Mailman

Here is A, using an old box with a hole and hinge cut out of it as a mailbox.  I gave her some index cards and she carefully puts them into the box.  When she is finished, she opens the box and takes the mail out.  We could have decorated the cards and put people's names on them too, but we used blank ones.  She really loves the in and out games. 

The double pacifier

This is one of the best tips ever...and it came from Daddy.

It's the double pacifier.  YES!  

A still likes her pacifier and she especially likes to switch them out.  I was getting so tired of having her throw her pacifier on the floor of the car and ask for another one.  Not giving her one after she threw it did NOT work...she just cried...loudly.  So...Daddy suggested we use a pacifier clip and put TWO pacifiers on it.  That way, A can have one in her mouth and one to hold/switch out.  It has been such a great thing for us when we are in the car. Now...if only we could figure out how to get RID of the pacifier?

Playing in the snow...inside.

Occasionally when it is too cold to go outside, but there is a fresh coating of snow, I'll bring the snow inside for A to play with.  It starts out in a little bin, but usually ends up just on her little table.  I give her spoons and a funnel, Little People, bowls, etc.  She starts with mittens on, but they come off and she eventually ends up eating it (yuck!).  If her clothes get wet, I just put her right into her jammies when we're done.  It's a good way to beat cabin fever!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our little family to yours! 

Matching animals to photos

I bought a tub of animals from Target for $10 recently and made this activity for A.  I chose six animals and put them in a little bin.  I made the cards using a Google image search, printed on card stock and laminated them.  (you can use contact paper or packaging tape)

  I introduced the activity last month and she wasn't interested.  I put it on her shelf and every now and then would bring it out.  Now she really enjoys it.  I take all the cards and she takes the bin of animals.  I will show her one of the cards and ask, "where is the (animal name)?"  She finds it and lays it on top of the card.  I've also put the cards out in a line and she's matched the animal to the card that way.  I plan to add animals and cards to this in the future.  You can download my cards here:

(attempted at 18 months = unsuccessful. 19 months = successful!)