Friday, May 18, 2007
Potty Bench
{image from Boon}
Sitting up
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Drinking from the bucket
For some reason, Vera likes the bucket the most out of all her toys. She would spend endless time just fiddling with it and pretending to drink from it.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Vera gets a haircut
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I actually like Vera's hair messy. Like a crazy baby einstein. But I admit her fringe seems to be blocking her vision. Plus it has been getting really hot in Singapore recently. So, I decided that yes, it is time to whip up the scissors.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Vera likes oatmeal!
The kids survival kit
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Diluted pear juice
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Food trays
It was lots of fun blending the fruits in the mini-blender and distributing it in the food trays for freezing. Each fruit made 3-4 servings. So we are set for the next 10-12 days.
Vera had her first serving of puree pear. She is slowly leaning to open her mouth and chew a little. but she didn't seem to like the pear all that much. I read somewhere that it is normal for babies not to like semi-solids all that much when they are first introduced to it as it is quite different to milk.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Tips for making your own baby food
- Buy organic fruits and vegetables. Your baby deserves pesticide-free foods. Scrub fruits and vegetables extra well with a vegetable brush. Trim stringy parts and remove any part of the food that could cause choking, such as pits, peels, and seeds. Trim excess fat off poultry and meat.
- Steam vegetables. This softens them, makes them easier to chew, and preserves more of the vitamins and minerals than boiling.
- No need to add salt or sugar. Try a bit of lemon juice as both a preservative and a natural flavor enhancer.
- Avoid deep-frying, which adds unhealthy fats to foods.
- Don't feel you have to prepare separate meals for your baby. You can simply take portions of your adult food (before you add any strong seasonings) and grind or mash to a stage appropriate for your baby.
- Make enough for several meals at a time and pour the freshly-cooked and pureed food into an ice cube tray. Cover with cellophane wrap and freeze. Then, remove the frozen food cubes from the tray and store in air-tight freezer bags. Remove one serving-size cube at a time when needed.
- When baby graduates from cube-size portions, store the homemade food in recycled commercial baby food jars or small, plastic, freezer containers. Be sure not to fill the jars to the brim, as food expands as it freezes.
- Label all your freezer packages with contents and date and rotate stock like the supermarket does – putting the most recently frozen foods behind the previously frozen ones. Homemade baby foods can be safely kept frozen for three months.
- For slow thawing, place a day's worth of baby food in the refrigerator. It will thaw in about four hours. For fast thawing, use an electric warming dish or place a heat-safe dish over water in a small saucepan and heat gently.
- If you use a microwave to thaw or warm baby food, be sure to stir the food well to avoid hot pockets.
- No matter what method of heating and thawing you use, stir the food well and test it with your finger to be sure it's not too hot.
- To avoid wasting your carefully prepared cuisine, dole out small portions. Gradually add more, using a clean spoon as needed.
(source: AskDrSears)
Fresh Fruit
(Makes 4 food cubes)
Try different varieties of fruit in this recipe.
- 3/4 cup ripe fruit (uncooked peaches, nectarines, bananas, pears, apricots, apples)
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened fruit juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon-flavored water (1 teaspoon lemon juice to 1 cup water to prevent darkening)
Remove skin and seeds from fruit. Puree ingredients in baby food mill or blender until smooth. Serve or freeze.
(recipe from Wholesome baby food from scratch)
Introducing Semi-Solids
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Dr Sears Top Ten Tips for Interactive Play
2. Visual stimulation is important in the early months. Surround your baby with black and white stripes and contrasting patterns.
3. Rhythm and music promote intellectual development. Sing, clap, and dance together everyday.
4. Ball play uses various skills simultaneously. Join your baby on the floor daily for some bouncing and rolling fun.
5. Stay animated during playtime. Exaggerate your facial expressions and voice to your baby's delight.
6. You're never too busy that you can't take at least a few minutes every day for some fun playtime for two.
7. Toys aren't just for keeping your baby busy. Nothing brings a toy to life better than a creatively involved parent.
8. Imagination opens your child's playtime to whole new worlds. Join in yourself and show your child you can be a kid too.
9. Reading to your child is a treasured bedtime ritual. Start this together time early on so your baby will grow to enjoy story time with mom or dad.
10. Bath time can be so much more than a quick wash and dry. Take your time and enjoy some splashing fun with your child.
{tips from Ask Dr Sears}
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Children's Bedrooms
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Me Too Portable Chair
Monday, April 2, 2007
My pouch
I started experimenting and wearing different baby carriers as soon as my baby girl Vera was born. The baby pouch is my personal favourite and I cannot imagine going anywhere without carrying Vera in my pouch. I recently started designing and making my own pouches to match my wardrobe, and to give to family members and friends. I name my pouches "Pupsik", which means baby doll in Russian. This name is inspired by Vera, who is half Russian.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Quote of the Day
A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was,the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.......
Forest Witcraft
Saturday, March 17, 2007
The Contented Baby
Monday, February 19, 2007
Mon Petit Jardin nursing poncho
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Shabby Chic
Sunday, January 14, 2007
In the pocket baby harness
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Sesame Letterpress
Little Fashion Gallery
Safe and stable, it has large wheels which make moving it easy. You can decide to keep it plain or you can customize it, paint it, or simply decorate it with your child’s name. ( The 2 kiddos on Sofia's bed above seem to be making out.)
Delivered flat-packed, very easy to assemble. Practical and stylish!