Where Play Meets Potential
It’s been a whole year and I didn’t think I would survive this long. I’m not sure what I thought would happen. Maybe in the beginning I thought I would die of sleep deprivation. Maybe I didn’t think my relationship would survive. I really didn’t think I would last as a stay at home mom. I think I just generally thought I would screw up somewhere along the way. Does every mom feel that way?
I think when we have a fear of messing up somewhere somehow, it shows that we truly care. That is the truth!
I was never the mom that felt that magical love right from the first second. That feels weird to write out because I love Ruby more than anything right now. I feel that love blossomed over time and after caring for her and watching her develop. The more I know her the more I love her and couldn’t imagine my life without her.
My priorities and my life shifted the moment she entered this world though. I knew my life would never be the same. It felt so strange because in the first few moments after her birth I had an instinct to care for her, but having worked in childcare and teaching in early years for so long, it felt like I was caring for someone else’s baby.
The best way to describe the experience was surreal. It took a few days or maybe weeks (the beginning is blurry) to truly experience what everyone describes as the instantaneous love, that for me was more like a built bond.
That bond has become impossible to break. I have spent the last year at home with Ruby and like I said before, I did not think I would last this long as a stay at home mom. The truth is I did find other ways to keep myself busy. I started working for my family’s business with flexible part time hours when Ruby was only a few months old. Then I started this blog as my passion project when she was about 9 months old. So, I guess in a way I didn’t last this long as a stay at home mom. I’ve morphed into more of a part-time work from home mom.
I think my most important job has been Ruby’s mom. I find purpose in using my past education and experience to make decisions as a parent that positively affect her development.
My wish for Ruby on her first birthday is that she grows into a curious, independent, confident, kind, and happy individual. I hope that she finds purpose and passion in her life’s pursuits. I hope that the work I am doing now with her at home builds a lasting bond and trusting relationship.
If you are here to be inspired by our play, just know that the play that I curate and create is meant to build these values for Ruby and for all the other families that follow along.
2020 has been quite the year as you all know. We started lockdown in March and at the time I thought, naively, that it would all be over in a couple short weeks. Never would I have anticipated that I would be stressing about social distancing and wearing masks by the time it was July and Ruby’s first birthday.
Here we were a week away from the party we had planned and a spike of Covid cases hit Las Vegas. People started backing out of coming to the party. I felt conflicted about what to do. My husband and I went back and forth about canceling or having family only. Ultimately, I felt since it was a pool party it was easier to maintain distance and therefore safer. I also checked in with friends to make sure they felt comfortable coming. I wanted people to make the decision for themselves.
The party went on without a hitch. We had a group of family and a few friends celebrate Ruby. The “theme” for the birthday party was red and rose gold. My mom graciously hosted at her beautiful house. My sister helped make the “1” cookies that could have been a disaster a few times.
My friend Gee @gloriouscakesbygee made the cupcakes and her beautiful smash cake. I’m so grateful to have such a talented friend. She also made our gender reveal cake.
Speaking about the cake, Ruby decided to be dainty and picked at the cake with her fingers even though everyone wanted her to smash her face in the cake. She also chose not to blow out the candle like we had practiced, but there was a lot going on.
Ruby definitely was not her usual smily self on her birthday so we only have a few pictures of her with her classically big smile, but we did have a great time!
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I had been eyeing this name puzzle for months and I finally chose to get it for her first birthday. Of course, I waited until the last minute to order and with worldwide shipping delays because of Covid-19, I did not receive it in time for her first birthday, but I’m sure she will not remember that she received her present a few days after her actual birthday.
I bought this puzzle from Busy Puzzle on Etsy.com mainly as a sentimental gift. I believe personalized gifts are the most meaningful. There are so many name puzzles out there, but I loved the color options and I loved that I could get the letters with pegs so that she could use the puzzle even at her young age.
Click the image to take you to the item.
Ok, this was not a gift for her first birthday, but I wish I would have gotten her another personalized book. Personalized gifts are great gifts. I think a book personalized with the child’s name makes a great first birthday gift, especially for a little bookworm like Ruby.
This book is from Wonderbly and it is super high-quality. They are an awesome company that ships worldwide and have so many different personalized book options. They have special birthday book options that would make a perfect birthday gift.
If you have never heard the term weaning table, no worries I only recently heard the term. It basically describes a small toddler table and chair set. They are able to get to the table and sit independently, which is a big part of the Montessori philosophy.
Many of the table and chair sets for children are too tall for toddlers to get to sitting by themselves. That is one reason I chose this set because it is low enough for Ruby to get to at one year old. Plus, this table adjusts so it will work when she is older as well.
There were a few different reasons I wanted a weaning table. First, I was tired of strapping her into her high chair for every meal and snacks. I wanted a place where she could go to eat a quick and easy snack if she was hungry and choose to leave when she was done. When children have the choice to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full, it teaches good eating habits and self-regulation without all the negative coercing that sometimes happens from parents at mealtime.
The other reason I wanted a weaning table is because I was already planning ahead to the next baby coming in December. I know the baby isn’t going to come out of the womb ready to kick Ruby out of the high chair, but I wanted to allow for a slow transition for Ruby. Eventually the baby will use the high chair and Ruby will either eat meals at the weaning table or we will figure some other plan out (possibly a booster seat). Ok, maybe I am an over-thinker and over-planner, am I alone in this?
A friend of mine gifted Ruby a Bilibo and she said her four children had loved theirs. We first used a Bilibo in Ruby’s Kindermusik class. It was then that I learned how fun as well as good this funky little bowl chair was for development.
I think Ruby was about 3 or 4 months the first time I put her in the chair and rocked her around. She was unsure at first, but then was calmed by its movement. The uneven movement provides great sensory input for their vestibular system, which helps with balance and spatial awareness.
Plus, this thing can be used as a push toy, a stepping stone, or as a building toy so they get years of use. I love toys that can last more than a couple months.
This scooter car is more than just a scooter. It can be a push wagon, a ride-on car, or a standing scooter. She loves both pushing things and riding on things so this is perfect for her age. This will last her several years also.
At first this puzzle looks like a simple posting activity, but when you look a little closer is is a little more complicated than that. Each hole is a different size so they have to match the correct sized carrot to the correct hole. It self-corrects because carrots won’t fit if they are too big. This is wooden and really well made also.
The Battat Toys stacker is so fun looking. They have such colorful (but not primary colored) toys. This one looks like rocks, but they are very lightweight plastic stacking rings. The green ring is made of a rubbery material. I like how there are different materials and I love the colors. Also, the top piece is like a rattle and screws on.
While this toy requires pretty good fine motor skills and coordination that an older child would have, I think it works as beautiful loose parts for toddlers. They are wooden and dyed. The child stacks the appropriate color ring with the pin. They look like bowling pins so you could use them like a mini bowling game too. This toy is normally found on Etsy, but the shop is taking a break. You can find something similar here.
Ok, Ruby did not get this as a first birthday present, but I am realizing that the Pikler Climbing Triangle would make a fabulous first birthday gift. She is starting to use it much more. At this age is when they really start using their gross motor skills like climbing and walking. I would say one is the perfect age to get one of these climbing gyms. There are also lots of fun play provocations you can set up on the Pikler triangle too. Click on either picture to go to the one we bought from a lovely family on Etsy (great customer service).
If you are wondering if the Pikler Triangle will be versatile and open-ended enough or if you think your child may get over climbing quickly, then check out my post “How to Use the Pikler Triangle Besides Climbing.“
If I had tons of money I would have gotten Ruby several other gifts (we did not personally purchase all of these gifts, we have generous family and friends). I have a more ideas that I think would make great gifts for a one year old. Visit my Etsy and Amazon favorites to get inspired.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts on my baby turning one. A million people told me time flies with little ones before Ruby was born, but actually experiencing it is a whole new story. I’m trying to soak up each happy memory and sharing with you (and documenting her life at the same time) makes me so happy.
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