Kindergarten

My parents took me to the kindergarten for the first time. As it seems I will go in kindergarten starting from this December, but we had to apply now if we wanted to save a place in the groups...

So we went there to submit the application form and to meet the kindergarten nursery maids. And I must say that I liked pretty much what I saw there. I saw children playing in the yard, I heard lots of laughter of happy kids... and I am becoming more and more exciting about going to kindergarten!

And for the parents who are also thinking of sending their kids to kindergarten, here is a small brochure, encouraging and providing tips on how to prepare the kid for kindergarten.

I have a 'стрина'!

Hey guys, do you know what else is new?

I (will) have a new aunt! Actually, it is called 'стрина' in Macedonian!

Her name is Suze, and she is my uncle Tosho's fiance (since last week). I haven't met her yet, but everyone says she is really nice :)

Well, ladies and gentlemen, here she is, стрина Сузе (the pretty blond girl on the right):

On the photo (from L to R): uncle Tosho, aunt Hristina and aunt-to-be Suze.
The engagement ring is in the middle :)

Introducing Foods Calendar

My mom has prepared a pretty handy calendar of introducing solid foods, based on things she has read and experiences other moms have shared with her. You can download the calendar by clicking here.

Also, if you really, really want to catch moments of baby's first foods, my one-and-only excel-mom has also prepared another calendar in which you can enter every food the baby has tasted, together with notes such as: date when first tried, form in which it was taken, and even how it was accepted (5 stars rating, where 1 is dislike; 3 - like; 5 - baby's favorite). Download from here.

My first solid foods

My first solid foods: carrot, paprika, plumb, grape, milk pap...

August 17: My first carrot juice. I loved it from the start!

August 21: My mom put a piece of paprika in my hand. I did what I usually do - I put in my mouth. And it was kinda nice. After that, my mom started to make me a paprika juice, which I also like a lot.

August 23: That afternoon I was enjoying the late summer sun in Volkovo when a piece of plumb somehow ended up in my mouth...

August 24: My very first milk pap and my very first solid food! I liked it so much that I could eat the plate itself!

August 25: My dad feeding me with Hip's milk pap. Soooooo tasty! Yammiiii!!!

But I still hate that apple juice...

August 11: WTF?!?!

My first milk pap

Yesterday my mom gave me some milk pap, a small amount, just enough to taste it. It was the first time I’ve tried some real (solid) food, other than her breast-milk and juices she usually gives me these days…

And for the whole time, I was holding the spoon on my own, very very tight:





I really loved my first milk pap! I loved it sooo much, that I almost ate the whole plate! And I mean literally: at the end mom and grandma Ata had to hide the plate away from me, because I could probably eat the plate itself too.

My newborn friends

Yesterday I got two new friends: Tara and Joana. They are both daughters of my parents' colleagues at work: Tara is daughter of Dzambo, my mom's colleague, and Joana is daughter of Dance, dad'd colleague.

Tara and Joana were born in the same day, but in different hospitals in Skopje. I can hardly wait to meet them and show them the world!

Vroooooomm!!!

Me, "driving" Milica's cabriolet :)

Introducing juices and solids

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 4-6 months, when it is the best time to introduce baby's first new tastes.

Usually apple juice is recommended to begin with, first as a 1:10 solution, and slowly introducing the juice only, in a baby bottle, up to 50-100 ml a day.

The menu is best to be extended once or twice a week, but not more often than that, because the baby needs some time to get use to and accept the new taste.

Here is a great baby cook-book (in Croatian) that you can use up to preschool age, with lots of advises and more than 100 recipes of baby food.

A good source of advises and recipes can also be found at Baby Centre web site. Annabel Karmel also offers lots of recipes and guides for babies and children on her web site.

An afternoon with Nikola

Yesterday I have spent a nice afternoon with my friend (and cousin) Nikola in Ramstore Mall. He was sending me kisses and smiles all day long.

I tried to send kisses back to him, but nobody thought me how to kiss yet...

Save the dolphins

Hope you understood what I've just said...

Before you start packing…

Summer holiday time. The dilemma where to spend holidays is probably not as hard as the question what should I take for the baby… Where to start?

You should have enough clean and comfortable baby clothes, a hat, diapers, bottles and pacifiers… lots of toys, a plastic pool… But before you even start packing these things, you’ll have to drop by in the closes pharmacy and get several things. Here’s the list:

1. Nifuroxazide. Nifuroxazide (INN) is an oral nitrofuran antibiotic used to treat colitis and diarrhea. It is sold under the brand names Ambatrol, Antinal, Bacifurane, Nifrozid, Ercefuryl, Endiex (CZ, SK, PL), Pérabacticel (FR) and Septidiaryl. It is sold in capsule form and also as a suspension.

2. Avil. AVIL Tablets, Retard and Syrup contain pheniramine maleate, a medicine used to treat allergic conditions such as hayfever, runny nose, itching skin and skin rashes. It is also used in the prevention and treatment of inner ear disorders (eg. Meniere's disease) and travel sickness. AVIL Decongestant also contains pheniramine maleate, ammonium chloride and menthol. It is used to treat chesty coughs, or chest or nasal congestion due to an infection or allergy.

3. Phenergan. Phenergan is used to treat allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, hives, and itchy skin rashes. Phenergan is an antihistamine that relieves nasal stuffiness and inflammation and red, inflamed eyes caused by hay fever and other allergies. It is also used to treat itching, swelling, and redness from hives and other rashes; allergic reactions to blood transfusions; and, with other medications, anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction).

4. Daleron (paracetamol) syrup/oral suspension. It has a fast effect, and beside reducing temperature it also eases the pain, and even anxiety.

5. High sun protection baby body milk, SPF 30+. Be sure you take baby sun milk, because it has to be hypoallergenic, free of perfume, alcohol and chemical filters. It is also good to be a waterproof if you plan to put your baby in the water. The baby sun milk protects baby skin from sunburn and irritation caused by light in a reliable and especially skin-friendly way.

6. Insect Repellent (exp: Autan). Protects against mosquito bites. But the most often question is what repellents are safe for babies and toddlers? One of the most effective ways to protect against mosquito bites is by using insect repellent with DEET. However, these products should be used with caution.

In 2001 the Environmental Protection Agency made the following recommendations regarding the safe use of insect repellent with DEET for children:

• Do not apply to infants under two months of age. (Skin permeability becomes similar to adult by the second month of life.)
• Read and follow all directions and precautions on the product label.
• Do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
• Do not apply to young children's hands or near eyes or mouth.
• Do not allow young children to apply products themselves.
• Use just enough to cover the exposed skin and/or clothing.
• Do not use under clothing.
• Avoid over-application.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
• Wash treated clothing before wearing again.
• Do not use spray solutions in enclosed areas or near food.
• For use on face, apply to adult hands and then rub on face. Do not spray face. Avoid areas around eyes and mouth.

Experts agree that insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective. Years of DEET use have resulted in relatively few reports of adverse reactions. Most reported incidents have not been serious.

Oh… and here is another tip: Before you even settle in the new hotel or apartment, find a pediatrician and write down his/her telephone number! Anything can happen and you might need a doctor in the middle of the night, when there is no one on the streets to ask for the closest pediatrician, doctor or ambulance.

So that’s about it…. Have a great holiday!

An improved 'good morning'

A short update on the previous post on my good-morning-surprises that I make for my mom and dad after I wake up...

This time I managed to turn around, crawl to the other end of the bed, throw out everything on my way (pillows, blanket...) and hide under the swaddling-pad, like in a cave.

I think I just discovered my new 'secret place'...

My first new taste

Yesterday I turned 5… months!

It was a big day for me, not only because of my mini-birthday, but also because I have tried for the first time in my life another taste other than my mom’s milk!

It was an apple juice. And I must admit I didn’t like it much. I was first eager to try it, but now that I did – I must admit it is far from what I expected. I am always so curious when I see mom or dad drinking something from their cups and glasses, and I guess they recognized that I am ready to try something new…



However, tomorrow is a new day, and I will prove them that I like new tastes, I just need some more time to get use to them :)

Welcoming my newborn friends

This week two new friends of mine were born: Angela Kazandziska on 1.08 and Luka Paunovski on 4.08.

Welcome, guys! I am looking forward to meeting you in person and to play with you! As a 'џомба', I will teach you how to roll, pinch, cry and laugh... how to eat your toys and toes... how to make your parents smile... I will teach you all kind of things, I promise!

Welcome!

Angela, Day 1

Luka, 3 weeks

The most effective lullaby

Update on the previous post on lullabies and nursery songs:

Болен ми лежи Миле Поп Јорданов. A Macedonian folk song, hymn of Veles.

The most effective lullaby, ever! All credits go to my dad!



Thanks, dad! :)