Jungle Playmat

Today Jack just stared into the mirror. He was pretty mesmerized.

He even started talking to the "man in the mirror" (how's that for an MJ reference?). It was pretty funny!

Jack loves his jungle playmat! The butterflies at the top were the first inanimate objects he smiled and wiggled at.

Two things.

K guys. I really want to share two things, completely not related. Well, sort of unrelated.

Anyway.

One: How darling are these ABC stacking cubes?! My friend Lily showed them to me. I don't have Tyler convinced yet how perfect they are...he thinks they are "girly". (To which I pointed out that they clearly aren't. Upon closer investigation, he stated, "they aren't that bad". Again, it's a work in progress.)

But they're $12. How can you beat that?! I can picture my mom and dad playing with something similar to these when they were kids. My sister has a set of stacking cubes like these and her kids love them. I think they might make a good Easter present for Jack next year. Think he'll enjoy them by 5 months? Maybe by his first birthday? I suppose until then they would look really really good on a shelf in his nursery.

images via homemadebyjill

Two: I'm totally digging these homemade racecar crayons. I told my sister she should skip the candy and give these out for Halloween! (Hey, if you're going to be the weird ones on the block, you might as well hand out cool crayons instead of toothbrushes or dehydrated apple slices, know what I'm sayin'?) I think these would make awesome party favors. You could make them into any shape you wanted, granted they make a candy mold of it. I kind of want a set for myself.

ABC Blocks

Look how darling these vintage ABC blocks are! I think if I can find blocks and scrapbook paper, I can easily make my own. But I want these...badly. (Jack doesn't have blocks yet! Luckily he doesn't need them for a while though, so I have time!)

**update**

Just found a tutorial from Martha Stewart. (Although I think I could have figured it out on my own...)

XYZ Blocks

I am LOVING these alphabet blocks! They are clever and anything but ordinary. I could look at these for hours. Love the "AFRO" one.

Name Puzzle

Check out these name puzzles on Etsy. Only $11.99! I want one! (Maybe Jack will get one for Christmas this year from Santa...)

MoMA Playhouse

Man, this makes me wish I had this when I was little.

Totally beats Barbie dolls.

The MoMA is coming out with an entire line of modern kids toys! It's a dream come true!!

DwellStudio

I'm a HUGE fan of DwellStudio's kid books. They beautifully bridge the gap between modern design and being kid-friendly.

With a graphic designer as a mother, our kids will most definitely come to loathe Comic Sans as much as I do. It's never too early to encourage good design with your kids!

Wooden Baby Toys

I'm fascinated with vintage wooden baby toys. I truly can't get enough of them!

I've started combing TJ Maxx and Home Goods for cheap sets, and have collected a few. My mom has also been a great help. I think I'll also try Ebay for some old grandma selling her old toys.

image via littlealouette

But friends, today I spotted this on Etsy. How adorable is this teether?! Little Alouette's shop has dozens of wooden baby toys from dinosaurs to mustaches to rhinos and trees. Not everything has to be flashy and bright - it's nice to find something simple and practical for once.