Night Trains, Morning Trains

Almost every night when everyone is asleep, I’ll rearrange my son’s train tracks. … . I sit on the floor in the semi-darkness and try to come up with an interesting design because I know in a few hours my son will wander in dragging me by the hand and the first thing he’ll do is study the new tracks before sitting down and playing trains for a while. He’s never asked why the tracks are always different, it’s just how things are in his world. It’s little my way of telling the kid I love him. Sometimes, like this morning, I’ll fall asleep on the couch while he’s there playing and when I wake up I’ll be covered in carefully placed cars and trains covering me from head to toe. I figure that’s his way of saying he loves me back.

Raul’s post really touched me. I think it shows a beautifully poetic side of what it means to be a parent.

sewi moto bike

Tr81882

I grew up in a family riding motor bikes so seeing this Sevi Moto Bike had me chuckle. Leave it up to Italian’s to come up with a motor bike version of the original LikeABike. Too cool!

who stole my house?

0735821224_norm

I discovered “Who stole my house” at a bookstore in Knoxville. The story and the illustration style put a smile on my face. I am such a sucker for childrens books. I have to stop buying them all.

(beautiful) bag

Img_lunch02

Img_shoulder11a

Cool, get your photos printed on durable tarpaulin with a protective coating. Oh, the possibilities….

(beautiful)bag

(via goodyblog)

bubble scrubber

BubbleOur little Ella will want to do the dishes the minute she discovers the Bubble Scrubber.

(via goodyblog)

seven animals puzzle

M_65056

I am completely in love with this “Seven Animals Puzzle“. What a great gift for the designy parent.

clothes tree for kids

Tree_girlz

clothes tree for kids

what’s for breakfast?

Paaaiamdciomodej

Breakfast Menu by Plan Toys. Hmm… I am hungry.

toy trolley

Calypsotoytrolley_xl

Simple and inexpensive Toy Trolley. Nice.

summer seahorse ensemble

Sum7_193396_w

Su7_193396_5

I have a thing for seahorses so this toddler seahorse ensemble had me smile. How cool are the flip-flop socks?
Available at redenvelope.com

no, you can’t kick the seat in front of you…

41wadmvpaol_aa240_

Are you going to take your toddler on a plane for the first time? This ‘Shae by Air’ DVD might come in handy:

The I’m A Good Little Traveler! DVD Toolkit Series: Shae by Air: An engaging story that prepares children for traveling on an airplane, Shae by Air details the JOURNEY, not the destination. Made by a parent, and told from a young child’s perspective, Shae by Air is a fun, educational way to prepare young children for the long lines and the security checkpoint (removing shoes and coats, walking through the beeping metal detector), the ear popping that accompanies takeoff and landing, as well as how to entertain and behave themselves while flying (no kicking the seats!). Your child will want to be a Good Little Traveler, just like Shae! Designed and filmed with the input of child behavior specialists, the premise of each of the DVD Toolkits is that children, even small ones, have the capacity to understand what to expect and what is expected of them, and with that the ability to be respectful good little travelers. The Toolkits are FOR CHILDREN (ages 2-6).

I haven’t seen it myself, just found it over at amazon and it made me look. Have you watched it? What’s your opinion?

Get it here

miles rug

Milesrug

Miles Rug: Inspired by children’s gestures, this rug transforms into an infinite freeway interchange (or is the other way around?). Comes with three wooden toy cars. Hand-tufted virgin wool.

(via cribcandy)

limited edition laser cut puzzle

Picture_5

Animob: A limited edition laser cut puzzle from opaque acrylic by Supermobilet.

(thank you antonia + tanguy + téo)

leander bed now availabe in the US

Leander_bed_360

The unbelievably beautiful Leander crib/toddler bed is now available in the U.S. Some of you might remember my earlier post. G and I discovered it about a year ago during a trip to Berlin. We were so frustrated when we learned that it wasn’t approved for the U.S market yet.

It’s a beauty of a crib. And yes, it’s expensive.

UPDATE: It is still NOT available in the U.S. That online store is in Australia. Sorry for the confusion. Thank you Greg for clarifying. Maybe it will become available to the U.S market when Ella goes off to college.

(thank you susanna)

Slate Clock from Haba

20070626slate_clock

Slate Clock from Haba, Includes two pendulums for chalk and eraser, $52.00

Skip Hop Playspot

Playspot

Playspot by Skip Hop is a new soft surface playmat. They are made from soft EVA foam and the interlocking shapes allow to create a mat to your room’s dimensions. I am so glad to finally see an alternative to the primary colored alphabet playmats. Too bad Ella is already over this, otherwise I would have definitely pre-ordered a set at Amazon. (Shipping in early August.)

Skip Hop Playspot | $79 for 20-tile set at Amazon

(via coochicos)

“Culla Belly”

Cullabelly02

The “Culla Belly” just had me gasp: What a beauty!

(thank you philippe)

Sizzles Is Completely Not Here

0448445018_2

G came home with a new board book for our little Ella the other night: Sizzles Is Completely Not Here. It looks as Ella loves it as much as I do. I am completely smitten by the illustration style and all the little pop-ups. (My favorite is the caterpillar hidden in a little sandwich) I think we’ll end up with the entire Charlie and Lola Series sooner or later.

wooden toaster

Toaster

I *love* this wooden toaster.

I don’t want to grow up.

889

Picture_3

Cool I don’t want to grow up tees and onesies.
UHm, I couldn’t agree more…

crochet tool-belt

08w02l

Hand-crocheted tool belt with removable tools. I want that ruler.

gregory calendar | draw your calendar

Gregory_04

Gregory_01

Trace a line with the white magic marker every day and by the end of the month you will have obtained an illustration. Gregory Calendar

(thank you dustin)

erna the hen hat

Ernahat

If I surround Ella with chicken stuff, will she get chicken obsessed as I am? Let’s see and start with Erna the hen hat!

(via yokiddo!)

toy chainsaw

557930_2

Wouldn’t it be weird to come home and give your kid a Chainsaw? Living in NYC, yes, living somewhere in the woods, I guess not… It made me look, that’s for sure.