JenniferB: Cute baby! Have considered getting the cylinders. What do you mean by "using with variations"? I can only think of 1. taking them 2. putting them back in, 3. Mix up and put in order from lg. to sm./sm to lg. w/o the base to help then self-ck with the base 4. Counting them. What else have you done?

We tried the oxo salad spinner. He enjoyed banging the top but could use some ideas for what you would put in it. We tried measuring spoons and foamy discs but they didn't seem to clang around much b/c it all spun to the outside of the bowl and stuck. He enjoyed taking the top off though.

Tell me more about the balance board. Is there a link to a picture of one?

Thanks for the reply: I have given him everything in the kitchen that is "safe" and some things I found out I probably shouldn't have given him---oops---sorry honey. I also give him most of the recyclable items before I send them out to the curb. I found out quick that he has no interest in toys. The kitchen items last a few days but the mixing bowl and spoon lasted the longest. His current favorite is the plastic plug I bought to go in opened wine bottles. The ones you use to suck all the air out to keep your wine fresh a few days. It has a few grooves around the sides of it and he chews that thing like no tomorrow.

The no: Just heard today that gas prices will be around $4.00 this summer. That doesn't sound good to me. The yes: They said it was a good thing because it meant that the economy was coming back around. So I guess it is all in how you look at it and what you choose to focus on. In any situation....what you focus on is what you get more of.

I found an older post about Montessori activities/materials for 1.5 yr olds that was very helpful, but what about right now for my 10 month old? What items would you BUY that are really worth it? I am tempted by the imbucare boxes and dowels with rings, but is this something I can make? Will my son sit still long enough to do these? Currently my son is into chasing and de-hairing the cat/ crawling-climbing onto and over anything that will sit still long enough/rolling around inside the collapsible clothes hamper (which he did for 10min. today-hillarious!!/and pushing things along the floor. So far I have: toddler table and chair set, two-step stool for bathroom sink so his hands will reach for washing, small shelf in bathroom for his towels etc.