Excitment Begins

It's exactly one month to Christmas!!!!! Hurray!!!! :D I can't wait to see Santa and Roudolf! hohohohoo.... (I just felt like a little kid again). To tell you the truth, among all the festives celebrations I love X'mas the MOST! Can't exactly describe the feelings here but one thing for sure is it's a joyful & thankful celebrations. Most of the shopping malls (and some towns) will be decorated with x'mas ornaments to light up the occassion (even the non-christians are also celebrating it.. don't you think it's bazzar when they critised christian but they themselves also want to be part of the occassion???). You will not miss seeing these two colours for sure you will see when you walk around... the joyful red and the ever peaceful green colour! :) BTW, my hubby already started playing his x'mas songs in his car since last week! ^J^ He even bought one X'mas CD recently to play in his ipone.

Besides, today it's also a special day to celebrate my blog birthday -- the total of "150 POSTS" (for 3 years now) which I've entered & gathered onto this humble little column since 2007. What an achievement! XD Never thought that I would be so hardworking in updating my blog until today.... I'm still updating and typing away my thoughts on this tiny space of the World Wide Web. So, Happy 150 Birthday my dear blog! :) Wish that I could put up more updates in time to come especially after my dear baby is born. Wish me luck! :)

In addition, today is the day where the X'mas SALE begins in almost all of the shopping malls!!! :D shop! shop! shop! till you drop... hahah... This will be a good time for me and hubby to go hunting for our baby stuff.. XD So, to y'all out there (who is also eagerly waiting for the sale to begin like me), I wish y'all -- HAVE A HAPPY SHOPPING TRIP (nomatter where you are). Don't forget to watch your budget oOhh... ;-)

Happy spending and have a nice holidays!

Week 28

Your baby can now open his eyes and will turn his head towards the source of any continuous bright light. His fingernails are budding, and fat layers are beginning to form as he gets ready for life outside the womb. If you like the thought of interacting with your baby while he's still in the womb, then singing and reading to your baby is a good way to do it - but don't worry if you feel uncomfortable - it's not for everyone. Read more information on your baby's development this week.

There's not long to go now. The final trimester starts this week and lasts until the end of your pregnancy - usually week 40 or beyond. Most women gain an average of 5 kg/11 lb during this time. You may see your doctor more often from now on but you don't have to wait for an appointment if you want to discuss anything - just ring.

You're probably vacillating between two feelings: "I've been pregnant forever" and "Help, I'm not ready for this." Don't worry, you're not the only one. Swapping experiences with other women in your antenatal class can be reassuring. If you're having your baby in hospital, try to arrange a tour so you know what to expect. Your antenatal class may organise one or the hospital may have an open evening, so ring to check. You could also read some of our birth stories to help you prepare for the big day.

If you're a dad, you may be beginning to worry about having to watch your wife go through childbirth and wondering how helpful you'll be. Knowing the different stages of labour is a good place to start, then read up about labour partners to find out what you can do. Make sure you know what to expect if things don't go straightforwardly. Your baby may need help to be born so find out about assisted deliveries and caesarean section.

Getting Baby into Position for Birth

Normal position for baby

What's the best position for birth?
The best position for your baby to be in when you go into labour is head down, with the back of his head slightly towards the front of your tummy. In this position, he fits snugly into the curve of your pelvis and it's easy for him to move gently down during labour. When he gets to the bottom of your pelvis, he turns his head slightly so that the widest part of his head is in the widest part of your pelvis. The back of his head can then slip underneath your pubic bone and, as he is born, his face sweeps across the perineum, which is the tissue between the back of the vagina and your back passage.

Your doctor describes a baby who has the back of his head towards the front of his mother's abdomen as being in an ANTERIOR position. Labour is nearly always shorter and easier if the baby is anterior.

What's a posterior position?
Some babies go down into the pelvis with the back of their heads towards their mothers' spines. This is called a POSTERIOR position and it can lead to several things happening:
• Your waters are more likely to break at the beginning of labour.
• You have a lot of backache during and in between contractions.
• Labour is slower.
• You may need forceps or ventouse (a suction device) to help you give birth to your baby.

The close proximity between the baby's bony skull and your spine can be very uncomfortable, and you might well find that the best position to labour in is on all fours. In this position, your baby drops away from your spine, helping relieve the backache. When your baby gets to the bottom of your pelvis, he'll need to turn through 180 degrees to get into the best position for him to be born. This can take quite a while, or your baby may decide he's not going to turn at all! In this case, he will be born with his face looking up at you as he emerges. He might need forceps or ventouse to help him out.

Why are some babies posterior?
It seems women leading a modern lifestyle are much more likely to have posterior babies than women who work in traditional ways in the fields, or bending over their cooking pots. So lifestyle might be one cause of posterior babies. It's not difficult to understand why. When you are sitting in your car, or curled up on a comfortable armchair watching television, or working at a computer for many hours, your pelvis is tipped backwards. This is always true if you are in a position where your knees are raised above the level of your pelvis.

When your pelvis is tipped backwards, the heaviest part of your baby, which is the back of his head and his spine, will also tend to swing round to the back. So he ends up in a posterior position, lying against your spine. If you have a lifestyle which involves very little sitting and a lot of upright activities, your baby is far more likely to go down into your pelvis in an anterior position because your pelvis is always tipped forwards.

How to help your baby into an anterior position?
There is a lot of talk nowadays about how to get the baby to enter the pelvis in an anterior rather than a posterior position. This is called "optimal foetal positioning". You can encourage your baby to take up an anterior position by making sure that your knees are always lower than your hips:

• Sit on a cushion in your car to lift your bottom up.
• Check that your favourite chair doesn't make your bottom go down and your knees come up. • Take regular breaks and move around if your job involves a lot of sitting.
• Watch television on all fours for 10 minutes every day.
• Scrub all your floors and skirting boards - our grannies used to say that washing the kitchen floor was a good way of preparing for labour. And they were right! When you are on all fours, the back of your baby's head swings to the front of your abdomen.

Incidentally, you don't have to worry about getting your baby into a good position when you're in bed. When you're lying horizontally, your baby is not being pushed down into your pelvis. It's when you're upright that he'll enter the pelvis either in an anterior or a posterior position.
One study has shown that women who did hands and knees with slow pelvic rocking exercises from 37 weeks of pregnancy to the onset of labour did not have fewer babies in the posterior position. However, in this study women only tried positions to help the baby turn for 10 minutes twice a day, and the researchers only recorded the position of the baby at birth or just before delivery, if they needed rotating manually or instrumentally, and not the position at the start of labour.

Previously, a review of hands and knees position concluded that adopting this position for 10 minutes when the baby is in the lateral or posterior position does have short-term effects on the baby's position. More research is clearly needed, however, expert midwives such as Jean Sutton, are convinced through their long experience, that the mother's posture during late pregnancy does have an effect on the position of her baby.

Getting ready for labour
If you are expecting your first baby, you could try to adopt the lifestyle described in the previous section from around 35 weeks of pregnancy. This is when your baby sinks down into your pelvis, and this is the time to get his position right. If you are expecting your second baby, even though the baby won't engage in your pelvis until later, it's still wise to try to keep his back facing the front of your tummy from about 35 weeks.

Sometimes women have a lot of niggly pains for several days before labour really starts. These can be very exhausting. However, the pains might well be due to the fact that your baby is trying to turn from a posterior position into an anterior. The best way to cope is to try and get as much rest as possible during the night, and during the day to remain upright and active, leaning forwards during the pains. Eat and drink regularly to keep up your strength. And don't despair. Nature is getting your baby into the best position for birth.

How can I improve my baby's position during labour?
Women instinctively know how to labour if they are left to their own devices. However, giving birth in hospital sometimes means that it's hard to do what your body tells you because of lack of space in the delivery room or because you have to lie down for various procedures to be carried out.

Try to:
• remain upright for as long as possible
• avoid lying on the bed for any length of time
• lean forwards during your contractions
• ask your labour companion to massage your back
• rock your pelvis during contractions to help your baby turn as he passes through the pelvis
• avoid sitting in a chair or on a bed in a leaning back position.
• If you get very tired during labour, lie on your side as this still allows the pelvis to expand a bit to give your baby more space whilst you are resting.

Week 27

Now that you're approaching the final stage of pregnancy - your third trimester - your baby is really starting to grow and fill the available space in your uterus. She can now open and close her eyes, sleeps and wakes at regular intervals, and may suck a finger or thumb. Although they're still immature, your baby's lungs will function with some medical help, if she's born prematurely.

Your body is altering rapidly now: your uterus is up near your rib cage and if you're unlucky you may discover the delights of leg cramps, haemorrhoids or varicose veins. (If it's any consolation, they should disappear after the birth.) Labour really isn't far away so if you haven't already signed up for a childbirth class, then find out if there is a space available on a course now.

You're likely to have another antenatal appointment this week and you may have a blood test to check for pregnancy anaemia, a deficiency of red blood cells. Many pregnant women develop a mild case of the illness because of normal changes in the body. If your blood group is Rhesus-negative and you tested negative for Rh antibodies at an earlier appointment, you'll have a further test around now.

Believe it or not, studies have shown that a mum's breastfeeding success has a lot to do with her husband's attitude. If you're a new dad, it's time to bone up on breastfeeding basics so you can provide support after the baby's born. Your wife will need looking after in the first few weeks after the birth so be prepared to help out more around the house and at mealtimes, particularly if she has had a caesarean.

November

I can't believe it's mid-November O-ready, the end of the year suddenly feels so close! :) October feels like it just slipped by so fast!!! Actually, I'm quite please, which means, I can start thinking about Christmas and New Year holidays! :) I'm so excited so see those shops started to decorate their interior with christmas decorations and selling all christmas goods.

However, at the same time, what I missed terribly about winter at this time of the year was spending christmas in the UK... I missed the rain (yeah before it snow, especially at this time of the year it usually very cold and wet with rain), the coldness, my winter gloves, my winter scarf, the snow (of course!), christmas songs(!!!), the colour of red, I missed walking along the streets full with different kind of shops, the winter-christmas mood the english way... Aah, it's just so unbearable.

On the other hand, it suddenly dawn on me that my preganacy suddenly speed by so fast! I'm now officially in my third trimester!!!! :O The horror of thinking about the labour time makes me feels like wanna hide away... Frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready for to face the fact that I have to choose between natural birth or C-sections...(???)

Amazing Sunday

Today, suddenly I got an urge to go exercising... my dear baby woke me up in the early morning at 7.30am and then do my usual "sit" in the toilet. Then woke up my darling hubby to go walk-walk with me. After about 15mins of walking, we head home for breakfast. It was a breezy sunday morning with the birds cripping in the fresh morning air. It was nice. I haven't been out for a morning walk for a few months oredy... =)

We then getting ready to go to church. BTW, I also have not been going to the church since... In the church today, as the Pastor started to give his welcoming speech and the music started to play... I felt my baby inside me was danching with excitement and joy. My baby kept kicking me which we were singing along with the 'live' music band provided by the church. And we also sang "Amazing Grace" which I like very much to sing... =) Glad that my baby also likes going to the church. Baby next time mummy bring u to church ok.. :) Felt so relieve and productive today that I managed to do those things which I long to do during my pregnancy.. heheh...

Picture above: Ricky Martin spending some quality time with his two children.

Blue or Pink

Hmmm.... let's see what we've missed out for the past few months of my pregnancy. Looks like I've not been updating my blog during the period of July-August. Therefore, I will be slowly updating you about my past feelings on my pregnancy for the past few months which I've been missing suddenly (my apologies..). Okay, let's began with the most interesting topic on "How the first time I find out about my baby's gender".

Frankly speaking, I’m not big on surprises... but I guess for some parents-to-be they would prefer to wait till the day that their baby is born to know their gender. I also heard that is that feelings of thrill, excitement, suprise, etc.etc... of waiting for 9 months till the moment in the delivery room (when the gyne announce the sex of their new baby).

But for me and my hubby, the thrilled started as early as the first 3 months of my pregnancy, where theorically the baby's gender would be able to be seen through the ultrasound scan and also when people around us starts to know that we are expecting a child, they started to pop out the question to you first thing (after all the congratulations) "what's the gender of your baby?".

So this magical question gradually adds in more and more thrilled to us to wanting to know the gender of our baby. In addition, it's also easier for us in choosing which colour of shirts/bottle/towels/bed sheets/ etc.etc. to buy for our newborn. (FYI, I've waited very very patiently till in my 5th month of pregnancy to buy all those baby stuff. I know it's hard to resist especially when it's your first experience in buying for your baby and you just want all the best stuff you can get for your newborn.)

Okay, let's get back to the story on how we discover the gender of our baby...

So, every once a week, I will let my CM doctor to scan my womb to check if my baby is growing healthily at their given time... I still remember the first time I saw my baby's heartbeat on my CM doctor's screen... it's just a tiny-mini dot blinking in between the lines of black and white screen screaming for attention (!!!)... =)

At first, my CM doctor said to me, "There's the baby's heartbeat..." and I quickly move my attention to his screen and quriously said, " Errmm... where??? I can't see leh.." Then the doctor, enlarge the screen a little and pointed out to me saying, "There!!"... With my relief mind and heart, I said, "Ohh... I saw it... but it's very tiny..?" and then the doctor smile to me. It was the most amazing moment ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D to see my little darling's heartbeat beating so quickly and healthily. Dear Father in haven, thank you for this amazing moment you bring to me and my hubby. Please continue to protect my little baby. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Although my hubby was not there to see it for the first time with me (I think he is somewhere outside the waiting area looking at his PC), I was already overwhelmed... and I hope he could able to see it the next scan.

Then, at about 3rd months, as usual I will let my CM doc scan my tummy to check if the baby is doing ok but this time round, he scanned vigorously like he is looking for something in my womb. I also duno why I didn't asked him what is he looking for... but little did I know that he was trying to find out my baby's gender. However, I was not so eager to find out as I read somewhere that the baby's gender would only appear at aroung the 5th month of pregnancy. But, he could be able to see it on the ultrasound screen that would be great!! Anyway, my CM doc told me he could not be sure... but it's look like a girl to him.

Suddenly, So many things flashed through my head... Is this for real??? (since my doc also cannot be 100% sure of it)... I started to think of pink dress, pink shoes, butterfly hair bows and baby dolls, a lot of soft toys and long hair girls and my ever-evolving relationship with my own mom. As for my husband, he seemed equally in love with and happy, smiling away as we exit the doc's room. But still, while walking through the shopping mall, I was intrigue to buy some pinky stuff for my little princes and suprisingly I was stopped by my dear hubby... He said to me, "Let's wait till the doc is 100% confirmed about the gender of our baby." I was suprise to hear him say that because I tot he is so happy with having a baby girl (???).

Anyway, back at home, somehow, I had this strong feelings that I'm going to expect a baby boy (duno how to explain it but it's just a feeling inside me)... but I said to myself that I will let God to decide for me which baby is best for us. As I pray everyday, I reminded myself to have faith in God and to be grateful with whatever He blessed us with (though I know I'm not those lucky birds to get whatever I wish for in my life).

I have four more weeks until my first ultrasound and I feel like a kid in the month before Christmas, willing away the days until we finally know whether we will have a baby boy or girl. I don’t know how I survived an entire pregnancy in suspense when this short wait is already killing me! There are also alternative routes for those of us determined to find out the sex: The Chinese gender prediction chart is said to be very accurate (I found it in the www) Or you could give one of the many old wives’ tales a spin: If you’re carrying low, you’re having a boy. Craving sweet treats? It’s a girl! If your left breast is bigger than your right, better start buying blue. Of course science (pesky science) disputes most of these, but they’re kind of fun nonetheless! Or you could just trust your mother’s intuition: A study reportedly found that 71% of moms-to-be correctly guessed their baby’s gender all on their own.

Finally, came the day when we visited our ob-gyne (on 29th Sept 2009). As we waited patiently outside the waiting area for our turn... it suddenly our turn (waiting less than 30 mins). After some brief chat with our ob-gyne, she proceed to examine me with the ultrasound scan, my hubby suddenly pop another questions to our gyne... "Can we see the baby's gender yet???" Our ob-gyne then said, "Hmm... it's depends on how co-operative is your baby.." Then she proceed to scanning my baby lower parts and said with firm voice, "It's a boy!". Again, I was suprised (of course couldn't be happier to hear my gyne comment) and wanted to check it out myself at the screen for sure and my gyne show us the evidence.

She continue to say "There's, this is his testical (gyne pointing her finger at the screen)..." My hubby suddenly give me a quick naughty smile... Again, hundreds of things just rush through my head as I'm still get over the fact that I will be having a baby BOY! I could feel my heart dancing with joy as we leave the gyne's room!!!! =D My hubby, however, appear calm... so calm that I asked him whether he is ok (??). He then replied, "I'm equally as happy as you are... and he got a huge dick!" and he continue laughing happily (I think he still is). Yeap, that's what he told me =]

Suddenly, as this message finish dowloading into my head, I was terrified by the thought of raising a son. I heard that boys are hard to manage but nontheless both of us are over joy with the news that the baby is doing fine and we are expecting a baby boy as our first child!

Last but not least, what I would like to say is, at the end of the day, no matter what the gender it is, both of us are thankful to the Almighty Lord for blessing us with this special gift.

Dear Father in Haven, please keep us in faith with You all the time. Please continue to bless us with your wisdom and please continue to guide us through the difficult path in our life. Dear Lord, we want thank you also for all that You've done for us in our life, and we hope you will continue to perfect us in Your way. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

It's Crucial to Play with Newborn

Although a very young baby can't hold toys or take part in games, even the newest of newborns will get bored and lonely if his caregivers don't interact with him during most of his wakeful periods. That said, though, don't let the stress on stimulating brain development make you feel guilty for every minute your baby spends awake but alone. If he's peacefully content, he isn't bored and lonely. In fact, if you're too quick to jump in with a rattle or a song, you may actually interrupt the time he needs to rest, to gaze, and to quietly process all the new stimuli he's bombarded with.

Of course, the more cuddling, cooing, smiling, and talking your baby is privy to, the better. Apart from that, there are three main ways to stimulate your newborn. First, accept that adult company is the best entertainment for him and find different ways of providing it. Park his bassinet or bouncy seat near the hub of household activity, for instance, and encourage everyone to stop by for quick "chats." Also keep your baby beside you while you're reading or watching television, and get into the habit of taking him with you while you putter around the house.

Second, understand that being carried provides the perfect vantage point for your wakeful newborn. The rhythm of your movements is as good as a massage or a dance, and the panorama of life that he sees and hears as you stroll through your garden or up the street is as interesting as any movie. So find a sling or a strap-on baby carrier that's comfortable for you and that has good head support for your newborn. In addition to providing your baby a good spot from which to see the world around him, this has the added benefit of freeing up your hands for simple jobs around the house, grocery shopping, and other errands. Once he's able to hold his head up on his own (usually around 3 or 4 months), try occasionally switching your baby around in the carrier so that his back is to you and he faces forward, where he can easily take in everything around him.

Finally, give your new baby lots of different things to look at. One simple way to do this is to move his crib or baby seat from one interesting spot to another. At first, he won't be able to see anything more than a foot away from him in great detail, but he'll nevertheless enjoy the delicate play of shadows your window blinds project onto a nearby wall, a bright curtain gently fluttering in the breeze, and the varied shapes and colors of a big houseplant or an outdoor tree or bush.

Interesting things to ponder from close up are the best "toys" for this age group. Don't limit yourself to conventional mobiles and cradle toys, though. Most newborns are absolutely riveted by black-and-white patterns, and flash cards, mobiles, and board books with these high-contrast designs are widely available now. Try tucking a few cards between the mattress and the rail of your baby's crib, or tape them to the wall just outside his crib. In addition, look for mobiles that are designed to be viewed from underneath (in other words, by him rather than by you!). Supplement them with interesting everyday objects that you hang overhead, such as a hanger suspended from his ceiling with various objects tied to it, or a crib gym that's been "retrofitted" with different focal points. If you rotate these objects frequently, your baby will always have something new to look at. What's more, his senses will be stimulated even when you're not there to coo, babble, or dance with him.

Week 26

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Your miracle’s little eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and they’re probably having their first moments of sight as you read this. In addition to seeing their little studio in your belly, they’ve recently acquired the ability to say “yes” and “no” in rudimentary sign language as they can now move their head back and forth. This is also the time where your little super star’s head hair is starting to grow! A cute little cowlick or two may be springing into position right now, getting ready for years of cute-but-stubborn bed-head. Also, their toenails have grown in and you little raisin continues to slowly pile up fat beneath their still-loose skin.

Most importantly, brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing their (genius-level?) brain activity and will continue to function at accelerated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood!

How's the mum doing?
Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.

If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.

Baby Gear 2010

My hubby and I have been looking for the perfect stroller for our baby and it seemed that we have yet to find the perfect one which suits our lifestyle and needs.. >_< Well, recently I found out this new brand Peg-Perego (from Italy) and Quinny (from Dutch) has this unique designs which might suits our needs. There are quite a number of stroller models under this brand and I particularly like these:

1. Peg-Perego: UNO Gala (note: this fabfic is 2009 limited edition)

- Reversible and height adjustable handlebar equipped with hand brake.
- Automatic attachment system for the matching Primo Viaggio Tri-Fix car seat available separately.
- Child tray with drink holder that attaches to the front bar.
- Opening hood with zipper transforms into a sun canopy.
- Front wheels swivel (ø 17,5 cm), back wheels with centralized brake cable (ø 26,2 cm).
- Detachable cover with zipper.
- Backrest reclines to several positions and leg rest adjusts to 2 positions.
- Two carrier handles for carrying the stroller.
- Large, practical basket that snaps into place.
- Fold-up closing. When closed, it is free-standing.
- Cup holder.
- Five-point seat belt.

My review: I just love the big wheels at the back and the front wheel is just so flexible.. but I don't fancy the handle so much as I prefer it to be plastic rather than the black cover.

2. Peg-Perego: Si Classico

- Si Classico The lightweight convenience stroller with excellent handling. Perfect when you're on the go.
- Hood with sun visor and window for air flow.
- Height adjustable handles. Cup Holder.
- Includes 2 adapter belts to fasten a Primo Viaggio Tri-Fix car seat (can be purchased separately).
- Central handle for folding up the stroller.
- Extremely compact when closed, it can even stand up alone.
- Side carrying handle.
- Swivel or locking front wheels (ø 16 cm - 18 cm) with springs and 12 ball bearings.
- Large, practical basket.
- Backrest reclines to 3 positions.
- One hand folding. Umbrella folding.
- Five-point seat belt.

My review: Again the front wheels is easy to maneuver but I think the wheels are too small but the handle is made of plastic! and the seat cannot be adjustable to facing towards me :(

3. Peg-Perago: Skate (New product available in 2010) - Skate System Design and innovation from 0 to 3 years.
- High-performance FRAME that can be fitted with a pram and a very comfortable stroller.
- In the stroller version the seat folds up with the frame.
- Shock absorbers and ball bearings on all the front swivel or locking wheels.
- Central brake
- Height adjustable handle
- Drink-holder.
- Removable Basket/Carry-all with handles.
- VERY COMFORTABLE PRAM (internal dimensions: 77 x 33 cm). Backrest angle can be adjusted from the outside. Adjustable to 3 different heights. The hood and cover can also be used on the stroller.
- VERY COMFORTABLE STROLLER. Can be tilted to a number of positions. It is reversible and can be adjusted to 3 different heights.
- Standard Primo Viaggio Tri-Fix adapters included.

Additional Info:

a) How can I expect to use the Skate?

Skate is for the family who wants the ultimate in luxury, comfort and options. In a sense, the Skate acts as your assistant, transforming from a night-ready bassinet, to a day-ready stroller or carriage. Though not ideal for public transportation, the Skate would be great for families from the city, transitioning from the park to the sidewalk to the restaurant with ease and style.

b) When is the new model coming out?
Currently, we’re still offering the 2008 model, but a new and improved model will be unveiled at the ABC Kids Expo trade show in September! This product is set to join our 2010 collection and should be in stores in January (any changes will be posted to the blog).

My review: This may look perfect but I think the3 storage basket below the seat is looking a bit weird although they provide it with a rubber strap.


4. Quinny: 2009 Zapp 4 stroller (I wonder this model is available here???)

- Incredibly sleek and attractive design
- Ideal for traveling with any kind of transportation (car, train, plane)
- Full-size stroller with an ultra compact 3-D fold (12" x 27")
- Ideal travel system in combination with Maxi-Cosi® infant car seat
- Highly maneuverable front wheels that can rotate 360° degrees and be locked
- Including sun canopy, rainshield, basket, travel bag and adapters for use with Maxi-Cosi® infant car seat

My review: The 4 wheels is too small but it's very light I must say... easy to bring around. But the baby seat cannot be adjustable! >_<

My New Toy

Yup, just got this new toy!! :D All thanks to my dearie hubby... I guess it's also suitable for me to use this new phone... though I love my iphone very much. My hubby has been lobbie-ing me to let him use my i-phone in exchange of another new phone or alternative (he is always good in pastering me when the first attempt fails) he was trying to convince me (and also himself) to let him buy a new handphone, namely the balckberry (I called it the "No-life" hp!)... when I said "why do you need to use another phone?" He added "The current nokia 6121 was not user friendly (now he knows what I meant when I told him the phone sucks!!!)."

So after months of lobbie-ing, he finally succeed in getting me to use another new phone in exchange for my iphone... well, I guess he will benefits from using the phone more than I do. Hope it will bring more convenience to him but NOT starring at the phone all the time!

Hence, I decided to go back to my old love for Nokia hp... I've choosen the Nokia E63 as my new hp! :) Love the sexy red colour and easy to type keypad! :) it has been awhile since I touch any hp keypad... :D

Picky Eater Tips

Parents often want to know how to raise a “healthy” eater, usually referring to what foods their children are eating. I prefer the term “successful” eater because I believe it captures a broader perspective including not only what, but also how, children eat. Because the term “successful eater” is not commonly used, I will describe what I mean.

What does a “successful eater” look like? A successful eater is someone who likes eating and feels good about it. A successful eater is interested in food and likes a variety of foods. A successful eater enjoys being at the table and has fairly decent table manners – most of the time, at least. A successful eater knows when they are full or hungry based upon their own internal cues. A successful eater will try some new foods and will politely refuse foods that he or she doesn’t want to eat. A successful eater can make do with less than favorite foods and can eat in places other than home.

It’s important to raise successful eaters for a number of reasons. First, variety in diet is important for children’s (and adults’) health and nutrition. Second, learning to recognize internal cues of hunger and fullness is important in maintaining healthy weight. And finally, learning how to tolerate less than favorite foods and learning appropriate behaviors related to food are important in the development of positive social skills.

You may be asking yourself, how do I get one of these successful eaters? What can I do to raise one? Here are some tips:

1. Have family meals. If you can only do one thing, I would argue that this is the most important. Research has shown that children who eat meals regularly with their families develop better eating habits, do better at school, and are also at lower risk for obesity, substance abuse, and disordered eating.

2. Serve meals family style. Allow your children to serve themselves from all the food you put out on the family table.

3. Always include one or two foods with meals that you know your child usually likes. Avoid catering to your children and only preparing foods that they request, but always make sure that there’s something, even if it’s just bread, on the table that they will eat.

4. Don’t introduce too many new foods at once. Try to pair new, unfamiliar foods with familiar foods.

5. Maintain a positive social and emotional environment at the table. If your child’s eating is an issue, don’t make it the focus of mealtime conversation.

6. Understand the typical development of eating and progression of food acceptance. Know that it is normal for toddlers and preschoolers to be somewhat finicky, to take many times to learn to like a new food, and to vary from day to day in how much they eat and what they eat.

7. Be a good eating role model yourself. Look at your own eating behaviors and diet and examine any unintended messages your behaviors may be sending to your child. What you do matters more than what you say!

8. Understand the division of responsibility in feeding. Familiarize yourself with Ellyn Satter’s classic work, stating that parents are responsible for the what, when, and where of feeding, while children are responsible for whether and how much.

9. Relax about individual meals. Your child’s health is not determined by the nutritional value of a single meal. Look at patterns in food intake over a longer period of time than one meal – more like a week’s worth of meals.

10. Have patience. Raising a successful eater takes time. There will be ups and downs along the way, but stick with it, don’t give up, and have faith!

Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. is a psychologist and the director of Dinner Together, LLC, (www.dinnertogether.com) which provides consultations to families on how to raise successful eaters and to organize successful family meals. Dr. Cuneo also offers coaching to parents who are seeking help in raising healthy, confident, well-adjusted kids. Sign up for a free newsletter at www.dinnertogether.com and follow www.dinnertogether.blogspot.com for recipes, cooking tips, and ideas for making mealtimes positive.

Week 25

Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back.

All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. Keep up the fabulous work mama! This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.


And how's mom doing?
Trimester two is finally almost over, which means you have that one final trimester of pregnancy to enjoy (and suffer through). You could celebrate this landmark passage by purchasing some piece of clothing designed to make your curvy body look as gorgeous and classy as possible... and don’t let the Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back price tag stop you, this is an act of self-love not book-keeping. But before you max out your credit card, remember: you’re only going to get larger, so buy smart.

Speaking of larger, you’re obviously carrying more weight now and your back is going to let you know. Don’t let this get you down or make you feel like a weakling—it all comes with the territory of being preggers. Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back. It’s also common for women to experience leg cramps during this period. Go ahead, strong arm someone who loves you into giving you a massage. Or if you're lucky enough to have the extra bucks, head to a spa that specializes in pregnancy massages and get the full-treatment.

You may have already noticed that your hair seems fuller, thicker, more plentiful and darker-- especially your body hair. There are two basic reasons for this: 1) you're shedding much less (head) hair than you usually do and 2) your body's hormones contribute to the way your body hair is growing right now. Not to worry, all the hairiness will return to normal after you've delivered your baby.

A Tivoli Suprised

What a nice suprise!!! ~ My hubby bought home a suprise present for me from Louis Vuitton! :D At first I thought of scolding him for bringing our lunch late (been waiting for almost 2 1/2 hours) but when he present me the present I was suprise! Hmm... looks like he knew my weakness for designer bags... (hahah...) Never in my mind that I thought he would be so lovely and sweet to buy me a suprise present and it is quite expensive (he sometimes can be quite "kiam siap"... heheh... sorry honey, I say it with affections...). But this present is really out of his usual choice I must say... Nontheless, I just love it!

To be frank, it has been ages since he brought home a suprise present for me... not even on my birthday nor anniversarry nor Valentine's day.... +_+ which is why sometimes I'm mad at him! *_*

But today, he really suprised me! Thank you so much sweetie for the nice suprise... I really appreciate your efforts and thoughts (though sometimes I think u just need to pay a 'little bit more' attention to what I say to you, then I think you shd be fine :)). This will be my new love for the moment! :D

Okie, without further ado, let me introduce to you my : 2009 birthday + 2 anniversarries + Valentine's day presents = the Louis Vuitton Tivoli PM Handbag! :D

Descriptions of my handbag:
This is a chic and roomy everyday Louis Vuitton handbag. Monogrammed canvas is trimmed in natural cowhide leather with dyed red edging, signature yellow top-stitching and goldtone brass hardware. A leather patch and padlock decorate the side, topped by rolled leather handles. Zip top opens to brown canvas lining with a flat pocket and a cell phone slot. Dimensions: 14"L x 5 1/2"W x 9"H; 5" handle drop.

Color: Brown
Lining Color: Brown
Hardware: Brass
Handle Drop: 5 inch
Size: Medium
Special Features: Metal Feet