' cute! Ansley has a bear/blanket lovie thing that she HAS to have. It's cute that she loves it so much, but it also says "Baby's First Christmas."
I've tried replacing it. She'll have none of it.
Following on Twitter.
My Harrison loves his table too- I can sing those songs in my sleep! I swear he dances too
LOVE the mouse – that is one animal that we don't have!!! LOL My little man dances at his table too, so cute to watch him!!
I'm going to follow on FB & sign-up for the newsletter!
Signed up and follow on twitter : )
All I see in this post is your freaking cute new hairdo! LOVE!!!!
Oh, and an adorable Harry, of course. His curly locks are to-die-for!
I'm now following on Twitter! @twinks_tweets
We have the Leapfrog table too, though the Hubs and I get more amusement out of it than our almost 4-month-old at the moment.
I'm following on FB and I get their newsletter.
I'm so picky about toys, I'll admit I'm a toy snob, but I LOVE this mouse!
what we did was get this padded faux leather ottoman thing from Target that functions as a trunk + coffee table. so a) jackson doesn't bonk his head on the coffee table any more b) we have a spot for all of the toys, most of which, sadly are also outgrown but c) gives jack a place to stand up and cruise on. every day i open it up, let him stand on it and look at it. sometimes he finds new excitement w/the toys he doesn't remember.
also, jack has a handful of toys in his crib. he also has 2 stuffed Tiggers. old tigger and new tigger. so when one is in the wash, i have a spare. this came in handy when jack decided to drown new tigger in the tub. would. not. let. him. go. and i've tried other luvies. nope, only tigger + pacifier = jackson sleeping.
i can't believe how much harrison is looking like nate! you have a beautiful family. and i can't believe how long this comment is. sorry!
I am sooo buying the leapfrog table. Glad to see that Harrison likes it, he is just about Marley's age.
I'm following on FB and signed up for their newsletter.
We have the same musical table and at 16 months, Nathan still loves the hell out of it.
I signed up for the newsletter and follow on Twitter.
Isn't it so hard to take away their lovies?? I just want to let them be all snuggly in their big empty crib.
Did both!!
Oh my Harry is getting more and more adorable every day!!
Much love dear!
Did both.
Also wanted to say I found your blog through The Bump and you rock! Your honesty is inspiring!!
Im a fan of them and that sweet little soft mouse
Ashlyn also loves her music table too!!
OMG Blair, Miabella snuggles with a little monkey at night too!!!! It's the cutest thing ever, to see her grab for her monkey and immediately go into sleep mode
Signed up for their newsletter. Such cute stuff!!
Yea! Signed up for the newsletter and liked on facebook.
Cutie mouse! My baby girl would love her!
Liked on facebook : )
I "liked" on FB and I signed up for the newsletter. Woot woot.
I liked on FB and signed up for the newsletter!!!
The Leapfrog table is a HIT at our house too. Bubs is coo-coo for it! He loves the little green door. He just flips it open, flips it closed, repeat 39534 billion times. I find myself singing, "ba da ba da bee bop, biddly bop, bee da daaaa" far too often on my own accord!!
Good stuff, good stuff.
Signed up for the newsletter & following on Twitter.
That piano is amazing, too- I'm so getting one for Shane.
Following on FB and now signed up for the newsletter! I was just debating on getting one of those leapfrog learn-n-groove tables for my Wesley…who dances to disco music and Michael Jackson. It's hilarious.
followed on twitter and signed up for the newsletter. that mouse is TOO adorable
signed up for the newsletter and now following on twitter, i love that little mouse
luuuurve that mouse!
recive the newsletter and I am also a facebook fan!
Following them on Twitter!
I subscribed to the newsletter and am following on twitter
@ihopper
I Like on Facebook!
Following them on Twitter(LauraL444) and subscribed!
How cute.
Speaking of cute, I LOVE the Harrison pictures.
I subscribed to the newsletter and am following on Twitter – SugarPlumsMommma
subscribed to newsletter & following on twitter @maddawgpig
Signed up for the newsletter letter & now a fan on FB.
Cute mouse!!
I signed up and did FB and I couldn't leave a comment, so phew..glad this is fixed, it was driving me bonkers a few days ago. I want that mouse!
I'm a fan on Facebook & following on Twitter (_jules_nc).
My DD loves her Jellycat bunny. So soft & cuddly (*and machine washable!)
I'm following on Twitter, and signed up for the newsletter.
I'm pretty sure I have that same shirt – Banana Republic? And my son loves his Leap Frog table – he also dances along to the music.