ideas for amusing my lively toddler at home please!

[blissieblue]

DS is 22 months and I'm 33 weeks pg with DC2. I find we both go stir crazy if we stay at home all day and so we have toddler groups and gym nippers and rhyme time at the library on most mornings. However I still sometimes struggle for ideas to keep us BOTH amused in the dark winter afternoons after his nap. When the new baby comes along I'm really worried about him getting bored and tantrummy as I imagine i won't be able to get out and about as much in the early days. I know things will be easier in the summer when the days are longer but would love some inspiration for things to do now please!
We already do crayoning, reading, puzzles, housework, dens and of course CBeebies!!!

let him play in the sink

put a waterproof smock on, put a towel down and a stool out and let him splash in the water and give hiim a cup and a jug. Just grin and bear the mess. Keeps them going for a good half hour.

I spent many a long hour here with ds1 when I was in your postion.

When I was in late pregnancy and there was just the two of us we'd have a ,long bath together where we would splash, sing songs etc it whiles away a good hour or so (she especially liked washing my bump) and fun and relaxing for both of you.

Put some music on to dance around to and play percussions instruments to.
Fill a cat litter sized tray up with sand, place under a rug /plastic sheeting on the floor and put spoons, sieves etc in it to play with.
My dd 21 months has just spent a happy hour emptying out the contents of her clothes drawer!

My DD is a similar age and these all go down very well with her (and her little friend of a similar age when he comes over)

We bought a cheap IKEA blackboard easel and do chalk drawings. The other side is a magnetic white board so I got some magnetic letters and numbers and some whiteboard pens-she is playing with it now (I've had a whole hour of peace!)
Multipack of cheap stickers? Very popular here for both decorating toys and making pictures.

We cut up all our junk mail, cover a sheet of paper in glue and let her go at it!

Play pans and food

Home made musical instruments-plastic bottles and tubs filled with seeds, pasta, paperclips, lentils etc fun to fill as well.

dressing up box/jewellery- couple of old hats, some bright bracelets, shirts and some lengths of material.

cooking-DD likes to sit in her highchair and watch and I let her help me stir and measure things.

Thanks - some good ideas there. Think I will get myself down to Ikea for an easel as he does love to draw and scribble. We'll have a look at the Sesame Street website this afternoon and when the weather gets better we'll definitely invest in a nice sand / water table for the garden - not sure I'm brave enough to let him loose with sand in the house!