Step2 LifeStyle PartyTime Kitchen

I purchased the Step2 PartyTime Kitchen for my son and for use in my home daycare in 2009 and it has held up to hours and hours of play excellently.  It is an adorable choice if you are looking for play kitchens for your tot and it comes with a lot of fun accessories to keep him or her busy.  It is in the mid-range as far as size goes I would say, so it is big enough to have a lot of features and to accommodate multiple children playing with it at once but not so large that it is taking up a lot of room in your play space.

Avery's Bucket List & SMA Awareness

Although this is a review blog and I typically only post product reviews I feel strongly compelled to share a story that I recently came accross that has really touched my heart.  I want to help a little girl's family spread awareness of an incurable genetic disease called SMA.  SMA stands for spinal muscular atrophy and it affects a surprisingly large number of people.  The family of little Avery Canahuati found out earlier this month that she had this disease and she passed away due to complications of it yesterday afternoon.  Her parents' created a blog, Avery's Bucket List, to promote awareness of the disease and to try to raise money for research on how to prevent/cure SMA. 

From Avery's Bucket List:
"What is SMA:  SMA is the #1 genetic killer of infants & children under the age of 2, yet most people have never heard of it, most OB/GYN's do not offer tests for it, and it's not included when performing genetic pre-screening tests for other potential diseases & disorders. There is currently no cure and it attacks the muscles which causes inefficiency of the major bodily organs - especially of the respiratory system - and eventually leads to death. 1 in 40 people are carriers of the SMA gene. Meaning my mommy and daddy had a 1 in 1600 chance of both having it and even then there was only a 1 in 6400 chance I would get it."

In sharing the link to the blog Avery's parents started and providing people with a little awareness regarding SMA I am just trying to do my part in ensuring that this little girl's and her parents' voices are heard and that her short life makes a difference in as many others' lives as possible.

Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket

I recently purchased the Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket and I was really pleasantly surprised at how great it worked and how much my 3 year old son liked wearing it.  We were at Wisconsin Dells this past weekend and I had wanted to find something to keep him afloat while in deeper water with his dad or me; he dislikes the bulkiness of a typical life jacket and I really only was looking for something to keep him up in the pool (with one of us right there with him) so I checked into the "water wing" options and had him try on quite a few styles before deciding to purchase the Puddle Jumpers.  I didn't know how well they would work until we hit the pool and they were great!  He floated and his head was above water at all times, he didn't tip forward or backward in the water, and could easily paddle his arms and kick his legs - his mobility was not comprimised at all.  Without this on he would have sunk like a rock but he was able to float, play, and attempt to move himself through the water with the Puddle Jumper Life Jacket on and it was so fun for him!

Description from the Manufacturer:

• Coast Guard Approved
• Patented Design
• Superior Stability & Confidence
• Woven polyester - Softer Fabric, Less Chafing
• Type III Performance
• Weight: 30 - 50 lbs

In conclusion, I would highly recommend the Puddle Jumper Life Jacket to anyone looking for something to keep their child afloat and help get them accustomed to being in deeper water/learn to swim.

Fisher-Price Precious Planet Projection Mobile

I have been using the Fisher-Price Precious Planet Projection Mobile for over 9 months now for my daughter and we both love it.  It has a variety of sounds and songs for her to fall asleep to as well as adorable animals for her to watch above, including images that are projected on the canopy/ceiling.  Fisher-Price is a dependable brand and this is a very well made product.  I especially love the remote control; if baby is not sleeping by the time the mobile turns itself off (about 20 minutes after you turn it on) you can reset it with the remote without letting baby see you, so as to not disturb her (or let her think it's time to get up!)

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table

I purchased the Learn & Groove Musical Table for my son when he was first starting to pull himself up to stand and it has been a great investment!  Since 2008 I have used it for my son, children in my daycare, and now my 9 month old daughter.  It has held up wonderfully and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to purchase an activity table for a young toddler.

Description of Features (from the manufacturer)
"Keep baby engaged with 15 musical activities in both English and Spanish. Colorful, interactive learning stations introduce early reading, math and language development skills through fun and engaging activities. Flip the center page to Music mode and your baby will move and groove to more than 40 songs and melodies, including nursery rhymes, real instrument sounds and upbeat dance tunes. Folds flat for easy travel and storage.