Micro Scooter in ORANGE!
Michela has already reviewed the Mini Micro scooter here on Babyccino. Her son loves it, and so does she, as it noticeably speeds up their walks! Courtney’s son owns one — as every other kid in London – and so does my daughter, whom in my opinion looks very cool on her scooter!
The problem has lately been that we only own one Mini Micro, and my little boy wants it as badly as his big sister. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting him his own just to bring some peace back in the house!
Until now the Mini Micro scooters were only available in blue or pink, but in honour of the Dutch queen and queensday today, Alix and Jo, the newly established Dutch distributors of the famous Mini Micro scooter, have come up with a great idea: a limited edition of the Mini Micro in orange!!!
I think this is such a cool idea that I just ordered my son his very own orange scooter! Happy he, happy me.
Available exclusively through Micro-step.nl, but hurry — they only produced 100!
xxx Esther
Happy Queensday!
Holland will be dressed in orange today! Because of the origins of our queen (she’s from the House of Orange), our national colour is orange. Not the deep terra cotta kind of orange, but just plain, nice and bright orange! And once a year, in honour of the queen, we celebrate Queensday. We take the day off, dress in the appropriate color (ALL of us!), and hit the streets to find treasures at the many flee-markets on the streets. Amsterdam’s biggest park, the Vondelpark, is dedicated to kids today.
Even Dutchmen abroad will wear something orange today, so see if you can spot them on the streets!
Happy Queensday!
xxx Esther
An Old Institution
My 3-year-old is a lover of books and her personal book collection is threatening to drawf mine. A week ago I decided it was time to take action so I took her to the local library. I have been kicking myself ever since that I had not thought of this before!
I had completely forgotten about public libraries. I vaguely remember going with my mom when I was a kid, but the thing I remember most is the musty smell of old, humid books in a scary Victorian building. My more recent memory of a library was a place to whisper sweet nothings and flirt at university; not much book reading was done.
Our local library here in Paris is a very distant and very modern cousin of the libraries of my childhood. Clean, bright and organised, there is a huge children’s section with little tables to sit at. All the books are kept at ground level so kids can browse through them all by themselves. I didn’t realise how much my daughter would love it — she was in heaven, discovering old favourites and new treasures. There is even a small international book section with English children’s books. Membership is free for anyone, so my daughter is now the proud owner of her first library card. (more…)
Periscope
This cute periscope was a gift for my son’s 4th birthday. At first he looked at it with amusement, not really knowing what to do with it. Then my husband told him he had actually seen one when they visited the submarine in the Milan Science Museum, and suddenly this became one of his most treasured possessions. He is, in fact, at the age where he is starting to be more inquisitive and he is beginning to appreciate these “adventure” toys.
I personally think it was a great choice — unusual and quite small… so it’s not going to have a big impact on our quite precarious toy storage system!
It’s made from Navir, an Italian company that makes scientific toys (which you can find abroad too) and loads of cute optic toys that will make the young explorer in your family very happy!
-Michela
Where do babies come from???
For some reason (age??) I have quite a few pregnant friends. Four of them are pregnant with number three (Courtney amongst them), and the pressure is on for me to get pregnant again! (Not yet, I keep saying, not yet..!)
Last week our neighbour, Colette, gave birth to her third baby, a little girl. I called my 3-year-old daughter, who was on spring break and staying with her grandparents in the south of the country, and told her that the little baby in Colette’s belly finally came out. She thought about it a second and then asked me ‘But mummy, how did the baby get out?’.
Thankfully, I was able to pass the question back to my mother-in-law (‘That’s a good question honey, Oma will explain everything to you after we hang up’). But I keep thinking — how do you explain the whole thing to a nearly-4-year-old??
Like: First mummy will have a really bad tummy ache and then the baby will come out from between her legs? Or even: Mummy will have to go to the hospital and the doctor will cut her belly open and get the baby out, but don’t worry it won’t hurt and everybody will be fine??
Any thoughts about this, anyone?
xxx Esther
Stylish first steps
My experience with baby’s first walking shoes has always been the same: either they’re too stiff and impractical for babies to actually walk in, or they’re too soft to be supportive, or they’re just really ugly. I ended up with a pair from the latter category for my sons’ first walkers, opting for practicality and support over looks. I wish I would have known about the Tip Toey Joey baby shoes for early walking!
These shoes are made of 100% soft genuine leather so they flex naturally with baby’s feet, they have a non-slip rubber sole, have easy Velcro strap closures… and they are darling!
Available from Elias & Grace, in store or on line.
-Courtney
Mrs. Armitage and the Big Wave
I have always loved Quentin Blake’s illustrations, as my father read me the Roald Dahl books he illustrated when I was a child. They are fantastic, but the ones I know are a bit macabre for my 3-year-old.
I didn’t know that Quentin Blake has himself written and illustrated books for younger kids. In fact he has written many! We have just gotten our hands on a copy of Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave. The story is about the eccentric Mrs. Armitage and her trusted dog Breakspear who decide to go surfing; they figure out that they need lots of bits and bobs to comfortably sit around waiting for a big wave. It’s charming, playfully written and, of course, beautifully illustrated. It is the kind of book both you and your child will not get tired of reading…. or, at the very least, it will take a long time.
- Emilie
Charmed, I’m sure
After the birth of my first daughter, I received a great Heather Moore charm from my parents for Christmas. It is a simple round silver medallion with my daughter’s name stamped on it in a great, handmade-looking typeface. Her birth date is on back, and it is is accompanied by a little dangling pearl for her birthstone. I just got another one for my second daughter’s birth, this time a bigger one (her name is longer!), with a little topaz charm alongside. I love that the charms come in different shapes — little dogtags, long rectangles, and charms of all sizes, to allow you to create a truly custom necklace. The bangle bracelets are next on my list…
-Rebecca
Sticker Club
My son recently received a letter in the mail from one of his friends inviting him to be in the sticker club! Along with the letter came a packet of stickers (sea creature stickers to be precise!) , and you can imagine the delight he had in opening his letter!
It’s such a cute idea. Once you receive your invitation to the sticker club, you send some stickers to the person listed as #1 at the bottom of the letter, and then you send a letter to six of your friends inviting them to join. In the end, if everyone complies, each child is meant to receive 36 packets of stickers. It’s so fun to see where all the stickers come from, and the kids love getting mail (and who doesn’t love stickers?)!
I thought this was a cute idea and worth sharing. If you have a child who is old enough to get the concept of mail, maybe it would be fun to start your own sticker club?!
-Courtney
Breast is best…or not?
I breastfed both my babies, one for 11 months, and the other for 9 months. I would have liked to do it for longer but she weaned herself unceremoniously from the breast. I loved nursing — I loved the feeling, the bonding and the practicality. I had the benefit of long maternity leaves so I was with my babies all the time and breastfeeding seemed to me the most convenient way of providing nutrition.
With baby number one it was hard at the beginning — it hurt and was not that easy to learn. But having given birth in London in 2005 after having attended pregnancy yoga classes and the NCT course, I was adamant I was going to breastfeed my babies. It was really important to me; thank God I loved the task.
I have to admit that back then I was a tiny bit judgmental and believed that those mothers who did not breastfeed were somehow denying their baby the best start in life. Years have gone by, I moved country, I met more mothers, I read more articles and now I am not so firm in my belief anymore. (more…)
Cute kid’s storage
Believe it or not, I’m already looking at pre-schools for Little C. And when I was reading one prospectus today I was impressed that they get the children to clean up after themselves after lunch. That statement alone sold me – let alone them offering daily language and music lessons.
Then I saw these storage boxes and it seemed a natural extension of the idea – cute, colourful storage boxes that will encourage little ones to tidy up after themselves. Or am I being way too optimistic?
-Natalie
Kikker (=Frog)
Max Velthuis was a Dutch illustrator/author who in 1989, at the respectable age of 66 years of age, wrote his first book in the famous Frog series: Frog in Love
By the time of Mr. Velthuijs’ death in 2005, Frog, the little green character wearing his signature stripey pants, had become quite an international celebrity.
In the series, Frog is accompanied by a series of loyal friends: Dug (duck), Pig, Hare and Rat. Each of the characters has its own personality, and together they show little readers how the world is organized and how people generally react to each other’s peculiarities.
Velthuijs was not afraid to write about existential themes. Life and death, prejudice, solidarity and love-sickness are amongst the themes he discusses in his Frog books. Despite the serious themes, the great sense of subtle humour and the feeling of security Velthuijs manages to secure throughout the series makes the Frog books as loving, cute and perfect as they are.
If only Mr. Velthuijs would have started writing about Frog in his twenties…
xxx Esther
Le Pain Quotidien
Le Pain Quotidien now has branches in 15 different countries and long may it continue expanding.
We are loyal customers at our nearest branch in the Marais. There are several reasons for our frequent visits: the food is healthy, fresh and simple and my whole family, young and old, loves going there. They serve great grilled sandwiches and salads, which are a little bit different from the usual bistro fair.
But the great food is not my main reason for recommending the Pain Quotidien. It is one of the rare places you can find a changing table in the toilets… and high chairs! I know that for most countries this is so normal it is not worth mentioning, but in Paris this a phenomenon!
So to paraphrase: it’s a cafe that serves great food and is child friendly. It doesn’t have much going against it, does it?
- Emilie
Hospital bag
I was on the phone with Emilie the other day and she asked me if everything was ready for the baby to arrive. Ready?!! I haven’t even begun to prepare! I ran out that afternoon and picked up some baby-sized diapers. Phew! At least I had taken the first step…
Now, with less than 3 weeks ’til due date, I’m thinking I should pack a hospital bag. (I just did a bit of research online, and apparently the appropriate time to pack a hospital bag is by 36 weeks!) If you keep searching on line, you can find list after list of recommended items to fill the bag. Things from headbands, candles, and snacks, to your own pillow, blankets, etc. My Cookie Mag pregnancy newsletter recommended taking some nice-smelling bath and beauty products, like lotions and body washes. I thought this was a good idea, as it will make you feel like yourself if you have your own scent after you’ve showered. A friend recently told me to take a CD that you like (something calm and beautiful, probably) to play in the hospital room, as it’s nice to forever have a song(s) that will remind you of the moment. I like the idea of having little associations to remind you of the day your baby was born (smells, music, etc.)
Do you have any good tips for what to take to the hospital?
-Courtney
Toy bags (or so)
I love these hand-made Lidan bags from Ikea. I discovered them by accident in the bathroom section when I needed soft toy storage for the few wooden toys belonging to my first baby (how things can change), and have used them ever since for all sorts of purposes around the house. As toy storage like I said, but also in the bathroom, in the cupboard, in the garden, etc. They come two in a pack, have a loop for hanging and are very, very kind on the wallet. Best of all? Washable at 40°.
xxx Esther
Tyrrell Katz brollies
I have come across the Tyrrell Katz designs a few times, but I’ve never bought anything until a couple of weeks ago when I found their childrens umbrellas in a tiny shop in Padova. I decided to buy one for my son, and one for each of Esther’s children, to take with us to rainy London!
I picked the horse riding, pirates and space themes … but they all look so fun.
I’m not sure about Esther’s kids but my son loves carrying around his own brolly whenever it rains; just putting it up and taking it down makes him feel more grown up. These umbrellas are fun to look at and designed with children in mind — they have chunky rounded handles to make carrying easy and a rounded tip for safety, plus rounded ends to each spoke.
They have recently opened an office in the U.S. so it should be easy to find them across the Atlantic too.
-Michea
Spring has sprung
Spring has finally sprung here in DC, and although it is still a bit chilly, buds and blooms are popping up everywhere. To celebrate, we were invited to a First Day of Spring party last month. My daughter insisted on taking a gift (although I explained it wasn’t a birthday party!) to the hostess, and promptly picked one of the neighbor’s daffodils. I was all set to wrap the stem in a wet paper towel and put in in a plastic bag (like I used to do when I was a kid), when inspiration struck—surely, I had something in the recycling bin that could double as a vase? A quick glance and I scored an apple juice box—perfect! I enlarged the hole a bit with a pencil, rinsed it out, then cut a piece of colored paper to wrap around it. My 3½-year-old had a great time decorating the paper with foamy stickers (you could use anything to decorate it—markers, stickers, ribbons), we glued the paper around the box, and voila! A perfectly “green” bud vase, great for giving or just for fun.
- Rebecca
Warm Greetings from DC
Hello to all from the US Capitol City. I’m very excited to be blogging for Babyccino — I’ve been a fan since the beginning of the blog, and continue to enjoy the mix of parenting tips, travel info, shopping finds and recipes. I’m looking forward to sharing my new DC finds and tips as I get settled in my new [old] hometown. As you can imagine, it is an exciting time to be in DC, and you can feel the buzz of new possibilities in the air here. I hope that I can pass that on to you all!
-Rebecca
Rebecca
When I first came to Paris, I strictly knew no one, had a 5-month-old baby and had never lived in France! I had no idea where and how to find a doctor, how to open a bank account or how to find a babysitter. To say I had a steep learning curve is a bit of an understatement. One of the things I missed the most was my girlfriends, people I could talk to when I had a bad day or even a good one. I also realised how important it was to have mom friends who could help out, give advice and be a friendly ear. So I decided to join playgroups (many playgroups) to try and meet as many people as I possible could. In one of those playgroups I was lucky enough to fall on a group of ladies with whom I bonded, and suddenly living in a new city was not hard at all!
One of them was Rebecca, a stylish American full of energy who always had her pulse on what was new and happening in Paris. No wonder, as she is the founder of Chic Shopping Paris, a company organising shopping tours around Paris. She is also the writer of the book: Chic Shopping Paris
Rebecca has since moved back to Washington DC with her husband and two little girls. While she can no longer share her newest Parisian shopping finds, we are lucky to have her join us as a contributor on Babyccino. We are so excited to welcome Rebecca, and can’t wait for her weekly updates from across the Atlantic!
- Emilie
Crocodile clothespin
I have a little boy who, for some reason or other, has a thing for crocodiles (or ‘diles’ as he calls them). So we chose to make crocodiles the theme of his 2nd birthday party.
Crocodile-themed partyware isn’t exactly easy to come by, however, so we decided to create our own. We made these crocodile clothespins and used them to clasp shut the goodybags.
It’s a really easy craft project, and creates something fun to play with when they’re finished! Here’s how to make your own crocodiles… (more…)
