First, for the little girl in your life… try Baby Alive Learns to Potty!  

Remember Baby Alive from the old days?  Well, she’s back!  And now she’s learning to potty, haha.  Baby Alive eats, plays, and takes a bottle.  She’ll warn you when she’s ready to go – and then if you’re not quick enough, she’ll let you know that she’s had an accident.  Kate loves Baby Alive, and I’ve seen some great deals on this doll lately.  This is definitely a toy to check out!

Another toy we’re excited about this year is the Busy Basics Ball-tivity Center from Playskool. 

Sam loves this thing!  When it turns on, it blows air throughout the activity center, making the balls spin and the alligator’s mouth open and close – Sam is just mesmerized!  Although many of the parts spin, it’s totally safe – I stuck my fingers in the middle of all of it just to make sure, lol.  Sam loves to just watch and listen, and Kate loves to try to grab the balls as they spin.  This toy is a hit with both of them, and it’s great to have something they can enjoy together!

Recently I was asked to review the new series from Free Spirit Publishing, Toddler Tools. Since I have a bonafide crazy, terrible-twos-toddler myself, I was happy to have the opportunity! I am also happy to say that both Sophie and I are really enjoying the books. Author Elizabeth Verdick and illustrator Marieka Heinlen offer a fresh, fun look at the transition times and tasks toddlers and parents deal with daily. The illustrations are also infused with prints of Amy Butler fabrics, and are very engaging and fun to look at! Sophie loves to carry these books around with her and look at them herself when I’m not reading them to her. The pictures really hold her attention, and the words encourage her that there are good reasons for our routines! I highly recommend these books for your home library if you have a little one. Check them out at Free Spirit’s website, and look for them as part of a giveaway on Mommin’ It Up soon!

To see what things others love, go see Jill at the Diaper Diaries!