All of the holidays have been beyond fun this year. Lyla is finally able to really take everything in and her excitement just radiates out to the entire family. I honestly wasn’t sure if she would ever recover once Halloween ended. She literally loved every single decoration we would drive past from a simple spiderweb, to festive pumpkins, to the creepiest of witches (her favorite oddly enough). When the holiday was over, she was so disappointed that her coveted spooky decor was no longer on display. I don’t love skipping holidays, but we immediately started talking about Christmas…..being thankful and gorging oneself at Thanksgiving just wasn’t quite the rebound we needed to win over a two year old. I found myself getting excited at every new house that would put up lights and garlands as I knew she would notice and be so happy. A big thank you to all those eager Christmas lovers out there. I’ve never appreciated you, but I give you your proper accolades now.
Now that the season is in full swing, every new experience is a true joy for her and us. We sing, we craft, we bake, and I finally bit the bullet and invested in a proper angel for the top of the tree (at Lyla’s request). It was an investment, but I plan for it to become an heirloom. She picked this one (70% off right now!!) and the kid has good taste. She arrived yesterday and is quite lovely.
Of course, the question of “what would you like for Christmas” has been asked of her about a million times. Her initial reply: “maybe a toy”. Vague, but adorable. She then got around to asking for a bear and finally at her visit with Santa, amidst the tears of overwhelming terror, she was able to squeak out “a bicycle”. Call me a new parent, but I love the simple and sweet requests. I’m enjoying the broadness now as I know I have years of detailed and hyperlinked lengthy lists ahead of me.
I have put together our collection of under the tree offerings because I know how challenging it can be at times to narrow down items as you’re being marketed to from every angle. The list is specifically for a two and a half year old as there is a big difference from two to three and we are literally smack dab in the middle. Most items are linked to Target, so you still have plenty of time to get them in before the final gong. Enjoy!
- Doctor’s Kit. I try not to brag on my perfect, brilliant, adorable little girl too much….obviously. But the day she spit out the word “stethoscope”, I was floored. We have one book that mentions this instrument and when she said it that particular book was nowhere near. It was a true testament to how much they absorb at this age. She loves going to the doctor (odd, but helpful) and loves fixing booboos. A far cry from her mom who gets queasy at the thought of anything under the skin. This child takes any tool she can get her little hands on (makeup brushes, random toy from Chik Fil A, scrunchie) and adds it to her current “doctor’s kit”. We decided we should help her along and purchase a proper set. A wise investment for if all goes well, I plan to have free health care in my old age.
- Baby Doll Feeding and Diaper Sets. We had purchased the Melissa and Doug baby doll last year for Lyla for Christmas. As we navigate our transition from a family of three to a family of four, I thought she may enjoy having more accessories as we discuss this major shift in dynamic that’s on the horizon. I wanted to make sure everything was compatible with our current doll, so getting the same brand was my best bet. Plus, I love Melissa and Doug!
- Teddy Bear. Let’s be clear, we do not need more stuffed animals in this house. However, when their sweet little voices request something so simple, I basically hand over my credit card and figure I can squeeze just one more into the basket.
- Lego Minnie Mouse Duplo. I absolutely love the lego sets for older kids that walk you through each step of assembly. We did alot of these back in my nannying days. This will be our first Duplo set (perfect starter kits for young ‘uns), so I’m anxious to see how she likes it.
- Piggy Paint. It starts so early! She already loves my nail polishes. So far, I’ve only put some clear glitter polish on her itty bitty nails and she’s immediately enamored with the “sprinkles”…aka sparkles, but I will never correct her. Piggy Paint is a great non-toxic option that I feel comfortable letting her wear from time to time.
- Huffy Minnie Mouse 12″ Bike. Lyla has the gift of being able to spot any bicycle within a mile radius. She’s obsessed! As I mentioned, this obsession even brought her out of her paralysis of fear long enough to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. I have no doubt all other gifts may waver under the excitement of this one.
- Minnie Mouse Helmet. She actually requested a helmet on her own. Which is lucky for her, because mom may throw in some knee, elbow and shoulder pads, mouth guard, and suit of armor just for good measure.
- Wheels on the Bus and Around the House Puzzles. These sound puzzles are super cute. She currently has the farm animals one. I love that these two in particular have scenes under the pieces to make it slightly more advanced and fun.
- Baby Doll Cradle and High Chair. We haven’t quite hit the baby doll obsession yet, but I think the addition of some furniture will nudge us there. She already loves putting any types of little toys “to bed” and I just love the vintage nod of this set. We have not tried assembling them yet, so this will be a good practice round before we hit the world of Barbie next Christmas.
What are your go-to toddler gifts this year??
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. Learn more here.
