Christmas shopping for teeny weeny babies? Most baby gifts probably pass the littlest receiver by, but here are some things that our little ones have loved (and you can buy them all online – yay!):

Books: Where’s Peter and That’s Not My Truck are great first books since they both encourage baby’s sensory exploration. Both are short and have big areas for little fingers to feel fuzzy, shiny, ridgy, furry and fuzzy textures. This playbook from IKEA is also fabulous. Perhaps more of a toy than a book, each page has fun stuff for baby to explore with all her senses.

Art Cards by Wee Gallery have been our children’s favourite things from their very first days. My cousin Farah recommended them to me before Little A was born and I picked up a set but couldn’t really understand what the fuss was about. But Alec was immediately absolutely entranced by them. The high contrast images really capture the attention of even the newest little babies. Louis can stare at his forever.

Rockabye Baby Lullaby CDs are such a fun baby gift. We have Kanye West, Madonna, U2, The Beatles and a couple more and they are so fun. With Little A we spent a lot of time in the car and these were a great thing to keep baby calm without driving mum nuts!

Baby Gap Cashmere Blanket. Everyone should receive something soft and warm to cuddle in over Christmas. Baby Gap has a new cashmere line and there is a pretty cream blanket that any baby would love.

Soft Bunny Rattle. Louis has this rattle and loves it. And I love it. It’s pretty and so soft and cuddly. And easy to hold.

Wubbanub Pacifier. I’ve raved about these a dozen times before. They are cute, easy for even small babies to grip, and they don’t go flying when spit out. We love ours. Alec had monkeys and Louis has the giraffe.

Sophie Teether. Every baby seems to have a Sophie already, but there is also another Sophie teether. We call these teether “Mini Sophie”. Alec still takes a bite of his Mini Sophie once in a while when he has teeth coming in. Easy to grip, all natural and with a pleasing rubber texture.

Brio Bell Rattle. This sturdy little wood rattle with a bell inside is a classic. Alec loved his and I’m sure Louis will love his too.

Since this is our second baby, we don’t actually need that much new stuff. We’ll be reusing almost everything from Alec. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl last time either, so all of our newborn stuff works for either (and we are not so into the blue and pink thing anyway). But of course, it’s fun to buy a few new things just for this little baby, and some of Alec’s old stuff needed to be replaced or refreshed…

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.

Before we left for the country, I mentioned that I finished up some projects that had been unfinished for a long long time. One of them was to finish sewing covers for the pillows in Alec’s reading nook.

The reading nook is simply made up of a queen sized bed pushed into a corner of the room. It’s made up as a bed with a duvet with a white cover – for those times when one of us sleeps in here. From the ceiling we’ve hung 20 fluffily poms in shades of white, cream, turquoise and blue. And on top of the bed I’ve piled an assortment of square, king, queen and twin-sized pillows that now have hand-sewn covers in various shades of grey, aqua and blue. There are lots of polka dots, some stripes and some little roses and it’s a cozy place to curl up with a book and a warm bottle.

For pictures (and details) of Alec’s entire room, including his reading nook, see here.

I am on the hunt for the perfect table and chair set for Little A’s room. He is more and more ready to sit down properly with an activity for a longer period of time. Right now he is very into play dough, so he often comes to us and asks to be lifted onto his high chair in the dining room to get into some arts & crafts. I would like him to have a table and chair set in his room where he can play, do art, work on puzzles etc.

There are a ton of great options out there. From super-cheap and perfectly good IKEA furniture, to mini replicas of famous design pieces. Here are some of the options I like:

1. Peter’s Table & Chair by Hans Wegner. This is sort of the ultimate children’s table and chair combo. This table and chair were created in 1944 as a gift for a friend’s son, Peter. Both the table and chair can be dismantled and reassembled like a puzzle.

2. Sjuan Chair by Arne Jacobsen. This is a mini version of a real classic. It comes in several colors and suits any type of room.

3. Milla by Mio. A budget chair that looks a little like Sjuan that would work as well.

4. Lou Lou Ghost by Kartell. Paired with a simple table, I think this chair is such a great feature in a kids room! (Image: Bump to Bean)

5. IKEA. As always, IKEA has so many great, extremely affordable alternatives to more expensive design items. I love so many of IKEA’s kids’ products (I’ve raved about them here, here and here). We may very well end up getting a Kritter table and Sundvik chair (or the larger Sundvik table). I’ve also seen a lot of nursery pics using the lack side table as a children’s table.

6. Artek by Alvar Aalto. This is another design classic. Designed in 1935, it still holds up today.

5. Oliver Furniture. Danish Oliver Furniture has a whole range of absolutely lovely pieces for nurseries and children’s rooms. I love pretty much everything they make.

For more on Alec’s room, click here.

I think TRIWA watches are so cool. They don’t break the bank. And they are a little more relaxed and dressed down than the everyday office watch, so they are perfect for Dad’s Dad-time.

Darth Vader & Son. Too cute!

In my opinion shoes are always a wonderful gift. If I were shopping for Father’s Day right now, I would get my husband this awesome and very daddy-appropriate Cole Haan Seawall slip-ons. Perfect for Saturday mornings at the park!

Such a cute way to customize a phone!

A wallet feels like a very “fatherly” gift. This one is from Nordstrom.

These custom notebooks by Blurb would make such a lovely gift!

A pair of Happy Socks peeking out from under strict suit pants will definitely make Dad smile.

No Dad (or Mom, or Grandparent) could resist an enlargement like this one from Ixxi to hang on the wall. LOVE!

A great way to help Dad feel more involved and independent with small children is to help him prep his own go-to Daddy diaper bag. Make it a stylish messenger bag that he will actually want to carry like this one from Club Monaco.

Here, in Randal’s own words, are all the fabulous details of her twins’ fabulous nursery:

Since we have boy and girl twins, we wanted a very neutral theme to our nursery – mostly white and grey with some pink and blue accents. We love the wall color because it is very calming, and I think gives the room a restful feeling.  

The room gets lots of light from the windows, so we have black out shades that we can pull down for nap time. I like the sheer linen curtains during the day because they let light in but still give us some privacy.

The bedding is by Serena and Lily. The cribs are by Million dollar baby and we purchased storage drawers for underneath the cribs from the Container Store.

The mirrored armoire is by Pottery Barn and gives us hanging storage and more drawer space. The white painted wood shelf with the wicker baskets is something my husband Chris built and painted for the room for toy and book storage (he likes to build furniture). The baskets that fill the shelves and the laundry hamper and changing table storage basket are all from Target.

The framed onesies was an idea from my mother in law. At my baby shower, friends and family decorated them for the babies and we used frames from Pottery Barn to mount them and picked out the most fitting designs for North and Charlotte’s personalities.

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely nursery, Randal!

Spring has finally arrived in Stockholm and Alec and I are loving all the time we have been spending outside! It’s green and sunny and fresh and amazing. Our flat is like a beach house with all the sand we are dragging in from the sandbox and Alec is gaining speed in his little blue shoes!

This weekend we are looking forward to a visit from the dearest of friends from our time in Atlanta. Here’s hoping Stockholm presents itself from its best side!

In the next few weeks I am going to buckle down and get into some nursery choices. Starting with the crib. So next week is Crib Week on Mini Piccolini! Do you have a crib that you love that should be on my shortlist? Let me know! Until then, here are some links I liked this week:

Sweet onesie embellishments!

What Would Gwyneth Do shared this list of the 30 Best Things You Can Do for your Kids that Redbook has compiled from various celebrity parents including First Lady Michelle Obama and Barbara Walters.

Now that it’s getting warmer, here’s how to make homemade bubble solution and blowers!

To round off the traveling focus I’ve had the last couple of weeks, here is a great idea for airplane packs to keep kids busy on long flights.

Some great tips for kids birthday gifts that won’t just gather dust among the others…

And lastly, I’ve just discovered two fantastic Swedish crafting (with kids) blogs that are definitely worth a visit: Craft & Creativity and Pysselbolaget.

We have a small and sort of dark guest room off our kitchen that is going to be Baby #2′s room. It needs to be brightened up and made into a happy harmonious room for our special little boy or girl. I can’t wait to get started!

Until then – here are some non-nursery related links that I thought you might like. Have a fabulous weekend!

These washcloth bunnies are so cute and actually don’t seem that had to make.

I love this fabric printing idea using fruit. The onesie is just adorable!

When we were struggling with Alec’s day sleep but weren’t ready to follow-the cry it out advice we kept getting, we really found Elizabeth Pantley’s No-Cry Nap Solution (and No-Cry Sleep Solution) helpful. I know she has no-cry books on other topics, but I haven’t read them yet. So I was so happy to find this cliff notes summary of the No-Cry Discipline Solution.

This Backyard Play Area is so fabulous! It’s actually a lot bigger than it looks, so take a closer look and be inspired here!

Homemade baby food never looked this good!

I love these DIY Flower Seed Pockets – they would make such a fabulous gift.

I find these pictures so moving. A sibling relationship like the one these two minis seem to have is EXACTLY what I hope for my children, and it’s the main reason why we decided to have our children close together. Any tips to achieve this?

This weekend is packed with play dates (if no one calls in sick) and we are looking forward to spending a lot of time outside. Today we are also going to try the double strollers on our short list with Alec to see how they feel. I’ll share more details next week!

Have a great weekend in the sun and enjoy these links I came across this week:

Such a pretty DIY memory game on Hellobee!

This is fun – at cerealize.com you can design your own cereal (including a fun box).

This learning activity using push lights looks like so much fun and sounds simple enough!

How cool are these space crayons?

Also on the space theme is this galaxy playdough which looks so fun!

This jack-in-the-box is such a cute little DIY project for April Fool’s Day.

These mint brownies look absolutely delicious.

I love this bright white twin nursery. It feels very un-contrived and not overdone. I love the way the books are displayed within reach of the children and how colorful toys are what make up the “decor”. I think sometimes we are so into choosing a color theme for the room that we overlook how gorgeous a white room can be! It reminds me a little of Baby A’s nursery – maybe that’s why I like it so much!