Hellobee Boards

@wrkbrk: My 3 year old has that firehouse and he plays with it every day! Such a winner.

6 year old girl: Calico Critters with the knockoff treehouse, Rainbow Barbie, the More than Magic glitter mini backpack from Target. She wants that LOL “glamper” but I cannot bring myself to spend $100 on it.

3 year old boy: VTech Read to Me Marshall, Paw Patrol Jet Command Center, Lincoln Logs, glow in the dark Magnatiles

1 year old boy: Little People Friend Ship, LeapFrog Grill, Daniel Tiger trolley and friends.

@Ajsmommy: we already have a set of the Melissa and doug wood unit blocks and I’m going to get another set so he can build more things. I’d love to get a full set from somewhere like Lakeshore Learning but they are so expensive!

Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks with Wooden Storage Crate (Developmental Toy, 60 pieces, Great Gift for Girls and Boys - Best for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 Year Olds) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008W72D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XYDUDbN6J4WJT

@MountainBaby: @bhbee: Thank you!!!! Also good to know on hard to assemble, I'm just picturing myself doing this while literally nine months pregnant

@bhbee: I'm not sure how new it is, but my parents got LO this for Christmas last year and it seems pretty novel: https://www.amazon.com/Fat-Brain-Toys-Kids-Spinagain/dp/B016F5QJQW/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=fat+brain+spinning+rings&qid=1572465114&sr=8-4 He wasn't old enough for it initially but got much more into it around maybe the 17 month mark. Most of the other things DS loves are pretty basic things that I imagine you might ]have - a little toy wagon and toy lawnmower to push and pull around, a dump truck that he can also fill up with things and push around, cardboard blocks, and a couple of chunky puzzles (my parents got him this one for his birthday, which happens to be a lightening deal now - and he loves it - https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Animals-Wooden-Puzzle/dp/B000FS70QE/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=melissa+doug+animal+puzzle&qid=1572465365&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sr=8-7 )

@bhbee: ugh, my husband detests assembling stuff, but maybe he would do it for LO... or maybe I should get it and assemble it now before I'm even more pregnant. Or just make him wait until next summer!

@Jennibenni: that’s an amazing price!

@Jennibenni: @bhbee: Thank you! Bought it! Bonus points that it will go really well with our kitchen, where we have an antique (functioning!) blue freestanding stove from the 1910s.

I figure assembly can be a project for over Thanksgiving, when my parents are around to help if needed. Though procrastinating til Christmas Eve might be a good way to guarantee I go into labor then, so LO can wake up Christmas morning to a million parts strewn across the kitchen

DS (6 mo. by Christmas): I was thinking some sort of activity center. Any suggestions on ones your kids liked? Suggestions in general for this age or something he'd grow into and love?

DH: Thinking a nice electric shaver. Is this a silly gift?

My mom: Help! Not a single idea. She likes gardening, cooking, and reading.

Any general suggestions for sisters in their late 20s/early 30s? I find it so challenging to gift them things and most of the time end up at Anthropologie or something...

A friend of mine's family doesn't give gifts and instead takes a family trip each year (outside of vacay) for the holiday weekend to a cabin (picture fireplace, hot cocoa, cooking, board games, movies) and I love this idea and wish so much that my fam would get on board with it.

@foodiebee: The electric shaver is totally not silly! DH needed a new beard trimmer last year so that's what I pointed his mom to for a gift and it was well received.

As for 20s/early 30s ladies, I've given One Line a Day style journals that have been loved by friends and my SIL.
https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-One-Line-Day-Cheng/dp/1452164606
They have TONS of design options to fit basically anyone's style and they're inexpensive so if you want you can supplement it with a little piece of jewlery or a nail polish without breaking the bank.

ETA: These Keel's Simple Diary journals are also great gifts and come in a rainbow of colors (and are inexpensive as well).
https://www.amazon.com/Keels-Simple-Diary-Light-Blue/dp/3836512270/ref=pd_cp_14_3/141-0555288-1019832?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=3836512270&pd_rd_r=4b7781bd-ef82-47e2-b7d3-21ea7977844d&pd_rd_w=YCE0G&pd_rd_wg=M7yUM&pf_rd_p=0e5324e1-c848-4872-bbd5-5be6baedf80e&pf_rd_r=Q1RPAG7222C1808RJZTB&psc=1&refRID=Q1RPAG7222C1808RJZTB