Bird Watching

Last Christmas, I received these playful bird prints by artist Josh Brill which I've just hung up in my hallway. The series is called Flora Fauna and each print is signed and numbered by the artist. You can order some of his prints on his website : http://shop.lumadessa.com/

Potty

Potties come in all shapes, sizes and colours. They range from really elaborate contraptions that play music, dispense toilet paper and auto-wash to simple objects that just do what they need to do. Does your baby's potty really need to help him learn how to play the slot machines ?

I wanted to keep it simple and found the Hoppop potty. Its minimalist design and size is perfect for our small bathroom but it is still very sturdy and smooth and seems to be very comfortable. So far, we've had a lot of success with it!

Here are some other good choices. the Boon potty that transforms into a stepping stool. It is quite massive so if you have a tiny bathroom, this won't work for you :

And the Baby bjorn potties. A classic that comes in white or in many vibrant colours to match your bathroom decor :

Toys

Just because they are kids' toys, doesn't mean they shouldn't be well designed and appealing to parents' eyes as well. Here are some of Elsa's favorites, and mine too :

The Oball is light, easy to catch and throw, fun to chew on when baby is first teething and fun to kick around when toddler is first learning to walk. It's a toy that evolves with every step.

I like these hand-puppets from Ikea. Simple and classic :

Founded in 1880 in Germany, Steiff is the world’s oldest plush manufacturer. Best known as the company that invented the Teddy bear, their products are collected and enjoyed by children and adults around the world. I have a groundhog which I've kept since childhood and Elsa now has her own sweet little lamb which she will cherish for a long time I'm sure.

Finally, Plan Toys are environmentally sound, innovative wooden toys that promote intellectual and physical development...plus they are well designed and enhance baby's room.