Our new Amish organic moses basket just came in the mail today - straight from Amish country and it is beautiful! Everything is organic - handmade here in the USA and woven/created by the Amish. We are so pleased with it and excited to offer it very shortly. Even the wood we sourced is grown right here in the USA and is from a renewable forest. The wood has never been sprayed or grown with any chemicals! We are very happy to also be supporting the Amish community. They are old order Amish that do not even use electricity and weave the baskets to support their families. Now when you purchase a basket, you know that there is no chance of it being sprayed when it comes into the country. You can also have your babies basket signed and dated and have their name written on it!! What a wonderful heirloom piece - I am so excited about it! I want to have a baby again!

http://www.mommasbaby.com/cat–All-organic-Moses-Baskets-and-more–125.html

Check back often on our page to see a picture - We are having professional photos taken shortly!

We will soon make available our hand woven organic Amish baskets made right here in the USA!  I am soo excited to make the announcement!  Everything on the basket is organic - absolutely no chemicals sprays and all made from renewable wood here in the USA.  Other baskets (even if they are advertised as organic and made from natural fibers) always risk the chance of being sprayed at any point when coming into the U.S.  There are no guarantees with imports. I’ve spoken at great length to many manufactures as well as suppliers about this topic. In addition, these will all be hand signed and dated and the baby’s name can also be added to the basket (lovingly woven for…).Please check back often on our web site:

http://www.mommasbaby.com/cat–Moses-Baskets–120.html

Throughout each pregnancy, I’ve always made certain to walk almost every day and I also do a great deal of swimming in the summer months.  I also went mountain biking until I could no longer do it safely with the baby.  Of course, I was always very careful and stayed off of rugged terrain while pregnant.

I’ve always believed exercise to be very important for both a mother and baby. Now, they have found that excersie during pregnany is very important for a baby’s heart. It’s wonderful news and I encourage every momma to be as active as possible during pregnancy.  Always do safe sports, but keeping active is important for you and your unborn baby.

For the full article, see the following:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23997584/

 

We were recently interviewed in a book called The Green Parent by Jenn Savedge put out by Kedzie Press.  Jenn gives a wealth of information in her book on how to be a green parent.  She will also be visiting our showroom in the near future if you are in the Lehigh Valley area and speaking on Natural Parenting.  We also plan to do a few other presentations that day. More information coming soon (We will probably also have some yummy organic treats for you that day!)

For more information on her book, please see the following link:

http://www.kedziepress.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=152&category=49&CFID=448644&CFTOKEN=23861685

Jenn also has a great blog:

http://thegreenparent.blogspot.com/

 

Recent studies show that children that are close to their parents have less discipline problems as they grow older. 

This reminds me of my own children.  Wherever I go, I receive so many compliments that my children are so well behaved.  With four children ages 8 down to 12 months, they are certainly in the stage to act up, but in all honesty, their behavior is just wonderful and I am so proud of them.

I have always practiced Attachment Parenting and find it to be the best parenting style.  It makes the children feel loved.  The opposite is “detachment” parenting. Many times, those  children grow up with behavior problems.

Dr. William Sears has a lot of wonderful information on Attachment Parenting.  Please see:

 http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T130200.asp

Dr. Sears explains the close bond that Attachment Parenting creates between mom and baby (as well as child).

 Also, a recent study did show how having a close relationship with your child results in better child behavior.

Please see the following from researchers from the University of Iowa:

http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2008/02/12/Metro/Study.Links.Kids.Behavior.To.Relationship.With.Mother-3202995.shtml

Attachment Parenting is wonderful!

  

A study just came out and as I thought, organic food is really more nutritious!

Organic frut and vegetables contain up to 40% more nutrients.

Organic foods contain more beneficial minerals like iron and zinc.

Milk from organic herds contain up to 90% more antioxidents.

I always suggest that moms start feeding their baby organic foods when they start introducing solids.  I always like to start with organic banana.  It is easily digested and organic is always best for them.  I also try to have our children eat as much organic foods as possible at home. 

This study also showed that even if you are not receiving the suggested amount of servings per day of fruits and vegetables, you are getting the best in nutrient uptake by eating organic foods.

For the full report, please see the following link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article2753446.ece

 

Research has shown the link between a mom eating sufficient Omega 3’s during prengnancy and a baby having better problem-solving skills in infancy.  Experts recommend that a pregnant mom get 300 milligrams of DHA daily, but many American women are not meeting this goal according to research out of New York (Reuters).

For the full article, see the following link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070622/hl_nm/prenatal_omega_dc

During pregnancy, I’ve always used Omega 3 oil.  I’ve taken flax oil and have also taken fish oil as well.  I truly do believe that this helps a baby.

Be careful in eating fish.  Many contain high amounts of mercury today, but a pure fish oil such as Carlson’s is a wonderful source for moms.  

Fat is essential in a baby’s brain development.  Even as a baby begins solid foods, do not hold back on the fat.  It is essential as their brain continues to develop.  As you nurse, also continue to include the Omega 3 essential fatty acids in your diet.

In the year 2006, the following were the most popular baby names (I know everyone likes to read this - I decided to post it for you):

1. Jacob and Emily (our fourth little blessing is named Jacob! I love the name).

2. Michael and Emma

3. Joshua and Madison

To read more on popular baby names, please see:

http://babyparenting.about.com/b/a/216631.htm

The article includes some popular celebrity baby names as well such as Addison and Tristan from a popular show, Grey’s Anatomy

For additional celebrity baby names see:

http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/celebritynames.asp

A new report on how much the average stay at home mom would receive if she were to be paid for all the jobs she does shows her worth to be $138,095.  If you think of all the different jobs a mom does throughout the day, she would need to be paid for jobs such as cook, housekeeper, laundry machine operator, computer operator, chief executive officer, janitor, van driver, day care center teacher (not to mention elementary school teacher such as home schooling moms like myself) and psychologist.  The days are long and the typical moms puts in a 92 hour work week!  She would receive 40 hours at base pay and 52 hours overtime. Moms working full time outside of the home would receive an additional $85,939.00 for the work she does at home according to the study (I wonder if that goes for moms such as myself who also work in the home?)!

Moms definitely have one of the most difficult jobs, but also one of the most rewarding jobs (if not the most rewarding) job in the world!  Without a mom, we would never have some of the great men/women who have led our country.  They attribute a lot to what their mom did for them and taught them growing up. Hug your mom today and wish her a wonderful Happy Mothers Day and if you are a mom, I wish you a wonderful Mothers Day!

To read the full article, please see the following link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18466753/

A study put out by ABC News talkes about why environmental factors might be to blame for fewer male births in the U.S.

The proportion of baby boys being born has fallen each year according to the study since the 1970’s.  It is a slight decrease, but there is a decrease and the study looks at possible environmental factors.

An excerpt from the article addresses the following regarding the number of babies being born: 

…The numbers add up to an overall decline of 17 males per 10,000 births in the United States and a decline of 37 males per 10,000 births in Japan since 1970.

This means, according to the authors, that since 1970, 135,000 white males in the United States and 127,000 males in Japan should have been born but were not.

To see the full article, please see the following link:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3024044&page=1