Home Project 3: DIY Father's Day Card

Happy Father's Day!!! (It was yesterday) Here's the DIY card that we (my boy and I) made together for his daddy. Of course, the cutting work was all done by me. My boy just watched how I do.

This DIY card was made from the recycled materials like Kinokuniya Newsletters and an open-window envelope (plastic for making the glasses). First of all, I cut the "face" out and then cut different shapes like triangle, oval, circle, rectangle and square to assemble the parts like nose, eyes, eyebrows, hairs, ears and mouth on the "face".

Upon completing it, I gave my boy a small test regarding the names of the organs (face) and the shapes. For example,
I pointed the "nose" and asked: What is this?
My boy: Nose.
I asked again: What shape is this?
My boy: Triangle.
Or another example,
I asked: Where is the Square?
My boy pointed the glasses: Here.
I continued: What is this?
My boy: Daddy's glasses.
*Repeat similar questions with the rest to test how much your little ones have learned.

My Boy's 1st Birthday Gift

ELC's Large Wooden Bead Frame

Toy Store is another place that I always visit when I go to a mall, especially the Early Learning Centre (ELC) from UK. *currently ELC branches in Malaysia (The Curve & Pavilion KL) are called "Think Toys" and the range of ELC is lesser now. You may find some ELC's products at Mothercare. Amongst ELC's product ranges, my fave is the wooden range. In my perception, I think wooden toys are more durable than plastic toys. Ohhh... I had eyed on this Large Wooden Bead since I first visited the store. Finally I bought it as a birthday present for my baby's 1st birthday. (RM 110)

I like the chunky and colourful beads shaped in different objects (ie flowers, vehicles, bees and butterflies). My 1y.o boy enjoyed moving and pushing the beads along the spiral wires from one side to the other end.

Per label's reference, this bead frame is aimed for:
(i) Problem Solving: teach little ones how to work things out for themselves;
(ii) Hand and Eye Coordination: helps little ones use their hands effectively and develop good reflexes.
P/S: More ELC items are available through Mothercare.

Book Review: How Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends?

Book Review # 5: How Dinosaurs Play With Their Friends? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

First of all, to whom is interested in buying Leapfrog's Tag Junior, now it's the best time to get it from Mothercare (Sales last till the end of June).

* Tag Junior & 1 Tag Junior's book set for RM 129. (Normal RM 179)

* Tag Junior's Book (any titles) for RM 25. (Normal RM 32)

This is the latest title I bought for my boy. I like it because it introduces different types of Dinosaurs and most importantly the Tag Junior can pronounce those complicated names of Dinosaurs like Cryolophosaurus, Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus and others.

Also, this book is good for teaching young kids how to "play nice" with their friends. Although young kids are always forgiven being the reason of "too young" to learn about the rules, parents are responsible to instill good manners or moral values to their children as early as possible. Sooner, they meet and social with others at the playground or in the school. As parents, we don't want to see that our children are refused or neglected by their friends one day. We want our kids make more friends and to be popular amongst their social circles.

Through reading this book, you can explain to your little one how to play nice with other small friends in public. Let your little one know how important it is to share and queue.

It's Dumpling Festival - 5th Day Of 5th Lunar Month

Haha... my hubby reminded me that "Duan Wu Jie" (端午節) belongs to Korean Festival when I told him that this Wednesday is Dumpling Festival (today). In certain countries, it's also known as "Dragon Boat Festival" (龍舟節). Yes, it really twisted our mind to accept the fact when we heard KOREA succeeded to file "Duan Wu" as their intangible heritage to UNESCO's list.

How do we tell the tales of this festival to our next generation? Originally, we celebrate "Duan Wu Jie" is to pay respect to the patriotic poet in ancient Chu, Qu Yuan (屈原）. Indeed, this festival is as important as other Chinese traditional festivals like Lunar New Year, Lantern Festival (元宵节), Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節)and Winter Solstice Festival (冬至), all Chinese families' members (for Malaysia) get to celebrate it together by sitting around the table for a re-union dinner. Today, most Chinese families only gather to celebrate the Lunar Chinese New Year and QingMing Festival (清明节).

No matter how, we still celebrate the Dumpling Festival as usual - eat variety of dumplings (ie pork, red bean, plain, Nyonya) which were made by inlaw and aunties with sweats. This morning, still I saw my mom prepared a can of orange liquid (雄黄水) to splash over the front and back of the house. At the main door, she hung twigs of a herb plant. These are another customs passed down from my grandma that in a belief to keep the evil things away. In fact, my mom explained that her mom (my grandma) used to rub the brownish liquid on her and siblings' foreheads and all members gathered around to eat like reunion dinner.

Lastly, I wish all Chinese friends have a happy Dumpling Festival. Bon appetit.

We Went to A Mini Bird Park

Yesterday we brought our boy to Ikano Power Center to visit the Bird Park II. It's held at the main concourse area. We can see some small and big closure (cage) with birds residing in.

After we had a quick brunch @ Kluang station cafe, we headed to the indoor Bird Park. My hubby asked "why the bird park is so small?" when we entered the biggest walk-in "cage" to get an up close distance with some birds like Malay-eagle, Ibis,Peacock, Flamingo, cockatoo, Pigeons, wild ducks and small chicks. I answered him "Hey man, it's free entrance!". We were not able to stop for photo-taking as the crowds kept flocking into the "cage".

Oh no, I've told my boy that we're going to see owl at the Bird Park too.. but I can't spot any in the biggest closure. So we walked out with a little disappointment. We continued with few more small cages located at the other corner and came to the last cage (covered with shade) we met the owl.

At last, we went to the photo booth to take a photo with the tamed parrots for remembrance (RM10). Sure we will visit the KL Bird Park @ Lake Gardens one day.

Baby Goes Green: Pocket Cloth Diapers

Back to our baby times, our moms wrapped our bottoms on piece of squared white cotton napkin or cloth diaper. During that time, napkins were secured by big safety pins. Today, napkin fasteners (with three-side hooks) are highly recommended and sooner substituting the safety pins. Napkin fastener looks much safer but the con is that it can't hold the napkin as secured as the safety pin. In order to minimise the usage of disposable diapers, I'm still hoping to get a better alternative.

Until my baby was about 3 months old, my hubby emailed me a local website which sells pocket cloth diapers. It's introduced by his friend who bought few for her baby. Once I visited the website, I immediately urged my hubby to order the Sampler Pack (2 pieces). Yes, it was what I looking for - Blueberry's Cloth Diaper. Then I realised it's a premier brand (made in USA) in the market. The price I paid was about RM 120 per piece (now it's RM 100+). Certainly you can't compare its quality:

• Outer layer - Ultra-soft Minky (plush "micro-fibre") that keeps wetness in
• Inner layer - High quality Microfleece that keeps baby's bottom dry
• Insert - Organic cotton or Bamboo cotton that provides superb absorbency
  
• Designs - Varieties of funky and colours for laminated Minky
  

Commonly pocket diapers comes with 2 types of closures: (1) Hook & Loop (Velcro) ; (2) Snap (buttons). I chose one each for my Sampler Pack. Based on my experience, I found out my baby outgrow in the Snap closure faster than Hook&Loop (H&L).(see picture above - Baby @ 10 mths old wore Blueberry) H&L (size L) can hold up my baby well from 4 mths to 1 year old. Diaper changing is as easy as 123 at home - snap on or snap out. Also, you are not only saving up a lot of money but you are saving the Earth. It's worth the investment.

It's happy to know that many new moms are using pocket cloth diapers. Regardless the premier Minky type or the budget PUL type, they work same for the functions (easy-wear, save money & environmental-friendly). Currently I stock in some HAUTE's pocket diapers and sell them at attractive price, RM 30 per piece... to support your baby goes GREEN.

HuggaMAMA Photo-Contest

Hello to all preg-mamas... here comes a great chance to show-off your beautiful belly and it may win you some good prizes from Huggies.

The contest period is held from 1st June 2010 until 31st May 2011. *so those who plan to have baby soon can consider it once you're conceived. They will announce monthly winners... so you stand for 1-12 chances to win throughout the contest period. Just upload your photo by end of each month.

Most importantly you need to rally more votes to be the winner (of the month). The votes are accounted for 60% in judging criteria. Eee, this sounds like those popular TV singing contests where SMS votes are highly proportioned. **Tips - advertise your photo at Facebook or Twitter. Log on now to www.huggies.com.my and read more details of the terms and conditions about the photo contest.

Get ready with your camera!!!