TODDLER HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

A super last minute holiday gift guide, in case you're scrambling for ideas this weekend!

Here are some of our current favorites.

FOR EATING

We have a kid that loves to eat. He yells "spooooon!" whenever he sees one. I wanted to get him some more non-plastic utensils and found these. Love the bright colors and that the handles are large and easy to grip for tiny hands.

We're still figuring out how we'll do kid seating as Trey gets older, debating if we'll keep the high chair or trade it out for a booster seat. I like the idea of us all at the same table and low profile seating, so we're giving this one a try.

Trey is always requesting more water. Water bottles we like here here and here.

FOR TRAVEL

His own luggage! He's into pushing kid-sized shopping carts and I bet he'd love to put this through the airport when we travel a couple of times next year.

Kids tablet for road trips and plane flights.

FOR PLAY

This play kitchen gets tons of use around here.

This car is kind of obnoxious in color but is always a big hit at playgrounds.

A wooden train set is always classic at Christmas.

For toddlers who love to put things into shopping carts: this.

Merry Christmas!

HANDCRAFTED GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK

I'm excited to be partnering with World Vision this holiday season, the global organization working to empower people out of poverty and directing a variety of other social justice projects. Their child sponsorship program is well known, but they also have holidays gifts to specific relief efforts, as well as a tangible handcrafted gifts in their gifting catalogue, which I think is a wonderful way to give something wrappable that is ethically made and gives back. I'm sharing my top three picks from the handcrafted catalogue today.

1. The Kenyan Salad Scoops ($75) These are beautifully made out of olive wood by artisans in Kenya. I love the modern, short handles and how versatile they are. They look awesome with our classic, big, white, salad bowls.

2. The Upcycled Artisanal Bowl ($135) Made from reclaimed scraps of wire and metal by artisans in India, this bowl is the epitome of turning trash into treasure. It is substantial and beautiful and no two bowls are alike. I love it on top of a wood table filled with seasonal decor.

3. Wraparound Ring ($65). I really love this ring. Made by fair trade artisans in India, it features two stones and is adjustable, so no need to get exact sizing. I love the delicate gold band and the colors of the stones.

This is just one small way to give back this Christmas. I want to incorporate some kind of giving into our family holiday traditions each year, whether it's through conscious gift giving or other ways. One thing I'm thinking for slightly older kids is to give them $5 each Sunday in December to give away to someone throughout the week. I like that this encourages them to keep their eyes open to need, and teaches them of the reward in giving. Because it's true that the joy really is more in the giving than the getting.

FALL FINDS

A random assortment of a few things I'm thinking about this fall.

ON CLOTHES: It seems like every time I turn around Trey needs new clothes. I think the first two years see the most in terms of rapid growth, combined with the fact that here in the northwest we have very distinct seasons, but it honestly seems like every couple of weeks he needs the next size, or something warmer or cooler, or new shoes, a jacket, etc.

I'm hoping that as he approaches the 2T size, we'll need to buy less often, since theoretically that size should last us a whole year, instead of the 3 month (or shorter!) craziness that is newborn land.

Photos from the pumpkin patch last weekend...the Disneyland of the Pacific Northwest. (Side note: are your kids still into pumpkin patches? At what age do they think it's "uncool"? I feel like we'll only get a few years out of this tradition... everyone in the patch was either a baby, toddler, or parent. Hoping to get at least a few years out of this one and enjoying all the photos we do get at this age.)

Trey's romper is by Gray Label, one of our favorite children's clothing brands, super soft and stretchy. These are loose fit and running big, I bought up so it'll fit for more than one season.

Gray Label also just released this fun game for getting your toddler or younger child dressed. Roll the dice to see who's turn it is (child or adult) and then roll the other dice to see what item you get to choose (socks, shirt, pants, etc.). At Trey's age I still do all of the choosing, but I thought this was a fun, non-threatening way to approach the getting dressed struggle if other people are needing ideas.

Needed to size up in tees. We've graduated from onesies to the pull on kind. Love these by Colored Organics, both for the quality of their clothes and how they're ethically made. Read more about their commitment to building orphanages for children in India here.

I am still such a fan of our Baggu bags. Newest fall prints include strawberries and the oranges, which look like something straight out of Anthropologie. These last forever, carry up to 50 lbs, and can be thrown in the washer and dryer as well. The baby size is perfect for work lunches.

Fall uniform: denim, stripes, puffy vest, clogs, and this crossover purse.

Sickness has his our house big time already this fall. Doing all that I can to disinfect and stay healthy. Still using our Babyganics products. I like the travel sized of the soothing protective ointment as lip gloss and keep these in the car and in my purse.

This cute little bear headband is actually a set of headphones for kids! Since we travel with Trey a lot, we got him a certain hand-held electronic device so he could watch a show or play a game when flying or on long car rides. I looked for headphones for toddlers and was so happy to find these by CozyPhones, that have sounded embedded into them. So much softer and easier for little ears to wear than the standard kind.

Happy fall! So many things to love about this season.

Shared in partnership with all companies listed, although I was not paid to endorse any item.