Did you just read the title? This is the first time I am calling my daughter TWO. Mazzy is not yet two though. She's got a whole week and a day before she is officially over the hill.
By the way, did you know that it is illegal to have someone in an Elmo costume at your child's party? Yep. So my original birthday party plan has been foiled. I'M DEVASTATED!!!! (Read with heavy dose of sarcasm.)
Another thing. I called this post a "holiday wish list" when actually it is her "birthday wish list" but as everyone else will do for the rest of her life, I'm gonna lump all gifts together.
Get used to it, kid.
1) P'kolino Toddler Chair ($40) to sit at the coffee table since she now despises her high chair.
2) Play-doh Case of Colors ($10). She actually brought home some homemade play-doh from school but it was disgusting and stuck to everything. I'll take the the unorganic kind with lots of chemicals please.
3) Minnie Mouse sweatshirt from Zara ($29). I have given in to licensed characters completely. They make her happy.
4) Bugaboo Footmuff ($129). For cold days in the stroller on the streets of NYC. This is the toddler equivalent to the gift of socks.
5) Mini Acoustic Guitar ($49). We have a regular sized acoustic guitar (that no one knows how to play) and Mazzy tries desperately to sit with it correctly. Alas, it is way too big.
6) Maileg Mum and Dad Mice in Cigar Box ($39). Cause they are just the cutest things you've ever seen in your life.
7) Gund Abby Cadabby Plush Toy ($14). Her new favorite Sesame Street character. The other day we were at a toy store and Mazzy shouted "WAND!" "How did she know that?" asked the saleslady. "SIGH. Abby Cadabby." And so it begins.
8) Mini Kickboard Scooter ($85). Mazzy's been stealing them at the playground lately. I need to buy her one before the park police show up at my door.
9) P'kolino Kid's Multi-Use Art Easel ($100). I'm hoping this will help prevent Mazzy from drawing on the dining room table. I'm running out of wood cleaner.
10) Sparkly Sticker Album ($8) Do you know how hard this was to find? I was looking for an old school sticker album like I used in the '80s but they do not exist. Kids still love stickers, right? Why no sticker albums?
11) A week's worth of barettes from The Littlest Bean ($20). It's her signature look and she's lost all the fancy ones. We've moved onto drugstore variety. Time to step it up again.
12) Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Trike ($100). Full disclosure: I was sent one for free to review. Mazzy loves it and I'll be talking more about it next week.
13) Maileg red wooden pram ($28). Maker of the matchbox mice. Seriously— check out their whole site. I want to be eight years old and redecorate my bedroom with everything they make.
14) The Muppets Exclusive Plush Beaker ($23). We went to the Disney Store a few weeks ago and Mazzy immediately became obsessed with Kermit. She still is. I think Beaker would make an excellent friend.
15) Castle Play Tent ($44). Mazzy demands I make a tent daily. My sheets are suffering. Note: I wasn't looking to contribute to the whole princess thing but this was the nicest tent I could find.
16) Schoenhut 25 Key Piano ($50). Have you seen Mazzy's ABCs? Her Fisher Price five key piano doesn't cut it anymore.
17) Bugaboo Wheel Board ($99). Somewhere for Mazzy to stand when she doesn't want to get strapped into her stoller and I'm not patient enough to wait for her to walk.
18) Tickets to Sesame Street Live (from $22 – $165 a person) For $165, I better be able to beat Elmo like a pinata backstage.
19) Green Toys Tea Set ($18). Mazzy wants nothing more than to join us in the morning when we drink our coffee. Don't worry, we'll give her decaf. I mean, WATER.
20) LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet ($200). If yesterday's post is any indication, we need an iPad stand-in STAT. Because there is only one person that gets more upset without the iPad than my daughter and that's ME.
21) LeapPad Explorer Carrying Case ($18) Protect that $200 piece of toddler equipment with your life!
You can find most of these gifts plus others in the holiday gift guide section of the Mommy Shorts Shop (powered by Amazon). Find the 2 year old gifts listed above by clicking here. I also have sections for products featured on Mommy Shorts, Mazzy's favorite books, and developmental toys recommended by Dr. B.
If you purchase from the shop, I make a little itsy bitsy commission— even if you start your search there but end up buying something else. So it's almost like you are giving twice…
What's on top of your kid's holiday wish list?
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Remember my $300 Beso Shopping Spree giveaway? The winner will be randomly determined on Tuesday but I am also going to take my ten favorite "WORST GIFT" entries and pit them against each other for a prize. How does one of those awesome photo canvases sound?
Probably better than the can of cashews Jacqueline got for her sweet sixteen!
You can still enter for a chance at either prize here.
Although it might seem a bit cheesy, I think my youngest two kids would really be happy to receive a letter from Santa (I’ll hold off on the xbox for as long as possible). Looking around, I found a site called santasmerrymail.com that fits the bill. I like the idea of incorporating Grandma or Grandpa as Santa’s co-conspirators & I think this is a good way of highlighting my kids’ achievements and making them feel good about themselves…and makes me feel good about my budget. Win. win.
Um, hello, awesome stuff! Can you be my Mom?
I think Monkey will be happy with his own set of cleaning materials – broom, dust pan, cloths, bucket and soap. I am so not kidding.
And probably some Elmo thing. I caved in and got him the first licensed product ever – an Elmo cup. He says Elmo more than he says Mama now.
And bummer, no life size Elmo at party!
If you’re not into the princess thing EZ Fort by Toobeez. We got them for my nephew. You can get lights and everything to add on! Downside is she’ll still use your sheets. Maybe throw in a set of wal-mart special cheap-o sheets to use for fort purposes.
I’d love to see a video of Mazzy and extra large guitar…with the Monkey on the mini piano backup of course.
Wow, are you really buying her this stuff? lol At 2 yrs old I did not buy my (1st)daughter anything over $20. (well I did but I stored it all away from her til she was older). It’s a rough age and toys do not survive. :p lol
you make a lot of logical and well-thought out points about this very unusual gift. if i have any questions, i’ll assume your email lily@santasmerrymail.com.
Our then-2-year-old wanted a guitar for her birthday and we couldn’t find a mini one, so we got her a $20 ukelele. Four years, two more kids, and one less string (because we’re too lazy to replace it) later, it’s still one of the favorite items in the house. Totally worth it!
I’ve always wanted a pet monkey, too. My 3 year old daughter this year asked for a duck for Christmas.
We were given the tea set – SO AWESOME. It’s unbreakable, and the kids have served us tea, wine, coffee, water, milk, and soup in them. All make-believe, but still delicious.
I like the radio flyer trike, and I used to crave one, but there’s no coffee holder. Can you add a coffee holder?
We got a Bob the Builder mini-guitar last year. It’s still in great condition, and the kids love playing with it. Best 16.99 (plus tax) I spent all season.
My 15-month old has that piano and he loves it! We’re hoping to turn him into a musical prodigy, but right now there is a lot of “butt playing” on the piano.
Too bad I already purchased Sesame Street related party things. Life size Elmo is gone but alas, the theme lives on.
There is video. There is even video of her trying to teach Kermit how to play. No Joke. I’ll have to post it next week.
Ha. I am absolutely NOT being her all of this stuff. This is just a holiday guide based on things I know Mazzy would like.
Plus, family members were asking for ideas for gifts for Mazzy’s birthday so I thought I could just direct them here!
I love the idea of getting Mazzy a ukelele. I’m gonna look into that. I think the half-size guitar I mentioned above would probably still be too big.
So you’re obviously getting one, right? If Joey and Chandler can do it, so can you!
There’s actually an attachment that’s not pictured that has a cupholder. Although I’m pretty sure it’s meant for the kid and not the parent…
Encourage him! You see tons of piano players on America’s Got Talent, but I have yet to see a butt pianist!
Oh, the mini-kicks are all the rage here in Park Slope, also. (I wonder if it’s an NYC thing?) I got Lotte one for her 2nd birthday but she didn’t really start riding it until she was 3.
Also, that stickerbook? I WANT ONE!!! I freaking loved my sticker book SO MUCH and spent hours trading stickers and reorganizing them with my friends. Awesome.
snorted out loud at this. hee hee hee.
We have that Green Toys tea set and ADORE it – seriously good quality and fun. It gets constant use. My two year old is currently all about elmo and puppies so a lot of stuffed gifts are in her future this year. 🙂
ps: I’m a christmas eve baby myself so I totally feel Mazzy’s pain. I’d say it gets easier, but by that I mean eventually you pretend you don’t care. :OP
We have that exact castle tent. It’s a big hit. And much sturdier than a previous one we had that was always falling down. Highly recommend.
My brother (who actually plays guitar) got Princess a mini guitar (hers was royal blue and super chic) for her 2nd birthday. She still plays with it 3 years later although half the strings are missing.
How is life-size Elmo illegal?? I’m confused. It’s not like anybody’s making money, right? This was a friend, not a hired Elmo without a license? Can’t you use a costume you purchased for whatever personal use you want, including a kid’s bday party where no money is exchanged?
P.S. I hate you for getting stuff like free tricycles. I need to step up the stalking so I can be just. like. you.
Well of course a pet monkey! Who doesn’t want a pet monkey?
:p My gift buying guidelines for my now 4 yr old consists of one phrase “will I cry if she destroys this?” She’s getting much better at taking care of her stuff but age 2 and 3 were rough. I found a many Dora the explorer doll completely covered in crayon and pen in her toybox. lol My sister lives in Texas now and she is constantly sending my daughter expensive toys and I always call her on the phone and say “you know shes going to destroy that right?” Today’s mail consisted of a princess TV and DVD player. Seriously? at 4!! I was like 14 before I had a TV in my room.
and excuse my language but Holy shit I did not know the Leap Pad was $200. This is really on my daughters Christmas want list and I never bothered to price it thinking it would be around the same price as her other Leapfrog stuff. ($50ish) Might have to tell her this one fell off Santa’s sled on the way here. :p
We got that exact same castle tent for my girls last Christmas, and I was sure they’d love it. And they did–they loved to get in it and knock it over, threatening to rip it to shreds within a week. So I put it in a time out on the patio, and a ridiculous wind storm came in and blew it away forever. I say forever because I didn’t bother to look around the neighborhood for it, although I’m sure it was only like 2 houses over.
Ikea usually has some great play tents, that pop up and down super easy.
Thank you for bringing up such a great childhood memory – I gloriously LOVED my sticker album and spent a ridiculous amount of time arranging and rearranging it to the point of obsession. I still have it somewhere. And I remember trading stickers with you. So much fun. Ah, childhood in the ’80s.
Elmo costume is illegal?? Are there birthday party police in NYC???
“For $165, I better be able to beat Elmo like a pinata backstage.”.. no words, just laughter. Loud. Laughter.
I just had to thank you for posting about the old school sticker book! I have been searching and searching for one for my own daughter for this coming Christmas and because of you I have now ended my search. Woo hoo! Who woulda thought they would be so non-exsistant?? Anyways, thank you again!
My nephew just wants me to give him some sticks and rocks… better give those to him in addition to a nice gift at his party… Thanks for the ideas!