Growing Up

[lesliepear]

Alan got some nice gifts for his birthday:

Two people gave him Thomas related stuff (I didn't encourage it if people asked because I was afraid he'd outgrow it soon)
Among other gifts he got dinosaurs, Hot Wheels, and a Transformer and some Power Rangers stuff (he just got into Power Rangers from a day care class mate over the summer) - the stuff he likes now

And one class mate gave him Bakugan! Bakugan to me, falls into the older kids stuff I don't get myself such as Pokemon and Yugi-o. Will Alan start to actually get into manga and anime at this rate? Even though his friend got him the arena and 2 battle brawlers, Alan doesn't get how the cards work (scoring). He just likes the little balls (I do too).

I stopped tonight to take advantage of the Toys-R-Us B3G1F sale on the Bakugan booster packs (card + ball). I wasn't sure if the same items came in different colors or not - I asked the 12 year old boy shopping there next to me as he probably knew more than the store personel! Pricewise, I was relieved that Bakugan boosters cost less than Wooden Thomas trains, but more than Hot Wheels and almost the same as the metal Thomas ones (sometimes I've use them as a unit of measure when I talk to Alan about money).

I guess I have to let go a little bit with Alan and watch him change from a little boy to a big boy - but I'll miss his little boy things and ways :(

Comments

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

I have found Elijah's transformation to be quite hard. He surprises me a lot when he acts older. What happened to the two year old who could only communicate with grunts. Now, if I don't play his word game right or mess up his song not only does he get frustrated with me, but he TELLS me. I find myself talking to him like a "normal person" and I just can't believe it.

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday, Alan!

We're savoring every single second of Pixie's two-year-oldness. It's a great age. She's just beginning to get excited by Thomas the Tank Engine toys, and we're getting her some pieces and track for Christmas.

I can understand the sadness. Truly I can.

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

Thomas is a great toy for boys and girls - I highly recommend investing in the wooden stuff as it's great for the imagination. Alan got into Thomas from a garage sale find at Pixie's age - I still remember he'd complain when the bridge would come off the ends and he didn't know how to fix it!
Now he can build whole layouts, with minimal help from me!

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip! John also researched the Thomas products like crazy and settled on the wooden trains. We try very hard to give her wooden toys over plastic, when possible. Even though she has less toys than the average toddler, they're high quality. Pixie also plays with John's rock maple block set from when he was a kid (we gave them a washing and a sanding first), and some really cool, unpainted wooden construction vehicles made in Finland that were also his as a child.

You really can't beat wood for durability and safety, particularly when it's not painted.

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

Well, over lunch John set me straight on the whole wooden Thomas thing. Apparently all the products post-2005 started including a lot more plastic pieces attached to a wood core. All new Thomas products are that way, and since we're buying all new ones (to avoid recall/lead issues) we're out of luck with regard to the old solid wood Thomas stuff. Dang!

If your Thomas set is pre-2005, hang onto it for dear life. It's totally collectible and Alan can give it to his children someday.

I think they are pretty cool

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

Right now the scoring is a bit much. But, rolling the Bakugan so they land on the cards and open up is a pretty good motor skill practice.

Did you see the giant Bakugan? Closed they are about the size of a cantaloupe and they still open on the normal sized cards. We are more impressed with those then Monkey is.

Oh-oh, I guess that means you have to start watching Cartoon Network! Ugh. I prefer Disney, there are no commercials.

[lacey]

I miss my Thomas the Tank Engine. I was big into him when I was young. I also miss my Power Rangers, I loved them for years :)