baby - Preserving Your Babys' Treasured Keepsakes

Have you ever wished your Mother had kept all of your baby and special mementos from your childhood all in one place? As the second child in my family, I discovered that all of my baby items had been stuffed in a bag along with a baby book that had one page filled out. My older sister had a lovely baby book and all of her baby keepsakes were stored in a large white box. I used to kid my Mom about how I was "neglected" as the second child. She would always say " Just wait until you have your own children and you will do the same." After my son was born, I was so meticulous about keeping his baby items and I accumulated so much from his first year, that I could never fit it all into the tiny keepsake boxes that I would see in the baby boutiques. Fourteen months later when my daughter arrived, I just threw all of her things in a pile that I wanted to keep and one day, stuffed them into a plastic bag. I had become my Mother. Not long after, a friend of mine was having her first baby and I decided to use my artistic talent and paint a chest for her that matched her babys' room decor. It was so well received at her baby shower, that I started getting orders for the small chests. This led me to develop a generously sized keepsake chest where parents could store ALL of the baby items they wanted to keep. I researched several different kinds of material for the construction of the chests and after many different models, decided to use 100% poplar wood for constructing the chests and base coating the chests in white or ivory solvent based paint. I would then paint whatever design a customer requested to match their decor. Now, I present my own designs on my website http://www.staciedaledesigns.com and have also added a line of specialty chests and wedding keepsake chests. The wedding keepsake chests fill much of the same need as the baby chests. I realized that after our wedding, we were left with many small items that we wanted to preserve and show to our children some day. The sizeable wedding chest is both decorative and functional. The designs include the bride and groom's name and wedding date along with painted flowers or other items from their wedding day. Inside, their is plenty of room for storing items such as marriage license, garter, toasting goblets, cards, photos, dried flowers, guest book and many other special mementos. Each keepsake chest is lovingly hand painted in my Pennsylvania studio and is delivered within three weeks of placing the order. I also now wholesale a line of baby keepsake chests to other baby boutique websites. To see the current designs of baby, specialty and wedding keepsake chests, visit http://www.staciedaledesigns.com Stacie Dale, founder of Stacie Dale Designs Inc., began her career as a fashion designer in 1992. After spending nine years in the apparel industry, Stacie decided to return to her first love of painting. She spent several years creating hand painted furniture and keepsake chests for friends and local stores in the Philadelphia area. In 2002, Stacie opened her website, http://www.staciedaledesigns.com at the urging of a good friend and as a means of staying home with her two children. The website has proved to be a wonderful outlet for unique design creations and a way to reach many new customers worldwide. In 2006, Stacie added a wholesale line that will continue to grow the business and make her designs even more accessible. Stacie strives to provide a high quality keepsake chest that will be a family heirloom for years to come. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacie_Dale baby - The Importance of Bonding, and Touch; Advice for First-Time Parents Fist time parents are in for the experience of a lifetime! After surviving 9 months of pregnancy, a wardrobe of maternity clothes, baby showers, and decorating the nursery with care, you have gone through the exciting, heroic experiences of labor and delivery. You are ready to leave the hospital to begin your new life as first-time parents! Handling the First-Time Parent Jitters For many first-time parents, bringing a baby home from the hospital is an exciting experience mixed with apprehension. Silent questions such as "How will I know...," "How will I cope...," and "But, what if..." mingle with exuberant joy as you look down at the precious bundle sleeping in your arms. You've got the first-time parent jitters! Not to worry! Siblings and friends with children, parents, and in-laws have been waiting for this moment, too. They will offer expert advice on feeding, diapering, and proper baby care. Books galore are also available, written by baby doctors and psychologists offering guidance on parenting, and the latest in child development research. When it comes to reading material, be prudent about book selection. And, don't be afraid to set down boundaries on visiting times for over-eager friends and relatives. While you can learn proper baby care from the expertise of others, you and your spouse also need time alone with your baby, to bond. Bonding with Baby More frequently than not, bonding with baby will include touch. This is important, because it is through touch your baby will come to know you. Cradling your baby in your lap, and gently stroking him or her is the most basic form of bonding between baby and parent. Nestling the newborn at your neck is another bonding-touch that provides baby with a sense of security. Support the baby's head and neck with one hand, and his or her bottom with the other. Forget the old wives' tale that holding a baby too much will spoil the child. Yes, it is true a baby should not be picked up each and every time they cry. As long as they have been adequately fed, are clean and dry, warm and comfortable, a baby does need to learn there are times when they should rest, or entertain themselves. However, quiet moments alone with baby without distractions are necessary to form the emotional connection between parent and child, essential to a healthy attachment. An important bonding process noted by pediatricians in the late 1970s. This process has been proved vital for both parent and child. Parents who form this type attachment with their newborn make better parents. They are better equipped and more willing to make the necessary sacrifices to care for their child; during infancy as well as through childhood. Newborns provided the benefit of gentle contact and tender touch by parents feel loved and secure. This sense of well-being impacts both their emotional growth and physical development. The Importance of Touch The importance of touch - gentle, loving contact when holding your baby, cannot be emphasized enough. Rough handing and harsh jostling, especially with a newborn, can not only frighten your baby, but be life-threatening, as well. Always be careful to support your newborn's head and neck when you pick them up, or lay them down. If you need to wake up your newborn, do not startle them by jostling or shaking them. Instead, gently tickle their feet, softly blow on their cheek, or tenderly rub the side of their head while speaking softly and saying their name. Relish time with your baby. Gently cradle him or her in your arms, and tenderly rub his or her back using slow, wide circles. Or, caress your baby soothingly as you rock them. Talk in a low, comforting tone, or quietly sing to them. When eye contact is made smile, even if you are not sure whether or not their eyesight has developed enough yet to see clearly. At Savvy Baby Gear.com we care about you and your child! That is why we offer the very best in baby-related items, as well as child development tools, and articles of interest for parents of young children. While it is true the importance of proper baby care (bathing, adequate nutrition, a safe, clean environment, play and nap time, and comfortable, warm clothing) cannot be over emphasized, neither can the healthy-bonding process between parent and child and the importance of touch. Both vital ingredients that say, "You are loved!" Lori S. Anton Savvy Baby Gear editor Writers Write Now