Bureaucratic guidelines for new parents

In the past month, my parents have mastered finding way out from the bureaucratic labyrinths of our bizarre society....

So I share here their guide (based on their experience) for all new parents in Macedonia wondering how to begin and where to look for financial help...

Download the "Bureaucratic guidelines for new parents" (in Macedonian) here.

Download the FZOM Application here.

List of documents needed for financial aid from Municipality of Aerodrom here.

Good luck!

Baby Fair

This weekend, from 24th to 26th of April 2009, in the halls of “Skopje fair”the first Baby Fair in Macedonia will be held, under patronage of the Association of Pediatrics of R. Macedonia. It is the first specialized fair which will gather domestic and foreign companies and brands which offer products and services for babies, children and pregnant women.





Conceptually the fair is designed to be one place where profiles of the companies will cover all segments of babies, children from 0-14 years, pregnant mothers as well as the parents like active participants in the child’s environment.

Baby Fair covers all important periods for the future parents: pregnancy, baby, growth, child, education and family life. Areas and profiles that will be covered by the fair manifestation and which we expect to participate: Healthcare and education (pediatrics, psychologists, gynecologists, different area specialists and etc.), Pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, Clothing and footwear, Food, Furniture, Appliances for preparing children food and health food, Automotive industry, Strollers and carriers, Toys and practical gadgets for babies and kids, Photographing and fun games, Magazines about babies and kids, etc.

Mom and dad promised to take me there and I hope they’ll buy me a baby play mat with the most wonderful toys!

Top 5

This is the top 5 list of things I love most:

5. Moving my naked legs and feet: When my tummy hearts, this is the best way I improve my mood.

4. Sucking my pacifier: When I cry, only my favorite green pacifier helps.

3. Taking a bath: Bath time is the best!

2. Falling asleep on my dad’s chest: Daddy always tells the most beautiful stories!

1. Definitely no. one: Eating! Nothing’s so good and tasty like mom’s milk!

Who do I look like?

Although I believe it is very much obvious, I would ask you to share your opinion and vote who do you think I look like more: my mom or my dad?

Here are some photos of me, and my mom and dad when they were my age (or a little bit "older"), I hope it will help you decide and vote.

More photos here.

The poll is on the bar on the right. Thanks for voting! :)

Welcome, Bisera!

Last night a new friend of mine was born!

Bisera (I hope this would be her name) is the loving daughter of Marche and Joco Girovi, and a friend that I was so excitedly waiting for these last few weeks! She was born 2,8 kg, yesterday at 7 p.m. in Drzavna Bolnica in Skopje.

This week another friend of mine came on this world - Davor, son of Pana and Anela.

I can hardly wait for them to grow up few more weeks and to play together!

My adorable toothless smiles…

I love to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged, and carried. I even make an "ah" sound when I hear the voice of mom or dad, or when I see their faces, and I'll be eager to find them in a crowd.

I gurgle, coo, grunt, and hum – that way I express my feelings. And I smile a lot too. I reward my parents’ loving care with a beaming, toothless, just-for-them grin. They coo and gurgle back, and talk to me face to face. This makes their hearts melt, even if they've just had their worst night yet. Nothing else matters to them than my smile!

When my mom has things to do, I enjoy hearing her voice from across the room. She is talking to me silly motherese or baby talk, and I am attuned to this high-pitched, drawn-out way of communicating. My dad is also talking, narrating and singing to me, and I enjoy our conversation so much, that I may even start to chime in with my comments. When I am disturbed or I have some tummy pain, I relax and fall asleep from dad’s stories and songs on his chest.

I am proud to say that my neck muscles are getting stronger, which allows me to hold my head up for short periods. In the beginning of the third week I could already support it for a few moments while lying on the stomach, for example, and I could even turn it from side to side.