30 Jul
I’m More Interested in Toys Than He Is
I don’t know why I’m pushing toys on him, soon enough he’s going to be just another greedy kid who wants more! more! more! of all the toys in the whole world. But watching him reach simple developmental milestones, like learning how to keep his fist closed around a toy and bring it up to his mouth, is really exciting. I love to watch him learn how his body works.
He can hold the toys, but only for a few moments before he drops them. The routine of hold the toy, drop the toy, mommy gives it back to you, hold the toy, drop the toy, gets old pretty fast (although I am grateful that he doesn’t cry when the toy is gone, he’s just not that aware yet), so I devised a new way to give him some hand-eye coordination practice time.
Coasting Anon gifted T1 some toys when he was born (they are the only toys he has since I’m stingy mom who doesn’t plan to buy him any until he’s several years older) and I’ve scattered them throughout the house. He has a ball to play with while he’s in the bath, a rattle by his changing table, and a spindly ball type toy for when he’s in his swing. The spindly ball kept falling to the side and so I decided to tie some string to it and hang it from the mobile that hangs above his swing. I was surprised by how well this works!
At first he paid it no mind, but he is slowly starting to realize that this colorful something is a toy he can grasp with his hands, and best of all, bring to his mouth and lick and gnaw.
TH thinks it’s silly to have it there, that T1 doesn’t care about it, but I disagree. I think he loves it (probably not as much as I do, but oh well). Soon enough he’ll be grasping at everything and screaming when things are taken away from him, so I try to enjoy this simple exploration stage that’s happening at the moment.
And yes, my half-Polish baby still has blue eyes. 
I like to pop his collar and tell him he’s one of the cool kids.
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Haha, his favorite toys will be boxes, cell phones, dirt, and (insert random household product here) anyway, right? I love that last picture of him! What gorgeous eyes that boy has.
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1He looks like he’s enjoying the toys and the blue eyes are to die for. Such a cutie!
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2Mia loves remotes, cell phones, boxes, magazines, kleenex that she can rip apart, sunglasses and car keys.
Dear T1- Auntie Dumpling thinks you are the cutest baby ever!!
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3My gosh he is just too gorgeous- love those baby blues
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4So sweet!
I’m with you… I think he cares.
Dorothy already has an EXTREME affection for her stuffed duck, which her Daddy named Bill. It soothes her when she’s crying, and loves to play with it and chew on it and hug it, and it’s the only way we were able to successfully transfer her from our bed to her crib now that we’re starting night-weaning.
So while TH might have a little science on his side, my Mommy experience says that babies who are Dot & T1′s age can totally care about their toys!
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5B likes to take things to and away from her face, mainly her pacifier. But she can’t figure out just how to aim it so she can put it in her mouth so she just keeps ramming it in her face. I laugh because it’s the funniest thing ever, until she gets upset.
Anyway, I think the string idea is a great one. I should do the same.
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Jenna Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
So fun to see your face!
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Meg Reply:
July 31st, 2010 at 10:27 am
Haha! Thanks!
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For some reason, that second to last picture REALLY gets me.
I want him!
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7Cutie Patootie! I love your whole philosophy on all the baby “stuff.” I hope not to accumulate too much extra stuff when we start a family as well.
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8I know I’m biased, but I love blue-eyed boys and yours is adorable! Purchased toys are over-rated. Especially ones that require batteries. I’ve tried to ban them from our house but people (especially grandparents) can’t seem to resist. They usually get more joy out all those household items people mentioned above anyway. And bowls- oh how they love bowls! Enjoy watching your little guy discover the world.
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9Love the little tongue-out expression in his “cool kid” photo
He’s gorgeous, Jenna!
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10He’s super cute! Great idea with the toy
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11Hey Jenna- I notice in the last picture that T1′s tongue is a little bit heart shaped at the tip… Not sure if you’re aware but this can sometimes be because of a short frenulum under the tongue which can make babies (adults too for that matter) “tongue tied” (real term is ankyloglossia). The only real concern with that is that it can cause feeding problems in young babies. I know you had a hard time breastfeeding and though I’m not that aware of the specific difficulties you had, a baby being tongue tied can make things tougher. If a baby is tongue tied, there’s a really simple fix- the frenulum is snipped (can be done right at the pediatrician’s office) and it’s pretty easy on the baby- maybe about as traumatic as shots.
Anyway, if you knew all of that already then just ignore me! (although maybe that little bit of info would be interesting to someone else…)
With all of that said, T1 is such a gorgeous little baby boy!
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Jenna Reply:
July 30th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Thanks for commenting! He didn’t exhibit any of the other behaviors that go along with tongue tied babies but I do have friends who went through that and gave me lots of advice. I appreciate you speaking up and sharing a possible solution to my problem (in case I have problems bfeeding with future babies)
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He is just the cutest thing ever! Totally fits in with your family since you’re gorgeous and your husband is super handsome! Hope that doesn’t sound creepy! I think T1 looks like he is having a grand time with the spindle ball
What a smart idea.
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13i LOVE the polo/onesie and the popped collar.
and also your ingenuity with T1′s toys, even if he can’t totally appreciate it yet
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14My daughter has that toy and loves it! It’s so easy for babies to grab at it and the bright colours really grab their attention.
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15Haha I love this! There are some way cool toys for kids these days, but I have to say it makes me miss the old toys I had growing up. There is something amazing about the old classic wooden toys I just love.
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16What a cutie! I’ve never seen that toy before-it’s super colorful!
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