Activities around the house

Ethan has toys. Too many toys. We rotate them in toy baskets and around the house. Just like when he was smaller, anything around the house can become a toy. His recent favorites include:


{Pulling tissues out of a box and putting them back in. Don't worry, we weren't wasteful. We used those tissues after his game. Well, except for the few that he shredded.}


{Emptying Matt's sock drawer. We set him up here while we're getting ready in the morning and he's sure to occupy himself for a few minutes. I think he thinks they're balls because he says "booom" or "buh" with each toss to the floor.}


{Emptying laundry baskets is fun too. Here is helping me organize his clean diaper laundry. In the background you can see that he dumped over another basket back there.}


{Banging on the dryer door is still fun but throwing the dryer balls in is even more fun! He also 'helps' put laundry into and pull it out of the dryer. He is never left unsupervised here because he can pull himself up on top of the door and I'm sure would try to climb into the dryer/pinch his fingers/etc. Again, we hear "boom" and "buh" for ball during this time.}




{Unraveling the toilet paper roll. He kind of sings while he does it. Again, we weren't wasteful and we used what he unraveled. I think I let him play this game more than Matt does. I find the roll on the back of the toilet so that Ethan doesn't get to it. I put it back on the holder and smile, thinking about the next time Ethan will see it hanging there, calling his name.}



{He helps me change his crib sheets. Who am I kidding? He just likes to climb over the mattress!}


{Pushing buttons on the DVD player.)



{Loading the dishwasher might be his favorite task. If he hears dishing clanking he comes racing over. He loves to push the drawer in. Apparently he thought that his car, ice cream cone, and snack trap needed to be washed too!}

Around the house

Ethan currently enjoys exploring our house. He finds everyday items very interesting.


Door stops make a fun "booiiinnnggg" sound. No worries, we've tried to pull those little white rubber tips off. He's also supervised.



Laundry is FUN! He likes to practice standing against the dryer door. It also makes a very nice drum.




Making faces in the mirror is a hit. Of course he also likes to hit and lick the mirror :)




Playing in the kitchen with food storage containers.



His comb and a diaper cream container are drums as well. This keeps him occupied while I care for his eczema.



Laundry baskets are fun too!

toys, toys, toys

We noticed that Ethan was becoming bored with his baby toys. Rattles were only entertaining him for so long. He's graduated from the exersaucer and jumparoo. Of course anything around our house becomes a toy and he still loves books, but we had fun toy shopping.

Here are some that have been Ethan's favorites over the past month or so...

Penguin These photos make me laugh!



Drums. Well, really, he makes just about anything a drum these days. He also enjoys when we put it together so that it rolls.


Busy Ball Popper is am occasional toy b/c it's loud. It was a gift. It scared him at first but now he's interested in how it works. He likes when the air blows in his face.




Activity Table
What we liked about this table is that you can use it w/o the legs if you choose. We started out this way. He loves music so this has been a hit!


We added the legs to work on pulling up and standing. A mixing bowl makes a nice seat (and drum).



This simple Little Tikes piano is his favorite. I picked it up at a consignment sale for $2. Perfect! They have a few at his daycare and he loves them! His face lit up when he saw we had one at home.




With his piano and mixing bowl drum. He loves music & to make noise!

Melissa and Doug have some cute toys like this one. Another consignment sale find!


Stacking cups and nesting boxes are fun too!



Next post will be his favorite things around the house that make great toys. I've love watching him explore at this stage. It's amazing to watch his mind work!

Water Play

At Ethan's school (daycare) they have one of these tables.

They used to have a few high chairs but moved to this table and I have to admit, it's pretty darn cute to see the babies in it and they really seem to enjoy it. It allows the teachers to sit across from the babies while feeding them. The babies interact more with each other too.

One day the teachers allowed the older babies to have time for water play. They poured puddles of water in front of them and the babies splashed around. Ethan LOVED it. He also loves to splash in the bath.

We decided to have water play at home in his high chair. He usually sits in this seat at the table with us but we were given a hand me down high chair that we keep in the closet and it's been perfect for water play.






{Ethan says YAY for water play time!}

Swings!

More pics of Ethan at the park.

His first time in the swing. Looks like he's thinking "What is this?"


"Not so bad"


"WHOOA!" Too fast!


"It's fun!"


Then he discovered the mulch and this is what he did.


On our next trip he was over the mulch and more into the swings.