lovey and toys

It has been recommended that we start introducing a lovey to our babies. (D thinks the word lovey is strange.)  In any case, it's intended to be something that will help them feel secure.  Like Linus's blanket.  I think for some babies a lovey naturally rises to the top of the toys.  That hasn't happened with us, although Rafa probably finds great security in his pacifiers.  Sylvia never really was a paci kind of girl.  That might contribute to her having a harder time with separation anxiety.  Right now her lovey is her parents.  Sweet, well sort of.  Until we try to drop her off at the nursery at church and the corners of her lips turn downward, her lips start to tremble, and giant tears instantly start falling from her eyes.  Oh, Sylvia.  Since she's born in the year of the rabbit, I recently ordered her a rabbit stuffed animal that has little ribbons on it in an attempt to "create" a lovey for her. It was inspired in part also because she really likes the ribbons on this mirror:

 

 We'll see if it takes... 

Along those lines, I thought it would be good to share (and document) some of their favorite toys.  This is the first toy that they could really grab and move around.  And they LOVED it.  Still do.  But, particularly when they first started grabbing things.  Ours was a gift, but you can buy it here.

Sylvia has always been fascinated by crackling toys.  The ones that have paper or plastic in them.  As a tiny infant, Sylvia would stop crying when she heard that sound.  I often had to crinkle the toys for 5, 10, 15?! minutes until she calmed down.  This guy not only makes the crinkling, crackling sound, but also has a trunk to chew on and plastic feet.  We have it's yellow cousin (lion, bear, I can't remember), but it hasn't been as popular as the elephant (clearly because I can't remember what animal it is...).  You can find it here.

Of course, Sophie the giraffe is a hit, as was their playmat.  I keep thinking that there should be some household objects that they would enjoy playing with, but they tend to be interested in plastic bags (and yes, they do try to pull them over their faces), nail scissors, batteries, and other dangerous things.

We were also gifted this lantern.  When I got it out of the box, I thought that it was a dumb toy.  I mean, they have a toy horse with blocks that plays different songs that match whatever side of the block is facing up and a car steering wheel toy that has a gear shifter and a horn, and all kinds of bells and whistles.  This is a lantern.  It turns on and off.  And sings a few short tunes, but only has one button and a wheel.  And guess what, the kids love it.  

And who wouldn't love this overstimulating colorful, noisy contraption?  The Evenflo ExerSaucer Smart Steps is a joy both for the kiddo stranded in the middle of toys galore and for the parent who now has hands free.  Of course, unless there's another infant crying for attention. 

Both babies also really love this set of car keys.  That does not bode well for the parents, I fear.  It makes some pretty realistic car sounds when each of the buttons is pressed.  They enjoy pressing the buttons with their fingers and chewing on them with their teeth.  Both methods rev the engine.

It's also really great to watch them chew on their Nubys.  They are marketed as toothbrushes, but they have been the best teethers for us.  I am amazed at their fine motor skills as they manipulate the Nuby to find just the right angle to chomp down.