Little Favorites – Board Books

#1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar  #2 I Love You, Goodnight #3 Pat the Bunny #4 Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? #5 I Kissed The Baby #6 Colors #7 Where is Baby’s Belly Button? #8 Mommy Hugs

While organizing my boys’ bookshelf the other day, I realized that my favorite part is still the bottom shelf with all of our baby board books! We started this collection when I was pregnant with my first son and now my littlest who is almost 18 months has taken over. They have all been thrown, tasted, explored, and read over and over and over again! All of these board books are personal favorites in our house and I am sure that your little ones will enjoy them as well!

Oh and of course, I must include a photo of my Asher reading his current favorite – Mommy Hugs.

Visit my personal blog at: comesincolours.blogspot.com!

-Gillian

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

DON’TS for Husbands and Wives 1913

Some Don’ts for you this Monday evening via my favorite little books!

DON’T for Wives
Don’t open the door for yourself when your husband is present. He would open it for a lady guest, let him open it for you. Besides, your boys will not learn the little courtesies that count nearly so well by precept as by example.
DON’T for Husbands
Don’t drop, when alone with your wife, the little courtesies you would offer to other women. For instance, always get up to open a door for her, as you would for a lady guest.

by Blanche Ebbutt

to purchase:
Don’ts For HusbandsDon’ts for Wives

Draw and Learn Faces

Good Morning! Hope you had a relaxing weekend.

We did a HUGE family shopping trip to Costco on Saturday. The kind where John & I each need our own cart! We always try to make Costco like a fun adventure/outing for the kids. They enjoy picking products from the shelves and help us throw things into the carts. Sometimes, at the end of the shopping trip, we surprise them with a $1 Churro or a HUMUNGO cup of $1.34 soft serve (which feeds our whole family, BTW!) Sooo many fun deals at Costco!

On this particular trip to Costco they had delicious cheesecake samples. Other than that, the highlight of the trip for my kids was the fact that they’ve started bringing out the Christmas/Chanukah toys! We LOVE browsing the toy isle. I cannot tell you many great toy deals we’ve scored there. Last year we bought a wooden box of 8 princess & Mickey Mouse board puzzles (24 piece) for $11.99! The puzzles are amazing quality and Harper spent all winter perfecting her puzzle skills.

Anyway, on Saturday I picked up this darling Draw + Learn Faces workbook for $5.99. The illustrations in it are fabulous, like artwork. & it is full of cute things to draw faces on…ice cream cones, house windows, dogs, and lots of cute characters.

If you don’t belong to Costco, you can also find this workbook on Amazon:
Draw + Learn: Faces (My First Activity Book)

Mini Piccolini: Shopping for Baby #2

Baby #2′s arrival is nearing and we are starting to feel ready. I thought we wouldn’t really need much new stuff this time around since we had our minis so close together, but there were a few things we did have to refresh. And some things we ended up selling when we moved from Atlanta and they have to replaced now that we are back in Europe…

Here’s what we’ve got:

CLOTHES, SLEEP & CARE

1. BABY CLOTHES. We have everything we need. We stocked up on a bunch of Gerber’s fabulous side-snap long-sleeved shirts that we loved so much for Alec, and his old ones have held up remarkably well and are actually even softer and more lovely now. We replaced Alec’s old Halo Sleepsack Swaddles with new sets in cotton, velboa and fleece. We have added a couple of colder climate essentials like this Polarn o. Pyret fleece newborn overall/wrap blanket and this wind fleece baby overall. Even though this baby will be a summer arrival, evenings can get chilly in Sweden, and autumn will be here before we know it.

2. WUBBANUB PACIFIERS. Alec still loves his Wubbanub pacifiers even though we are trying to get him to use more teeth-friendly pacifiers instead. The other day he actually chewed through one of the nipples so we need to do something fast. We’ve ordered a couple of giraffe wubbanubs for the new baby but this time we’ll try to transition onto a more tooth-friendly pacifier at around the six month mark.

3. SOPHIE. Alec doesn’t really use his Sophie anymore but we’re still going to get a new one for the new baby since it was such a constant must-have for those first eight or nine months or so.

4. CRIB MOBILE. I’m DIYing this one – stay tuned!

5. SLEEP SHEEP. We have a Sleep Sheep and a Mini Sleep Sheep (for travel) that we still use for all of Alec’s sleep (except in the stroller) every single day. At first I thought we would just use the Mini Sleep Sheep for the new baby, but I think we’ll get a proper new one for the crib so that we have the mini one easily available to pack for trips. Who knows, maybe we’ll need a second mini sleep sheep as well if our kids end up sleeping in separate rooms when we’re in the country etc.

6. BABY BATH TUB. We had a simple baby tub with a sling which we found so useful for newborn baths with Alec. Then we switched over to a Hoppop toddler tub which we loved. It got damaged in shipping to Sweden and now we don’t have a little tub at all. Hoppop also makes a bucket-style tub for babies, but I have a hard time seeing how it would work for a newborn. Since we couldn’t find a good sling option and are trying to find things that don’t take up too much space, we ended up buying the very cool Boon Inc. Naked tub. Read more here.

7. CRIB. We chose the IKEA Sundvik. You can see all the options we considered here and why we chose the Sundvik here.

8. BABY MONITOR. We had an Angelcare baby monitor for Alec in Atlanta and I loved the peace of mind that it gave me to know that an alarm would sound if he stopped breathing. I realize it’s a little over-zealous, but until we got it set up, I just could not relax about Alec sleeping in his crib. So it was a must for us. Once he started rolling off the sensor causing false alarms, we just stopped using the movement alarm, but it was still a great baby monitor. We sold it because we didn’t want to deal with voltage adapters etc (and actually don’t need a sound monitor in our old, thin-walled flat in Stockholm) when we moved back to Sweden. But we ordered We bought another Angelcare for the new baby too and now they make one that has video as well! Yay!

9. SIBLINGS WITHOUT RIVALRY. This is the one new parenting book I will be reading specifically in preparation for the new addition to the family.

STROLLERS, GEAR & FEEDING

1. DOUBLE STROLLER. We just picked up our new Bugaboo Donkey. See why we chose it here, and what we got in terms of accessories etc. here.

2. HIGH CHAIR WITH NEWBORN SET. Since we’ll need another Tripp Trapp for the new baby when it’s time to start solids, we decided to just buy one now and use it with a newborn set for the first months. This will provide a safe place for baby to hang out when I have stuff going on in the kitchen, and will also allow our new addition to join in family meals from the start.

3. BREAST PUMP. We also sold the Medela Pump in Style Advanced breast pump that I used in Atlanta. It worked well for me so I wanted another one of the same. Medela seems to be phasing out the Pump In Style in favor of a (more expensive) pump called Freestyle but it seems to be getting mixed reviews, and since the Pump in Style worked for me, I was quick to order one of the Pump in Styles that were still available on Amazon.

4. PUMP & BOTTLE PARTS. Most pump and bottle parts shouldn’t be re-used, so we’re getting new bottle nipples and extra sets of valves etc for the new breast pump.

5. DRYING RACK. The Boon Inc. drying rack that we already have seems always to be full so we got another one for Baby #2′s pump and bottle parts.

6. CAR MIRROR. We still have Alec’s infant car seat that we’ll be re-using for the new baby. We just a need a second EasyView mirror so that we can see the little one in the back seat from the front seat.

7. PLAY MAT. We had two for Alec – a Baby Einstein Baby Neptune one which we kept tucked away in the nursery because I thought it was too ugly, and a cute IKEA one. At the moment we’re using the bottom padded mat of the IKEA one as a play mat in Alec’s room (tucked into a SWOOP bag) so we bought a new one from IKEA for the new baby. The ones they have now have a circus theme and a really plushy soft play mat which is nice.

8. BABY CARRIER. We have the BabyBjörn Original Organic Baby Carrier that we used for Alec but it’s not one of the things we got a ton of use out of last time around. I found it a little too bouncy to use a whole lot with Alec while he was really little. And then by the time he really felt stable enough for us to take walks with it, it was quite heavy to carry. Admittedly it was indispensable when we travelled and for a hike we did once. I think we will be doing more baby-wearing this time around – just because we will need more hands-free carrying since we’ll have our hands full with Alec, and because we live a much more urban lifestyle in Stockholm than we did in Atlanta. We won’t be driving much, but we will be managing the logistics of a teeny tiny elevator and inner city living. So we bought a Dreamy Dot sling/carrier hybrid to start and will probably be considering an Ergo carrier in the future.

9. TRAVEL CRIB. We love the BabyBjörn Travel Cot that we have for Alec. For any travel we do the first few months, we can just use the stroller bassinet and/or a baby nest, but after that, we’ll need a second travel cot for the new baby if Alec isn’t really be done with his yet.

10. TRAVEL STROLLER. We keep a Baby Jogger City Mini in the trunk of our car so we don’t have to lift our main stroller in and out of the trunk unnecessarily. We also use the City Mini for travel since it’s so easy to fold and carry and so we don’t have to worry about travel damage to our main stroller (read about our city mini and how we like it here). With two babies, I think we will end up using a carrier a lot more for the little one and probably make do with our single City Mini for shorter outings. But for travel, we think we’ll probably end up buying a City Mini Double Stroller in the end.

Click here to visit Mini Piccolini - all the best stuff for Moms, Babies, Kids & Families!

Get the Look: Space for a Little Adventurer

Via

 Clockwise from top left: cowhide rug, chandelier, paint, giraffe poster, carved trunk, wooden stool, vintage toy truck, striped tee pee, jungle book

 

http://www.withtwocats.com

DON’TS for Husbands and Wives 1913

I’m at me desk this morning & thought I’d share a few of my favorite “DON’TS!”
by Blanche Ebbutt

DON’T for Wives
Don’t choose the very time your husband is at home to “see about” all sorts of things in other parts of the house. Sit with him by the fire; smoke with him if it pleases you and him; read or be read to; sing or play cards with him, or chat with him about anything that interests him. It is your business to keep him amused in the evening.
DON’T for Husbands
Don’t refuse to play tennis or croquet or billiards with your wife because it is “not worth while” to play games with a woman. If she plays badly, show her how to improve. She certainly won’t play better by being left out of the game altogether.

to purchase:
Don’ts For HusbandsDon’ts for Wives

Don’ts for Husbands and Wives 1913

GREAT quotes from my favorite books. (i keep these on my desk and Rex ALWAYS steals them…& my elephant!)

DON’T for Wives
Don’t be satisfied to let your husband work overtime to earn money for frocks for you. Manage with fewer frocks.
DON’T for Husbands
Don’t hang about the house all day if your occupation does not take you abroad. Spend regular hours in your study or “den,” or go out and play golf; but don’t inflict your company on your wife during every minute of every day. She is fond of you, but she wants to be free sometimes. And she has business to do, if you haven’t.

to purchase:
Don’ts For HusbandsDon’ts for Wives

Nursery Details

My daughter would LOVE the purple elephant book ends!

For Your Wee Ones: Colorful Cozy

Clockwise from top left: felt first aid box, wooden weaving loom, magnetic board & pieces, balancing blocks, bebe bunny t-shirt, This is San Francisco book, crochet croquet/bocce ball set, Henry the fox

www.withtwocats.com

How Do You Feed a Hungry Giant?

I just received a copy of HOW DO YOU FEED A HUNGRY GIANT? by Caitlin Freedman. It is just a darling book with gorgeous illustrations by Shaw Nielson.

The story is about a little boy named OSCAR and his dog COWGIRL. They discover a VERY Hungry Giant in the backyard, and basically decide to feed him everything in the fridge!

The story is so sweet & fun and includes 2 giant friendly recipes: a Pizza-Size Chocolate Chip Cookie and a Ginormous Blueberry Muffin!

One of the great perks of this blog is receiving interesting toys/books/products that I would otherwise not have discovered. HOW DO YOU FEED A HUNGRY GIANT? will be part of Harper’s birthday present in a few weeks. I know that we will have lots of fun reading it together at bedtime. This book has some really cute pull out tabs and pop ups which she LOVES! Remember how much fun it was to pop up books when you were a kid?

To Purchase: HOW DO YOU FEED A HUNGRY GIANT

For New Mamas & Babies: Christmas Gift Guide

Clockwise from top left: Pom Blankets, Organic Striped Booties, Eat Sleep Poop, Orfeo Bloom Rattle, IGLU Wooden Play Gym, Striped Bodysuit, lifefactory Bottles, Knit Rattle, Knit Pom Booties, Wooden Crochet Teether, Birth Print, Gizmine Humidifier, Donna Wilson Plush, Sakura Bloom Sling

www.withtwocats.com

For Your Wee Ones: Fairy Tales

Clockwise from top left: mother goose, flower garland, tiny story book, w is for wolf print, toadstool, red riding hood pillow, red riding hood cloak, big bad wolf plushie

For Your Wee Ones: Easter Gifts

Looking for a great anti-cavity gift for your favorite little one this Easter? Here are a few of my favorites:

For Your Wee Ones: Gone Adventuring

Clockwise from top left: vintage pillowcase, chalkboard world map, earth spectrum mobile, penguin classics, striped tee pee, beauty, small painted train, ship in a bottle, wool felt pillow, wild things crown.

black and white nursery

i thought i’d share this unique nursery this morning. maybe it will inspire those trying to decorate an unconventional room for baby? what are your thoughts on the black and white striped accent wall? it is bold and interesting, but would you dare?

i am actually surprised that black is not a more common color in nurseries. research suggests that newborn babies can be calmed by black and white images, patterns, and shapes!

p.s. a black and white book recommendation

baby book recommendation

i received this book, Art for Baby, as a gift from my Aunt Mary when Rexford was born.

it is full of black and white shapes and patterns that really catch his attention. sometimes when he gets upset i sit him in my lap and turn the pages of the book and he relaxes! i am not sure why this works, but in the back of the book it says,

“Research by leading child development experts suggests that focusing on high-contrast images is the first step to picture recognition in newborn babies. This skill is essential to the development of your baby’s understanding of images and words. As they delight in looking at the pictures and concentrating on the vivid shapes, even the most restless children can be engrossed and calmed by the black-and-white images.”

i am convinced! does anyone else have Art for Baby? how does your baby respond?

Activity Books

we love books that are also activities. sticker books are always a hit with Harper (23 months), and i just came across Taro Gomi’s Play All Day. i purchased it as a stocking stuffer. i think Harper will have a lot of fun with this book!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Taro Gomi invites children to punch out more than 60 fantastic playthings, including ring-toss games, finger puppets, boxes, picture frames, a zoo’s worth of animals, and more! Packed with Gomi’s fun, accessible artwork and a delightful variety of games and toys, this book will appeal to children of all ages, engaging their imaginations and entertaining them all day long.

ps.. (i would love to hear about your recommendations for activity books)

Crafting a Meaningful Home

does anyone have the book Crafting a Meaningful Home?
there are some really cute DIY projects in it. i would love to try the family silhouettes banner, and the cute rug above (hand crocheted out of rope!) there is also an adorable children’s teepee project.

more new books…

One of the big perks of this blog is that I receive a lot of nice products to review!

This time it is Harper’s turn…
Little Scholastic sent her these 2 colorful books for her growing library.

Alphabet has bold letters to name and bright objects to touch. We practice the ABCs everyday and she enjoys pointing to the letters in the book while I name them!

Peek-a-Zoo is a great big, colorful book that has everything — textures, mirrors, glitter, lift-the-flaps, and more. Peek behind the flaps and inside the holes to find hidden friends. Harper likes the furry animals and the pretty rainbow best!

Yes Yes, we both recommend these books for young readers!

new books

i am a big fan of Sarah Neuburger’s The Small Object shop. i have a few of her stamp sets as well as a cute wine stopper.

yesterday i ordered 2 of her books that i have had my eye on for some time:

The Small Object Thumbprint Notecard Set is a mini stationery kit. use your thumbprint to create charming thumbprint characters and artwork. it comes with an ink pad, stickers, notecards, and envelopes. i cannot wait to use this for sweet little notes and cards!

The Small Object Labels & Stickers has adorable stickers and labels for every need. you can make monogrammed stationery, custom bookplates, personalized craft and project labels, and unique gift packaging. i am going to have a lot of fun organizing things with this book.

more “The Small Object” books by Sarah Neuburger:

new book – Printing By Hand

i just purchased Printing by Hand. i’ve had this on my book list for awhile now. does anyone else have it? i cannot wait to get inspired! here are just a few of the many projects in the book:

photos from littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

for those looking for some decor inspiration for the nursery, you can purchase here:

baby book from blog posts

i love love love all of the creative projects you all send me! my fav baby things are always hand made with love

how sweet is this fabric covered, paper sewn, accordian paged baby blog book made by little c makes three?

Stacia, this really is a good business idea. i think we would all love to have a hand made memory book from all of our baby blog posts!

my book arrived!

if you did not see the post, i ordered Blogging for Bliss last week:

if you are a blogger looking for some new tips and inspiration i highly recommend it!

photo by Staci’s Notebook

weekend book purchase

i ordered Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal: A Guide for Crafters, Artists & Creatives of all Kinds this weekend. it looks like an interesting book and i am hoping i can pick up some blogging tips and inspiration. does anyone else have it?

photo by Staci’s Notebook

Kid Made Modern

my Kid Made Modern book arrived yesterday and i could not be more excited! if you like to do craft projects and are looking for inspiration then i highly recommend this book. i cannot wait until my daughter is old enough to do more projects with me. i have already bookmarked several projects to try. (if only there were more hours in a day!)

here are a few favs:

spoon dolls are so so cute!

paint chips and paper clips = adorable window screen

make a custom paper lantern to match your child’s room!

LOVE tin foil bracelet!

there is also an adult version of this book (Hand Made Modern) for more mature projects around the house! purchase both books here:

DON’TS for Husbands and Wives 1913

i saw these 2 pocket sized books on someone’s blog a few weeks ago and had to have them! (if it was your blog PLEASE let me know so i can do a link back because i cannot remember.)

they were written by Blanche Ebbutt in 1913. she basically gives little quotes of advice on what NOT to do to remain happily married. some of the advice is surprisingly still good- and some not so relevant to today’s lifestyle.

i would like to share a “DON’T” for Husbands and Wives each friday:

DON’T for Wives
Don’t omit to pay your husband an occasional compliment. If he looks nice as he comes in dressed for the opera, tell him so. If he has been successful with his chickens, or his garden, or his photography, compliment him on his results. Don’t let him have to fall back on self-esteem all the while for want of a little well-directed praise.
DON’T for Husbands
Don’t stubbornly refuse to put on your overcoat on a threatening morning, and then when, after getting wet through on the way to the station and sitting in your wet clothes, you develop a bad cold, take it out of your wife by being crotchety and irritable.

to purchase:

Tips to Get Your Child Off to a Good Reading Start

from SuesBooks’s Blog:

Babies of the World book

some photos of my daughter with her new favorite book! she loves the baby faces in this book and carries it with her all over the house . for more info on where you can buy Babies of the World visit babiesoftheworldbook.com.

mouk

mouk in australia

mouk in greece

mouk in japan

a map of the places mouk goes

a new book i just bought….
i have been trying to find this book in it’s original french language but i couldn’t justify the $45+ price tag so i decided that the english version would do ($12.50 was much more affordable).
mouk is a bear who journeys around the world. the book is absolutely stunning with illustrations by Marc Boutavant. i think my daughter will have so much fun with mouk as soon as she is old enough to read books without tearing the pages!

vintage inspiration

vintage toys and inspiration from amy_b. check out her Etsy store, amy1971.