Plastic Baby Crap

Lately I’ve read a lot of blog posts and have been thinking about simplifying- specifically all the stuff that seems to accumulate and multiply as the days go by. We currently have not one, not two, but THREE storage units holding the contents of our old house- and we are most likely going to have to move into something smaller. Living with my parents has been eye opening in that I really can survive (and be just fine) on much less stuff than I thought. Of course, the day I went into labor, I moved in here with about 3 weeks worth of yoga pants and a few t-shirts to get me through, with the rest of my clothes in the back of one of said storage units. I’ve since bought 2 pairs of jeans and a few shirts, but oy, my wardrobe is terrible right now. Oh well.

When we move, we plan to go through the storage units and hopefully get rid of a lot of it. But here’s the thing…what in the world is with THIS??:

This is the current state of the livng room. We have A LOT of Plastic Baby Crap (PBC). And yes, I know babies survived for zillions of years and did just fine without excersaucers, swings, bumbos, baby gyms and rock and play sleepers. And I know some would say my children would be better off banging wooden spoons together and being attached to my body all day than with all this PBC, but you know what? It’s what works for us.

Grayson has almost zero interest in toys that don’t light up and/or play music, or put him in motion. He can’t stack blocks, he can’t look at books (on his own). But you know what he adores? His baby gym that lights up and plays really bad music. His excersaucer. His music table that he turns upside down while sitting in his Bumbo. His swing. And just today I put together the plastic car I ordered that’s the same as the one he rides around in at school- he loves it! We <3 PBC around here.

As for Charlotte, she’s into the PBC already too. As much as I would love to wear her attached to me all day (and I do hold her a huge portion of the time when it’s just me and her while G is at school), it’s just not practical with a toddler who can’t get around on his own. And since Grayson is at school 6 hours of the day, I try and devote as much time to playing with him in the afternoons when he gets home. Fortunately, Charlotte likes her swing, her Rock and Play, and her new baby gym which is off limits to Big Brother!

So we might soon be downsizing our house, our furniture and our clutter, but for now all this PBC is here to stay!

8 Comments

  1. Traci Westbrook on March 8, 2013 at 3:22 am

    PBC drives me crazy. But, I agree. It's necessary. Love the monkey outfit!

  2. Anonymous on March 8, 2013 at 4:26 am

    PBC Rocks! It is just stations of fun – rotate and carry on! Why go to the park when you can have your own? I love that you do what works for you and your peeps! Happy is the goal.Bridget

  3. andmom on March 8, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Looks like how my house used to be! Now we've mostly moved past PBC and into PTC and PPC (toddler and preschooler), which is no better, and perhaps worse because there are more pieces to scatter and find underfoot.I could easily live without most of my stuff, but toys are just sanity. Do what you gotta do!

  4. allthesunforyou on March 8, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    I tell myself that the PBC phase is… just a phase! I have a room in the basement full of it for this upcoming baby. It is what it is, and PBC saves the day so often. I'm cool with it, for now. I'll be ready to get rid of it though when the time comes.GAH, storage units! We had 2 between houses and one was broken into 2 weeks before closing on our new house. Makes me tense just reading the words, "storage unit." HA!

  5. Erin on March 8, 2013 at 2:07 pm

    This post totally cracks me up, PBC, I love it. BUT it is a necessity to keep them happy and true, just a phase, so embrace it and just well step over it. :o) Love the shot of G reaching up to C in her swing. So sweet!

  6. Amber on March 8, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    Paisley is looking at your pictures with me and said, "he's cute" about Grayson. Watch out boys. We are also a plastic wonderland and it stresses me out! I want my living room back!!!

  7. Becky on March 9, 2013 at 2:17 am

    I particularly hate things with batteries. My kids don't know that batteries can be replaced, lol. However, a friend is due any minute with her first baby. She was complaining that people keep giving them PBC. All I could think was, "oh, you just wait". We all do what works for us but that seems to generally consist of at least some PBC 🙂

  8. callmemama on March 9, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Hey, you go with what works! I know I tried to minimize the PCB around here, but we got so many gifts that it was hard to do. Some things worked for us – bouncer & jumparoo, for example – and other things I donated or sold to the local consignment shop.I say, if the kids are happy, then who cares how much crap is in your living room? 🙂

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