NOT made in China

With the recent headlines of toy recalls and just all the CRAZY that is out there in this world, lots of concerned folks have been talking about alternatives to mass-produced toys for the holidays. As a crafter, I'm all about the handmade gifts; although sometimes it's hard finding just the right present for someone who may not share the same taste in handcrafted lovlies.

I've listed these links not as endorsements, but as options to finding something unique and SAFE for your loved ones this holiday season, and in the future for any gift-giving occasion.

Batteries Not Required (local to NC)
Cars From Papa
Etsy
Fat Brain Toy Co
Grandpa's Wood Shop
Green Toys
Lauri Toys
Magic Cabin
Maple Landmark
Moolka
Oompa Toys
Palumba
Robert Mahar Dry Goods
Rosie Hippo
Step2
Stump Pond Woodworks
The Conscious Child
The Silly Wagon
The Wooden Wagon
Willow Tree Toys

Blogs that feature this topic:
Angry Chicken Blog on Not Made in China Toy Options

Have suggestions for your own handmade / Made in the US / Free From Chemicals That Will Cause My Child to Vomit site? Have you blogged about this topic? Please let me know so I can add you to the list!!

Owen in love ...

Owen has a new love ... Miss Hannah Mei. Check out his Tuesday night video:
http://www.weigel.phanfare.com/album/473863#imageID=30863835
{password = October}

love you!

Owen said "I love you," or his version of it anyway on Monday morning (10/22). I was running out the door for work (late, as usual), and calling "bye bye" back and forth to Owen and Daddy on my way out. I said "I love you" and Kevin called down ... "did you hear that? he just said I love you!!!" So of course we went back and forth a couple of times ... it was just precious.

simply. adorable.

I just can't help it - I'm so in love with my son. He is the most precious thing in the world to me, and I'm continually amazed at how much joy he has brought into our lives. It's hard to believe he will be 18 months next week; even harder to believe that I lived 33 years without him. Here are some pics that my dear friend Michelle took on Sunday at her house.

Owen'isms

Capturing some of Owen's expanding vocabulary:
"Day Doe" = garage door
"Ray Ray" = refridgerator
"Ding Dong" = ringing the door bell
"Mail" = getting the mail
"Clean Clean" = wherever there is a mess
"Ting Ting" = wants us to turn on the iPod so he can hear the music, or "sing sing"
"Nupkih" = pumpkin, one of the plastic pumpkins in the house for Fall
"Winnow" = window

He's very busy these days ... exploring everything around him. He also loves to climb ... on everything. On a couple of occasions, Owen has been put into time out for being naughty. He thinks it's a hoot though, and often times puts himself into time out, after saying "no no" to us. Kevin is planning on building him a Time Out chair or bench that we can use for consistency. I'll post pics when it's finished.

the potty

Had its first success today!! Owen was just sitting on the potty, enjoying some Cheerios, when he peed in the pot!! After he finished, he and Gram flushed it down the toilet and waved goodbye. Hurrah!!

owen in the coal hole

Monday morning, Owen decided it would be great fun to climb under my bathroom sink. This is not unusual, as he typically pulls out all the supplies (hair clips, extra lotion, etc.) from the cabinet and plays with it. On this particular morning however, he deemed it necessary to physically CLIMB INTO the cabinet. And he got stuck. As hard as I tried, I couldn't help but laugh (I'm laughing as I write this post), because I can't figure out HOW he got in there. I should have taken a picture (but that's really poor taste, huh?). I have a large basket in that cabinet that holds everything, and somehow he managed to get IN the basket, WITH all the stuff still in it. I couldn't pull the basket out, cause he would bump his head; I couldn't pull him out, cause there wasn't enough space between his head and the top of the cupboard. We finally finagled him out of there (me still laughing). I wonder when he'll try it again.

{oh, and if you're wondering about the title of this post, it's from one of my favorite books "Silas Marner," ~ the main character Eppie gets stuck and hollers out "Eppie in the coal hole."}