More pics of Vera (by popular demand)

The Balmoral Pram

I was wondering just the other day whether they still made these kinds of prams. Oh yes, they do at Silver Cross! Once the most sought after carriages for Europe's royals and aristocrats, this British company has been building its reputation as the premiere carriage / pram company for over a hundred years. With its steel bodied frame, polished chrome chassis and hand-spoked wheels, this vintage pram (called the Balmarol pram) is designed to transport your baby in luxury It is a celebrity favorite with Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Tori Spelling. (via)

Smurfs - Baby Smurf Is Missing

Smurfs used to be the reason why I woke up on Sunday mornings. I like that they all have different personalities, although I realise now that there are a lot of generic smurfs who just run a round and do what they are told. My heart goes out to the smurf that always got kicked out of the community for expressing himself too much.

Janine Stow Photography

Classic and timeless photography by Janine Stow. Janine likes to work with families in the comfort of their surroundings, rather than a studio, as children tend to be more relaxed in a familiar environment. She also feels that the photographs will be more personal if they have a familiar background such as a home which would serve as a reminder of your children at that place and time in their lives. Do check out Janine's website for more wonderful pictures. A beautiful way to capture the memories of your child.

Little Jules

I had blogged about the wonderful keepsakes from Little Jules in a previous post. Little Jules is now giving US$10 off your order when you enter the coupon code PUPSIK. Thanks Tania!

{above: Handcrafted sterling silver "Little Jules Birth Necklace" at US$59}

Swimming

Vera goes swimming for the first time in Mommy's waterproof pouch!

Pixie Playtime

I don't know why but kids just love drawing on walls. Weren't you like that as a kid? Make your child's dream come true with this colouring wallpaper. This is today's hottest wall product as featured on HGTV's "I Want That". Just grab some crayons and let the numbers be your guide! Roll dimensions: 6 inches x 15 feet . Available at 2jane.

Vera and Daddy

Above: Daddy Vitali.
Picture taken November 1974, Winter in the former USSR
Age: 8 months
Above: Baby Vera
Picture taken June 2007, err...Summer in Singapore
Age: 8 months

ps: The round doll (called "nieveleshka" in Russian or "bu dao ong" in Mandarin) at the left corner of both pictures are from Vitali's parents.

somebody eeelppp me!!

Double click image to watch video. Must watch!!

Matryoshka

Just love these matryoshka (Russian nesting dolls) cards from mmmg and letterspacepaper.

Culla Belly co-sleeper

This innocative co-sleeper design called Culla Belly ("Belly Crib"), by Italian designers Manuela Busetti and Andrea Garuti, won first prize at Playing Design's International Design Competition for children's design. Hope that it gets to be manufactured!

[via SwissMiss and Coochicoos]

They're all our children

Via Mom4life's blog, I got to know about "They're all our children". Nicki started this blog to blog about issues that affect children worldwide and how we can all help. Do check it out!

Britain's Got Talent - Connie Talbot (Finals)

double click image above to view Connie at the finals...

Britain's Got Talent - Connie Talbot (auditions)

This is 6 years old Connie Talbot who took part in Britain's Got Talent. Connie discovered she could sing while cheering up her terminally ill grandmother with a selection of songs from The Wizard of Oz. Her mother bought her a karaoke machine because the family could not afford singing lessons.

Double click on image above to listen to the voice of a brave little angel...

Presenting the Chariot Cougar 2!

WawaWeewa!!

Check out the Chariot's Cougar 2! Featuring lightweight aluminum wheels, a large storage pocket, reflective accents and a removable, hand-washable seat bottom! The Cougar comes with comfy padded seating system for 2 kids and easily folds down for storage and transportation too!

Happy Father's Day!

It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.

~ Anne Sexton

Father's Day - June 17

With Father's Day round this weekend, thought I would do a post for Daddies since it is always so difficult to get them a gift. I recently found out about The GoodFather gift CD-ROM for new and expecting dads and thought it was so clever and humourous. The GoodFather is a CD in a custom gift box that teaches new dads hundreds of baby skills through a fun parody of the mobster epic The GodFather. The topics were created for men by experienced dads and grandfathers, and edited by licensed nurses to ensure the material is medically sound. (yes, this is extremely important). Sold for $29.95 at Drmoz

Plant Growth Chart

A fun way to track your child's height! Available at Greenergrassdesign.

Standing up

The knees are a little wobbly but we are learning to stand!

First passport stamp!

Footprints

I came across this beautiful photography website called Footprints today. Their photographic style is honest, natural and elegant, celebrating life, love and family. Ph0tographer Erin Drallos started professional photography in 1997. She calls her business FOOTPRINTS to remind herself that when she went through the most difficult time in her life, with the lost of her best friend and mother, she now looks back and sees only one set of footprints... "And I knew HE carried me."


{all images from footprints}

Baby panda

Double click image below to view video

Peapod travel bed

When it comes to comfort, most baby travel beds fall short! The peapod travel bed promises to be different — it has a thick, inflatable mattress that cradles baby luxuriously, lifting her up off cold floors and hard ground. There is even an ultra-secure safety enclosure, which blocks wind, sun (with 50%UV protection), and insects. Folds flat. For birth to 1 year.

One of my favourite pics

Quote of the week

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.

Rachel Carson

Please demolish my school

This is a HILARIOUS bona-fide call from an 8 year old in Dublin to the demolition department. Double click image below to hear it!

Baby stroller

There are so many baby strollers out there but I have not come across one that combines safety, convenience, style and usability. We are currently using a Quinny Zapp which can be fitted to a maxi-cosi car seat bucket . While the design is quite nice and compact-looking (lots of people on the streets ask us where we got it from), I actually find the car seat a little too heavy to transfer between the car and the stroller each time we go out. It also takes quite a bit of practice to fit and remove the car seat bucket onto the stroller.Just came across this new stroller design on the web recently. Apparently, it incorporates research mined from a group of first-time parents and has a special stretcher system that eliminates the need for cumbersome foam padding. Check out their website. There is even a video with Worrell's designer Dan Clements taking you through the design process behind this stroller. While the contraption looks way too bulky for me, I really like the concept and the way it looks! A modern take on the classic stroller.

If you are using a stroller and are happy with it, do leave a recommendation!

Diaper Review

When identifying the best disposable diapers, many factors come into play: Absorbency, fastener quality, fit, affordability and most importantly, resistance to leaks. While many parents swear by the more established brands such as Pampers, there are actually more affordable brands out there that are just as good, if not better, for your babies.

Here is a review of the diapers we have tried on Vera, by self-professed diaper expert Dr. Z. Daddy. We welcome feedback and reviews on other brands you have tried.



Brand: Nepia (6-12kg)
Price: 35 cents per piece
Rating: 5 out of 5 (highly recommended)
Review: Cloth-like material. Velcro-like fastener (good). Resistant to poo and pee leaks. High absorbency. Good value for money

Brand: EQ (6-12kg)

Price: 25 cents per piece
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Recommended)
Review: Cheaper version of Nepia. Plastic sticky-tape fastener (not as good). Cloth-like material not as soft as Nepia. Resistant to poo and pee leaks. High absorbency. Great value for money

Brand: Pampers New Born (<5kg)>Price: 50 cents per piece
Rating: 3 out of 5
Review: Soft cotton-like material. Good resistance to pee leaks but not poo leaks. Velcro fastener. Equipped with pee meter. Expensive since you have to change 7-8 times a day for newborns.

Brand: Pampers Baby Dry (4-8kg)

Price: 35 cents per piece
Rating: 4 out of 5
Review: Not as soft as Pampers new-born. Good Absorbency. Better resistance to poo leaks. Velcro fastener. Good value for money.


Brand: Drypers Baby Diapers (3-7kg)
Price: 20 cents per piece

Rating: 1 out of 5

Review: Poor resistance to pee and poo leaks. We stopped using after a few tries

Brand: Fitti Baby Diapers (5-11kg)

Price: 29 cents per piece
Rating: 1 out of 5
Review: Poor resistance to pee and poo leaks. We stopped using after one try.

Little Jules

What a great way to commemorate and celebrate the birth of your little one! More lovely handcrafted pieces can be found at Little Jules online store.

How to develop healthy eating habits in your baby

1. Don't overfeed your baby. Watch for cues that he's full.

2. Don't try to make your child eat food he doesn't like. Respect his preferences and avoid power struggles over food.

3. Try to provide a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. Use sweets, salts, and fats in moderation.

4. Avoid fast food for as long as possible.

5. Don't bribe or reward your child with food. Instead, offer plenty of hugs, kisses, and attention.

6. Feed your baby in his highchair whenever possible, rather than in front of the television or on the go.

{advice from Babycentre}