Birthday Presents, Part One
Bean has some pretty wonderful and generous people in his life and so his first birthday party was like a mad dash through Toys R Us. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for new toy ideas for Bean, especially since I started staying home with him. He had such a wide variety of engaging activities at daycare and I want to be sure he has that same experience at home, too. So, I thought I’d share what Bean is playing with right now.
My friends, Sarah and Scott, gave Bean the Fisher Price tugboat for his bathtub. He loves this! He is still taking baths in his blow up duck bath (though I really need to transition him out of that soon) and his boat doesn’t fit in there, so he plays with the boat separately with all his other toys and then plays with the little animals in his bath.
He also got this set of blocks from me and Chris. Right now, he likes chewing on them. And banging them together. But he also likes when I build something and he can dismantle it one piece at a time. For being so rough 99.99% of the time, he’s really gentle with his blocks so far. (I couldn’t find the link for this toy, but it was the Circo brand building blocks and it was about $10.00.)
My sister lives in Virginia and couldn’t be here for Bean’s birthday. So she sent Fisher Price instead. Like, the entire company. She went CRAZY with presents. Bean’s favorite was the Circo Workbench that she gave him. It lights up and makes lots of noise (thanks for that, by the way, Gin…). He loves the circular saw and he wacks just about everything EXCEPT the toy with the hammer (thanks for that, too…).
Chris and I also got him the Little People airport set. Though, Chris says that we should save it for a while because he got so many toys already. To that I say, pashaw! But really, he was right because Bean has been on such an overload these past couple days that he hasn’t even played with this one yet. Maybe we’ll bring it out again in a month or so when he starts getting bored.
Bean’s big gift from me and Chris was his water table. I chose the Step 2 Arctic Splash table because it was pretty simple. I had no idea that water tables were so complex! You can get them with a million little parts and themes. I, personally, loved the pirate ship one but it’s a little old for Bean right now. So, we got this pretty simple little table and Bean Man LOVED it! He played outside for over an hour with it and only stopped when he needed a break from standing! YAY! SUCCESSFUL GIFT!!
But my parents really outshined us all with this little doosey of a present…
That’s right. They bought Bean a Little Tykes school bus. A giant freaking school bus with many, many parts. Like this steering wheel…
Chris and his sister, Annie, put it together for Bean after everyone had left the party while I cleaned up. And the more they worked, the bigger the bus seemed to get…
Bean thought it was the most awesome-est gift ever!
He climbed right up into the driver’s seat and started making his engine sound. And he hasn’t stopped since Tuesday.
But his favorite part is the off the back of the school bus there is a slide.
He just stands there and points at it, saying, “Da! Da! Da!” until someone helps him slide down. And then he crawls back up on the platform and does it all again. And he hasn’t stopped since Tuesday.
The toy box says that this is supposed to be for ages one and a half through three years old, and I can see why. Bean loves this right now, but he’ll love it even more when he’s able to walk steadily and can maneuver it without us holding on to him the whole time. For now, it’s, like, the greatest jungle gym ever.
Right in my living room.
I’ll post more about Bean’s new birthday toys in the next week as he continues to collect things. He also got some really great clothes and new books, too, so I’ll share those things, too. But for now, I should go. It’s 6:45am and Bean is already standing by the school bus slide saying, “Da! Da! Da!” and that’s my cue.
12 Comments
Megan (Best of Fates)
When I was little I so desperately wanted one of those Barbie cars you could actually get into, but my parents thought it was a waste of money, and also a little stupid. And seeing Bean enjoying his bus so much makes me feel vindicated – I would have been so happy in my little convertible.
Now if you excuse me, I’m going to have to seek therapy over this.
Sarah H.
Those are some great gifts! I have a friend who after seeing all the gifts her child got, in her small apartment€”put 85% of them in the closet€”and took one out at a time€”on a rainy day or whenever€”but usually about once a month. It works really well! Although, most of those gifts look too big for a closet.
Jen at Cabin Fever
I love the water table! I’ve never heard of such a thing, but that is a great gift. My toddler self would have love one 🙂
Cabin Fever in Vermont
Meredith
My daughter got the tugboat for christmas. The only part she has played with yet is the little green seahorse. It was love at first sight for her with the seahorse, he is never really far from her. It was well worth the money for just that one part of the toy.
Abby @ They Lend Me Their Hearts
I want that bus! But it would definately have to live outside eventually:o)
Katie
I’m voting on the outside location, too. Unfortunately, our rental house has terrible fire ants in our backyard that don’t even die with ant killer. So, it looks like it’ll be staying inside until we move. (sigh…)
Emily
What a lucky little boy! This was post was perfect timing, my little guy turns one in August so I’ve been trying to figure out what to get him!
Kendra
You know it is an aunt’s responsibility to purchase toys that make the most noise! It is our duty in life!
Summer B R
I loved reading about Beanie’s big day! I cant believe E’s first birthday is just around the corner. Great minds must think alike, because I got E almost the exact same water table!!
Mom of 3
When you get tired of the water (or it gets too cold) fill the table with play sand for a whole new adventure.
Kristin
Make sure you remind Ginny about pay backs – you can get her kiddo a “my first drum set!”
Megan
Love the school bus. Q-Tip is SO into slides right now. There is a HUGE blow up slide at Rolly Pollies and she goes down it over and over and over again.
Somehow I missed this post until today…I just bought Q-Tip the same water table. I didn’t know the pirate ship one existed until I got to the store…talked myself into the thing…and then they didn’t have it. I was a little pissed. I ended up getting the little one but I can’t get the pirate ship out of my head! It’s driving me NUTS but there are non to be found…even on the internet. The things we want for our children and they could probably care less. lol…
Megan
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