So, I have been thinking for a while about all the toys and baby equipment I had on my mind a year ago. The ones that I thought we would need and use forever. One year ago, I couldn’t even conceive of a time in my future when I wouldn’t need a Baby Einstein Activity Center.

But now I find myself, a year later, looking at the defunct toys lying around my house and wondering “How the hell did that happen so fast?” And then I start thinking about the toys that at this time next year I will be cursing myself for buying. Then I realized that there are at least two of you that read this blog that might be willing to impart your toy knowledge to me so I don’t make the same mistakes you did. And maybe there are one or two of you who could learn from me?

So here goes:

  1. The previously mentioned Baby Einstein Activity Center. The screaming that occurs when we dare to place Emma in the thing reminds us immediately that “I AM TOO OLD FOR THIS NOW!!” She does like crawling through it however. She seems to love tunnels these days.
  2. The Johnny JumpUp thing we bought at Value Village for $2.65. It hang from our doorway for a long time and provided me with many hours of meal preparation and kitchen cleanup while Emma stayed occupied. Alas, now she just wails when we put her in it.
  3. The OTHER activity center we bought. Ok, I know most kids don’t need two activity centers, but sometimes PARENTS do. This one collapsed for travel, unlike the Baby Einstein one, although it had horrific lights and sounds (and a cell phone?) that made us want to throw it out the window. I guess we thought we would take it to Gama’s when she watched Emma, which we did a few times, and it was great when we went to the beach. So maybe it was worth getting? In any case, its time is up. See number one above.
  4. The Aquarium Lights and Sound Swing. I put this together with my sister Lexi the night of my baby shower and we oohed and aahed over it. At that point, it was really hard for me to imagine the little creature in my belly being big enough to fit in the swing, let alone be able to appreciate the fish swimming above her. Well, she did get big enough, and she did appreciate the fish, but now, not so much.
  5. And finally, all those little doodad things to hang from her car seat handle that I convinced myself were absolutely necessary for her DEVELOPMENT and her GROWTH. Uhyeah. I think she might have looked at them once or twice, but needless to say, she doesn’t even have a handle on her new car seat, and when I give her the doodads now she gets super pissed and throws them out the window.

Ok, your turn, ’cause you know, Christmas is coming up and I have no idea what to get my almost one year old. What are the five (or three or two) toys/accessories/equipment you were using one year ago that are no longer used? Don’t forget to mention how old your kid(s) are, and if you feel so inclined, let me know what your kid(s) DO love to play with. (And Doodaddy, bugs don’t count.)

Update: Oh oh oh - how could I forget the Baby Einstein Play Gym? I think Emma used it for about 7 minutes. Now it is collecting dog fur in the corner of the basement.