1st Christmas Sale by Pupsik Studio is now on!

Our very first Christmas Sale by Pupsik Studio is now on!

We have stocked up on many cool new items over the last few months. This includes the long awaited nursing covers by Pupsik Studio, new designs for our popular beansprout pillows and the unique momAgenda that is bound to get busy moms like you organised in style in 2009!

From now until 25th December, take 15% off the usual price on many items in our online store. In addition, you also get to enjoy:

1. Free shipping on all orders

2. Free giftwrap (simply indicate in the COMMENTS section at checkout that you wish to have your items wrapped)

3. An additional 10% off any total purchase above $100 when you include a momAgenda in your order (while stocks last!). Simply enter the code 'MOMAGENDA' at checkout.

Offer while stocks last so do visit us at Pupsik Studio today to start shopping! Oh, and don't forget to send in your entry for our "Pupsik in a Pouch" giveaway contest and stand a chance to win a goodie bag from us!

Warm Wishes,

Su Ling

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Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been a crazy week and I have to admit that I almost felt like I was going nuts with both babies screaming, crying and seeking "urgent attention" at the same time. I suspect there is almost a conspiracy going on between them both. Plus there are tons of other small nitty gritties that cropped up over the week that had to be tended to. And for some strange reason, I have been feeling a compelling need to clear out my old stuff, particularly the wardrobe which is crazy cos that is the last thing I should be doing at a time like this. There were times when I feel like dropping everything and retreat to some mountain just to take a breath of fresh air and recharge. I need sleep...undisturbed sleep.

Despite everything over the past week, I am grateful to have a pocket of time this morning just to sit down for my quiet time and give thanks to God for all He has given me. At times like this, it is just so easy to be distracted and suck oneself into self-pity and self-absorption in our own little world and forget about all that He has so freely given us; Food, a home, a healthy body, loved ones...things we often take for granted.

While browsing through some of my favourite Christian blogs and website this morning, I am reminded of the verse in I Thessalonians 5:18 which says,

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I know that there are many mommies out there going through the same lack of sleep and adjustments as myself and I just want to say "Hang on"! Here is a little something I have been listening to this morning that I would like to share with you and hope you will be able to seek comfort in.

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

xxoxo Su Ling

(click on "Pop-Out Player" to listen)

How to wear your Pupsik Pouch (NEW instructional video)

We have finally got down to improving our instructional videos to guide mommies using the pouch for the first time.

This video shows you how you should wear your pouch correctly. It is quite easy once you get the hang of it.

The padding should be facing out if you are doing the cradle/kangaroo carry. For the front/hip carry, the padding is placed inside under baby's knees to cushion them.\

For more detailed videos, please visit instructional page on the main website.

Cradle Carry (NEW instructional video)

Here is me, showing how to do the cradle carry on a (large) newborn baby. a.k.a Nadya at 6 weeks.

I consider the cradle carry more challenging, compared to the kangaroo and hip carry, as baby is still relatively small and fragile. The pouch is might to be quite snug when baby is inside. And especially with the postpartum tummy in the first few weeks after delivery, many mommies think the pouch is too small when it is actually the right size. We usually encourage mums to be patient when learning how to use the pouch but are happy to do an exchange, if required. Generally, a pouch is the right size when the lowest point of the pouch is 1-3 inches under your belly button.

As with all things, it will be a breeze once you get the hang of how to place and remove baby from the pouch for the cradle carry. Just remember safety first and always support a newborn's neck and make sure there is good airflow to baby's face. Also, practice when baby is in a good mood, not when he is screaming his lungs out to be fed.

The cradle carry is perfect when you need your hands free to do simple things like surf the web or go shopping! The snug feeling also helps calm babies down as it mimics the feeling of being in the womb.

Some Helful Tips for doing the Cradle Carry

1. Make sure that baby's legs are slightly crossed before putting in the pouch

2. You should have the padding facing out and the seam of the pouch at the lowest point and positioned directly in front of you.

3. The curved seam of the pouch is where the pouch is the biggest. Position baby's bum where the seam of the pouch is and drop baby's bum in first. Use the padding as a handle to help position correctly.

Pre-Christmas Sale!

We are doing a pre-Christmas sale and giving 15% off all our Mom-Agendas on Pupsik Studio. Limited stocks available so get one for your family to get organised in 2009! The agendas run from August 2008 to Dec 2009 so you can start using them now. It will make a perfect gift for a busy mom or wife (husbands...hint hint).

We will include a complimentary gift wrap for all Mom-agendas bought during this sale. If you wish to have your agenda wrapped with a gift tag, simply leave a message at the comment section at check out.

To order, click here.

$600 Puj Giveaway

I had posted about the innovative tubs by Puj in a previous post. I am excited to share that Puj is doing a giveaway of Puj products worth $600 to our readers. To stand a chance to win, simply enter your email address in the top right column of this blog!

Rent-a-Toy

It has been really hectic over the last few days as we prepared and celebrated Vera's 2nd birthday and Nadya's 1st month over the weekend. It is always nice to have family and friends over to our home and watching the children having a great time.For the party this year, we rented a few equipment from this wonderful online store in Singapore called Rent-a-toy. Wonderful service and very affordable too! I felt obliged to share with other mommies on Pupsik about them to help spread the word so that they are able to continue expanding their business and keep their cost low. We rented this which was a hit with the kids from 1 to 8 years old.

I really think it is a wonderful business concept to rent these toys since most of these equipment require a lot of storage space and children grow tired of them too fast to make buying worthwhile. A fantastic find! The toys were in very good and clean condition and they even delivery free for orders above $40! Perfect for children parties.

I know there are a lot of mommies and daddies reading this blog and hope to share more of these fantastic finds in the coming months. If you know of a website that offers products, services and websites that may interest us all and would like to share, do email me at hello@pupsikstudio.com. Thanks!

Puj Tub

Katie, the very creative designer behind Puj who is also a stay-home mom to 2 boys, emailed me recently to let me know about one of her latest design - the Puj Tub.

The Puj Tub is a super soft infant bathtub that fits in your bathroom sink. And it hangs and stores flat once you're done! This clever invention definitely revolutionizes the baby bathing experience! Bathing an infant has never looked so easy! No more leaning over the bathtub stressing your knees, neck, and back.

The lovely Katie has offered readers of Pupsik 20% off the total purchase at their online store. Simply enter the promo code "pupsik" at checkout. Any international orders can be emailed to sales@pujbaby.com to enjoy your 20% discount. Thanks Katie!

Hot Soup

Anyone wants to engage me to do an ad for hot soup?

Little Stock Delivery Bag

It is amazing how many wonderful new products emerge on the market for pregnant moms and babies. Like the Little Stock Delivery Bag that takes care of everything that you could possibly need (and more) when you check into hospital to welcome your little bundle of joy.

This pre-packed bag include items for the birth experience (massage oil, preggie pops), for Mom’s stay (nursing nightgown, slippers, organic toiletries), a toiletry bag for Dad’s stay, a going-home blanket for baby, and things you need for breastfeeding (nursing bra, nipple cream).

New Collection at Sparklethots

Work and Stay-At-Home mom, Ruth, of Sparkle Thots has told me that she has just restocked her online shop with lots a brand new collection of pearls, silver and gold items. Many of the items would be very pretty and would be perfect as a gift or for adorning a bride and wedding entourage on her special day.

If you like any of the items, you will be happy to know that Sparkle Thots is doing a FREE SHIPPING promotion. Just spend above SGD $50 to receive this offer. Enter code [GIFTED08] upon check out.

(above) Drop of Golden Sun (SGD$45)

Contrasting schedules

With the blink of an eye and Nadya will soon be 1 month old. It has been quite a crazy month and each day just whizzes pass faster than the speed of light.

There is very little distinction between night and day for me. I am nursing Nadya every three hours, with each session lasting 40 mins to 1 hour. Which means that if I am lucky, I get 2 hours off each time to tend to Vera, answer emails, fulfil orders, blog, take a nap, eat, visit the loo etc...

We have not introduced expressed breast milk in the bottle with Nadya yet as I want to feed her direct for as long as I can. You can call me a "purist" in that sense but I believe the skin-to-skin contact and 1-to-1 time I have while nursing Nadya is very important. This is "our time" when I can enjoy bonding and getting to know her.

I was clearing out my old diaries just the other day and came across Vera's feeding "log book" which I recorded 2 years ago. I remember how stressed out I was then, trying to establish a schedule in the beginning, 20 mins each side, 40 minutes each time, every 3 hours. It was really hard, especially for a 1st time mom who gets grouchy when she doesn't get enough sleep (see below).

(above): Typical feeding schedule - click image to enlarge. It is pretty much the same schedule I am keeping with Nadya now although I am not writing it down. I recorded everything down back then as it was hard at times trying to remember how long I had fed and which side I last fed on. I actually also invented a code to record the time of feed, which breast I last fed on etc and was very close to inventing a stop watch just for recording the nursing time. I settled for a $2 kitchen timer in the end. As you can see, it is a 24/7 job.

Contrast the schedule above to the working schedule I had just before giving birth (see below). This is proof that being a full-time mom is really more taxing than a full-time job!! Say goodbye to leave, holidays etc!!

(above) Typical work schedule at the office before having kids - click image to enlarge. Ok, my time is up! I believe I am being called for another feed...

Our first shopping trip out

We decided that I was tired of staying home one day and decided to make a trip to Tangs to get this (have been eyeing this for the longest time). Here is Dada, carrying Nadya in the very macho Pink Dotties pouch (one of our best sellers). He drew many stares from the crowd which I am glad he was quite oblivious to. And quite naturally, Nadya slept like a doll in the cradle carry.

Pupsik™ Studio - featured in Mother & Baby magazine

Pupsik™ Studio is delighted to be in the November 2008 issue of Mother & Baby (click image above to enlarge). We are featured in the "Gotta Get it" page of this month's issue.

Thank you Mother & Baby magazine for supporting and featuring us! There is a little surprise in this month's issue that we are giving away to readers of Mother & Baby. Do check it out and don't miss it!

Happy Birthday Vera!

It has been a long day today...On top of nursing Nadya round the clock, Vera is demanding a little more than her usual share of attention as she turns 2 today.

I have heard about the Terrible Twos....and hope and pray that Vera will skip this stage altogether. As it has been only 2 weeks since I delivered, we decided that we will wait till Nadya turns one month before we throw a little celebration for both. That is one of the advantages of having 2 babies born on the same month. You only have to do it once.

We had a little family celebration today by bringing the babies to Go Go Bambini. Vera absolutely loves this place and it is the perfect safe haven for any parent who has a hyperactive child. I don't think she stopped one moment when we were in the playscape.

(above) Picture taken in Go Go Bambini. Everything happened so fast we couldn't even get a proper picture of the birthday girl.

We also stopped by Toys R Us to let Vera pick a toy for her birthday. We got her an ATM machine which I know is kind of a strange gift for a 2 year old. But for some reason, Vera has taken a keen interest in rummaging through our wallets for notes and coins and chanting...money money money. Although we are a tad concerned about her latest fixation, we thought it may be an opportune time to teach her numbers and some math since she is so keen on the notes and coins. The ATM machine is really cool. You have to insert a card and key in a pin number before the "safe box" gets opened. I wish I had a toy like that when I was young!

Happy 2nd Birthday Vera! You probably cannot read this but Mommy loves you and pray that you will always stay as adorable, curious and fun-loving as you are! xoox

Now on sale on Pupsik Studio - Poss Bloss Nappy Wallets

As a mom who likes to travel light and have all the nappy and nursing essentials compactly stored in one place, it is not surprising that I love practical and beautiful products such as The Diaper Clutch and the very recently discovered Nappy Changing Wallet by Poss Bloss.

I was drawn to the gorgeous fabrics used in Poss Bloss wallets the first time I saw them. Measuring 15 x 30cm, these versatile nappy wallets in laminated fabric are large enough to hold my baby changing and nursing essentials consisting of two nappies, 1 disposable travel wipes, a nursing cover and cell phone (not exactly a baby changing/nursing essential but nevertheless, an essential). And if I wanted to, I could have fitted a burb cloth and pair of breast pads in the sleeve quite comfortably too!

Each wallet is custom made by Jodie, a stay-home mom living in Australia. Jodie has a background in Commercial Industrial Property Management. She started Poss Bloss 4 years ago when she found herself needing a creative outlet while staying at home with her girls (now 10 & 6).

Since starting Poss Bloss as a hobby style business, it has since grown into almost full time hours. As a self-confessed control freak, Jodie produces all Poss Bloss items herself. I have to say that I am really amazed at the high quality of each Poss Bloss product. You can really tell that a lot of attention and care went into making each wallet.

I am quite sure the versatile Poss Bloss Nappy Changing wallet will be a hot seller on Pupsik Studio. Even if you are not a nappy-changing mom, you can use this practical and beautiful wallet to keep loose items such as your lunch wallet, make-up kit, staff pass, tissue paper and cell phone when you are not needing to take your entire handbag.

I have brought in limited numbers this time and will be offering a 10% introductory discount on all Nappy Wallets for a limited time only. To purchase one in your favourite design, click here!

Digital Pacifier Thermometer

How brilliant is this invention? (via whateverdeedeewants)

Dote Studio

I love nursing my babies. Somehow, I gain a lot of satisfaction just knowing that I am able to provide for them, even though it is tiring. But one thing that really frustrated me when I was nursing Vera during the first year of her life was the lack of stylish and comfortable nursing wear in Singapore. In a way, I was saved by the 2 faithful ponchos I got from Mon Petit Jardin as they allowed me to nurse practically everywhere without much need for nursing clothes.

But it is still nice to have pretty nursing clothes. It just makes breastfeeding a little more comfortable and convenient. That was why I was really excited when I first heard that Dorothy, designer and founder of the Dotted Line was embarking on a new design label specializing in nursing wear, Dote Studio.

I think I first got to know Dorothy through my other design blog, laissezfaire. Before entering the fabulous world of fashion, she spent her days in a small cubicle at a large international financial institution. She decided to follow her passion a few years back when she took up a course in fashion design and started the Dotted Line. With her new journey into motherhood early this year, she wasted no time in getting started with her second business venture, Dote Studio when she too got fed up with the lack of stylish nursing wear available in Singapore.

Dorothy also asked me to be involved in the design of the label for Dote several months back.

I was pleasantly surprised when Dorothy told me that she was going to give me a gift when Dote Studio was launched earlier this month. I was absolutely delighted when a nursing dress and top came in the mail the day I was about to deliver. As I had expected, the clothes were gorgeous and very well made. It really got me excited about nursing again. Thank you so much for your thoughtful gift, Dorothy!

I really can't wait to try on the clothes once that postpatum tummy becomes less visible. =))

above: Mist puff sleeve dress (S$109, US$75 approx)above: Slate Top. (S$69 or US$48 approx.)

And if you are one who likes to touch and feel your clothes before buying, you will be pleased to know that Dote Studio will also be collaborating with Maternity Exchange, Singapore, to offer more nursing options in the coming months. Do visit these 2 websites for the latest info!

Currently listening to while nursing Nadya

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Delivery by C-Section

It has been quite a challenging week. Besides nursing round the clock and balancing the needs of a newborn and demanding 2 year old, there are still many orders and enquiries for the online shop that need to be tended to.

Just thought I would take a break by sharing a little about my journey as a "new-mom-again" so far, starting with how Nadya was born.

I have to say that the whole delivery process this time felt really surreal. Unlike the first time when I was in labour for 15 hours before going for an emergency c-section, this time everything seemed so orderly and pre-meditated as it was a planned c-section due to the expected size of the baby.

Vitali and I checked into the hospital in the early afternoon after a visit to the hair salon (I decided that I needed to have a hair wash since I knew I was not going to be able to walk for the next day). It felt like we were checking into a hotel for a holiday, except that there was also an immense sense of deja-vu as we entered the hospital. Weren't we just here just recently to welcome our first baby? How time flies!

When it was time for me to be wheeled into the operating theatre, it started to dawn on me that we were going to meet our new baby soon. While I was excited, I was also quite nervous as I recalled the trembling, vommiting and hallucinations I experienced the first time I had Vera. I prayed that this time would be better although it didn't help that I had to notice some bright red spots of blood on the ceiling of the operating theatre where I was parked. How did that get there...hmm....ok, close eyes, don't think, never saw it, don't want to know. Period.

The anaesthetist came in to give me a jab to numb my lower body and Vitali joined me shortly after I entered the theatre. Everything ok so far and I was still conscious and feeling quite fine, unlike the first time when I had already passed out of fright at this point in time.

I tried to keep my eyes focussed on Vitali, think happy thoughts and engaged in a dinner-like conversation with my gynae. Before I knew it, she happily announced that the baby was going to come and the nurses in the room started to push my tummy. I heard a cry soon after and the feeling of joy was immense when I realised that Nadya was born. I made it and heard the baby's first cry! Praise God! The nurses quickly wrapped Nadya up and placed her on my chest. That was when the picture above was taken and I was still in the process of being "stitched up". Yikes!

So this is the story of how Nadya entered the world. Not as drama and long-drawn as Vera's entry but different and just as memorable.

While it has been a tiring week since then, I really thank God for this little bundle of joy. I have been trying to savour every moment of this new journey as I know how fast babies grow. I guess the point of me sharing this on this blog is to assure other moms who have to go for a c-section for one reason or another not to feel too scared. It really isn't bad as some people make it or what we imagine it to be.

Of course, if you can deliver naturally, why not? But if for some reason you can't, then do enjoy the alternative process of delivery that medical advancement has enabled. The joy of hearing your baby cry for the first time and holding him/her in your arms will make up for any fear or doubts you might have about a c-section delivery.

Nadya Vitalyevna Zagorodnova

With praise and thanksgiving to God, Nadya Vitalyevna Zagorodnova was born on 11 Oct 2008, weighing 4.543kg! We are overjoyed! 'Nadya' means 'Hope' in Russian and if you are wondering what the middle name means, it just means 'daughter of Vitali' in Russian.

Although this is my second journey into motherhood, I have so much new things and experiences to share and will do so once I adjust to this new bundle of joy in our family. Meanwhile, I just need to get used to the lack of sleep and hourly feeds (yes, a 4.543kg baby does get hungry quickly).

Thank you all once again for your well wishes! xoxo

The hospital bag is packed

The last week preparing for the new baby's arrival has been really hectic...and doing the most basic things that we normally take for granted (like breathing and walking) has been quite an effort.

When I look down now, I can't see my toes. Wherever I go, I get huge and long stares at the size of my belly and people asking if I am carrying twins or a boy. I am very close to scribbling "1. NOT TWINS" and "2. I am NOT a BOY" across my belly. hmm....maybe I should design a maternity shirt with these words for Pupsik Studio.

(above) Self portrait/what I now see when I look down at my feet.

The hospital bag is packed and I think we are almost ready...

Hospital checklist

1. Receiving blanket and toy (Baby's First "Welcome to Earth" gift)
2. Pupsik Pouch (to cradle baby)
3. Mon Petit nursing poncho (for discrete feeding esp when visitors come around)
4. Towel, toiletries, hair dryer (I can write this here cos I know my mom does not read this blog! I am definitely showering and washing my hair for sure.)
5. Bible, Gina Ford's "The Contented Baby", "House Beautiful" Magazine
6. Gummies and marshmellow (courtesy of Elaine)
7. Hospital gown, nursing tops and slippers
8. Camera/Video
9. Medela Swing breast pump
10. Nursing Pillow

11. Momagenda (will be using this as a journal and to record baby's feeding time and schedule)
12. Beansprout pillow

Hope I am not forgetting anything...

Thanks all for your well wishes and for enquiring how I have been over the last week. Really appreciate your thoughfulness and prayers! xoxoxo

How to deal with attention-seeking kids

Kids can be quite attention-seeking and manipulative. While it can be quite funny at times, parents do have a responsibility not to let it get out of hand. While it is normal for children to need attention and approval, attention-seeking becomes a problem when it happens all the time.

We recently noticed Vera deliberately doing things that we prohibit her to do. Things like throwing things on the floor, throwing a tandrum and sticking things into her mouth just to see our reactions. Vitali and I are just learning how to respond appropriately when she does this.

Here are some tips we found here on how to deal with misbehaviour:

1. When your child misbehaves to get your attention, ignore the misbehavior. You will weaken those demands and extinguish the misbehavior. However, there are many misbehaviors that you should not ignore. Some misbehaviors should be punished. If you must use a punishment, dispense the punishment without anger.

2. Do not take good behavior for granted: give your children positive attention when they are behaving.

When you attend to the negative and ignore the positive, you teach your children to behave in a negative way. Your child will misbehave to get your attention in the future. When a child demonstrates good behavior, notice it. Look for it. The more you notice, the more you will find. You will get more good behavior in the future.

Sesame St - How paper is made

Another one of my favourite clips from Sesame St. I used to be so intriqued by how the dirty mushy old paper could be transformed into such flat and luxurious rolls of white paper.

Sesame Street Old School

I just love Sesame St. I think every child that grew up in the 70s would love it too. My favourite clips were always the ones that explained how things were being made. Like the one above..."How crayons are made".Vitali recently bought volume 1 and 2 of Sesame St "Old School" from here. These DVDs are aimed primarily at adult viewers who grew up watching the series in the 1970s. Watching this certainly brought back lots of memories.More of my favourite clips...

And this one below never failed to crack me up as a child. I think I can trace some of my idiosyncratic tendencies today to this guy.

Lastest pics

Dear family and friends,

At long last, dada has updated Vera's pics taken over the last few months (12-22 mths). The above is my favourite one showing her sitting on the ledge under the TV proudly (and quite seriously) peddling her movie collection. For more pics, click here.

Pregnancy Pictures

We were really blessed to have our photographer friend, Ron Lee of Eyedeas Photography, join us for lunch last weekend and capture some of my pregnancy pictures for us. As you can see, my belly is now, for lack of a better word to describe, the size of a watermelon.

We had an enjoyable time taking the pictures in the comforts of our own home and the wonderful company of Ron who kept us relaxed throughout the entire photo session. Here are some pics to share on Pupsik...

(below) Some pics of Vera frolicking in her own balcony pool after she woke up from her afternoon nap. To see more shots that Ron took for us, click here.

Ron, thanks for sharing this special time of our lives with us and helping us capture such beautiful memories that we will surely look back fondly upon in the days to come. x

Photo Blocks

I wondering whether it is just Vera or that kids around her age (2 years) love to play with blocks. Stacking, banging against the table, transferring from one container to another, piecing together etc... That is why I think making something like these Photo Blocks when I have the time one of these days may be fun.

You can get the materials you need to glue your favourite picture on blocks of wood (available in Art friend), or simply buy a kit here.

Petite Palate

I would definitely order this if they shipped to Singapore but unfortunately, due to the perishable nature of this product, they don't. So I am posting this on Pupsik Studio as a business idea for any mom who has a passion for food and cooking and wants to start a business offering something like this in Singapore. I really think it is a great idea but will not be able to execute something like this cos I don't really have a thing for cooking. Designing the packaging for something like this would excite me more. Petite Palate was started by 2 moms who were trained as chefs. They started off by perfecting their own infant baby food together over playdates when their sons were very young. Once friends found out what these moms were doing, they begged them to make some for baby gifts, christenings, showers, birthdays etc. Today, Petite Palate has grown into a full-fledged business and is dedicated to providing fresh, organic, superior tasting meals for infants and toddlers that are packed full of wholesome nutrients. Here is their philosophy on food:

"Petite Palate wants to change the way we feed our infants and children. Most parents start out by giving their babies jarred baby food. The jarring process (heating to high temperatures until sterilized and shelf stable), destroys many of the vitamins and nutrients that occur naturally in the food. In order to bolster the nutritional value of the jarred food, common practice is to add vitamin and mineral additives after cooking that did not come from the food itself. Petite Palate’s meals, on the other hand, are Flash Frozen, which maintains the food’s own nutritional content while sustaining the shelf life (frozen).

Petite Palate knows that infants are born with taste buds that need to be nurtured from the very first taste of solid food. We believe in the French tradition of small meals with big flavor. This leads to a positive relationship with food (as opposed to large portions of bland foods typically served). If presented as early as possible, children will grow up with better eating habits, reducing the incidence of child obesity and a number of health problems. Petite Palate also believes that with a highly developed palate, older children will choose nutritious foods over fried and processed ones; setting healthy habits for their entire lives. "

Vera's friends

Vera's response when introduced to her cot mobile friends for the first time at 2 months.

Vera: oh dada...you are so funny and ridiculous!