Little Milestones

We have had a lot going on over the last few weeks. Besides being busy with many exciting things in store for Pupsik Studio, we have been like any other parents of very young children. A major part of my day is spent taking care of the babies and work usually starts after I put the kids to bed.

Since starting Nadya (above at 8 months) on her semi solid diet a few weeks back, she has progressed to other milestones in her life such as standing in the crib and babbling dada. The little one has been very picky with her food. She somehow can distinguish between the organic food we get from NTUC Fairprice and from the gourmet food stores. Her weekly fresh food intake now arrives in a box from Super Nature. Vera has also started attending play school for 3 hours a day. She seems to really enjoy it.
(above) Mealtime. The food looked so yummy I felt so hungry when I was taking this picture.

(above) Fixing puzzles
(above) drawing on her own leg on her way to school in the car. Imagine my shock when I found her like this when we arrived at school. Point to note: Never leave your child with a marker pen in the car seat.

(above) School trip to the supermarket to learn how to buy groceries

Here is Vera's first school report after starting school for 2 weeks.

----------

Dear Mr Vitali and Tan Su Ling,Vera has been settling quite well in the school setting. She enjoys the outdoors, farm feeding the rabbit, spraying water at plants/trees and the indoor gym.She also enjoys doing art and craft activities and fixing puzzles.She is still having some problem with eating. We will continue to guide her in this.

Regards,

Teacher XXX

--------

Thank you Teacher XXX!

Back from the Fair!

We are back from the 4 day Motherhood Fair that took place over the last weekend! It was such a fun filled event for us. Busy as we were, we really enjoyed meeting and interacting with our customers who we mostly only knew virtually until then!

Here are some pics we took to share.

(above from left to right) Me and my two best girl buddies that go way back with me from our carefree days in SNGS. Elaine (centre) is a trained architect who now teaches design in Singapore Poly and runs an etsy shop. She constantly keeps me inspired, happy and tickled by anything she is up to. Louisa, Elaine's sister, (right most) is the hippest mom with the best sense of style you can find. She is the founder of Mon Petit Jardin and is looking to bring in more new designs/colours for her lovely and oh-so-versatile nursing poncho soon!

(above) Our range of baby pouch carriers which were the best sellers at the fair. Thank you Mommies for letting us know how much you love our carriers. I cannot express how happy I am whenever I see a baby happy or deep asleep in a Pupsik pouch! (above) Our family (with the exception of Nadya sleeping at home) and our two very lovely Pupsik Studio assistants who kindly agreed to help us at the fair.
(above) My husband, Vitali, deep in a trance. It takes a Phd from Princeton to analyse our sales figures and operate the Pupsik Studio cashier.
(above) The very supportive hubbies. Chee (leftmost), Elaine's husband and also an architect, is a tough design critic who keeps us on our toes. Weng Cheu, Louisa's husband who brought his portable OSIM massager to the fair for us to use, owns and runs a thriving dental practice in Kovan Mall. If you are looking for a good dentist, do check him out here.

What would we do without these guys constantly supporting and encouraging us to follow our dreams (oh, and cook, clean and bear their children).
We also launched a few new products during the fair such as our very own natural kapok-filled bolsters now available here! We will take some time to load the rest of the items up on Pupsik Studio so do tune in to our "NEW ITEMS" section.

Again, thank you all for visiting and supporting us at the Fair!

x
Su Ling

WHEN I SAY, "I AM A CHRISTIAN"

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!" I'm whispering, "I get lost! That's why I chose this way".

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't speak with human pride. I'm confessing that I stumble-needing God to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong.I'm professing that I'm weak and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success.I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't think I know it allI submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I do not wish to judge. I have no authority--I only know I'm loved

Copyright 1988 Carol Wimmer

Blogger of the Month in June's issue of Home & Decor

As some of you may know, I am the author of another design blog called Laissezfaire. Mainly used to catalog my design inspirations, Laissezfaire (a French term used to describe a policy of allowing events to take their own course, literally meaning "let do") was started in 2007 as a way of keeping in touch with the design community. It was during this time that I took a year off my full time job as an architect/urban planner then to take care of my baby at home. With God's grace, I have since then made a fulfilling career switch into a full-time mom of two babies and operate Pupsik Studio from my home studio + blackberry-on-the-go.

Thank you Home & Decor for choosing me as your blogger of the month in your June issue! I am deeply honoured to be featured! (click on image above to enlarge)

Happy Customers are our best form of advertisement (Part II)!

Hi Chiao Chyi, thank you for putting together such lovely pics of you and Hannah in a pouch! The little one is growing beautifully! xoxo

"I thought my pouch days were over when my daughter started walking. When I won the pouch I was excited, but I really didn't know when I'd use it again, until you wrote that u were still using the pouch with Vera. So now I sling my daughter when I'm out alone with her, so she can't run anywhere...I can do my shopping! :)"

Chiao Chyi

Happy Customers are our best form of advertisement!

Thank you to Yuling and Huijia for showering such lovely compliments of our pouch on your blogs! Happy customers like you two always make my day! xoxo

(above) Mommy Yuling and Missy Raeann in a Vintagebaby (classic) pouch.

"I don’t know how I would have survived the weekend without this Pupsik pouch.

There were gatherings, grocery shopping trips, lunches and errands to be fitted into every waking minute, and Missy Raeann was out and about like a little dancer on her toes. It doesn’t quite help that she can now go from the lying position to the sitting to the kneeling (on her own, with no assistance), and eventually to the standing position (provided there are props like the crib or our pillows). She’s adrenalized these days by her new skills!

I couldn’t keep her still in the stroller. I couldn’t get her to nap. She only wants to transform from position to position.

And the only thing that can soothe the revved-up Missy is this pretty little thing I won from the Pupsik giveaway.

That’s when the world is not so topsy-turvy, for me and missy.

That’s when I can take a swig of coffee.

That’s when she leans in close to my chest, her fingers clutching mine.

Now, she even swings her arms endearingly towards the sling when I take it out of the diaper bag. I’m getting so dependent on it I’m awfully glad it’s such a pretty one in vintage toile print. My yummy-mummy-wanna-be accessory." Yuling

(above) Huijia and Baby Luke in a Fairground pouch

Currently listening to

Baby Weaning

We have started the process weaning Nadya. She enjoyed her first semi-solid meal of organic brown rice cereal during Easter. Since then, we have introduced other delicacies into her diet bit by bit every 3 days such as pumpkin, oatmeal, bananas, pear etc...

Here is a video showing her enjoying her first mouthful of semi solids after 6 months of breastmilk.

I was chatting with Ann, a former midwife and loyal Pupsik Studio customer, about the subject of weaning a couple of months back. Ann was weaning her own son back then and offered to share her knowledge on "Child-led Weaning" through this blog.

Here is a lovely picture of Ann's son Leo in a Pupsik pouch. (Err...Ann, why did you cut your own head off?)

Another pic showing Ann and Leo with the teething pendant she got from us most recently.

Interview with Ann

1. Hi Ann, can you share a little bit about your background?

I started my nursing in NYP, then went on to the UK to get my nursing degree & worked there for about 1 yr. I was with Mount Alvernia Hospital for about 6+yrs & they sent me to do further studies in Midwifery. I'm now a SAHM to Leo Riki who is 9 months old.

2. Can you tell me briefly about baby-led weaning? What does it mean?

Baby-led weaning (often referred to as BLW) is a method of weaning where baby is in control of his solid food intake by self feeding from the start of the feeding process. As opposed to the parent controlling how much & what the baby consumes.

3. How is this different from just "weaning"?

There are no purees in BLW. Only chunks of food that a baby can hold onto in shapes such as french fries size. The baby is offered the SAME food as what the parent is eating, so long as there isn't any salt added. Baby chooses what he needs & feeds himself. ok leo's screaming for attention. will continue later

(Several weeks later....the interview continues over email...)

4. How do you do it?

Make sure baby is above 6 months of age, & has some what lost the tongue thrust reflex. just sit baby upright, either in a high chair or on your lap & allow baby to choose from what you're eating. best that there isn't any salt added to the food.

5. What advantages does this method have?

Improves dexterity, hand eye co-ordination & strengthens mouth muscles so speech may be earlier. baby chooses & eats according to what he needs. baby will less likely be a fussy eater. it easy, stress free, no purees.

6. Any difficulties moms might encounter and should expect?

There may be some gagging but it's normal & will be experienced by babies who're fed purees. family members may oppose to this method of weaning & believe that purees are best for baby & easier to digest.

7. Anything additional tips?

Relax & enjoy your baby feeding himself & enjoying it too! eating together is ideal so baby can follow you & feel included.

8. Any further web resources and feeding tools to recommend?

http://www.rapleyweaning.com/

http://www.baby-led.com/

http://www.tribalbaby.org/babyLedEating.html

http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby-led_weaning

Baby-led weaning by Gill Rapley & Tracy Murkett is a great book to read up on as well. A feeding mat is ideal for baby esp when eating out, a bib with a pocket to catch food that baby drops & a plastic sheet beneath the high chair at home to catch food that baby drops for easy clean up & you can give the food back to baby since it's off a clean mat & not the floor.

Oh talking about bibs...I have a great one to recommend moms. Da-Bibs is a wonderfully designed patent pending bib that offers wonderful coverage. I am looking to order a few for Nadya. I did a review on the bibs here before when I was weaning Vera and loved it! Interested to order? Email me at hello@pupsikstudio.com with the subject title Da-Bib to let me know which styles and quantity you want before May 30th. The special pre-order price of the bib will be SGD24.

Little Inspirations, Big Ideas

Thank you Young Parents for choosing to feature us in your May issue feature on "little inspirations, big ideas"! It was so much fun and a great honour to be featured amongst 2 other amazing moms who have also turned their passion in business.
In the course of doing this interview, I was asked how Pupsik Studio came about. Since a few other moms whom I have met through this business have asked me this same question on a few occasions, thought I would take this opportunity to share more about the story behind this little business we run from home on this blog...

Pupsik Studio started out as a blog about 2 years ago. (Pupsik means baby doll in Russian). The blog was mainly started to update family and friends round the world on my first baby girl, Vera, who is half russian. I also used the blog to share interesting products that I found online with other parents. I am not sure how word spread but soon after, people were emailing me to share their own journey as new parents and sending me baby/children's products they had designed to review on my blog. I also began receiving sponsorship requests from organisations such as Martha Stewart's which supported my blog with ad revenue.

Trained as an architect and designer, I have always enjoyed designing and making things with my hands. During my free time over the course of my maternity leave , I experimented with designing and making things using my home sewing machine. My blog became a useful tool for me to share the products I had made and to get feedback on it. One of the items I made early on which became very popular with family and friends was the baby pouch carrier. I spent quite a lot of time in front of the sewing machine during the early days perfecting little details of the carrier which made it more comfortable and easy to use. I also sourced for suitable fabrics and sent the carriers to be tested with a professional body to make sure that it was safe to carry heavier babies. With the popularity of these carriers, I realised that I could actually turn this into a viable business and fulfill my dream of taking care of my babies at home while pursuing my own interests.

As most of you know, I welcomed my second baby girl, Nadya, 7 months ago and decided to turn quit my job as an architect to concentrate on the babies and run Pupsik Studio as a a full time business. While I am now busier than ever running this business, I am really thankful to God and happy to have the opportunity to work on something I am passionate about from home close to my kids each day.
(above) Vera's Oobi Baby reversible dress available where else but Pupsik Studio! =)

Mother's Day Feature in Motherhood Chinese

I was honoured to be featured in April/May's recent issue of Motherhood Chinese to share a little about my own mom.

Here's the transcript in English.

Happy Mother's Day, Mommie! Love you! xoxo

1. 你庆祝母亲节吗？怎样庆祝？/ do you celebrate mother's day?

When we were younger, my siblings and I would wake up early in the morning to make breakfast and serve her breakfast-in-bed with presents to show our appreciation for her. The meal would consist of food we loved to eat like steak, baked potato and salad even though it was for breakfast. I will also make it a point to prepare a special gift with my hands, like a card or craftwork. Now that we are older and busier, we usually celebrate by taking her out for a meal.

2. 在你的印象里，妈妈所做的最令你难忘的事？/ What is the thing your mother did that makes you unforgettable in your memory?

There are so many unforgettable things that my mother has done for me that makes it difficult to answer this question. If I had to pick one, it would be her deciding overnight to fly to London to take care of me when I was studying there and sick.

3. 如何评价你和你妈妈之间的关系? / How is the relationship between your mother and you?

The age gap between me and my mother is quite small at 20 years. So now especially, I sometimes treat her more like a friend. She has to remind me often that she is my mother when I cross the line with her.

4. 妈妈对你意味着什么？/ What does your mother mean to you?

I don't think I tell or show my mother often enough how much she means to me and how much I love her. In many ways, she means the world to me.

5. 你的妈妈对你的影响？/ How your mothers influence you?

I guess one of the biggest influence my mom has on me is her love and care towards older people. This is something that you cannot learn from text books but pick up by watching how she treats older people in our family.

6. 你最想对妈妈说的话？/ What are words you want to tell your mother?

Thank you mummy for always putting my interest at heart and for always loving me even though I can be quite difficult at times.

7. 你怎样表达对妈妈的爱意？/ How do you express your love to your mother?

I feel that love cannot be expressed by things like giving money or gifts. That is too easy. I try to express my love for my mom by observing small things that she might like. For example, if I come across a restaurant, massage, facials treatment that I like, I will always naturally think of her and remind myself to bring or give her a treat.

8. 对妈妈的祝福是什么？/ What are your blessings and wishes to your mother?

That she will be fun loving and funny always

9. 自己做妈妈之后的感受？ / what's your feeling after you became a mother?

That a mother will always love her children unconditionally and that we are only as happy as our happiest child is.

10. 身为一名母亲，想对孩子说的话？/ being a mother, what do you want to tell your kid?

That I may not always know or do the right thing (probably tell them this only when they are older and can understand) but I will always make decisions that will have their best interest at heart, given the circumstances.

Mother's Day Sale

In celebration of Mother's Day this week, we are giving away a pair of Oobi's sweet satin eye-mask (worth $14.90) to all purchases above $120. In addition, you get to enjoy free shipping + free gift wrap on your item (if requested).

Don't miss out on pampering yourself and taking advantage of our Mother's Day Sale this week. You deserve it!

From one mom to another, Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo

Smart Mom Teething Blings

My jaws dropped when I first saw these yummy teething blings. I just couldn't imagine how brilliant the person who came up with such a clever invention like this must be. Naturally, the mommies that came up with these aptly call themselves "smartmom(s)" Indeed!Teething Bling® was inspired by babies who like to tug on our jewelry. It is the original patent-pending teething jewelry.

Made from the same material as many teething toys, Teething Bling® looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew.Teething Bling® products are non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC and lead free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp. CE marking approved.

Hollywood celebrities such as Denise Richards, Ming Na Wen and Tory Spelling love and I bet you, so will you! My 6 month old Nadya and I luurve it, especially the colours and the fact that it doesn't look like a teether at all! I have had my fair shair of frustrations with kid-ish looking teethers that get dropped on the floor, mis-placed etc so this gorgeous wearable invention is heaven-sent. People cannot believe it whenever they see me giving these teething blings to Nadya to chew. My 2 year old also loves putting it on herself. The breakaway clasps on the pendant also make these safe for her to wear and play with.
We are excited to share that Pupsik Studio has been appointed the exclusive retailer of these blings in Singapore. You can now get your hands on the gorgeous donut pendant and bangle blings here and here.

In celebration of mother's day, we are doing a sale on the blings this week. The sale is while stocks last so get one today before they run out!

Babywearing and Breastfeeding Workshop

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of babywearing and breastfeeding from other moms who can share their own experience with you? If so, join us for our first organised babywearing and breastfeeding workshop this Sat, May 9th.

Details as follows:

Place: Baby Meadows at Katong Mall (B1-20)

Time: 2-4pm

Cost: $5 (redeemable with purchase)

To sign up, please email us at hello@pupsikstudio.com with the subject heading "Workshop" so we can reserve a seat at this exciting workshop with you.

Bring your questions and be prepared for a fun filled time as we share our experiences together. Spread the word!

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love,
the heartache, the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

Author unknown
----

To Vera and Nadya and all the moms out there who feel the way I do about the above. xoxo

Follow me on Twitter!

I finally got round to signing up on Twitter and oh it is soo much fun! Almost additive. If you would like to follow this Tweeter newbie, click here! I will mostly be using this to post the latest on my baby online store and update more frequently on day-to-day (and sometimes banal) events that keep me busy and inspired.

Craft Projects for Kids this Easter

I have been searching high and low for a simple and fun craft project to do with Vera this Easter weekend. Finally found this fun looking project that turns normal white paper envelope into something fun at Martha Stewart crafts here. You can fill the envelopes with treats to give away.

For more craft ideas that really make you wish you had more time as a mom, click here.

Remembering and Giving Thanks this Easter

The little imperfections that make them perfect

This commercial really touched my heart and I thought I would share it here on this blog. I love this quote:

" In the end, it's these small things that you remember. The little imperfections that make them perfect for you. So to my beautiful children, I hope that one day you too find yourselves life partners who are as beautifully imperfect as your father was to me..."

And if you are up for another version of this after seeing the above, click here. (you have to understand Singlish for this "alternative version")

New Pouch Designs have Arrived!

It has been a hectic week for us at Pupsik Studio! With much excitement, we are happy to announce that our new pouch designs have arrived! Not only do we have more colours and designs this time, we are also introducing reversible ones for those of you who like having 2 pouches in 1!

While design aesthetics have always been important to us at Pupsik Studio, we never compromise on other important aspects such as safety, cost and comfort. All our pouches and made from special durable fabric with a slight stretch and triple-stitched together with one of the strongest and best quality thread available in the market. So fussy we are about the safety of our pouches that we actually sent them to be tested by an internationally certified professional body. Needless to say, our pouches passed with flying colours and has been proven to be able to carry weights up to 20kg without any visible signs of stress.

Like our popular collection last year, each pouch is made from cotton (great for the weather in Singapore) with a slight stretch that is oh-so-comfy! Each pouch also come with a pocket feature for you to store little nick-nacks on the go such as cards, tissue paper, a spare diaper etc.
Stylish and sleek, our custom sizing also means that you don't have to mess with excess fabric or rings and buckles. When you don't need the pouch, all you have to do is roll it up in a small bundle to fit into your handbag. There is no other type of baby carrier with such a compact design that allows you to do this!

As the pouch is sized to fit you, this means that the same sized sling can be used from when baby is born till they are 20kg! This is because you change the baby's position (from cradle carry to kangaroo and finally, the front carry) to accommodate baby's growth in the pouch.

We are also introducing some limited designs like the toile design you see above called Vintage Baby Classic. I have long been a fan of toile. If I could, I would probably decorate all the accessories in our nursery out of this classic design. However, due to the cost of producing these toile designs, we are limiting it to a few numbers for sale as we always try to offer our carriers at an affordable price.

If you are thinking of getting a pouch as a gift for a friend that has given birth and are not sure about what size to choose, you can now easily purchase a prepaid return envelope with your order here! This way, your friend can very easily send back the pouch to us for an exchange in the event the she needs a different size at no additional cost!

Here are some pic of our little Nadya modeling in a pouch below. Like Vera (who is now 2.5yrs and is still being carried in a pouch by the way), she absolutely adores being in one and would kick her legs up in excitement everything she sees us approaching and waving a pouch in our hand.

For more designs, please visit our website here! We have a list of Frequently Asked Questions but if you have any additional questions, please feel free to email me at hello@pupsiksudio.com !

Terrible Twos

If you have been following our home videos here and here, you would have noticed that my interaction with Vera very often draws a "No!" response.

Me: Give Mama this, please?

Vera: No!

While it was quite cute when we first found out that she could express herself so assertively, such moments have become quite tiring on days when I run out of patience. Experts call this period when children display such "bad" behaviour as the Terrible Twos.

The Terrible Twos are often characterized by oppositional behavior, mood changes, and temper tantrums. "No" becomes a favorite word. Apparently, this is considered normal parts of child development. The frustration and challenging behavior they display is often due to the fact that a toddler's ability to communicate hasn't caught up with his desire to communicate.

Here are some tips I found here to help manage a child that is in her terrible twos:

1. Make predictable routines part of your toddler's day.
2. Give regular healthy snacks to keep blood sugar steady.
3. Offer limited choices -- two to three options -- to your toddler (for example, "Do you want apple juice or orange juice in your sippy cup?").
4. Set limits (but expect him to test them).
5. Provide a safe, toddler-proofed environment for him.

I also found these 10 ways to tame your kid's tantrums quite useful. Of course, you would need to apply different methods depending on the circumstance...

1. Ignore the Kid. Often they are behaving badly to get your attention so paying too much attention means that your kid will learn that this is an effective way to get you to notice them.

2. Give your child some space. This allows him to get his anger out and hopefully regain self control on their own without getting into a yelling battle with you.

3. Create a diversion. We are getting quite good at this it is ridiculous the things my husband and I say just to create a diversion. Like, "Look! There is a rat there!" Kids usually have quite short attention span so get them interested in something else and the tantrum would stop.

4. Find out what is frustrating your kid. Perhaps they are tired?

5. Hugs. For reassurance especially if you sense they are insecure about something.

6. Offer food or some rest. Often, kids act up become they are simply tired. Imagine how we feel when we don't get enough sleep!

7. Give your kids some incentive to behave. Well, this works for people of all ages I guess.

8. Speak calmly. You lose if you end up acting like you are throwing a tandrum yourself!

9. Look calm and laugh it off if possible. Don't allow yourself to lose control.

10. Get out of there! A change of environment usually changes the behaviour.

What a lovely name

Pweegnant and looking for a name for the little one? This site may be just for you!

Latest Pics for Family and Friends

Dear Family and Friends,

I am growing up well and have hit the birth weight of a 1 year old although I am only 4+ months.

My che che loves to show her love for me when the camera is rolling. However, she does hit and bite me occassionally when no one is looking. Anyway, I believe she loves me deep down inside.

More pics of us can be found here and here.

xoxo nadya