PAPA

China’s ‘Stone Babies’
December 31, 2008 (Wednesday)

Since China’s contaminated infant formula milk powder scandal was exposed in September, more than 240,000 babies have been diagnosed with kidney problems due to drinking the milk powder.

Parents accuse the authorities for its corrupt food safety inspection system and its failure to do justice and provide proper compensation. Having been denied all official channels of petitioning, the parents started to unite their forces in an effort to initiate a class-action lawsuit against the baby formula manufacturing companies. They call their alliance the “Home of Stone Babies (HSB),” referring to the babies who developed kidney stones after drinking the contaminated milk powder.

On the HSB website, parents posted many pictures of their sick babies and told their tragic stories. Read more

Ashlee & Pete Show Off Baby Bronx
December 30, 2008 (Tuesday)

Photo by: courtesy Friendsorenemies.com

Proud parents Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz took the holidays as a reason to show off their newborn son, Bronx Mowgli, on the Web.

The couple posted a "Happy Holidays" greeting addressed to "all our friends" on Wentz's site, friendsorenemies.com, that reads, "We decided to share the best gift we could ever receive with you: Bronx Mowgli Wentz."

Bronx was born Nov. 20 in Los Angeles and "makes me laugh and smile everyday," Simpson-Wentz recently wrote. Source

Happy Holidays!
December 25, 2008 (Thursday)

One in 4,000 babies have a rare disorder
December 20, 2008 (Saturday)

She said there were thousands of disorders classified as rare, and medication to treat them was difficult to obtain or too expensive.

“Among the rare disorders are brittle bones (osteogenesis imperfecta), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), PraderWilli Syndrome (PWS), and metabolic disorders,” she said yesterday.

She said rare disorders were genetic and could be fatal or cause physical and developmental delays in children.

“Most of the time, these disorders cannot be detected in the early stages of birth. Some can only be detected after the child is four or five years old,” she added.

She said in many cases, patients, especially children, died due to late detection and treatment.

Malaysian Rare Disorders Society (MRDs) president Datuk Hatijah Ayob said the society was working to increase awareness among parents and doctors so that they would be more alert to any strange symptoms found on a newborn.

She said the society was formed in 2004 to gather parents who needed support and advice on how to care for babies with rare disorders.

“Our society is a support group for these parents and lends them a shoulder to cry on, as it allows them to shares experiences with each other,” she said.

Hatijah said while medication acted to delay the effects of disorders, cure was difficult.

For more information, visit the Malaysian Rare Disorders Society website at www.mrds.org.my.

Tom Cruise Gushes Over Suri's Incredible Vocabulary
December 19, 2008 (Friday)

Photo by: Marcel Thomas / FilmMagic

Watch out, Harvard. She's not even three years old, but little Suri Cruise is a bona fide brainiac, boasts her proud papa.

"Her vocabulary is incredible," Tom Cruise told PEOPLE Monday night at the New York premiere of Valkyrie.

Still, his favorite words are some of the most simple. "I love hearing 'I love you, dada,' or, 'I love you, mama.' "

While his wife, Katie Holmes is busy starring in Broadway's All My Sons, the 46-year-old mega movie star is relishing playing Mr. Mom.

"I just love every moment," he gushed. "We've got the teenagers and I've got the two-and-half year old and to have that I feel lucky."  Source

An Early Season's Greetings
December 15, 2008 (Monday)

In Germany, the celebration of Saint Nicholas Day on December 5th resembles the Christmas where the children will be receiving presents, it's part of their Christmas traditions. In Malaysia, the Christmas mood kick-in early too by a couple of weeks back, set forth by our shopping malls decorated with awesome Christmas decorations. This will be a good reminder to the shoppers to spend, spend and spend! 

Today, I've received a cake that resembled like a 'T' log (pic above) as a Christmas gift by one of my customer working in the hotel industry. The cake also came along with an invitation to New Year's Gala Dinner Show & Dance on 31 Dec at his hotel that will gonna set me back approx RM360 for two tickets, grr...grr!! In Chinese, we always like to say "Taste the sweet first with the sour later". ;-(

Anyway, I'm longing for a long and lovely holiday with Mama this year. Everything has been planned and so far so good. I must also thanks my in-law for babysitting our Coo Coos as we're not able to bring them along to the trip this time round due to our budget constraint, aargh! Starting from next month, my elder Coo Coo will start her early education programme with Cosmotots idq. and also art class. I really hope she will enjoy meeting new friends there. I'll blog about this 'early education thingy' later. 

Please be informed that our Go Shopping! section will be closed from 17th December 2008 till 4th January 2009. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. I'll have limited Internet access during this period but will still update the main blog whenever I can.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all wonderful CooCooMamaPapa.com members as well as visitors to this blog a Joyous Christmas!

Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber Have a Baby Boy
December 15, 2008 (Monday)

Photo by: Slaven Vlasic / Getty

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber welcomed their second child, PEOPLE has learned.

"I can confirm Naomi and Liev had a baby boy yesterday," said the actress's rep.

A couple since 2005, Watts, 40, and Schreiber, 41, already have a baby boy, Alexander Pete Schreiber, born July 26, 2007.

Earlier this year, Watts boasted of her first-born, "He's turning pages in the book. He's crawling and standing up. He can wave. I read Goodnight Moon to him every night." Source

Legoland Theme Park for Malaysia in 2013
December 14, 2008 (Sunday)

Now that Mickey & his team are not interested to come to Johor (maybe due to our blistering hot weather and monsoons), Legoland looks set to makes its mark on our shores by setting-up a theme park in Iskandar Malaysia.

One thing really puzzled me is that why Iskandar Investment Berhad hold 80% stake in the project with the remaining 20% from Merlin Entertainments, the operator of the theme park? Don't you all agree say IIB should hold 55% with the balance for Merlin? Nevermind, our GLCs got a lot of money!

The RM750 million investment to open the first Legoland theme park in Asia in Iskandar Malaysia is clear proof of the confidence of investors in the corridor launched in 2006.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that although the global economy was uncertain at present, the momentum for the development of Iskandar Malaysia was unaffected.

He said that to date, Iskandar Malaysia had received RM40.25 billion in both local and overseas investments, representing 86 percent of the RM47 billion targeted for the first phase until 2010.

"The RM750 million is a big investment. It is a symbol and proof of the confidence of investors in wanting to continue to invest in Iskandar Malaysia.

"Iskandar Malaysia has displayed convincing progress to enable it to emerge as a high quality and successful development area," he told reporters after witnessing the signing ceremony for the building of the Legoland theme park here today.

The agreement was signed between the managing director of Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) Arlida Ariff and the managing director of Legoland Parks, John Jakobsen.

Apart from Malaysia, similar Legoland theme parks are found in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.

Merlin Entertainments will design and operate the theme park with a 20 percent stake in the project, whilst a consortium led by IIB will own the balance.

The Legoland theme ark will be built on a a 145-acre site in Medini Iskandar, known previously as Node 1, and is expected to be opened by the end of 2013.

According to the Prime Minister, the emergence of Asia's first Legoland theme park in Malaysia was good as the country did not have any competitiors in attracting tourists to a similar facility.

"This means if tourists want to visit a Legoland theme park in Asia, they have to come to Johor Baharu and Malaysia.This is very good as we do not have to compete with other Asian countries," he said.

He also said that the authority responsible for developing Iskandar Malaysia would strive to get more companies to open theme parks in the corridor. Source

Ricky Martin's Twins!
December 11, 2008 (Thursday)

Ricky Martin with sons Valentino (left) and Matteo in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Photo by: Pablo Alfaro / Getty

A joyful Martin, 36, spoke candidly with PEOPLE at home in Puerto Rico about his desire to be a parent, the decision to seek the help of a surrogate and juggling caring for twins – he has no nanny!

Elmo Live!
December 10, 2008 (Wednesday)

Coo Coos new pal captured in their Playroom

Short on ideas for Christmas gift for your tots? Why don't you check out Elmo Live, the new animatronic Elmo robot from Fisher Price.

This truly life-like creation, doesn't walked but speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like the real muppet, Elmo from Sesame Street. He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs all the while telling stories and jokes, singing songs and playing games. The downside is that it's pretty costly, retailing at around RM300 @ Toys"R"Us. 

WHO Establishes TDI for Melamine
December 08, 2008 (Monday)

TDI for a typical newborn that has an average birth weight of between 3 - 4 kg can tolerate up to 0.6 - 0.8 mg melamine per day?? No wonder baby easily got kidney stones after consuming melamine-tainted formula in China earlier.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday announced a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for melamine, the chemical found recently in contaminated milk products.

The TDI for melamine should be limited to 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight. This means a person who weighs 50 kg can tolerate up to 10 mg melamine per day, the UN agency said in a statement.

In the meanwhile, WHO stressed that melamine is a contaminant that should not be in food, although sometimes it is unavoidable.

So the above-mentioned "tolerable" level of melamine should not be seen as a "safe" level, it pointed out.

TDI represents the tolerable amount of unavoidable contaminant in food that a person can ingest on a daily basis without appreciable health risk, it added.

The TDI for melamine is the outcome of an expert meeting organized by WHO this week in Ottawa, Canada. It is lower than previous TDIs suggested for melamine by some national food safety authorities. Source

Is it a Boy or a Girl?
December 04, 2008 (Thursday)

Pic source

Ah Ma and Gal Gal running errands in a local hypermarket where they’ve stumbled upon Ah Ma’s neighbour called Ah Sau. 

Ah Sau: Hello Auntie! How are you? It’s been a while I’ve never
               seen you online via Messenger?

Gal Gal: Huh? Ah Ma, since when you’re into Messenger
               thingy?

Mama: Ahem, need to catch-up with your Ah Pa whenever he’s
             online at his shop. Ah Sau, since both of us are staying
             so close to each other, we can meet-up 
             anytime face to face. No need to chat via computer lar.

Ah Sau: Hmmm..quite true also. Because of all this computer
               stuff, we hardly get together with all the neighbours
               nowadays. 

Mama: Wah, Ah Sau. Finally, you're expecting, right? Your
             tummy is quite big rounded. Boy or girl, ah?

Ah Sau: Oh, about four months already. Doc suspect it's a baby
               girl.

Mama: Girl?! Great! Girl is good. My daughter is a very good
              example. Boy is not that good. You see, my son only
              taking care of his wife and his in-law now. He seldom
              visit or care about me unlike before.

Ah Sau: Then I must be very lucky to have a baby girl. Ah, got to
               go now. Catch-up with you all later.

Mama: See ya!

Ah Sau: Bye!

Mama: Gal Gal, luckily you got a son first. Nowadays, getting a
             boy is not an easy task. Everywhere I go also I heard
             people getting mostly baby girl.

Gal Gal: But Ah Ma, I thought just now you said baby girl is the
               best?

Mama: Aiyah, we Chinese people are very traditional type. Only
             boy who can inherit the family name. Also, the boy
             usually will take control of the family's business.

Gal Gal: But how come brother doesn't want to take over Ah
               Pa's business then?

Mama: I guess Ah Ken feel embarrass to sell women bras &
             panties. He thinks undergarments business is not cool. 

Gal Gal: Don't worry Ah Ma. He just got retrenched. Eventually,
               his wife will pressure him to beg Ah Pa for a job soon!
               Haha!!

Cathy Chui Pregnant Again
December 03, 2008 (Wednesday)

(Photo: batgwa.com/Tungstar)

Cathy Chui (徐子淇) took part in a charity promotion yesterday for her skincare product sponsors, together with Raymond Lam (林峯), Gigi Chiu (趙式芝), May Kwong (鄺文珣) and model Margaret Tsui (徐靜雯).

Currently three months pregnant, Cathy looked well in her floral dress and high heels. Security was tight as she was constantly accompanied by security staff during the event. She smiled that she has put on ten pounds and the baby was unexpected, but a surprise blessing. She said that she will continue having children because she is only 26 and she would like to have a complete family by the time she is 30.

Cathy revealed that she was worried about her daughter getting jealous of the new baby, and although she is just 15 months old, Cathy has started to explain to young Leanna about the new family member. She smiled that Leanna is very good and often hugs her tummy.

With reports that she had been to see a priest to wish for another child, Cathy laughed that at the time, she was already pregnant. She explained that her husband Martin Lee (李家誠) was quite concerned because they had just come back from a holiday in Europe, but now that everything is settled he is extremely pleased.

Cathy emphasised that despite the financial crisis, she hoped that people will still continue to raise money for charities. She said that her husband had celebrated her birthday with her earlier, but instead of gifts, she asked all her family and friends to make a charity donation instead because her greatest wish is to help other people. By Emma Lam of Batgwa.com

Smiley Face at Night Sky
December 02, 2008 (Tuesday)

Pic source

Venus, Jupiter and a three-day-old crescent Moon, appeared as a smiley face above the sky last night.

We will have to wait for another five years before the formation appears again.

Italian party to pay for babies named after Mussolini
December 01, 2008 (Monday)

REUTERS/File

Pickup story from Reuters. An Italian right-wing party is offering 1,500 euros ($1,930) to parents who name their babies after wartime fascist dictator Benito Mussolini or his wife Rachele, saying their names are under threat.

The MSI-Fiamma Tricolore party, the descendant of Mussolini's fascist party, said the initiative in the poor, southern region of Basilicata was meant to keep alive names "at risk of extinction" and pay tribute to the movement's roots.

"Benito and Rachele are nice names and I hope our original initiative will get people going," party official Vincenzo Mancusi told Reuters.

The bonus -- intended to pay for baby clothes and food -- applies to babies born in 2009 in five villages where the birth rate is especially low, Mancusi said.

Mussolini ruled from 1922 to 1943 when he was ousted after leading Italy to ruin by entering World War Two as an ally of Germany. He was executed along with his mistress Claretta Petacci in 1945. His widow Rachele died in 1979.

"The Mouse"
December 01, 2008 (Monday)

Credit: Flynet

Keeping warm in mom-and-daughter knit caps, Nicole Richie and 11-month-old Harlow – knicknamed "The Mouse" by grandpa Lionel Richie – enjoy a holiday weekend playdate Friday in West Hollywood. Source