The Must Have Toy of the Summer

In Eliza's playgroup anyway. The toy in question is the Fisher Price Gymtastics Activity Wall. One mom had it and everyone else said, "oh, that's really cool." She proceeded to tell us that it is impossible to find. So of course we all looked. Yes, online it is nearly impossible to find. There was one for sale on Craig's List, which another mommy almost purchased, but her husband insisted that their child have it new. They happened to be at Babies R Us (a haul for those of us in the city proper, btw) and found one, so snatched it up. Then she hosted playgroup and we all went, "ahhhh..." at their activity wall. Another mommy and I discussed it and its difficulty being found. I casually said that if she ever saw them, she should pick me up one and I'd pay her back. About a week ago, she emailed me and said she thought of me b/c they were at the same Babies R Us and scored one, but she didn't have my number with me, so didn't call to see if she should really get one. Then she hosted playgroup and again, we all oohed and aahed over the fun of the activity wall and lamented the difficulty of finding them. Hostess thought there were still a couple left and I finally succumbed to the frenzy. I threw Eliza in the car for the unpleasant trek to the suburbs, hoping and praying there would be one lonely activity wall left on the shelf for my beautiful daughter.

There wasn't.

There were at least 20. On the shelf. On the overstock shelf above. Probably in the backroom. I didn't have to take down any other moms to snag one for my beloved. There wasn't even anybody else in the section. All in all, I felt a bit sheepish. And perplexed about why we all bought into this concept that it couldn't be found.

Anyway, it's here, it's assembled, and Miss Eliza loves it. Exhibits A, B, and C.