the little things

As Little Man's first birthday fast approaches I find myself getting a bit wistful. I have been pouring over his baby book and early pictures and packing away his tiny clothes. But I find myself returning to one object over and over--a simple wooden block engraved with all the details of his birth. There is something so solid and reassuring about the little cube,as if its clean,woody scent and heft allude to both the purity and promise of a new baby.

a splash of color

cb2 has just released their new fall catalog and they have some darling kid-friendly designs inside. This sunny bird pillow would be a natural in any child's room. How about a heard of prancing calves for a farm-themed nursery?

Safe for the little explorers out there are the stainless steel cylinder vases,

resin bath accessories

and the lightweight iron and enamel bowls.

we've got the beat

Flash Beat Drum by I-Play

I am not usually a fan of plastic or battery-operated toys but we all adore this wonderful little drum. It has three settings: standard drum, silly sounds and Caribbean steel drum songs. The tunes are long enough that they don't fill my head in an endless loop like some musical toys and the volume control really works. Perhaps my favorite feature are the soothing chime sounds that play when the drum tips on its side. Before he was coordinated enough to play the drum Little Man was able to knock it over and roll it around on the floor. Even the colors manage to be fresh and fun instead of garish.

the pitter patter of tiny feet

has been replaced by the clomping of little shoes. This weekend we got Little Man outfitted in these adorable sandals.

They have easy off Velcro straps, great ankle support and are waterproof! No worries here about dashing through the fountains in the park or jumping in the puddles left by all of our summer rain.