The Sunday Post ~ Evenflo Jungle Exersaucer Review

Buy the Evenflo Jungle Exersaucer

We tried our little one in multiple exersaucers, but this was by far the best. It was a gift to us from and came recommended to us by a grandmother of 8, with pre-existing knowledge of how awesome this particular product is.

At the crawling stage, the better the baby-containment device (BCD), the happier the parents will be. This particular item excelled as a BCD. It could keep him happy and playing for up to an hour, giving me a much needed break to eat, clean, sit down. Just remember to never leave them alone in the exersaucer.

I found the perfect spot in my house between the kitchen and den where I could see him from both rooms at all times and with a clear view from the bathroom. This gave me the flexibility to keep him happy while I moved between the three rooms. He could always see me too, so I could provide encouragement and support.

It sings a variety of songs, none of which I got too bored with. However, the singing chameleon is too sensitive, and goes off with the slightest vibration, even from a passing truck outside, so we often kept that piece of it turned off.

I also found that, while nice that it converts for a small baby with a mat and to a toddler with a play table, that my child wasn't a fan of either the mat or table. He loved it in saucer form, and will still play in it at times as a saucer, but wasn't a huge fan of the other set-ups.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this over other saucers.

July 26, 2012 ~ Wipeout!

Grandma was watching TV and decided to pick Wipeout! as the show to watch. (If you don't know it, the show is about people of varying athletic ability and intelligence running extreme obstacle courses). I have to admit that I enjoy watching people faceplant, and in the void of TV options in the summer, my mindless entertainment is often this show.

So, Daddy and I sat down with Grandma to watch with her. Billy, of course, wandered in to find some toys to play with after dinner and on his way to bed.

Then, some guy wiped out on the big balls and we all laughed. Billy looked at the TV. And then, as if frozen by a sci-fi tractor beam, he stood there entranced for over ten minutes. When the commercial came up he pulled up a stool to the front of the TV and sat down, riveted, waiting for the next idiot contestant to wipe out.

He didn't move a muscle. He didn't make a sound except to laugh. It held his attention better than a Disney movie, any cartoon and any activity he has so far participated in. So, it's official. Wipeout! appeals to the mentality of a one-year-old.

I'll still watch it.

Drawn In Thursdays: Things Kids Do #9

Click to Enlarge

July 25, 2012 ~ Sorry BudBud

Billy finally got it. No, he really got it. That growling sound means stop. Who knew? He suddenly realized that when Buddy growls after Billy sits down on top of Buddy, that Buddy really doesn't like it. Not one bit.

And this time I didn't have to break out the band-aids. He's still wearing one from last week. He got it and left Buddy alone and then went to apologize to Buddy with gentle pats.

Hopefully, this is the end of warning nips.

July 23, 2012 ~ Pillow Thief!

On his way to bed Billy wanted to cuddle in our big bed first. Okay, I figure. I don't mind. We did storytime but he wanted cuddles. Billy never wants to cuddle, so this is a bonus for me. Woohoo!

So we cuddle and he insists on using the pillow I have designated as "his". It's not his. It's mine. But it's the flattest pillow on the bed, pretty much flattened to a pulp, and so best suited for a tiny person to use. I always put it in a bright green pillow case, which doesn't remotely match our sheets, but it identifies the ancient squished pillow from the nicer ones.

 Well, when he was done cuddling, he wanted "his" pillow to go to bed with him. He insisted. He refused to sleep without. He went into tantrum mode. Okay, okay... you can have the pillow.

So, I went in to check on him an hour after he went to bed (to steal the pillow back) and he was sound asleep on the pillow. I checked back in later. Still using the pillow. There was no hope.

This morning my pillow was still hanging out in the crib.

~

On another note, Billy would like to wish his favorite Godparents a very happy anniversary.

Billy, 2011, on his way to his Godparents wedding.

July 22, 2012 ~ Pictures and Scary Swings

I had to write a short note on the computer and Billy joined me in the office to help. Normally, Daddy is on the computer and has his desktop open. But my desktop has rotating pictures of little Billy on it. Not Billy now. Little Billy.

"Look, Mommy. Girl!" He says girl like "gah-urrrrrl."

"Nope. That's you. That's baby Billy."

He didn't believe me. So I pointed out some of his toys in the background. Oh wait, now it's sinking in.

"More?"

So I flipped through pictures of last year, pointing out pictures with the people he knows best and his favorite fuzzy friend. This was a real big thrill. "Mommy!" "Daddy!" "Budbud!" "Poppop!" "Gmama!"

Then I showed him a picture from way back when, tiny little thing all swaddled and sleeping with a binky in his mouth.

"Hey! My meme!"

Then he looked up at me and said, "more meme?"

So we flipped through the photos looking for pictures of binkies. Yep. Of all of the photos, the ones he really wanted to see were the ones with the memes. (pronounced me-me. his name, not mine).

~

After pictures we went outside to play. He decided he wanted to try out his swing again. I've been trying to get him in that swing since May. But it's either "dirty" or "spider" and he refuses to get in, thinking it's either really dirty or full of spiders. Today, though, he didn't care about the dirt on the seat and wanted in. Okay, here we go!

I gave him a few pushes. "More?" he asked.

So, I pulled the swing up way high and released it. He got this sudden look of terror on his face as the swing swung away from me.

"Is it scary?" I asked, concerned.

He nodded. Then he said, "More? More scary?" (he pronounces 'scary' as 'gary').

So he got another big push. He started laughing.

"Scary, Mommy! More!"

That's right. It was scary. It was fun. He wanted more. He swung until I was too tired to push the swing any more. (About an hour).

"Scary, Mommy. Again!"