I can’t believe in just two short weeks my little girl will be turning one! One year ago today, I was moving in with my mother-in-law to wait out the last few weeks of pregnancy. I slept all day, lay awake all night, and could barely lift myself from the couch to hobble to the bathroom. Ah, the joys of the 3rd trimester.
As we prepare to tackle the next year of Lottie’s life, I have been thinking long and hard about what I want these next few months to look like. What activities do I want Lottie to have available for the long winter? What skills do I want to nurture? Are there any items we need now that can’t wait until Christmas?
Between the medical expenses of last year’s rough pregnancy, and the extra expenses of this year’s formula and diapers, our wish lists over the last few months have been almost exclusively need based. So for Lottie’s first birthday, we’re dreaming big. If I could give my daughter anything for her second year of life, what would it be? Check out our ultimate birthday wish list below!
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Lottie’s 1st Birthday Wish List
Adora Playtime Baby Doll
One a recent family road trip, we stopped at a McDonald’s to let Lottie stretch her legs while we grabbed some lunch. When I set Lottie down on the play mat next to the ball pit, her eyes immediately locked on a small baby doll that had been abandoned by its Little. A huge grin split her face, and she beelined for the baby.
When we made it home, I bought a soft, fabric doll for Lottie to love on, but the connection wasn’t the same. This doll didn’t have the same, life-like features that the McDonald’s doll had bore. Because of this, top of my wish list for Lottie’s first birthday is a weighted, life-like doll, perfect 
New York Doll Company Baby Doll Stroller
What good is a baby without a stroller? Lottie has recently taken to pushing her full-size stroller around the house by the basket. Needless to say, my walls are in peril. This sweet little number from the New York Doll Company would work perfectly. I especially like that it has nice, sturdy wells to help keep the stroller stable as it’s being pushed.
ECR4Kids SoftZone Climb and Crawl Foam Play Set
With winter fast approaching, I have been desperately searching for ways to keep Lottie active and occupied while trapped inside. We face long, cold winters here and outdoor play will be next to impossible for most of the next four months. Knowing this, my husband and I are in the process of rearranging our basement to create a toddler play zone. These little climbing blocks look like they would create the perfect obstacle course for a busy toddler!
Radio Flyer My 1st Wagon
While we’ll be looking to invest in a full-size wagon come spring, when I saw this mini version my heart just melted. Can’t you just picture Lottie pulling her toys behind her as she toddles from place to place? Well, I can, and it’s making this mama a little misty-eyed.
Strider 12-Sport Baby Bundle with Balance Bike and Rocking Base
No wish list would be completer without a Strider bike. They’re a hot commodity in toddler land. What I love about this bundle is it comes with a rocking base! I had been searching high and low for a sturdy rocking horse that didn’t cost a bundle, but when I saw this could double as both a rocker and a balance bike, I was sold.
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Match and Build Soft Blocks Set
I have been on the hunt for a good set of a stacking blocks for months. Most sets I have found, though, are targeted for older toddlers and have choking hazards for babies. I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I found a cute sensory set second hand, but I quickly discovered the outside of the blocks was simply a paper wrapper. Lottie had those suckers chewed up in minutes.
I am a Melissa & Doug fanatic, and this soft fabric set fits our stacking block checklist nicely.
Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center
This Manhattan Toy Activity Center has been calling to me ever since I first laid eyes on it in a local baby boutique, long before Lottie was even conceived. So when it came time to build Lottie’s birthday wish list, this one was a no-brainer. The fantastical whimsy of the design is simply gorgeous, and I know it will fascinate Lottie for hours.
Tot Tutors Kids’ Toy Storage Organizer
Okay, so this one might be for Mama more than for Lottie. But we’re running out of storage. Fast. I don’t know why I ever thought one little basket was going to be enough to hold all of Lottie’s toys. Wishful thinking at its finest! But this storage organizer from Tot Tutors looks darn close to perfect. I love how simple it will be to keep Lottie’s toys organized, and how easily she’ll be able to participate in cleanup time as she grows.
Play Platoon Kids 3 in 1 Activity Table
Lottie loves water play, so I know this 3-in-1 table would be a big hit. It features a flat, standard table top for drawing or snacking, a building brick top for Lego-style blocks, and opens up completely to function as a water table. An added bonus? Built in storage.
DockATot Grand Dock (Silver Lining)
If you’ve been following along, you had to have known this last one was going to be on here. We adored our DockATot Deluxe Dock, and have been missing it sorely when we travel. As Lottie is quickly outgrowing the weight limits of her Pack ‘n’ Play, the DockATot Grand Dock is the perfect solution. Lottie’s been crawling into her puppy’s bed lately. We think she’s missing her Dock, too.
Did we miss a wish list essential? Let us know in the comments below!
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