Not only has baby McHugh been spoilt by his/her parents, it is spreading from the other side of the world too now.

Yesterday, I picked up a package from our dear friends Sarah & RJ who used to live in Singapore and are now back in the US with their two darling children Eva and Miles. They sent us some wonderful gifts for baby McHugh, the most divine swaddle blankets, a book and a cute little dummy. We can’t wait to share them with baby McHugh when he/she arrives home.

Thank you Buckley family, for your friendship, support, love and warm wishes.

S x

I started to unpack some things last night and thought I would put all the items we bought for baby McHugh while we were in Sydney in the nursery.

As you can see, we got a few things.

The bag is full of baby clothes, a blanket, hooded towels, washers, toys, sheepskin baby floor mat and socks. The list goes on. Why haven’t I unpacked that bag?!? Well….. I need to wipe the draws and put some lining in + I am going to wash it all.

The bouncer will move into the lounge room once bub comes home. The books are all Australian and stunningly beautiful.

We also have the pram which we picked up in Sydney, Dan and I have decided that we are going to keep it packed in the box until the homestudy is complete. So then it is ready to go whenever it is needed.

Seeing all the items back home and in our house, feels extremely emotional. On one hand, I am not showing and we have no expected due date to wait for, so it seems a little premature. But on the other hand, I have always been one to be over organized and want to make sure we are as good as ready when we receive the call.

It is exciting having beautiful small things surrounding us through this process, like a sweet reminder daily that soon, someday that room will be filled with our new love, our baby.

S x

Women’s fashion comprises many things. It is not about any one thing but yes importance of every accessory makes the difference. Earring accessory held great importance in women’s fashion ensemble. She feels incomplete without earrings. Be it any attire, there are several earrings to complement it. If going out for a romantic eve these earrings are best suited ones and will express your inner feelings without uttering a word.

Women love to wear earrings. Katie Earrings are of many types like BASKET Earrings by Polli, FATIMA Earrings by Polli earring etc. Beautifully Earrings are the perfect accessory to any outfit for making statement. There is large range of earrings that makes them suitable for every woman. Let’s go through its various types and you find your favorite type. Earrings are commonest of all and all are very dear to women. Their best part is they suit every occasion and every outfit. Since times they are in fashion and will never become passe. Though they are simple but impart the best show to appearance by lighting up face.

BASKET Earrings by Polli, DECO Earrings by Polli earrings are amazing to look at. They are perfect for leaving a lasting impression. Deco earrings look good on all and lend very stylish image. This unique style earring bound people to make heads turn. FATIMA Earrings by Polli earrings are classic of all and every woman’s favorite choice. Get into amazing look with them. Normally a choice of those loves to wear big earrings. Beautifully designed earrings etched in fine detail from thin sheets of fine stainless steel. Lightweight and comfortable to wear, Sterling silver hooks. For more details http://www.katiewongnyc.com

Baby McHugh has been sooooooo spoilt since we arrived in Sydney. I have been shopping everyday buying little pieces here and little pieces there. I have books, toys, nursery items, clothes, towels and everything else you could think of.

Yesterday TOUCH got in contact with our references about us and the adoption. We are excited and in shock how fast some of the stuff is moving. We are looking forward to hearing what our dear friends have to say about us when we meet with TOUCH.

Another step done!

We leave in 2 days, back to Singapore, so I will be sure to update you all on baby McHugh’s room when I get the chance.

S x

Last Monday we bought a pram, happened faster than we planned but in the end we had no choice.

That weekend we went looking for the pram we would need for baby McHugh, we spent many hours going back and forth working out what would work for us. We decided on the Mountain Buggy. Yes for those who are up with “designer” prams I bet you all thought the Bugaboo was more my style. Only two friends we know current have the Mountain Buggy and LOVE it.

So that was that, we were both happy with our choice. We would get it in a dark colour and McHugh wanted the basinet feature. We would buy it once we got back from China.

Mmmm… not how things worked out……

To cut a long story short……

No, Mountain Buggy in Singapore left……

Mountain buggy which is a NZ brand, have recently been bought out by Phil + Ted. They have no new stock being shipped until they start their new manufacturing in China. So we were advised to hunt down an original MB before that happens.

I called 9 Sydney baby stores looking for this pram; we got the last matching MB with basinet is Navy Blue. We love it!

So it is sitting in Sydney, waiting for us to pick up next week when we arrive home for a little holiday.

YAH!

All becoming a little, more real now.

S x

Disney Socks and Pretty Bibs

Rocio Bonbebe Baby Cot, bedding set and musical crib

Clothes on the top row, Napkins on the second

Finally, the long awaited Baby Cot has arrived. It is huge! I have also neatly laid out baby clothes on the top shelf and realised most of her items are pink in colour. Ah… is pink a default colour girls like?

Anyway, I spent a pleasurable afternoon with Hilda and her bf to shop at far east plaza. I felt rejuvenated for its been awhile since I shop for myself. Yeah, love the royal blue toga chiffon top that we spot at the ninth hour which complements my melon-shaped tummy. I can even wear as a normal dress after I give birth. Wonder why most of the normal maternity clothes actually make mummy-to-be look uglier.

ಮೊನ್ನೆ ನನ್ನಮ್ಮನ ಆಫೀಸಿನ ಸಹೋದ್ಯೋಗಿಗಳು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನೋಡಲು ಮನೆಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದರು. ಅವರು ನನಗೆ ತಂದ ಗಿಫ್ಟ್ ಗಳು ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ.

My daughter’s teacher is having a baby girl!  This will be her second child, second daughter and she is due any day.  There’s nothing more I love to give a new baby then a handmade blanket.  It’s perfect for covering the car seat or stroller on a windy day, snuggling up underneath while rocking your little one to sleep, or laying across the floor to play on with a little one.  This pattern is from “Keepsake Baby Afghans” and made from one and a half skeins of “Pound of Love”.  Kayla will bring it to school tomorrow to give her teacher, we hope she loves it and it provides warmth and comfort to her new little bundle of joy!

Remember that photo of those plain, boring, pink, white, and blue onesies? This is what one of them looks like after I got my pencil, paints, and brushes on it. Isn’t it yummy?

I told you all I would keep you updated on our progress and I’ve been so busy progressing that I haven’t had time to write on here. I haven’t been sleeping much lately. I have way to many ideas in my head to even think of falling asleep before 11. Matt is getting quit frustrated with that…but I have to keep moving forward with this if I want to launch by my goal of November 1st! I have a lot to get going on and am just waiting for some fabric to come in that I ordered. We’ve had lots of stops to fabric and craft stores and I’m almost to the point now where I can make something without having to stop because I’m missing something. I should really mak lists before I go to these places. I have finally created my patterns that will be for my felt floral headbands and hair clips. I’m thinking of turning some into pins as well…I probably will. I won’t be posting any pictures until Sunday when we launch Jack & Norah on Etsy as well as Facebook, so get ready to become a fan and to check out our pages. Matt, my fiance and my finance as he has been calling himself has been given the title of CFO of Jack & Norah and will be hopefully creating all the spreadsheets I need tonight. His sister, Mel is coming over this weekend so we can create our logo. We desperately need a printer so I can print out all my business cards to start handing out asap. Alright, well theres a little update for you. I’m currently working on my hair accessories as well as some adorable aprons. We’ll see how much I can get done tonight. As soon as my nanny kids wake up from thier nap it will be time for thier 2nd photo shoot with the aprons…lets hope they don’t get too sick of this lol, it’s only just begun…

Here are the things to look out for when shopping for a baby monitor:

1) Battery
Check what kind of battery the baby monitor uses. Is it rechargeable? Maybe you want to read some reviews to see whether the battery lasts long. You don’t want the battery to run out of juice when you’re in the basement doing laundry.

2) How many receivers?
Some people are ok with just one receiver, but others like one each for daddy and mummy, so that the nearest one can go to baby when he/she wakes up.

3) Volume
Unless you’re getting a video baby monitor, sound is the main function and so you’d want to hear your baby clear and loud. If your house has a lot of background noise like air-conditioning or the tv is always on, make sure the volume in your monitor’s parent unit is loud enough.

4) Light indicators
Ok, so you want to put on headphones and listen to some nice music, or you need a shower but monitors can’t get wet. Get a baby monitor with light indicators that tell you baby is crying even when you can’t hear.

Personally, I find any and all indicators to be really good when using a baby monitor, because I need all the alerting I can get. If you get caught up in something, the best baby monitors have light and sound to alert you so that you’ll drop your task and run to your baby.

5) Interference, Static and Channels
Maybe you’re ok with a little static, or maybe you want to throw your receiver against the wall the minute it begins to make scratchy background noise.

If you don’t mind at all, even a cheaper analog monitor will do for you. If you like clarity and sound quality, go for digital monitors. And if you really want no interference at all, including not receiving signals from neighbors’ houses, it’s time to throw in some cash and get a DECT monitor.

After all, you wouldn’t want to respond to a cry only to find out that it was your neighbor’s baby in the end. Or worse, overhear their private conversations if you’re both using the same channel or the same baby monitor.

More channels will mean less interference. Nowadays models come with a range from a few channels to over hundred channels to ensure the least interference.

6) Sensitivity
This is also a matter of preference. Some people like to hear the white noise in baby’s room as an assurance that the monitor is working well at all times, but some would prefer just to hear baby’s sound.

Some models allow you to control the sensitivity of the microphone so that you can set it to pick up only the noises you want to hear.

7) Walkie-talkie feature
If your baby is already talking little phrases like mine, this could be a nice feature to have! Some toddlers don’t cry when they need mummy, but they like to know that mummy is around the house somewhere.

With this feature you can safely leave your kid in the room keeping an ongoing conversation with him/her while you do your chores around the house!

I hope you find this helpful Happy shopping for a baby monitor!

Related Posts:

• Baby Monitor Reviews – Best Baby Monitor
• Best Baby Monitor – Top 5 Picks
• Philips Avent Baby Monitor with DECT Technology – Best Baby Monitor
• Safety First High Def Digital Baby Monitor – Best Budget Baby Monitor/Best Digital Baby Monitor
• Sony 900Mhz Baby Call – Best Basic Baby Monitor/Best Analog Baby Monitor
• Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Baby Monitor – Best Video Baby Monitor
• Angelcare Movement Sensor with Sound – Best Motion Sensing Baby Monitor

When I wanted to buy the SCD589 lately, I was surprised to find that it has been replaced by Philips Avent SCD510 and SCD520! Aw, I really liked the cute design, but from the reviews it seems that the new updates were an improvement, so I bought the SCD510.

Philips Avent Basic Baby Monitor w/ DECT Technology

Both of them are basically the same except for an additional digital screen with the SCD520, which shows the temperature and other functions, and an extra on the price tag, of course.

I figured out that I didn’t need it to tell me the temperature in our toddler’s room, because this baby monitor also works like a walkie-talkie and our kid is old enough to tell me if he’s hot or needs anything.

No White Noise and No Static
What’s so cool about the Philips Avent DECT monitor is that it doesn’t pick up the white noise! I had read the reviews about this and didn’t really believe it until I used it myself.

You can control the sensitivity of the monitor so that you pick up only the noises you want to hear. I set it so that I couldn’t hear the clock or fan in my kid’s room but if he makes his baby noises or talks to me, I can hear him ever so clearly.

And there’s totally no static at all, just like what Philips guaranteed. I’ve used it beside our modem, hand phones and microwave, no problem at all.

What You Might Not Like
The volume on the parent unit is indeed a bit low, like other users have said, but I got around this problem by training my kid to speak towards his unit. He thinks it’s a phone! But if you have a younger baby, you might want to place the unit closer to baby when he/she sleeps.

I’m very happy to say this is the best baby monitor I’ve used. I bought it at Amazon at a promotional price and had it shipped to me free of charge. Check it out here:

• Philips Avent Baby Monitor with DECT Technology SCD510 – without digital screen
• Philips Avent Digital Screen Baby Monitor with DECT tecnology SCD520 – with digital screen.

Related Posts:

• Baby Monitor Reviews – Best Baby Monitor
• Best Baby Monitor – Top 5 Picks
• Philips Avent Baby Monitor with DECT Technology – Best Baby Monitor
• Safety First High Def Digital Baby Monitor – Best Budget Baby Monitor/Best Digital Baby Monitor
• Sony 900Mhz Baby Call – Best Basic Baby Monitor/Best Analog Baby Monitor
• Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Baby Monitor – Best Video Baby Monitor
• Angelcare Movement Sensor with Sound – Best Motion Sensing Baby Monitor

So for our first baby related sewing project: a set of baby blocks. I’ve chosen this because a) I’ve done it before and need to make 2 sets for holiday gifts, b) it’s very simple for beginners and c) doesn’t take a lot of materials, etc.

I recently knit this little number for my new baby cousin. Yes you read correctly, my new baby cousin. My Aunt, whom is eight years older than me , just had her first baby– and what a lovely boy he is! I couldn’t resist knitting him this cardigan and I’ll share it here with you.

The necessities and the first half of the pattern…

To fit ages: 3-6 (6-9:9-12)months

Measurements: Chest 52 (56:61)cm/ Length to shoulder 24 (26:28)cm/ Sleeve length 14 (16:18)cm

Materials: 3(4:4) 50g balls of cotton double knitting in main colour and one ball in accent colour

A pair each of 3 3/4mm and 4mm knitting needles.

4 buttons

Tension: 20 sts and 28 rows to 10cm square over st st using 4mm needles.

For the back:

With 4mm needles and accent colour cast on 54 (58:62) sts

1st row (right side) K0(2:0), *p2,k2; rep from *to last 2(0:2) sts, p2(0:2)

2nd row P0(2:0), *k2,p2; rep from * to last 2(0:2) sts, k2(0:2)

Rep these 2 rows once more.

Change to main colour.

Beg with a k row, work in st st until the back measures 24(26:28)cm, ending with a p row

Shape shoulders

Cast off 18(18:20) sts at beg of next 2 rows

Leave rem 18(22:22) sts on a stitch holder

For the left front:

With 4mm needles and accent colour cast on 25(27:29)sts

1st row (right side) K0(2:0), *p2,k2; rep from * to last 5 sts, p2 k3

2nd row P3, *k2, p2: rep from * to last 2(0:2) sts, k2 (0:2)

Rep these 2 rows once more

Change to main colour

1st and 2nd sizes only

K1 row

3rd size

Inc row (right side) K7, m1, k to last 7 sts, m1, k7. 31 sts

All sizes

Beg with a p row, work in st st until front measures 17 (18:19)cm, ending with a p row

Shape neck

Next row (right side) K to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

P 1 row

Rep the last 2 rows 6 (8:10) times more. 18 (18:20)sts

Work straight until front measures same as back to shoulder, ending with a p row.

Cast off.

For the right front:

With 4mm needles and accent colour cast on 25(27:29)sts

1st row (right side) K3, *p2,k2; rep from * to last 2 (0:2) sts, p2(0:2)

2nd row P2 (2:0), *k2, p2: rep from * to last 5 sts, k2, p3

Rep these 2 rows once more

Change to main colour

1st and 2nd sizes only

K1 row

3rd size

Inc row (right side) K7, m1, k to last 7 sts, m1, k7. 31 sts

All sizes

Beg with a p row, work in st st until front measures 17 (18:19)cm, ending with a p row

Shape neck

Next row (right side) K1, k2tog tbl, k to end

P 1 row

Rep the last 2 rows 6 (8:10) times more. 18 (18:20)sts

Work straight until front measures same as back to shoulder, ending with a k row.

Cast off.

I will provide the rest of the pattern to finish the sleeves, front edging and pulling it together tomorrow.

Get busy knitting

Ta-ta for now~

Safari Illuminations

Fri 02 Oct 2009 – Sun 04 Oct 2009
Fri 09 Oct 2009 – Sun 11 Oct 2009
Fri 16 Oct 2009 – Sun 18 Oct 2009
Fri 23 Oct 2009 – Sun 01 Nov 2009

An evening full of family entertainment, featuring a walk-through light show, with over 150 illuminated animals, prehistoric creatures and light boxes.

West Midland Safari Park’s Enchanted Evening Event

Starts at 5.30pm on Friday 2nd October 2009 and on 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 18th October and then every evening from 23rd October until 1st November 2009 – including Halloween, of course!

Admission to Enchanted Evenings costs £6.00 adults (ages 16-64).

£5.50 children (ages 3-15).

A Family Ticket (2adults & 2children) costs £20.00.

Children under 3 years are admitted free.

Lights will be switched on at sunset; last admission is at 8.00pm and amusement rides close at 9.00pm. The animal reserves will be closed throughout the entire event.

Halloween

Sat 17 Oct – Sun 18 Oct

Come along and celebrate Halloween at West Midland Safari Park. Take part in our ‘spooky’ fun and games. Activities will be held in the classroom, located in the Discovery Zone, between 1pm and 4pm.

There is no extra charge for this event.

For further information about our Weekend Events please call 01299 404888 or e-mail education@wmsp.co.uk.

WEST MIDLANDS SAFARI PARK

Bring the outdoors in with these great finds from Chic Sin Design on Etsy…

I think they are so cute for a nature-themed nursery or in a living area for children and adults to relax and lounge on.

CHIC SIN DESIGN

…either way there are some good shopping deals to be had this Saturday (17th)!

First Baptist Church of Rolla is having a FREE yard sale on Saturday from 8:30am-2pm.  Go ahead, let that sink in a little.  Re-read it if you must.  Yes, I said FREE YARD SALE.  What exactly does that mean you ask?  It means that there will be all sorts of goodies and gems like you would normally find at a yard sale only everything will be marked $0.  The church is doing this as an amazing out reach to our community and will also have food (at least that’s the word on the street), a place to pray and information about the many different ministries that FBC has to offer.  The church is located right across the street from the High School on Cedar Street.

Also this Saturday from 9am-4pm, andFLEW Movement Studio (717 N. Pine St. across from PCB) is holding a holiday gift fall festival to help support the Rolla Home school Volleyball Team (coached by our very own Sarah C.) so they can compete at Nationals!!  There will be jewelry, pottery, wood working,  baby items, purses and a whole lot more.  They will also have some blue grass music and some yummy food vendors – something for everyone.  Two of our MOPS mom’s will be selling their beautiful “crafts” at this event-  Sarah H. will have her no-slip hair clips ($1-3) for sale as well as Bib-its, pacifier clips and baby slings (you can check out http://thecreativeoutlet.shutterfly.com for a sampling).  Laura P. will also be there selling her unique and fun creations for both boys and girls.

Sounds like both events will have all sorts of items to choose from.  And people say there is no shopping in Rolla…

Hope to see you at the pumpkin patch tomorrow morning!

TOTO KNITS WEBSITE

Here’s a great way to kick off this week…a ToTo Knits Giveaway! I am so in love with their Safari Animal Sweaters and their baby booties. They are giving away a hat and booties set to one lucky winner. To enter, go to the ToTo Knit Website Link above and choose a set either from the hats or booties list. Then return here and comment on this post telling me which set you prefer for a little one. The deadline for this giveaway is Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 12 midnight (GMT). The winner will be notified on Friday, October 16th at noon. The items you choose will be shipped to you at no cost. It’s entirely FREE!

ToTo Knits products are 100% cotton hand-made in Kenya.  They are eco-friendly using organic cotton and bio-friendly dyes. They are produced by an informal group of women, many of whom are single mothers providing for their families, in Nairobi.

ToTo Knits was begun by Erin Brennan Allan. Find out more about her journey from New York to Kenya and why she started ToTo Knits…

CLICK HERE

GOOD LUCK!

Last night, Andy and I were around Dufferin and Steeles area in Toronto to attend a baby expo that was organized by Welcome Wagon (more on that later), and we found a really cool store that has become one of our favourite place to look for baby stuff.

Once Upon a Child is a franchise that buys and sells gently used (a.k.a. “pre-loved”) or new items for babies and toddlers in the U.S.A. and Canada. Understanding that kids outgrow their furniture, clothes, toys and gears rapidly, Once Upon a Child is a pretty cool concept for parents on a budget like us.

The children’s resale store pays on the spot for the things that you bring in to sell instead of making you wait until you sell the item before you are able to get your money (such as a consignment store). The items bought/sold are inspected for quality, safety and value so you can be sure that the items that you find here are in fairly decent condition.

The items vary from store to store, so if you don’t see what you are looking for, you can always check out another one in your area.

We were in a rush, but we managed to find a cute onesie for lil’ Madelyn that Andy insisted on getting. I wonder why…

I also own a shirt that says the same as this onesie in green and the alphabets in pink instead, so I had to get this: