Mambo Bumbo

How can you not love the Bumbo? Not only does it change the little one's view of the world (no more staring at ceiling fans and mummy's wobbly chin), it also sounds like it's about to sprout big, grey ears and fly! I also like how it's squishy and sturdy at the same time. This thing will survive natural disasters I tell you.

When DS turned 4 months old in December, I put her in it because it was around that time when I put DN in one too. Guess what? She wasn't ready for it yet. She couldn't really sit up and would flop over. She also looked like she was swimming in it. So I sighed and put the Bumbo back in the box. We then waited one month.

And within that one month, DS grew taller and stronger. And she could fit in the Bumbo. :)

Can you see tufty? Heh heh heh...

I look at my daughter in the Bumbo and I giggle and grin.

Then I look at my son in the same Bumbo and I stop giggling.

HE STILL FITS! o_O

Raffle Wednesdays [#2 Pupsik Studio]

What's polka-dotted, sleepy and cute enough to be eaten?

Why, DS of course!

Why the lame riddle? Well, because I'm so excited about this next giveaway I just can't control myself! (Or think of better jokes for that matter...) Remember when I blogged about my own little Joey? Well, now you can have your own little Joey too! And I don't mean nicking a baby kangaroo from the zoo or the stuffed one from the little girl next to you on the MRT train.

PUPSIK STUDIO is today's Raffle Wednesday host and the winner of this raffle will win a baby pouch sling (up to a value of $45.90) of his/her choice! Okay everyone, control yourselves! No need to push the old ladies out of the way! Oh sorry, that was a telemarketeer who won't hang up? Go ahead. Need a hand?

Anyway, I'm so excited for the lucky mummy who's going to win this because honestly, my own pouch is indispensable. DS just lurrrves it! And I love it because Mr Cranky is still having issues about sharing things with his sister and sometimes insists on sitting in the stroller just so his sister can't. Argh! He will give me a hernia! Deep breaths, deep breaths. *exhale*

So it's the pouch to the rescue! DN gets on my nerves his stoller, DS gets her pouch, PF gets some peace and quiet and what about me? Well, I get better and better at using the pouch. I'm quite pro now you know? *smug face* Pop in, pop out. Easy peasy!

And I tell you, it was a godsend when we were in Phuket. It was just not possible to bring the stroller everywhere so DS ended up getting slung a lot. Not that she complained. She fell asleep in it whenever I put her in the cradle hold position. No kidding. EVERYTIME. Even now! When we're out and I know she's tired but just can't sleep because of everything that's going on around her, I just pop her into the pouch and in five minutes... zzz!

Want to know another reason why I love the pouch? It hides the wobbly belly VERY well. Haha! Now you don't have to be afraid of saying, "Is anyone having that last bit of cake?".

And do you know what? I hear that Su Ling, the founder of Pupsik Studio, is going to introduce new designs for her pouches in 2010! Can't wait. You should really check out her website. She has tons of cool stuff for mummies and babies. My other fav is the Little Milestones box. I bought one for DS. I'm going to record all her milestones here and when she's 21 (or 16... depends on how patient I am) I'm going to give it to her on her birthday. Now, how cool is that!

As always (and being the kaypoh that I am), I asked Su Ling a few questions about herself, motherhood and Pupsik Studio, so read on to find out more about her and her mummy-run business.

1. Was it easy deciding to quit your job and start Pupsik Studio?

I have always liked the idea of being self employed and having the freedom of doing something that I loved from home. The shift from being a full time architect/urban planner to a work-at-home-mom (of two girls) happened quite naturally and gradually over the course of two years. Of course, there were little hurdles along the way that made me question if I was doing the right thing. Nevertheless, I am thankful to God for the opportunity to pursue what I love from home. 

2. What's your favourite product from Pupsik Studio?

This is tough. It's like asking who's my favourite child. =) Being a mom myself, we try and test everything we sell to make sure we love it too before selling it, so I don't have a favourite product. I love them all! Whatever we cannot find that we love, we make ourselves. The baby sling pouch for instance is something that we decided to make as we could not find a good soft carrier in the Singapore market that is stylish, functional and affordable. We went through many rounds just to develop this single product. (Trust me, the pouch is not just a piece of cloth that you sew together.)

3. What did you get your girls for Christmas?

A kiss and our time. 

4. What are you planning for them to wear for Chinese New Year?

I am planning to bring in a new gorgeous line of clothing (designed by a homegrown Singaporean designer that just started her children's label) to the store so I will probably be dressing the girls in these new outfits!

So, back to business, how do you win a baby sling pouch? Simple.

1. Just go to Pupsik Studio, choose a pouch design that you like and tell me which it is by leaving me a comment.

2. For a second chance to win, be a fan of Pupsik Studio on Facebook here and leave me a comment with your FB name.

3. For a third chance to win, tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with your twitter account, or blog link.

4. For a fourth chance to win, follow my blog by clicking here and yes, leave me another comment.

Click HERE to start leaving your comments! The raffle closes on Sunday, 31 January 2010. You don't have to complete all tasks to enter this raffle. But the more tasks you complete, the higher your chances of winning!

Now who says Christmas is over? ;)

My Little Joey

DN was never a "joey" baby. I really wanted him to be one because I just loved the idea (and look) of slinging your baby around. I know how this must sound to all my no-baby friends. Don't worry! No throwing of infants is involved in this activity!

Back to slinging babies about. (lol!)

You can even get slings in different prints to match your outfits. Fashionista! (except that I'm too cheap to buy different ones so I'll be the fashion disaster in a polka-dot top and striped sling!)

DN hated the sling. Absolutely detested the thing. Everytime I tried to put him in it, he would wail and cry and scream and howl and turn red on purpose to scare me. I'd then whip him out of there and proceed to look longingly at the sling and then at my baby and wonder, "Why???".

I was REALLY sad he didn't like it. The sling just looks so... cool!

So with DS, I didn't get my hopes up. This time round, I wanted to try a pouch. It looks cooler than a sling! Again, I borrowed one from a friend before buying. On my first outing alone with DS (had tea at Bakerzin with Funny Bee), I brought the pouch AND stroller. You know, just in case.

Halfway through creme brulee and herbal tea, DS woke up. I looked at her, at the pouch and then thought, "Heck! Let's give it a shot!" So we trooped off to the baby room and after her diaper change, I slipped her into a pouch and she fell right asleep!

Okay, "slip" is not a good word. There was nothing "slippery" about how I got her into the pouch. In fact, there was much grunting, furrowing of brow and gnashing of teeth. When I finally got her into the pouch, I was panting and sweating like a rugby player. It was my first time with a pouch after all and I was so paranoid that I would put her in wrong and she would get MAJOR pins and needles. I must have put her in and taken her out at least 3 times before she looked comfortable to me. I mean, I don't want to put a baby in and take a pretzel out right?!

I

Snug as a bug :)

(despite being put in and taken out and put in and taken out and put in and taken out of the pouch!)

That photo was taken when DS was 5 weeks old. Since then, I've had more practice with the pouch and am happy to report that I no longer look a train wreck after putting baby in. (In my defence, the cradle carry is supposed to be the trickiest of the lot.) DS is now 3 months (and a bit) old and I've popped her into the pouch many times because... SHE LOVES THE POUCH! Yes sir-ree! She falls asleep EVERY TIME she's popped into it when we're out. This has been very very helpful because DN sometimes refuses to walk, so we pop him into the stroller and DS pops into the pouch. I finally have my own joey baby!

Just last weekend, I decided to try the kangaroo position. DS's head is pretty steady now so I thought I'd just let her try it out. After all, I'd been watching the video over and over in anticipation of this day!

DS the prairie dog (lol!)

Success! She likes it too! And I'm really happy for her because she can now look at all the exciting things that are happening around her instead of staring at my wobbly chin all day!

It's fun being a kangaroo mama!

ps : Have you joined the raffle yet?