You wouldn’t think it would be hard to choose gifts for toddlers, but surprisingly… it is! There are so many options for gifts – books, toys, activities, etc. – and it’s hard to know what’s going to be an annoying, quickly forgotten toy, and what will be a fun, long-lasting gift.

But rest assured, everything on this list is tried and true by a real toddler and preschooler. These are the toys that my 2.5-year-old and almost 5-year-old either already have and love, or are getting this year.

When you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy, one of the most stressful things is packing your hospital bag. You don’t know what to expect, what you’ll need, what baby will need, or more importantly, when you’ll need it all.

It’s all very overwhelming! But never fear, I have your hospital bag checklist right here. I’ve done this three times now, so I know what’s truly essential, and what’s nice to have, and what’s flat-out not needed.

You probably already know the typical postpartum essentials for new moms – maxi-pads, nursing bras, numbing spray, Tylenol, etc. These are all very important items for postpartum moms, but that’s not what this list is for.

There’s no doubt that this is the weirdest time in recent history to be pregnant. Typically, a baby shower would be high on the priority list for any pregnant mama, but in the age of social distancing, baby shower plans are all but non-existent.

But they don’t have to be – there are tons of creative ways to host a successful socially distanced baby shower, and give moms-to-be all the love and celebration they deserve.

These are definitely weird times we’re living in, but it’s not all bad. Because of social distancing, we’ve had to get creative in how we can celebrate our loved ones. As a result, one of my favorite things to come out of these past few weeks is the drive-by baby shower.