Ants on the Apple

Thought I will share a fantastic find on Pupsik. If you have not heard about it, there is a wonderful Phonics book out there in stores called "Ants on the Apple". It has a really catchy tune and teaches children the sounds of the alphabet. Vera loves it and even my husband and I are hooked! The pictures in the book are really old school too. A wonderful educational tool that is sure to be a hit with your child if you are teaching them the alphabet.

Click here to listen to the song. Available at IMM (Singapore) , Children's world #02-47 for $28

Warning: it may be difficult to get it out of your head if you listen to it too long.

Baby Bonkie - stylish infant swaddle

I recently came across the most luxurious swaddle blankets ever by Baby Bonkie. Their swaddle design imitates the womb which soothes and calms newborns. The Happiest Baby on the Block, written by Dr. Harvey Karp, a leading authority on newborns, explains that "Swaddling allows babies to pay attention to their calming reflex. It also keeps them from flailing their arms and startling themselves." In case you are wondering, this snug feeling that newborn babies like can also be achieved by carrying them in our Pupsik pouch when you are out and about!

With a wide range of gorgeous designer fabrics to choose from, these magic blankets are as pretty and practical as can be. And they are machine washable too!

Pupsik Studio - featured in Today's Parents (Feb)

A big THANK YOU to Today's Parents for featuring our baby pouches in their February 08 issue!

"It's cuddle-time this month as stylish Pupsik Baby Pouch Carrier brings you closer to baby. Made with soft and stretchable cotton fabric, this lightweight baby pouch slings easily and comfortably across your shoulders during outings, without the fuss of buckles and straps. Tested safe for newborns and babies up to 20kg, this machine washable baby pouch keeps babies heartbeat close to yours.

Available at http://www.pupsikstudio.com/ at SGD $42.90."

Pupsik Blog - featured in YOUNGPARENTS (Feb)

The recently released February issue of Youngparents did a short feature of the Pupsik blog in an article entitled "How r u grandma". The article was basically about how grandparents use creative ways to keep in touch with their grandchildren in the digital age.

The magazine had learned about Vera's grandparents in Russia and were interested to find out how we kept in touch with them, given the distance and language barrier we had. We shared that other than "talking" over the telephone, we had maintained our "long-distance relationship" though this blog and videos posted on youtube which document Vera's developments, such as "the first time Vera cried because she didn't like our singing, the first time she walked" etc.

I really think that blogging is such an amazing tool to connect with your loved ones and friends both near and afar and is probably one of the greatest cybernet inventions over the last 2-3 years. Am also thankful that this new media has given me the opportunity to know many parents round the world, especially during my early days of adjusting as a new mom at home. Really hope that I will be able to continue bringing interesting finds, articles and new experiences to share with everyone on this blog (not just the grandparents!) =)

Thank you Young Parents for featuring us and thank you readers for reading our blog!

Tutu-tastic tutorial

I DIY-ed a tutu for Vera's first birthday 3 months ago. Guess in a way, I was playing out my prima ballerina fantasies on my unsuspecting little one. If you think you might like to make one for yourself, the tutorial is here. Go on and try it! You can buy the gorgeous tutu fabric from Arab St (Singapore) for $3-5 a metre. Have a great weekend!

Noah and the Ark

These toy blocks by Plantoy are so cute! A wonderful way to engage your child's imagination and teach then the biblical story of how God punished and destroyed mankind for their sins through the flood and saved Noah and some animals in the ark!

This play-set comes with 12 pairs of brightly colored animals and figures of Noah and his wife. The roof can be removed for easy access to the cabin and the gangway can be opened to access the cargohold that has three portholes to allow children to see the animals inside.

Wearing instructions - Kangaroo carry (3-6months)

Wearing Instructions - Front Carry

Wearing instructions - Cradle Carry (newborn)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! We are finally back after a short Christmas and New Year break! We really give thanks to God for a wonderful 2007 and for the precious and fulfilling time I could spend taking care of Vera as a full-time mom over the last year.

It has been a busy few weeks for us. Vera's grandparents from Russia are here with us in Singapore to visit their granddaughter for the first time (see video above)! Vera has definitely taken a liking to them and appears to be picking up the Russian language from them as well!

I have to start the new year by saying a big thank you to all for your encouraging words and support since the recent launch of our Pupsik online store. So far, the store has also been doing well beyond our expectations and we could not have done it without you all out there helping us spread the word about it! While it has been quite a challenge getting everything started (especially while taking care of a one year old baby full-time) I am really thankful to God for friends, family and even online acquaintances who have helped and encouraged me in big ways and small. We are also absolutely delighted to have Pupsik featured in the Jan 08 issue of Young Parents and DrMoz.com! Thank you Young Parents and DrMoz.com!

God willing, we will continue working on expanding on the range of products, that we firmly believe in as parents, to be offered through the Pupsik online store. Meanwhile, we would love to continue hearing from you and would appreciate any feedback you can give us to improve on our existing products! To reach us, just email us at hello@pupsikstudio.com.

Thanks again and stay tuned to Pupsik!

Merry Christmas!

I will be taking a break from blogging to celebrate the Christmas holidays with family and friends at home. Will be back in blogland on Monday, Jan 7th to resume my regular posts.

Here's wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Blesssings,
Su Ling

ps: The instructions for the no-bake cookie cottage you see above can be found here.

Baby Jaden

I was doing some research online for an article about babywearing I am doing for a baby magazine when I came across the story about baby Jaden.

6 month old baby Jaden was born seemingly perfectly healthy. However, he is now diagnosed with a disease called Krabbies that affects the formation of the myelin surrounding the nerves. This poor baby is in constant pain and has been give only a few months to live. Seeing a video of Baby Jaden on his website almost brought me to tears.

Jaden's parents are working hard to keep him comfortable. Apparently, they had bought a sling for him to keep him close to them every second of the day. There are some new drugs that have been used to treat this terrible disease in the UK but the family can’t afford the medical treatment without help. If you can, please pray and consider donating to his medical trust. I know that many of us receive lots of emails like this asking for donations that we can get quite desensitised or even skeptical. If you need more information, check out his website. His parents also keep a blog for him to keep others updated on his progress.

Pupsik™ Online Shop is up!

After months of hard work, I am proud to announce that Pupsik™ Studio online store is finally open! Hurray! Some of you might have already found your way there though the button link on the top right corner of this blog. The site is fairly simple in design and I hope to keep it that way. We are still working on refining some parts of it and would most welcome any feedback as we go along!

Our store is currently dedicated to baby pouch carriers and nursing ponchos. Two products that I truely believe in and have been indispensible to me over my last one year as a nursing mom on the go! I am proud to say that both products have been lovingly developed by moms and endorsed by our very own flesh and blood!

The pouch carrier is an amazing design. Unlike the conventional sarong sling with a ring, the pouch is more stylish-looking, compact and easy-to-use. The whole thing can be rolled up to fit in your handbag. There is no need to fuss with rings or straps and the same size can be used as soon as your baby is born until toddlerhood! As the pouch is made to fit you, we have worked to develop a unique Pupsik™ sizing chart that will cover most Asian frames. Our pouches have even been tested safe by TUD-SUV for being able to carry weights of up to 20kg!

The baby pouch carrier by Pupsik™ Studio currently comes in 5 solid neutral colours and 2 designs that are easy to match your wardrobe. The cotton fabric we use have a slight stretch for comfort and are extremely nice to touch. We hope to introduce more colours and designs with time.

Since launching our website a few days ago, we have had a few questions about our pouches. The most common question being, "What does Pupsik mean?" Well, Pupsik means "Baby Doll" in Russian. It is the nickname of my baby Vera who is half Russian. You can find out more about us here.

To make things easier, I have put together a FAQ page on our website that will address the most common questions that you may have. If you have any additional questions, or may be interested to distribute our pouches through your shop, please email us at (hello@pupsikstudio.com). We strive to answer all emails and orders within 24 hours!

Thank you and happy shopping!

The Cradle

There seems to be more and more "mom" websites, online shops and blogs popping up in the virtual sphere these days. The vast majority of these sites and business have been started by stay home moms who feel that they shouldn't have to choose between rewarding work and nurturing their family. 3 cheers for stay home moms!

I recently came across a cool parenting and social networking website called The Cradle. It is beautifully put together and filled to the brim with very current and interesting articles such as "How to break the news to your boss about your pregnancy", "Is plastic safe?" and decorating tips from the very best experts in the field. What's more, there is even a section just for dads-to-be! My favourite part of this site has got to be "My Cradle", where you get to create your own custom web page and pregnancy blog for free!

To celebrate their launch, The Cradle is offering a super holiday giveaway. You stand a chance to win a Bugaboo stroller, a Svan high chair, wall decals from 2Modern and more if you sign up before 20 Dec. Sadly, the contest is open to US residents only. =(

Twisty Critters

I always think that simple toys like these wooden blocks are the best for stimulating little minds and encouraging imagination. And they are oh so lovely and nolstagic looking! via ohdeedoh.

Huppureppu / Hood Bag

I want a bag like this to go to work!

FURNISHED plexiglas Ding house

This colourful house comes in modules to allow you to create different zones according to your child’s wishes. The yellow and orange plexiglass panels even allows light through and you can even transform it into a garage! How stylish and imaginative.

Smallstep

Designed and manufactured in Stockholm, Sweden, Smallstep is a line of ultra contemporary chidren’s clothes with simple, clean lines. The designs are specially designed to accommodate your growing child. They also come in a range of neutral colors so they’re easy to mix and match with your child’s wardrobe and accessories.

Thank you!

A big thank you (again) to Martha Stewart for deciding to sponsor Pupsik Studio! I was over the moon when Martha and her team approached me some time ago to sponsor my design blog Laissezfaire. So you can imagine how excited I am again to hear that she has also taken an interest in my baby's blog! Martha Stewart has a wonderful section on her website just for kids. It is filled with lots of wonderful craft ideas and activities to do with children. Do check it out!

Thanks again Martha!

If you would like to join Martha Stewart in sponsoring Pupsik Studio, please contact me! Thanks!

Slate Clock

Teach your child numbers adn the time with this Slate Clock from Haba. comes with 2 pendulums - one for chalk and another for an eraser!

Miles Rug

I love this highway Miles Rug! Even comes with three wooden toy cars. Hand-tufted virgin wool. (via cribcandy)

Learning to Walk

Vera's 1st Birthday Cake

Vera celebrated her first birthday last week. Vitali and I really give thanks to God for all the joy Vera has brought us. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful child and the opportunity for me to stay home to take care of Vera over the past year. Time really flies!

We threw 2 birthday celebrations for her over 2 weekends - one for close family members and another for good friends and family. On the actual day of her birthday, we bought her a tiny cake and for the first time, allowed her to enjoy it all by herself. We are usually quite strict with her diet but allowed her the whole cake to herself this time. And my did she enjoy it!

Silk brocade baby shoes

It's a little early but these silk brocade baby shoes will be perfect for Chinese New Year, don't you think?

Lego cakes

aaarghhh!!!!!! I would love to have these for Vera's first birthday! If only I could get that oven at home fixed before then!

ps: Koko, if you are reading this...hinthint! =)

Parent and Child Dance shoes

I think these Parent and Child Dance Shoes are the coolest and sweetest thing I have seen this week.

Homemade Baby

I am sure that all parents want the best for their babies when it comes to food. Homemade Baby gives parents just that with their handcooked, certified organic and healthy chemical free baby food.

Homemade Baby's baby food arrives at your doorstep with clear instructions on how to serve. A definite lifesaver if you travel alot or are a full-time working mom. Homemade Baby even has a 'Yummy Tummy Club' that you can join and have baby food delivered to your door every week. How I wish we had something like this in Singapore! Love the packaging too!

French Toast Friday

French Toast Friday recently emailed me to tell me about their wonderful kid's name frames. I think these are a great way to spruce up and personalise your kids bedrooms. The wooden frames are 7 inches by 5 inches and are backed by scrap book papers. More designs can be found here. Click here for more details on how to order one.

If you are happy with your order and would like to get more for your home or as a gift for friends, we are happy to let you know that French Toast Friday will be offering Pupsik blog readers 10% off your second purchase. Thanks!

Doll Houses

I had blogged about these magical doll houses at Laissezfaire. There are three different room sizes and 4 different wall colors to choose from. You can even get modern furniture and dolls for decorating and playing. Available at Hase Weiss, a Berlin-based kids toy and furniture company.

I also love another simpler dollhouse design by Designer Jeanette. The Constantine Dollhouse designs are handmade with plywood and Unica wallpaper. You can even make special color requests. Available at Kidsmodern. (Via Design Crush)