{365} Challenge: Learning toys for the baby

How often have we heard it said that giving a child a cardboard box would be better than the toy inside?  

There is so much truth in this.  Babies and children seem to love containers and textures and random items and engage with them with more curiosity than the electronic toys we put out for them.  Don't get me wrong, we have a few electronic baby toys that Baby B loves like her Fisher Price Vanity and Learning Table.

To help Baby B explore the world around her, we have filled her toy basket with items to allow her to learn textures, work at problem solving, build creativity, and work at hand-eye coordination.

With the weather getting warmer, we have been spending some time outdoors in the beautiful weather.  I was able to score a turtle sandbox from another mom for $10 to start off our outdoor play area for Baby B.  She really seems to love the sand and watching it go between her fingers and toes.  I will end up putting some "treasures" in the sand (plastic animals and other like items) for her to unearth and discover.

I created a sensory basket for Baby B to play with.  In it are bits of different types of ribbon, lace, felt strips, a Christmas bow (with the sticker-tag removed), bits of fabric, and a toilet paper roll that I reinforced with duct tape.  I figured this would stop her from chewing through it, and so far my idea has been successful.  She can run the ribbon through the roll and as she gets bigger, may be able to start threading the ribbon through the holes in the basket.

Providing Baby B with a variety of textured balls will also help her learn and play.  Just gather up a variety of different types, sizes, colors, etc.  I really need to find a small football!

One of the best toys I have found, was a basket of vintage wooden blocks.  These are played with more than anything else in our home right now.  They were a great thrift store find and they will be staying with my family for years to come.  I have also learned that babies who play with blocks with their parents for at least 20 minutes a day, score higher on language tests and are less likely to watch tv.  Score!

I also like taking random objects around the kitchen and letting Baby B just play.  We give her wooden spoons, cups, bowls, utensils (without sharp edges!), measuring cups, and anything else clean and lying around.  Sometimes it is fun to put a little water and ice in the bowls and cups and let her splash and play on the kitchen floor.  You can take empty Crystal Light containers, fill them with just about anything, glue the top on, and presto - instant rattle!  I used some tiny chip clips that we never use.

Surprisingly she left the animal water bowl alone

Lastly, I wanted to share our new favorite books.  The Indestructible books are amazing!  Baby B LOOOOOOVES paper and these books offer her the pleasure of crinkling and biting on them without destroying anything or getting some extra fiber in her diet.  I recently scored a few at BuyBabyDeals.com for just a few bucks each.  I have also seen them on Amazon and at Buy Buy Baby.

This post is linked up at Inspire Me Wednesday's

You can catch up on my challenges here.

{365} Challenge: Start a Daily Devotional

Today's Challenge: Start a Daily Devotional

This is something I have been meaning to do for awhile now.  As I was searching for a devotional, I stumbled upon, The One-Year Uncommon Life by Tim Dungy.  I felt it was the perfect fit for my year of challenges.

Catch up on my other challenges here.

Kohls - Books and Stuffed animals $5

Head over to Kohl's and pick up one of these stuffed animals or hardcover Dr. Suess books they have for just $5!  Over the years Kohl's has sold books with matching character plushes, but I think these may just be my favorite.

Put Me in the Zoo is my favorite Dr. Suess book so I will be grabbing one of the plushes for this story.

These will make great presents for baby showers and birthdays or even to put in Easter baskets.






There are more books and creatures to choose from, including Fred from Go Dog Go!  Head over and take a peek!

{365} Challenge: Read 50 Books

For the past 4 years, I have challenged myself to read 100 books a year.  Every year I fail.  I typically finished with 30-50 books in a year.  What usually happens is that I find an amazing book (like Outlander) and it has a crazy number of pages.  (The Outlander series, which is currently a 7-book series and expecting the 8th book out in April, 2014, runs between 600-1500 pages per book)

You try to read 100 books in a year when 7 of them contain such a large number of pages.

This year, because of the 8th book coming out, and because I always manage to find and love longer books, I am cutting my book number down to something I may actually accomplish.  As I read and complete books, I will post links to them so maybe you will find something great to read too.  For the most part, I prefer historical fiction, with a little dysotopian  thrown in.  Also, because I work with high schoolers, I read young adult fiction too.

Books read:

1. Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide...  by Tracey Murkett - a great resource and taking us back to how babies were fed before the push of formula, cereals and processed baby food.  BLW is a much easier option!
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - This is probably my favorite book of all time.  Sci-fi, romance, historical fiction, action...this series has it all and then some.  Great for men and women both.
3. Rules of Regret by Megan Squires - a fun, fast and charming novel by a friend and local author.  Romance without the smut.  
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling - HP books will always be up there on my list of favorite books.
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
6. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
8. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - pressured by the husband, I succumbed to his pleas and read this book.  After 3 pages I was so lost, so I watched the first episode.  That cleared up a lot and after that the book was engaging and full of great twists and turns.  I am looking forward to picking up the sequel.
9. Rules of Civility by Armor Towles - After the last few books I needed this quick and witty novel.  Set in the late 1930's NYC, we have a young woman learning about life and love during the jazz era and the end of the depression.  The only thing that bothered me was how the author handled dialogue; it was unusual and took getting used to the different style.  
10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  I lost my brother to cancer when he was 14.  This book follows teens who are battling cancer.  It was a very tough, but touching and excellent story.  Have tissues handy.
11. Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon.  The latest book in the Outlander series, another fantastic read as we continue to follow Jamie and Claire and their family through the American Revolution.
12. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin.  This is the 2nd in the Game of Thrones series.  So addicting!
13. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.  This book was chosen for my book club.  I actually found parts of the story annoying and pointless.  Sorry, but not one I would read again.
14. Eve in Hollywood by Amor Towles.  This is a short sequel to Rules of Civility that takes us on Eve's journey through Hollywood through the eyes of the people she encounters.  What a fresh approach to writing.  Still annoyed at the way dialogue is written, but otherwise I enjoyed the book.

Have a book you love?  Share it below so I can check it out!