I wish I had the bandwidth to bring back my old gift grid guides because I always found them so satisfying and fun to put together - maybe next year! Instead I thought I'd post a bit early with the roundups of 2022 favorites/best buys that I had already planned as some of the new favorite things in our house this year would make for great gifting ideas if you're looking for any.... Indeed, several of the baby/kid faves were actually gifted to us!
1. Lovevery blocks: my mom got this set for Freddie for his birthday, and beyond being super cute, it is very durable and comes with so many great ideas for play in addition to block building - you can make the box into a little cart, use it as a drum, make it into a little puzzle, and more.
2. My First Heroes books: Freddie received a set of these board books as a birthday gift as well. We've seen other cute "little heroes" type of books, but these are a favorite because they have little slide-out and spin/push/pull elements to make things interesting - he loves books with moving parts. I think I'll get him the newer Black history one to add to our collection too!
3. Sloth lovey blanket: we've had this since birth, but Freddie became extremely attached to it in 2022 - it's a must for sleeping (and also he loves to sneak into his room and pull it out of his crib for a snuggle whenever he gets the chance), and I ended up buying 2 more, one for the diaper bag and one for the cottage. So soft and cute, I think any baby would love!
4. Nugget couch: we already had one in Hendrik's room, but as Freddie started getting into the toddler cruising phase, I thought it would be fun to have one in the playroom. We ended up putting them both there, and the doubled-up configuration possibilities are even more fun for climbing on! Highly recommend this small-business and their excellent quality product, worth the investment.
5. Sherpa fleece: could this little jacket be any cuter? Well, when you put it on my cutie-pie Freddie, I guess.
6. Mushie toothbrush: Freddie loves teeth brushing, and I love this silicone one - we just run it through the dishwasher when it gets icky - plus the little safety guard thing is rather nice so that I can let him do it himself without worrying about gagging, ha.
7. Mushie snack cup: another great "do it myself" item for toddlers - perfect sized handles for grabbing and carrying, and the soft top means the cheerios stay in when it's tipped, but it's easy for the little hand to get in there to grab them (
8. Ten Little sneakers: my mom got these for Freddie and we have loved them - aside from being adorable, they are nice and sturdy for little learning-to-walk feet, and the velcro opens up nice and wide, making them easier to put on than other little shoes I've dealt with in the past.
And here are some favorites that have come into Hendrik's life in the past year, sometimes via gifting, sometimes via his hard-earned/saved cash - if you have any elementary school kids (boys) in your life, he would certainly recommend them all!
1. Genius Square game: I love a game that can be played solo or together - and that can be played fast. This one is super fast and easy to learn and has endless possibilities, fitting your block shapes into the grid (kind of like tetris).
2. Pokemon handbook: Hendrik is OBSESSED with Pokémon these days (remember his party?)
3. Erasable pens: Hendrik bought one of these at the school store last year and just thought it was the coolest thing ever, so I ended up using them as party favors too. Just a random inexpensive (but useful1) thing that I think any kid would have fun with.
4. Quarter-zip sweatshirt: Hendrik still lets me pick out his clothes for the most part, but he does love Saturdays when I give him free rein for wearing any (crazy, usually) combo of the "comfy" stuff in his wardrobe. This quarter-zip looks put-together with the style and fit, but it's super cozy with its fleece-brushed interior so it feels like the perfect compromise on school day style for him :)
5. Headphones: anyone else's kid obsessed with creating their own playlists? Hendrik has basically taken over my Spotify, and also my phone on any car ride to/from the cottage - I got him these headphones (only 10 bucks!), and he's very happily entertained for the whole hour with his "Hendrik's awesomeness" playlist.
6. National Geographic Kids subscription: who doesn't love fun mail? My in-laws got him a Highlights subscription as a birthday present years ago, and this year switched over to National Geographic Kids, which he loves. I've also thought about subscribing to this great looking artsy kids magazine for him.
7. Rey to Z initial hat: this one immediately became his hat of choice when heading outdoors in the summer... They're so cute to coordinate among siblings (or parents) too. Love this brand.
8. Over-door basketball hoop: he actually got this one for Christmas last year but became fully obsessed with it over the course of the last year. Lots of play time with Daddy and coming up with crazy trick shots in the playroom.
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