Crayola markers
My son's nursery (and a lot of his toys) are based on a jungle theme. He has the "Butterscotch" patterns by Lambs and Ivy. My great grandmother collected Elephants (with their trunks UP) and even as a preemie, Noah wiggled and moved like a little monkey. The giraffe hadn't held much sentimental value to us, until the three animals came on his mobile (2 monkeys, a giraffe, and an elephant) he LOVED his mobile from the first day he got it. He was so tiny, and so cute staring at that mobile going round and round. When it would stop, he would fling his arms and look around for one of us to start it back up again. Just for fun, we would all monkey and elephant noises at him and he'd smile and sometimes laugh. Now, he makes the noises too. He's obsessed with books/reading and coloring, so last thanksgiving, I bought a journal for us to share. Sometimes it's just scribbles and doodles, but sometimes, I draw things I know he'll have a fun and positive reaction to.
He LOVES this picture, every time he sees it, he says "oooh ooh ooh, aah aah aah" like a monkey, then he puts his arm out in front of his face (like an elephant trunk) and makes a god awful noise which I can only assume is "his elephant." It cracks me up because it never fails. I love my time with my little mister, and I love that at only 15 months, he's got such an appreciation for books AND art.
I'm one proud mom!