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When Jay was a baby I remember being overwhelmed at how many books there were for kids and didn’t know which books to get first. As Jay got older he didn’t love a lot of books that I got for him yet, because he was just too little and didn’t have the attention span. I found it was so helpful to have age appropriate books so I could read to him and not get frustrated with his lack of interest, and really enjoy that special time with him. Once I had Charlie, I knew, generally, which books he would enjoy and which he wouldn’t, and it was so nice!

Having said all of that, in an effort to help you not go through the same learning curve I did, I thought I’d share my findings here. Here are, in my opinion, the 5 best books for babies 0-12 months!

1.Black & White-this book is perfect for those first 6 months when they love contrast so much. This whole book is black and white figures paired against each other. The book folds out like an accordion, so I would just stand it up next to my boys and they would stare at it forever.

2. First 100 Words-This book is awesome! Its the first 100 words your baby might learn, which is perfect for helping them build their little vocabulary. Its colorful and fun for babies to look at, and the outside of the book is soft and padded which is nice too.

3.Little Polar Bear: Finger Puppet Book-this has been a huge fan favorite with my boys. There is a whole collection of them with all different animals. They are so fun. And my boys love that there is dimension to it, I’ll wiggle my finger around in the finger puppet to make it interactive and keep them interested.

4.Fox in Socks (Beginner Books)-this book is a classic, and has been a favorite of my boys because of its rhyming. The rhyming is quick and the each page only has a short phrase or two, so you aren’t stuck on a page for too long for little attention spans. Also, the book is really is small so its perfect for baby to be able to hold.

5.Baby Babble: Indestructibles book -these books are indestructible just like the name says! Your baby can chew, tug, pull, tear and they will stay in tact. This is HUGE for me, because we’ve ruined so many books by my boys sucking on them or chewing on them. These are also made out of a non-toxic material that looks and feels like paper. This specific Indestructible, Baby Babble includes some fun first words for baby, which I love. Charlie is a big drooler and he drooled all over this book and it looked good as new after!

I hope this is helpful, enjoy cuddling with and reading to your little one! Did I miss any of your favorite books for baby’s first year? Let me know!! I’d love to hear more ideas!

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For my husband’s job each summer we move across the country for him to be able to work in a different state, this year that’s Louisiana! The 24 drive isn’t super conducive to lugging tons of stuff so we try to just bring the bare minimum of our belongings out with us. Having said that, the apartment we live in here in Baton Rouge feels a little cold sometimes, with no pictures or decorations on the walls. So I decided to put together this quick, easy, and inexpensive minimal, eucalyptus wall hanging. I love the peaceful vibe this brings into our bedroom. And it just feels a little more homey having something hanging on the wall.

I hope you enjoy this, it’s one of my favorite projects to date!

Minimal, Eucalyptus Wall Hanging

Supplies:

-scissors

-floral wire

-fresh or dried eucalyptus stems (I got mine fresh at Trader Joe’s for $2.99)

**note that if you do choose to use fresh they will wilt a little bit as they dry. If you want to have more control over the way it turns out use dried or artificial.**

-any other fresh or dried leaves or branches (I decided to add some leaves that were in the same Trader Joe’s bundle! because I liked the dimension they added)

-wooden dowel (I chose one that was 1/2 in. x 36 in.)

-twine/string

–3M Command hook

Instructions:

Hang hook up on the wall. (with 3M hooks this is *really* simple! Instructions on the package of your hooks)
Cut twine/string to desired length (I cut mine about 5 feet long)
Tie the twine/string to either end of the dowel, so that when you hang the string on a hook, the string and dowel will create a triangle shape.
Cut eucalyptus and any other leaves to desired lengths.
Arrange eucalyptus and leaves as you would want them on your dowel.
Cut a piece of floral wire, and wrap it around the eucalyptus leaves and dowel at the same time, to attach them to one another.
Adjust the eucalyptus leaves to make sure they are where you want them.
Hang the center of the string portion on your hook gently.

Enjoy!! and Let me know if you end up making it! I’d love to hear how it goes.

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Author: laurenjpass@gmail.com

5 Best Books for Babies 0-12 Months!

Minimal, Eucalyptus Wall Hanging