New and Exciting

I love to watch Cutie Pie discover new things. He seems to be growing up so fast. Just a few short months ago, he was fascinated by the little toys that hung from his bouncer. Now, I'm lucky if anything captures his attention long enough for me to make the bed.

Unfortunately, not all of Cutie Pie's discoveries are good ones. Currently, Cutie Pie is discovering the blinds. No matter how many times I redirect his attention, he always crawls back to the window. The boy is fast! I've tried to block off the area with toys and furniture. He just regards this as his own personal obstacle course that must be conquered. Cutie Pie is determined to get those blinds no matter what!

Whenever I meet another Mommy, I always ask what toys their babies love to play with. I'm always looking for something that will entertain Cutie Pie for more than ten seconds. If the toys helps him develop motor skills or language that's a bonus!

So, I took Cutie Pie to our local consignment shop and let him play with the gently used toys to see what he went for. They frown on such things at Target, you know. Cutie Pie must have known I was watching. He didn't show particular interest in anything but the book shelves, which he used to stand up and cruise around the play area. Maybe I should stop worrying about toys and just buy a few more bookshelves!

http://theadventuresofcutiepie.blogspot.com

Real Toys

When I walk into my house, I am always amazed by its resemblance to a toy store. I used to walk across the room with ease. I decorated with baubles and trinkets from our travels. When one of the dogs played with a squeaky toy it was no big deal. We just kicked it to the corner of the room.

My once pristine living room is now cluttered with playthings. I never thought I would be one of those parents who turned the living room into a child's playroom but it's just so much easier to keep his toys out there. The living room is where the family socializes and spends time together. If we kept the toys hidden in Cutie Pie's room he would never get to play with them.

Cutie Pie has amassed quite a collection in his short six months. We have the Baby Gym on the floor right in the middle of the room. This little gym has provided Cutie Pie with hours of visually stimulating fun. When Cutie Pie began rolling over we bought a foam mat so he can play all he wants without ever having to touch the carpet. We've got teething toys, balls, stacking cups, books, a mini piano, toys that light up and toys that make noise. We even have the dog's toys, which we are constantly having to remove from the baby mat so they don't accidentally touch our precious Cutie Pie. However, my son wants nothing to do with any of his toys. All he wants to do today is play with the old tissue paper left over from Mother's Day.

It reminds me of when I was a kid. We used to turn old wrapping paper tubes into telescopes and microphones. We would make forts and turn sticks and leaves into a gourmet meal, fit to serve a princess. Cutie Pie isn't exactly using his imagination when crumbling up the tissue paper, but he sure is loving it!

I am sure that there are more toys out there that Cutie Pie is missing out on. I've had friends tell me that we need to get him a walker. We should also look at a jumperoo. He needs a baby lounge chair so he has a place to sit. If he doesn't watch Baby Einstein every day then he won't be as smart as his classmates and he'll never get into a good college. OK, I made the last one up. I want my son to have everything but I'm not quite sure where we need to draw the line. After all, he is only six months old. Surely we are depriving Cutie Pie because we have delayed our next run to the toy store. Poor Cutie Pie will just have to make due with that tissue paper.

http://theadventuresofcutiepie.blogspot.com/