I'm really trying to create a culture of celebration in our home that doesn't revolve around getting oodles of stuff. I think we did pretty well not going overboard with the presents this year, although Sam did still make out with quite a haul, I think! He's really good about examining and enjoying each present as he opens it, before moving on to the next. I think these presents could've been enough for two birthdays though! We'll try to simplify a bit more for next year...
Here's what his second birthday brought him: Three books about animals from the thrift store. I got "grown up" books, because he seems to enjoy them more. But paying upwards of $25 a book for the really nice ones, doesn't make a lot of sense when they're intended for someone who may or may not color on the pages.
A bug box made by his dad (I'll show more about this one later).
A "shoot the moon" game made by his uncle Christopher.
A little red wagon from his grandma and grandpa.
Some wooden kitchen toys. These are the ones I accepted in exchange for a review. I must admit that we love the toys, though I don't think I'll do reviews for such big companies anymore. Not that this one did anything to inspire that, they were perfectly lovely, but my gut tells me I should support smaller shops. But we do certainly love these toys! Sam had so much fun pulling each one out of the brown paper packaging when they came in the mail (it was a slightly belated present, which I always kind of enjoy as they draw out the celebration). I cleared out a low cabinet for him in the kitchen so he would have his very own spot to store them in. So, far his favorite thing is "cutting" the fruits and veggies in half. They're stuck together with velcro and come with a little wooden knife. Plan Toys, the manufacturer, makes all their toys out of "green" material (rubberwood trees that haven't had fertilizer used on them) and the toys are chemical-free, with non-toxic dyes, which is very reassuring.
A boy from church who sometimes babysits Sam carved his name in woodshop (top). Isn't it rad? I'm going to hang it in his new room; we're doing a little room switcharoo soon due to Ms. Vivian's impending arrival. And at the party he got a whole bunch of wonderful, handmade cards. I requested no presents, but suggested that cards made by his friends would be much appreciated, and they were. Most of them came with toddler artwork and even a few portraits of Sam. One came with some photos of Sam and his friend from last fall that were so cute. I loved it, and Sam loves looking at them.
