Gifts for Kids Age 2-5

For me this age is so fun, all about pretend, playing together versus side by side and anything that keeps them entertained for longer chunks of time.

Kitchen & Accessories,

The girls have this kitchen for 5 years and it's held up, but I also love this one.

I am getting the girls this little toaster set to add to there kitchen set (the also have this blender, this mixer and this pot and pans) they both play with this every day.

The girls have this cleaning set and love it.

Play stations:

Ami saw this tool bench at the store and fell in love, wish we had room for it.

I saw this store front at a friends apartment and the girls freaked. (these would be fun to have with it, this too! oh and don't forget the shopping cart!)

Electronics, we have these tablets, love them but this version with a stand is so much better. We have these headphones for the car and travel.

I love this magnetic computer, real like without being an electronic and also a learning toy.

I have promised Ami a camera, like Zoe's.

Boogie Board is a great car trip toy, this sleeve keeps them safe, extra styluses are a must.

Music instruments:

Zoe has requested violin lessons so I may get her this set before she starts in the spring. We have this Piano Book for a few years now and they both have loved it. This microphone was a birthday gift 3 years ago, and A FAVORITE.

Doll House.

The girls have been in love with this Barbie Dream house (which is on sale!!!) but we just don't have the room for a second doll house, we have this wooden one which is so beautifully made (I love this tree house)

We gifted Z these Calico Critters , this little mommy and baby and car for her doll house and it's another toy they both love so much.

Dolls, we have wayyyy too many but these ones the girls have had for 3 years and sleep with them every night.

I love these toddler Anna and Elsa dolls.

Zoe asked for this Baby Alive doll that eats, because it's a real baby. lol (she got it for her birthday!! So Ami will be getting one for her birthday).

Barbies have ben huge for both girls. They love dressing them up.

The love their American Girl Dolls too, they have requested this salon set and this bath tub. Ami really wants the camper (ummmm where the heck would it go?!)

The girls fight over there one little stroller every day.

For building:

Other favorites of ours, magna tiles, this marble run and these bristle blocks.

This lego set we got them last year, may need another set because both girls build with them now.

Frozen Duplo set and this Lego Set are definitely going under the tree for my lego loving girls. (the girls also have this one and love it!)

This Magnet Set is one of Zoe's favorites, plus Ami can now play along. We have this one too. And this magnet dress up doll.

Fort Builder - We have this and love it, people have mixed reviews but all I say you need assistance with the younger ones but it stays up and is a great parent kiddo activity. We purchased two sets.

Dress up is HUGE in our house. These dresses are a great starter set. We have this set of crowns, these shoes, accessories.

When Zoe turned three we gifted her this dressing rack and hung 5 or 6 costumes. It is something they play with almost every day. This year I am getting them a couple that they have requested, this set of cute explorer costumes. love all of the Melissa & Doug costumes.

I am getting the girls this diner set, and waitress costume because it is one of their favorite games to play.

This Learning tower is something I wish I had had for the girls when we had the extra space, great great great for those of you that want to have your kids in the kitchen with you more.

Active:

I wish we had room for this incredible bouncy house a few friends keep for parties and for snow days too (it's easy to put away and take out, can we please get it O???!)

This trampoline was a favorite birthday gift for Zoe, I am so sad that we had to give it up when we moved to the apartment. We also have a sit and spin.

This balance toy is not something we have but something I plan on getting the girls this winter, this is the other choice I have in my cart.

We love the girls scooters, these are also super popular here. (don't forget a helmet, this shark one or unicorn!)

Art

Another huge part of life and this age group is art, a space and tools for creating are so important. I love this easel, this paint set, ( love these paint cups that my cousin has for her kids and may get them this year) we have this set of brushes and aprons.

This paper is what I use for all painting. and these water colors are things we use almost every other day. I plan on giving a tour of our little "work station" for the girls but it may actually not happen until the New Year!

This art in a box set is just perfection for someone with limited space.

Bead Set - this is a great starter one, and this one I am getting Ami! (love this bead organizer )

Crafting

We have this set, great for keeping at a grandparents or even traveling or to start up your crafting supply.

Let's talk puzzles. We are a puzzle and game family (games we love here!)

Love this wooden one, this tetris one, love this huge floor one for Zoe, this is cute for younger to 5. This princess one for both girls.

Hopefully these help! Trying to only share what we have or have gifted (and sprinkle in a few things I plan on buying for the girls as well). Living in a much smaller space means a lot more specific gifting and we will need to store or donate a ton of the toys too. What is high on your kids wish list?

xoxo

Natalie

Gifts For Baby 0-24 Months

This little Baby Einstein toy was one of my first gifts for Zoe, and both girls loved it.

A little baby mat is perfect for a new babe.

Wooden Retro Phone (something they will play with FOREVER)

A Plush Tool Kit ( Ami loved hers till recently when she wants to steal her sisters)

Plush Zoo Animals (we got these for Z, and Ami also loved them).

This Play Center was a hit with both girls, they can work on balance, and it's fun for multiple ages. (easy to wipe down too!) This one is great, 35% off too!)

We loved this baby bouncer, it was so great because Ami could see us and she would happily bounce while we got things done at home.

A Wooden Kitchen that will last years, we got ours (which was HARD to put together but beautiful) around Z's 1st birthday and gosh she has just loved it, they both play with it every day. ( I also LOVE this modern one, and this one!)

Table and Chairs, the perfect gift for a little, one they will use for eating, snacking, coloring, and crafting but best of all for make believing.

Cloth Puppets, we have had ours since Zoe's first birthday and they pull them out so often that they are worn thin. Great for baby through toddler years (and beyond).

These playmats are not something I have but it's something we wanted in our playroom at our house in the burbs, PERFECT grandparent gift for someone with room. You can even take it outside.

I gifted these soft blocks for a friends little one and may re-buy for my niece and nephew.

My cousin has this for her little one when she was traveling a ton and it's seriously one the best things, keeps kiddos entertained and a learning toy. Love having both of those in a gift.

These crinkle gifts are great gifts for littles, easy to pack in the stroller or on a plane but I swear it has kept both my girls entertained for long periods of time.

These keys are for younger babes but I just ordered for Amani, because she is forever taking ours to play with (AKA while mine are always lost).

The girls have this little basketball hoop (now at my mom's) and this tee-ball set my cousin bought for her 1 year old, I think both really grow with a toddler, can be played with indoors and out!

Color Matching Egg Set

CAT Mini Trucks Ami has these and they are her favorites.

The girls had this push and ride car in red and we LOVED it for getting around, I also got Ami this little red Mercedes ride on car for her first birthday and they still scoot around the apartment in it.

We had this piano and love how realistic it looks, this Melissa & Doug one is great too,

They also have had a little guitar since Zoe's first birthday, this instrument set too.They still play with all of these often!

I am going to continue to add to these as I go through old baby toys that we have loved and gifted and REALLY stick to a lot of well made, learning based fun toys that the girls have LOVED.

Ahhhh so many more to come! Stay tuned!

xoxox

Natalie

Words To My 6 Year-Old Girl

My sweet angel girl, how in the heck are you six. When it feels like just yesterday I met you for the first time.

You have heard this story before, about how you came into this world unexpectedly early. Leaving us out of breath and scared out of our minds. I remember the doctor preparing us for the worse case scenario, my heart aching and tears falling down our faces as me and dad waited to hear what was next. I always tell you that I listened to my gut, that because I spoke up you are here today as a reminder to you to always stand your ground.

The truth is you were a little fighter from day one, exceeding all odds and coming home right before our first Christmas as a family of three. I hope you always work hard for what you want and continue to exceed all the odds.

This time counting down the days before Christmas sure make me think of the itty bitty you. So I love that you LOVE the holidays more than anyone I know, I hope you always love every part of the holidays.

You have shown me so much about myself, about patience, about commitment and unconditional love. I work hard at being the best version of myself because of you my sweet girl. I am blessed to watch you grow into this smart, feisty, observant, kind and thoughtful girl.

My wishes for you are many but the main one is that I hope you always feel like you can be YOU right here with us and everywhere. I love that we are your safe place and may you always feel that way so you can flourish, grow and continue to amaze all those around you.

You are six today and in a way I too, am six; six years of being this woman I am today, also known as mama.

xoxo

Natalie