Mommy-made baby toys

We have no shortage of baby toys.  Raina was the first grandchild on both sides, and has been spoiled pretty well by all grand-people, aunties, honorary aunties, and relatives from distant corners of the earth.  So Lucca doesn't really *need* much of anything.  Still, I wanted her to have some special things that were just for her.  So I got together a few patterns, in my head and on paper, and made her a few softie friends of her own!

Mr Turtle 

(I believe you've already met...)

The Jovial Giraffe

(from Lotta Jansdotter's book)

Squishy Bunny

(adapted from this tutorial)

The Happy Sun

 

Every one of these was fun and easy to make :)  The giraffe was made from a scrap of fabric from an old tshirt I've been trying my hardest to NOT part with for years.  Yearsandyearsandyears.  An embarassing amount of years.  For the tags, I used pieces of ribbon that I end up with at the end of a roll - too short for a hairbow or for a tag on a blanket... but still long enough that I can't throw it away.  (Are you noticing a trend?  I swear I'm not a hoarder!!)  The original directions say you can add a bell or crinkles, but I didn't have any within arms reach, and on the night I made it I wasn't in the mood to get up out of my chair I guess :).

Squishy bunny is also made from a recycled piece of clothing!  This one, though, I'm not emotionally attached to!  It's from a baby cardigan we got in a bag of hand-me-downs.  Cute bright rainbowy fabric, so soft... but the piece of clothing wasn't really my style so I tossed it in the "do something with this" pile!  I mostly like this pattern.  Next time, though, I'd keep the ears as part of the big pattern, and not add them on separately.  They're just a little too floppy for my liking.  Also, bunny's face.  It creeps me out a little.  I'm a novice at embroidery, and embroidering on jersey is tricky.  It's cute enough, though.  And not totally creepy, right?  I added the heart on, too... I wanted to decorate a little, and I also wanted to use more of the pretty fabric!  I like the stripes runny the opposite way of the body, and I like the look of the stitching around it, too.  I almost machine sewed it on, but I like the handpieced look of it this way.  I have a few baby showers coming up, and I'm thinking of making more of these from recycled sweaters.  

The sun taggie is my favorite.  It can attach with links to a stroller or carseat, or to a playmat.  His face came out cute, and I got to reuse an outgrown sleeper! 

 I tried not to OVERstuff any of these to keep them cuddly and squishy!  Next time around, I'll be trying out adding bells and crinkles, and using different textures of fabric.  

In the end, though, no toy is as good as playtime with big sister!  :)

The Super Incredible Big Sister

So, i may have an over thinking problem.  It's usually not actually a problem, except when it causes me to lose sleep maybe.  Back when we were preparing for Lucca's birth, the overthinking part of me kept wondering how Raina was going to handle becoming a big sister.  She seemed excited, she seemed happy, she seemed prepared.  But still, she was 2.5.  How ready could she be?  So we (okay, I) decided that when Raina came to see her new baby sister for the first time in the hospital, there should be a present waiting for her.  A big sister gift, from the baby to Raina, super special and only for her.  I pondered a lot of gifts.  I did more research than was really healthy.  And then (thank you, Pinterest!), I found this book.

EXACTLY what I had been searching for.  Raina opened up her book and loved it right away.  It may have helped that it was wrapped in Dora paper, but who that's another story.  I cried, because I do that.  It is a beautiful book, and I swear I'm not being paid to say this!  :)  Raina loved her big sis book, and the special medal (or "award necklace" as it's known arounf here!)

 I am in no way affiliated with this company, but if you're looking for a special gift for a big brother or sister to be, I can't recommend tis book enough.  It's something I can see her treasuring for years to come.  Full disclosure... I still cry every time I read it, but I'm the type that cries at tissue commercials, so you might be okay :)

Here's the link to the site, if you're interested... 

http://www.iseeme.com/super-incredible-big-sister-personalized-childrens-book.html

Anyone else give a special gift to an older sibling when a new baby came along?  Some people seem to think it's customary these days, but quite a few people here in our family were surprised by the idea.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Raina has taken to her new role amazingly... she really is a super incredible big sister!!