Turtles, Yookidoo, and our happy son

We have had a music box for Oliver's bedtime that projected a rotating night sky scene on the ceiling since he was about 6 months old. We seriously went though THREE of them, trying to sleep without his "up above" was near impossible (he calls it his "up above" because his preferred song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). As each device was used an average of 60 minutes EVERY night, the motors in the rotation gizmo inevitably died after about 6 months, making a horrid grinding noise on it's way out. Well, this week he hadn't been getting to sleep very well because it was "too noi-zee", AKA motor about to die. Desperate for a more permanent solution, I went on an Internet search for a nightlight that would project on his ceiling.

Before I get to my sweet, amazing find, a bit of backstory. Mom D, Mom H, Papa, I love you all, but we're going to butt heads here...As a child, I was TERRIFIED of the dark. Like wet the bed so you don't have to get out terrified. I can remember having nightlights, but I also remember having to open curtains to let in more light because I was scared, then being told I had to close them, and I didn't understand why it had to be so cotton picking dark! (As an adult, I totally get the whole "freaks can look in the windows" and "you will sleep in better on a Saturday so the adults can get more sleep if your curtains are shut" thing). On the other hand, seriously?!?! Why did the night light have to either be taken away or shut off after we fell asleep? I know in Middle School I started reading to it instead of sleeping, so I get that one, but in grade school I do remember not always having a night light and being so terrified I couldn't sleep if I woke in the middle of the night.

Shawn had the same fear of the dark, but he hardly ever got a night light. Shawn and I both said that we never want Oliver to have the same level of fear (everyone at some point will be scared of the dark, it's human!), so as soon as he was showing us that he liked a bit of light if he woke up, we were more purposeful in using his "up above". Oliver, if he woke in the night when he was still in his crib, would cry if he woke up, but a quick set of the timer and he was back off to la-la land. After getting into his big boy bed, he would get up himself and hit the buttons to turn it back on. So, back to our problem with the grinding, noi-zee music box...

After searching, I found several hokey star projectors, but nothing that was like what we currently have. Then I stumbled upon the "Twilight Turtle"...Man oh man. It's cute, throws loads of stars up on the ceiling, easy to find (Babies R Us and Go To Your Room in Bellevue all carry it), easy for Oliver to turn on or change colors (he had it figured out in 30 seconds flat) and affordable. We picked it up last night, and our prayers are answered!

Now, on to the most fun we have EVER had in the tub...the YooKidoo "Stack and Stream Tub Fountain". Seriously, this thing is CRAZY fun! The 5 pieces can be stacked on in loads of ways, the two little creatures squirt water out of their heads in ways that makes Oliver giggle, the light blue boat has a yellow paddle wheel that pops up and spins in the fountain, and he just has a BALL with it. It's built very well, and I can see that this will be one we keep for a looooooong time. Yookidoo has another one that suction cups to the tub wall and is a faucet type toy, I'm on the lookout for that one too! I found this at Tree Top Toys in Redmond (next to Ben Franklin, or as I like to call it "craftaholic crack"). Good times, good times!