Such a cool kid.
I love this kid.
He is cracking me up more and more all the time as he seems to be communicating more effectively. Saying things that surprise me and make me do a double-take. These are my favorite types of double-takes.
This photo shows one of his Christmas gifts (or birthday) from last year. It seems that whatever he receives doesn't get tons of love until about a year later (something we are trying to change this year). It is hard to tell with him what he will be in love with, what is developmentally appropriate, etc. What is really cool about this - the hat and the goggles - is that he actually wanted to put them on (got them out of his toy basket on his own and asked for help in putting on the goggles). In the past he has not wanted the glasses on his face...but now, he is all over these guys. And of course, I was all over the camera.
He calls himself "Bob" - as in Bob the Builder - and pretty much what he wants to do is look at himself in the mirror and then take them off. So, so cool.
I had a couple emails from people yesterday wondering what Santa will be bringing Simon. Yesterday I had typed up this whole post about what has been happening with Santa and then I lost it. I hate it when that happens. The just of the post was that we had been back to the same toy store three times trying to decide between an entire Thomas the Tank Engine set-up (moving from the plastic tracks to the wood) and a house from Playmobil.
He loves Thomas. They are his favorite. And we are well aware of this fact. Our worry was that we would be feeding into an obsession rather than encouraging some diversity in his toy selection here at home. And besides all that he loves what he has right now (keeping it simple right?).
As for the Playmobil house, we were hoping to support him more in imaginative play with people. In the end though, I think he may not be completely ready for this developmentally.
After continued deliberation, and leaving the store for the third time without a "big" present we decided to go a completely different route. When we were driving home Santa and I started talking about what else he loves right now, and how what he loves and repeats tends to come from what he watches on video. And right now it is all about Dora and Diego. We like that he seems to be learning stuff from those shows and he is so excited about them. So Santa will be bringing him the Dora house (with a couple accessories, like the backyard) which satisfies Santa's desire to get him working on imaginative play in a home-environment and his desire to have him receive something that he will actually love and play with. And we got the last one at Toys-R-Us. Awesome.
My sister recently sent him the Dora floating bath toy which has been a total hit around here - it has made him become excited about taking baths again.
Another toy Santa brought last year that is finally getting some use is the My First LeapPad. Last year he got the Wiggles and Thomas books and just last week he was starting to get it (pushing the green go button, turning the pages with the sounds, etc.). Santa will also be bringing the Dora book this year.
Other than that there will be little things. A Dora coloring book. Wiggles slippers. A recorder. Bubbles. Hungy Hungry Hippos game. A book about monkeys. And a couple Thomas magnet books.
Excited to see his reaction Sunday morning. Excited to get to share in that overwhelming joy.
he looks like such a big boy here. thanks for sharing your perspective on the santa experience. such fun to experience christmas through a child's eyes. merry christmas :)
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Ali, I found myself with some time to play / surf and decided to check out your blog for some fun links. Reading your entry reminds me that you are a source of information for so many people, about so many things not just scrapbooks. Thank you for providing this place of inspiration about parenting, politics, life. Kathy
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Ali--I am SO where you are with the toy thing! Why is it we can pick the perfect (we figure) toy for our kid and it takes them a year, a whole YEAR to get into it?! My son has been like that for 3 years and I am just about ready to give up. Our sons apparently share a love for the Wiggles and Thomas...mine received a starter set for Thomas last year (we split the table, the track and some accessories 3 ways between us and grandparents). We look at it as a long term investment and an heirloom. My son will be receiving several pieces this year to help him take it to the next level...that is what I love about the Thomas thing...you can build on it for years before they will outgrow it! Besides, it is the hub of activity when his friends come over; they all want to go play at the Thomas table. Who would have thought parenting would involve such heavy issues ;)
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Just wanted to comment that you put beautifully into words what I have been feeling for the past week:
"Excited to see his reaction Sunday morning. Excited to get to share in that overwhelming joy. "
This will be my daughter's first Christmas (she will be one on the 29th) and I have never felt the magic of Christmas like I have this year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Ali- Oh boy, do I know the whole Dora thing! Both of my children, daughter 4 and son 20mths just love all things Dora, and of course, now Diego.
It sounds like Simon is going to have a great Christmas. So many people say it is all about the children but as a parent, I just love seeing their excitment - it's all I need!
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Ali- Oh boy, do I know the whole Dora thing! Both of my children, daughter 4 and son 20mths just love all things Dora, and of course, now Diego.
It sounds like Simon is going to have a great Christmas. So many people say it is all about the children but as a parent, I just love seeing their excitment - it's all I need!
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Hi Ali. I'm excited to my son's reaction this year to all the presents too. He was 3 in October and I just can't get over how he is DIGGING all the Christmas lights on the houses. He can't get enough of them!! Sure hope to capture some of that joy on film!! :-)
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I think your Santa selections sound excellent! I'm sure he will be excited :)
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Ha...I thought I was the only one who put so much thought in my child's christmas presents! Glad to know I'm not alone in that endeavor! Love that pic of the two of you...it's so cool to see what will peak their interest next!
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He is one lucky boy -- you are two cool parents! Have a WONDERFUL, magical Christmas!
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Hi Ali,
Loved your post and your choices for gifts. My husgand always says I'm 'old school' with my toy selections but I wouldn't have it any other way. My twins are into many of the same things Simon likes. Thomas is huge with my son Wyatt while my daughter Hannah is all about Diego (and Shimmer from Miss Spider). We got the Dora House as a gift last year for Christmas and it has been lots of fun - a little loud but fun (we actually taped over the speaker to tone it down a bit!!). There is a little Dora set that includes Diego, Baby Jaguar and a field journal - Simon might like that at some point - I think it's about $5 at Toys 'r Us. Hannah adores it. The Dora tub toy is something that Santa is bringing to us this year - I think they will love it. You can never go wrong with the recorder (ours are so popular that I think I may have to buy my husband one!!) and books are always so fabulous.
Sounds like Simon will have a beautiful Christmas - fun presents and lots of love.
Best wishes, Alexandra
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Very cool Ail! He looks so cute.
We too are a Dora and Diego lovin family. : ) Ah... rescue pack... comin to the recue! LOL My son will be siked to have the 5$ Diego action figure type doll. Hey and probably the box too.... LOL. You just never know what they will play with immediately though. We too have experienced that. Just when I'm thinking we may give some toys to Goodwill, they start picking those up and playing w/ them again.
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- a quick spelling correction - I don't actually have a 'husgand' - amazing how much a slip of the finger on the keypad can change things.
I better go before I do it again!!
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love it! Simon is sooo cute as Bob! i so understand the whole Dora/Diego thing, my neice loves Diego with every fiber of her being!
May your Christmas be merry & bright. and with more joy than you can hold!
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Ali, I was in your album track at CKU-A in Provo this year and absolutely loved you and the class, and I love reading your blog. It really helps me to remember what truly is important in life and I want to thank you for that. Anyway, if you think Simon would still enjoy Thomas stuff and you'd like him to have some, I have a large Rubbermaid container of wooden Thomas stuff my daughters have outgrown and I'd be more than happy to donate it to someone who will love and appreciate it. Just e-mail me if you'd like it!
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Hi Ali! My mini two cents would be when the time is "right" go for Thomas the Tank set. #1...it's wooden. Hardly any toys are wooden these days. Sad. I bet that would appeal to him. #2...We had every single Playmobil castle set with dragons, caves, dungeons, hundreds of men and all that jazz and there are SO many pieces to it all. If a piece goes missing it leads to lots of frustration.
Sounds like he will have some great stuff from Santa this year!! :) Merry! Merry!
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WOW!! You hit it right on the nose for us too!! Last year when Parker was turning two, I asked our Ped. if it was wise to nurture such a love for only a few learning toys...her response was why not? He is a big lover of Thomas and Dora and Diego and now Little Einsteins. It does not matter what little boy you talk to...they all have one thing in common...trains and DORA!! I love that he wants to play with toys that are not mechanical and you have to use your brain to think how you are going to make them work. I am sure Simon will adore his Dora house and all the stuff that will accompany it soon. Have the most wonderful Christmas Edwards family!
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Isn't shopping for them fun? especially when you know you have gotten gifts they will love?? Simon will be having a rockin' time opening those :)
R
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Thomas and Bob are huge celebs at our house...I love having a little boy - too cool.
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Ali~ This picture is so totally awesome! It caught my eye right away and made me wonder what shots like this have I missed!
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Hi Ali - Liam also loves everything Thomas. Last year for his 3rd birthday we took him to 'A Day Out With Thomas'. We drove an hour to Heber City but it was well worth it. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but it is a full-sized Thomas engine that pulls passenger cars and the kids get to ride on it. They also have different activities for the kids - Thomas sets to play with, arts and crafts, etc. Liam LOVED it. He still talks about it. I'm not sure about the schedule for 2006, but I noticed in 2005 they did have an Oregon location. Something you might like to think about. I don't know a kid that age that wouldn't marvel at a ride on an actual Thomas train.
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When my brother's son was 11 months old, they took him with them to the store to try out toys on him, to see what he would respond to. That made presents really easy that year. Too bad you can't do that kind of thing forever!!
Darcie (Elyria, OH)
P.S. I just want you to know that I 'happened' upon your blog when doing a search for Scraptacular in Elyria. I have now read almost ALL of your archived entries. We are actually very similar people in many areas -- down to the influence of autism in our lives. I have good friends with a 12 year old son who has autism, as well as both of my brother's children. Matt is almost 6 and Rebecca is 3. So exciting to see when they 'get' something as I watch their development.
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Hungry, Hungry Hippo??? Are you out of your mind??? LOL! My older two (now 15 & 16) had that, but I refuse to buy it for my 6 year old! It's SO loud!!! LOL! But then, I'm an old fogey now and must have more quiet in my life. You are probably young and tolerant! ;D Sounds like it's going to be a very special Christmas--have a blast! It really does go by sooooooo fast!
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My boys are back into Thomas this year. I don't why. But it has defnitely been the best investment. The doll house was only played with my ds#2 and I'm glad I found a great deal on it.
I find the boys will imitate the play they see on the Thomas videos. It's a start into imaginative play. Enjoy the day whatever it brings.
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8 silly monkeys is a big hit with my little monkey. He will love it.
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