It has been a long time since I have had the need for toys in my life, but suddenly (well, not suddenly suddenly, more like nine months suddenly) out popped Brayden from my daughter's belly (well, not exactly from her belly, but I'll just leave it at that) and now our lives are full of diapers and baby wipes and Boudreaux's butt cream and toys.
And speaking of toys, I miss the era of simple baby toys because a lot of them now are just kind of complicated with all of the bells and the whistles and the lights and the sounds and the blinky things, and not that any of that is bad, but just where in the holy heavens did the little wooden blocks go?
I am pleased to report that I have found a line of toys that I'm very impressed with and I just have to give a shout-out and a trumpet blow and whoop 'n' holler and a cock-a-doodle-doo to Melissa & Doug Toys.
And when my good friends from Out of the Toy Box gave me a couple of toys to review a few weeks ago for my sweet little grandson, I was totally like YES, because I was going to do that anyway with the toys he already had and, as I've already said before, it's all about babies and cuteness from here on out at Rice and Beans and what is cuter that baby toys? (The answer is my Brayden playing with them.)
So with the toys that they gave him and the ones that he had already received as gifts, he has quite a collection. Nevermind that he is only a wee little baby and doesn't really play with anything yet except his fist. The important thing is that he has them for future use.
These monkey and crab teething rings they gave me to review are bright and cheery and soft. To be honest, I thought the little ridges on the plastic rings were going to be a little too hard for his gums, but they weren't. He dug right in with all the ferocity of a wolf pup.
See? He's kickin' his legs up which in baby body language means "Dude, this hard plastic thing feels like totally awestupenterrifabtastic on my gums."
Don't look at me like that. It's a real word.
The best part about them is that they are MACHINE WASHABLE. That means you can wash the cockanoonies right off of them! (FYI...Cockanoonies=Germs and other microbes which may or may not include slobber.)
So is this cute sports ball set. Completely machine washable.
His daddy just threw him a 20-yard pass across the living room and even though it knocked him down, he was able to keep it from touching the floor. We're so proud of our three month-old.
But I think my favorite toys are the wooden toys. Melissa & Doug have wonderful wooden toys. This little wiggle worm twists and bends. Good for hand-eye coordination.
This froggy rattle is the prettiest shade of green ever. I want a chair in that same color. And a new blouse. Oh, and some Le Creuset cookware.
I think I got one of the last froggies, though. But they still have the bright red monkey which is redonkulously adorable, too.
And these blocks. I bought these blocks for him before he was born and let me tell you, I am SO pleased with them. I just think every baby should have a set of wooden blocks. They're so nostalgic. And simple. He'll be playing with these for a long time. His brothers and sisters will, too, because my daughter informed me the other day that she wants four children. (!)
I told her she needed to run that by her husband first.
And since Melissa & Doug have six children themselves, they are very serious about safety. This makes me feel especially good.
You can go to this link and get a code for 15% off of orders from Out of the Toy Box, but you'll have to hurry because the offer ends October 31. They have tons and tons of toys for all ages and needs and not just Melissa & Doug toys, but lots of other uber cool stuff.
FOUR?! Oh, boy! I've got my hands FULL with three!
My babies are too big for the toys but I enjoyed all the photos of your little cutie!
Btw, Jalen, one of my twins plays baseball with a Braden! I've been meaning to tell you. Great name and I love that it isn't too common.
~ingrid
Posted by: ingrid | Monday, November 02, 2009 at 10:59 PM