Santa’s Top Toys 4 Tots 2018

The Holidays are a time for delicious kitchen smells, beautiful decorations, and some wonderful quiet time by the fire… HAHA

Who are we kidding!? The holidays are a time of full houses, messy kitchens and full tummy’s, and ofcourse, all of our kids running around playing with all their new toys!

There is nothing like the heartwarming smile and joy that comes from our children when they open their new gifts. And the second best feeling?! Knowing the toys Santa brought them will not only bring fun playtime to their days, but healthy, learning playtime!

If you’re like me and your a bit of a last minute kinda gal’ here’s a list of the best toys for your tots that are fun, and productive !

1 ! If you’re bundle of joy is learning to or not yet walking?! This is absolutely PERFECT! Hayli girl was able to play with this before she was even walking and loved it as she was learning and loves it now while she’s running around with it! Multipurpose toys, with educational touches, and developmental uses?! YES please!!

You can set the wheels to different speeds which is definitely a plus for stability while learning to walk!

Definitely recommend this ultimate toy!

Find it on amazon!

Ultimate VTech Sit 2 Stand Walker!!

2 ! One other toy I highly recommend is another one of my personal favorites! My nephew had this and absolutely LOVED it! It is a puppy, that sings with your kiddo, teaches songs, phrases, shapes and colors!

Not only can your child sit and ride it, but the seat pulls up and BOOM you have a fun walker! Easy fun toy that everyone will love!

The Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Stride to Ride is always a great toy choice that grows with your kids !

3 Okay! Enough with the walkers!!

This is a classic that I’m sure all parents are familiar with! Colorful, not too expensive, not too big, stacking fun!

Toddlers will definitely enjoy stacking the blocks in different combinations and pulling the train around! Keeps kids entertained, and plain simple old fun that us parents can definitely relate to!!

Classic Wooden Toddler Train !

4 This one is definitely a WOW toy. I ordered it last week and I’m so excited to open in on Christmas with Hayli! It’s more of an outdoors toy but you can definitely use it in your playroom too! You can set it up in different variations and the kids have plenty to do from crawling through the doors, looking through the peep binoculars, a portable activity table, there’s a slide, balls to play with and plenty more interactive features. Definitely a thumbs up toy for me I wish I would have gotten in for Hayli last year because she could have grown with it !

Activity Garden by Little Tikes!

5 and last but not least, after a long day of playing with new toys and running around with family members, any tot deserves and craves a great big….NAP! This is great for toddlers to sit and feel independent with their own little sofa, that turns into a bed!!

Portable and Fun Sofa Bed!

I chose Paw Patrol but there’s plenty to chose from!

These are the top 5 toys that I have researched and enjoyed for now! I will have another post up within a few days with a different age group in mind!

Please follow, share, comment on my posts! Way more to come! ENJOY!

HAPPY SHOPPING

always

We HAVE ALL been there. Those days of sheer frustration. Things don’t always go as planned, in life, or in mommyhood. Take a deep breath because…. that’s OKAY.

Anyone who has had little ones knows there are days when the sun is shining through every inch of their skin like if they ate the sun, happy as can be. Then .. there’s those days where they can be compared to a crawling, walking, babbling miniature gremlins. BUT HEY we all have our good and bad days !! Sometimes I really don’t know how I am going to get through the day or hold myself together long enough for Hayli’s dad to come home and have some actual human interaction besides baby talk babbling and “Finding Dory”.

DISCLAIMER: I love my daughter, more than anyone else in this world. I want nothing but the best for her and I want nothing more then to be the best mommy to her! I am more than sure there a few of you can relate !

 

ON THOSE DAYS

On those days where I am holding on to every last ounce of my patience for dear life

 

I just think how she needs me more than ever now, as she is  learning, growing and she needs the reassurance that someone is there. MOM is here, and always will be. No matter how many things I need to get done, how much of a mess my house is or how much of a break I need for myself, if she needs me, I will drop everything for her. Whether its a tantrum now, at her first school game, her first fall off of a bike, her first heartbreak, for ANYTHING I am here.

I am the one who will teach her what love, patience, and comfort is, well her dad and I. For now, I am with her all day, every day. These are the moments that I am going to cherish for the rest of my days. Its important to STOP and live the moment with her.

CRAWL around with your babies, play hide and seek, do things THEY LOVE. Get down to their level, into their little WORLD. You have no idea how much they need that, to feel like you are there for the good as much as the bad. And how much they will LOVE it.

 

I crawled with Hayli the other day, (Yes i got down and spent half an hour chasing her around the house, and letting her chase me) you have no IDEA how much that little girl laughed, and how excited she was.

Yesterday Hayli girl was sleeping so peacefully in her crib after having a rough afternoon, I couldn’t help myself but to get in with her. She woke a few minutes later when she heard her dad come home, but she woke up to me. She did a whole double take, like if she couldn’t believe it and just started laughing and hugging me. She wont remember that one day, she probably already forgot. I didn’t, I never will.

But the feeling of joy that gave her, will ALWAYS be there. And one day she will be able to understand more than she does now, that for anything she can come to her momma.

 

 

DAYCARE? DO OR DONT

I have to admit, Ive been lucky. Since my pregnancy I really, havent worked. As soon as the baby was born I was a stay at home mom, and I LOVE IT! Recently, I was feeling a bit crazy being stuck in the house with no form of my own income so I set out to find a job. My only dilemma…DAYCARE. What a nightmare of a thought, my little girl basically being raised by someone else with other kids of her age and who knows if she was going to get the attention and care she so much needs. While I was checking out a daycare in the area, the Administrator offered me a position in the daycare, along with schooling to get certified! I was so happy, a job that I can see and spend time with my Hayli all day?! WHILE going to school?! UM WHERE DO I SIGN?!

About two weeks into working at the daycare, I started realizing a few things, a few…red flags. ALOT happens in daycares and it happens QUICK! Kids are miniature Houdini’s with their size to their advantage! It isnt the teachers fault all the time things REALLY DO happen in the matter of a few seconds. Granted, when you have 10 one year olds all under your care at once, its pretty difficult to keep your eyes on them ALL while you are trying to keep every diaper clean, the classroom in order and trying to get some form of knowledge into them whether its counting or colors! 

Teachers DO pick favorites and some kids DO get special treatment. As much as they deny it it, IT HAPPENS. Sometimes because of the parents, kids get treated differently. ITS NOT FAIR. And it sucks because we believe we’re putting our kids somewhere fair, safe and healthy but these ages is where most behavioral issues begin! 

It is great on the fact that some teachers DO teach. They do their part the best to their abilities to teach the kids at their level and kids DO learn. In that aspect, its great, 

I did love it when I started, but I noticed a few things that I really didnt like, especially with my own daughter involved I wasnt going to stay and watch. I mean there wasnt ONE DAY that Hayli didnt come home with a new scratch, bitemark, or bruise, or SOMETHING. I understand things happen but I’ve taken care of her for almost a year at home and she’s only had 1 major diaper rash. The day she got in there until now 2 weeks later is when its finally healing. She is picking up behaviors of the other kids, becoming a MAJOR BRAT and I do not want to deal with a huge brat at the age of 1. She is like a whole new baby I miss my nice little girl!! 

Im not all that sure if it all weighs out for me. So now, Im back home! Considering maybe taking Hayli to another daycare and working OR trying to find my own way to make money right here at home, with my girl.  

I see these mommy bloggers making what seems like tons of money from home doing what they love! What is the secret?! I just want to be able to make some type of income while taking care of my home, hubby and baby! How do moms get these brand rep and ambassador gigs?! How can I start a successfull youtube channel?! I have so many questions!!!

 

Postpartum Depression and Hair

Its been quite awhile since I last posted, took a bit of a breather from everything almost. Sometimes natural disasters have their way of putting people where they belong. In my case, Hurricane Irma just sucked, moved my life around a bit but couldn’t get me out of the keys 😋

After pregnancy and giving birth, I felt like I had lost myself. Got caught in what seemed to be like somewhat of a postpartum depression. I didn’t care what I looked like, I would forget to eat, or shower, everything was about the new baby, and I put myself last on the list. I felt like I didn’t have an identity anymore. I was just a mom, and I didn’t matter. My life was turning into a blur. I loved being a mom, it’s all I’d ever wanted. I would wake up and just experience the same cycle, no one is ever prepared for the way your life changes. I mean, everyone tells you, but you don’t really fully grasp what they say until you experience it for yourself. The highs and the lows. Your heart has never felt such love, your life has never seen such a beautiful reason, but your body has never felt such aches and pains, and your mind has never been so anxious and an emotional carnival. I lost sight of myself and I noticed it was taking a toll on everything. On me, my daughter, my relationship, my whole life really. People don’t realize how serious postpartum can get. Until one day I woke up and realized It was enough, I had to snap the fuck outta that one, make a change, and commit. And the only way I was going to begin acting the way my mind was thinking. It was the best way I know how to refresh myself, the woman’s right of passage into figuring out who they are, I died my hair. From my natural dirty blonde hair, I went to really, really blonde. I kept looking at myself in the mirror and kept thinking, blondes are too nice. DISCLAIMER I’m naturally a blonde and I want to return to blonde one day. I have nothing whatsoever against blondes. But it makes me the nice girl; it’s impossible for me to have made that change being an innocent, blonde. I mean, my mind, my body was asking for something a bit more drastic. so I went red. Fire bomb red, take no shit red, cliche as it sounds, my life changed all over again the moment I looked in the mirror after I saw my new look.

Since then I died it down to a wine red, but a change of scenery, if you will, was all I needed. Well that and ofcourse my heavy addiction to coffee to keep me awake throughout my daily adventures with my not so little baby girl.

I give it to you moms, who have dealt with, and are dealing with postpartum, sometimes it’s not as easy as just dying your hair, or taking a day off. It’s some serious business and I hope you each find your own healthy outlet to get you back to yourself !! As women we are strong and if we can deal with our children, pregnancy, child birth, and our husbands, we can get over any other obstacles! 💪🏻

Can’t Live Withouts!

With a rapidly growing baby girl, I’m always on my move, learning new things with her, growing and changing my way of doing things. I can definitely say being a mom has changed me. I used to be pretty reckless and didn’t really care how things were done, all I wanted was to be out, driving around, with friends, just living life for the moment really… its like I’ve done a complete 180 without really even feeling it. I care way too much about every detail and I want things for my daughter to be done right and make her happy. I plan most things ahead of time and I always find myself making excuses to stay in and play with my baby rather than looking for excuses to get out! And I actually feel bad when I go out without her! Now I actually think about our future, the household I want her to grow up in, the things I do and don’t want her exposed to, the goals I’m setting for myself so that one day she can surpass. Things really do change. Its been disappointing but I’ve left people behind, and have no problem dropping anymore that doesn’t improve my life or Hayli’s life for that matter. It’s not even like she is demanding these changes, they are really just coming naturally. And although it has been a tough road getting to where I’m at, having a newborn and adjusting to mom life hasn’t been easy, I’m so excited for the things I have yet to learn and what lies ahead for us. As cliche and disgustingly sappy as it might sound, I feel like I was made to be a mom, her mom.

BUT OF COURSE there are a few items that help me keep my cool so that I could be the best (happiest) mom I could possibly be! Here they are (& YOUR WELCOME)

1.  EXCUSE that it is a bit dirty. I literally throw this in the washer every 2 or 3 days. It’s perfect for me because she loves to hold on to a blanket and throw it over her face as she sleeps. I can easily take off the paci to clean it or switcch it out, amd when shes ready, take it off for GOOD! It rattles and makes a light noise, AND holds a pacifier! WIN WIN pacifier doesn’t fall everywhere, it’s easier for her to hold, AND I dont need to carry around a comfort blanket aswell. 3 in 1 how awesome and for 6 bucks? Even bigger win. Thanks Carter! Here’s the link! And check out the other styles too! Security Blanket and Pacifier
   

   

    

2. I bought this yesterday because she was terribly sick after her shots, and I love it so damn much I HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT. Its oh so cute, with so many different ones to choose from, ELLIOT THE ELEPHANT! Oh Elliot thank you. Hayli couldn’t eat from a bottle yesterday, take a nap or even hold the paci on her mouth because she couldn’t breath. As soon as we turned on this humidifier, in 20 minutes, she was so much better! Easy to clean and really cute and did I mention comes with a 1 Year subscribstion to Parents magazine? THE WINS JUST DON’T STOP!! Crane Humidifier

 

3.  I originally had the bulb syringe that the hospital kindly gives away when you give birth, and I loved it! Until I read into it, as much as I would clean it (after every use) I was terrified of what could be going on on the inside.. Mold? So I cut mine open, low and behold there was not much, but some mold. And it has a curved sucky thing instead of just a straight one like the bulb! So thankful I decided to open it and throw it out! I have heard SO MANY raves about the Nosefrieda and wanted to try it.. until I thought about using it on the go.. I f Hayli needed snot sucked out, was I going to pull out the whole string and use my mouth to suck her snot? Lol no. So I opted for the NeilMed NasaBulb and I am so thankful that I did. Its clear, so I can see EXACTLY whats coming out (and what is inside) , Its very easy to clean and pull apart, super portable, and comes with an extra one!! So I get 2 for around 5 dollars? Can’t beat it! 

4. OK so Hayli is starting to teeth BAD and I have tried EVERYTHING. Theres a few things she likes but by far her FAVORITE (as in she doesnt give me that ‘WTF MOM’ look) has been the Raz Baby teether. They have awesome products (that I have yet to try) but the RazBaby paci definetely works. It is actually soft but has ridges, it grabs baby’s attention because it’s colorful and easy for her to hold!! I LOVE THIS and it definetely makes my life easier and with a price that I love just as much. RazBaby

5. I just moved, and I have NO IDEA where I placed my old one, so I just went and got a new one!!!  Im starting to introduce solids and fruits to Hayli and this item is just plain fun to use and I can literally put a million different things in it. Sometimes I freeze her baby food into little balls and throw 2 in at a time, for a light snack that helps with her aching gums, or an ice cube, but my favorite so far has been freezing slices of fruit and throwing them in there! The best way to entertain her, give her a fresh and healthy snack, and ease her pain ALL IN ONE love love LOVE. Munchkin Fresh Feeder

 

There are many more products that I love and cannot live without! Im pretty sure that by the time I post this I will have remembered the other ones but these stand out FOR SURE beyond thankful for these. Im sure I have SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN and products to try but for now these are it! How about you??