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11/28/07Holiday SavingsWe all love to save money, so in celebration of the holiday season, the A.B. Baby Boutique is giving away a $10 gift voucher with each purchase totalling $50 or more. Use it for yourself or give as a gift to someone you know! This offer is valid for a limited time only. We are also extending our 15% off discount for another week. Use code: thanks07 upon checkout! 10/31/07Going Green Going Green is in! Going Green is Smart! Why? Look at what is happening to our earth not to mention the hazardous chemicals used to make everything nowadays! Going green is a good thing. The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on  cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens - Did you know that we carry organic baby clothes made from cotton grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. The cotton is  certified organic and produced using sustainable farming practices that promote the safety and health of cotton farming communities as well as your babies. Why not put the best on that delicate baby skin! I must  also mention that each piece is of heirloom quality, sure to last for years which means recycling these are worth much more than the term" Hand Me Downs". Organic Collection By Earth Organic Baby Basics available at the A.B. Baby Boutique.
10/23/07Another Product Giveaway!!!!! We are giving away the My Little Crayon Roll-Up in the Classic Stripe Style to one lucky reader! What is it? Our Crayon Roll-Up is your little artist's perfect companion. Roll-Up comes with 10 assorted crayons with room for up to 38 of your favorite colors plus 2 larger pockets for a glue stick, stickers, safety scissors or other small items. Included inside the larger pocket is a clever little poem. Our Crayon Roll-Up is machine washable. Enjoy hours of fun with this handy item! It makes for the perfect birthday gift for any age & great for school. This is also a great teacher gift! How to win? Simpy post this giveaway on your website or blog and reply to this post with your name and link to the post! It is that easy! One winner will be drawn on Thursday, November 1st! Link must be present until the winner is announced! Good Luck and Happy Linking! Just want one now click here to purchase yours instead. They are only $23 bucks!
10/18/07Just Like DaddyBoys are cute. They are all about cars and things with wheels, gears and parts! They are little mechanical beings. I have two of them, so I know all about it! I am always finding things that have been taken apart, pieces that I can't for the life of me find out where they came from. They like to know how things work, why they do what they do. Last year at the Thanksgiving day Parade, my little guy was sitting on the grass watching the parade go by and then he noticed something. "Look Mom! Look at the way that axle is spinning under that truck!" "That is so cool, that is what makes the wheels turn right?" You would think that he would be excited about the giant Turkey or Mr. and Mrs Claus. Nope it was the axle under the car that he was most excited about. Instead of watching the parade he was watching the underbellies of the vehicles! Gotta love those boys. While I am on the subject of frogs, snails and puppy dog tails, as the rhyme goes, I might as well introduce a new product just for boys! I realize that at the A.B. Baby Boutique, I have a habit of stocking girly things (due to the lack of having girls I had to get that out of my system) I am going to make an extra effort to start stocking more boy items. What is the new product?  My first boxers! Boys like to be just like Daddy, they want to shave like Daddy, gargle mouthwash like Daddy, and wear big boy boxers like Daddy! So along comes my newest creation (to the public at least) My First Boxers, complete with a mock fly and non-roll elastic waist. They are pretty darn cute and available in two cool striped styles.  Gotta have em? Grab your little man a pair right here at the A.B. Baby Boutique! They make a great gift too.
10/11/07And the WINNER for the BusyBodyBook Calendar Organizer is....We took all of the entries and put them in a box. I had my wonderful assistant, Susanna pick from the box and the winner is............................. Paige! Thanks everyone for entering and helping us promote the giveaway. Please check back often, we have an even better giveaway to come. Each giveaway will get larger and larger so don't forget to check back! Don't forget to tell your friends! The more entries we receive the bigger the giveaways we will be able to offer! Have a great day and Paige I will be contacting you to get your shipping info! Congratulations! Until next time...
10/10/07We've joined the revolution
When we saw these amazingly cool tees by Tiny Revolutionary we had to have them. Yes we know statement tees are all the rage, but these are even more special to us. We were especially drawn to the Soldier of Love Camo Tee. A member of our family is currently fighting in Iraq with the Marines, so this tee just really means a lot to me as I am sure that many of you have loved ones fighting this endless war too. It is a scary world that we live in, but our children have to grow up into it too! Let's teach them to be individuals, speak up for themselves and make the best of this world, their world.  Which leads me to this next tee that speaks for itself "I'll Change the World Someday". This onesie is described as "A reminder to us and to our children, that we are all born with the capacity to influence the world around us, if only we are brave enough. Children are a great way to reconnect with your belief that you are capable of extraordinary things. Remember, it's ok to start small, with, dare we force the pun? Baby steps."Both tees are printed on super soft, pre-shrunk, Pima cotton with built in, baby-friendly, stretch and recovery. You will be blown away by the way they fit and feel on your little one. They are very true to size so you need not order up a size. Best of all they are Sweatshop-Free! Gotta have it? Shop Now While they are still in stock!
10/9/07Local to the Palm Beach Area? Are you local to the Palm Beach area? If so, come meet us and shop at our next local trunk show!
Join us for a day of shopping and learning! See the latest parties for children, find out about new baby and toddler classes and shop for handbags, jewelry, baby items, tutus and children's toys. Find the perfect way to save money for your precious children, have your children's photo taken at our mini photography sessions, learn important water safety tips and more! We will be offering special discounts and refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you! Don't forget to bring your friends along! Great prizes to be won at our unique raffle! 10/4/07Newest Items Make Great GiftsWe take special care selecting our products to find unique and useful items for today's families. With the holidays quickly approaching, we wanted to let you know that we have a special section that lists all of the most recent products added to our inventory. This makes finding new and exciting items easy! If you browse our store often, or just want to see the latest additions simply click on "New Items" to view all of our most recent additions. We are doing our best to ensure that your holiday shopping is easy and painless. If you have any questions or need some suggestions just let me know!  While I am telling you about our "New Items" link I might as well let you know that we have just added a new style to our very popular Diaper Clutch: Yellow Slate! It is just as fabulous as our other Diaper Clutch styles just in a new funky pattern! Each comes with a matching Wristlet Key Ring!10/3/07Win a Busy Body Book!  Yesterday, I posted about one of our newest organizational products, The BusyBodyBook 2008 Calendar Organizer and Fridge Grid Pad. That is this weeks FREE PRODUCT! To win this great organizational tool, simply comment to this post and tell us how you are going to let others know about this giveaway! Maybe you want to post a blog about it on your own personal blog or website or email a link to your friends! However you want to tell others is up to you, just be sure to comment and let me know how! I will be announcing the winner on Wednesday October 10th! So start commenting now and send your contacts a link to this post and you could be our next winner! 10/2/07OK MommasListen up Mamas! The New Year will be here before we know it! Are you planning on getting more organized this coming year? If not you should be and I have a few great products to help you do just that. We all need more time so getting organized can really save us tons of time to do more of the things we like and spend more time with the people we love. This one little Calendar Organizer comes in two different cover choices Zig Zag (shown) and Brown. This 2008 Calendar Organizer's gretest feature is the Weekly Grid Format. It is the easy and efficient solution to every Mom's scheduling chaos! Each family member, with their own personal column, can plan and track their activities while they organize and coordinate with one another "side by side". BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Organizer, now available in two calendar editions for the 2008 calendar year. "You'll never schedule two things at once with BusyBodyBook." Parenting magazine Get Yours Now at the A.B. Baby BoutiqueMAGNETIC FRIDGE GRID PAD is a great companion to the BusyBody Calendar Organizer.  MORE SPACE TO PLAN, COORDINATE & MANAGE YOUR VERY HECTIC LIFE, SIDE BY SIDE Larger family? More commitments? The 7 column UNdated BBB Fridge Grid Pad, conveniently posted on the fridge, provides you and everyone in your family with even more space for side by side planning. You'll easily organize, view and coordinate everyone's comings and goings! Create a family chore chart, weekly meal plan or assign columns for personal goal management of your daily diet and fitness routines. Multiple projects, clients to track? For your office, assign BBB columns as projects that require planning and you'll easily manage their progress. Or, head columns with the names of your clients to insure better follow-up and communication.
9/24/07Halloween is Just Around the Corner
What an adorable little Bumble Bee! All available now at the A.B. Baby Boutique! 9/19/07pediped infant footwear We love pediped footwear and are proud to have them in stock! pediped footwear was created by Angela and Brian Edgeworth who after hearing the benefits of soft-soled shoes, wanted a comfortable shoe that was easy to put on their daughter, stylish and ideal for indoor/outdoor use. More importantly they wanted a shoe that would protect her gentle feet. pediped footwear combines everything they were looking for. Soft, Cushioned Soles Soft-soles enable children to sense the ground beneath their feet as they learn to walk and develop strength as they grasp with their little toes. Made with a double layer of durable leather plus a soft foam pad on the soles for extra cushioning, children can really put pediped footwear to the test. Premium Leather pediped footwear are made from premium, non-toxic, ECO grade leather, meeting the highest standards applicable. Hand-stitched with attention-to-detail that is second to none, children might wear out but the shoes will not. Indoor/Outdoor Use Whether inside for story time or outside at the park, non-slip leather soles make pediped footwear perfect for indoor/outdoor use, yet they still provide the benefits of a true soft-sole. SHOP NOW for a pair for your child and offer them the best for their growing feet!
9/17/07Who knew learing your times tables could be so fun!
Isn't it amazing how kids (and adults too) can memorize the words to hundreds of songs but when it comes to learning Math we can barely remember our times tables! When we learned the alphabet, we learned it by singing along to a tune why not do the same to learn our times tables! Now you can says Ms. Robinson who is a certified math teacher who holds a master's degree in Innovative Teachings in Mathematics. As a teacher in the classroom, she has created innovative techniques in order to help her students achieve a better understanding of math concepts. During her first half hour of class, Ms. Robinson will give her lecture, but during the second half hour of class, she would play music for her students while they completed their classroom assignments. This will keep the students quite and seated throughout the rest of the class hour. Everyone loves hip hop, and some say hip hop is dead. Actually, it was asleep, and Ms. Robinson woke it up with her new CD HipHop Tables. HipHop Tables focuses on all of the times tables from 1 through 12. It gets kids up and moving while learning their multiplication tables. Ms. Robinson stresses that it is very important to memorize your times tables in order to complete your math test faster. Especially during standardized testing because the calculator will slow you down. You can listen and purchase HipHop Tables by visiting Ms. Robinson's website http://www.hiphoptables.com/ Get ready to dance because Ms. Robinson knows how to make learning your times tables fun!
9/15/07Diaper Clutch- A New Meaning to the Clutch Bag!
Our very own Diaper Clutch has just been featured in the Healthy Bump! The Healthy Bump is a website founded in 2006 by Sarah Gaskin. She believes health, nutrition and well being are just as important before, during and after your pregnancy! Best of luck to you Sarah as I hear you are preparing for pregnancy yourself!
9/13/07My Choice to be a Stay at Home Mom by Denise VetterThe decision to stay at home is harder for some than others. There are so many reasons why we should or why should not stay at home. For me it was a matter of the heart. I had tried to have children for ten years. Then finally I was blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Three years later a beautiful baby boy. Two years later, to my surprise another beautiful baby girl . Pretty good for someone who thought she would never have any children. 9/12/07Mommy BrainMOMMY BRAIN If you've left the crayons to melt in the car, And forgotten just where the car keys are, There's a perfectly good way to explain: You see, you've come down with "Mommy Brain. When you're not sure where the past 8 hours went, or whether the phone bill check's been sent, If you've left the laundry drying in the rain, It's just---you guessed it---Mommy Brain. If you find yourself chatting for hours on end About diaper prices with your cyberfriends, You've just caught a particularly virulent strain Of that affliction known as Mommy Brain. If you left your bags at the grocery store Or completely forgot what you went there for, If you called the cat by your baby's name, You can bet that Mommy Brain's to blame. And if you know the words to "Goodnight Moon" by heart, Or you study your sleeping babe like a work of art, If you're always surprised by how time is flying, And the thought of that first birthday starts you crying... It's unavoidable girls, and I feel your pain For I, too, suffer from Mommy Brain. But I'll admit one thing---of this I'm sure I hope they never find a cure. - Carlotta Eike Stankiewicz
9/10/07Truly Fantastic
If you are looking for the perfect accessory to complete your little girl's outfit, we have found it! These Hand Dyed Tights by Ruby Fantastic are Truly Fantastic and now in stock at the A.B. Baby Boutique. Choose from 3 fabulous colors that are sure to brighten your day and your wardrobe! Each pair is hand dyed and pre-washed. These funky tights are only for the coolest kids in sizes 2-6! These would look so adorable under a jean skirt or even shorts! Grab a pair or two and be prepared for the comments, they are just too cool, everyone will want to know where you found them!
9/6/07Grandparents Day! Yes it is a day!Sunday September 9 is Grandparents day. Did you know that? Either did I until last weekend while in a kids favorite stuff a bear store (you know the one). There was a sign that said Sunday Sept. 9 is grandparents day! So research a bit I did and yes believe it or not it really does exist. A woman by the name of Marian McQuade came up with the idea to set aside a day for grandparents so that it would encourage families to visit the elderly. In 1978 this idea reached the White House and there you have it, National Grandparents Day!
This Sunday, take your kids to visit Grandpa & Grandma or Nana & Papa or Me Ma and Pop Pop. Whatever they call them, give them a special gift! Some time with their grandchildren! If you can't take them there than give them a call! It will make them smile for sure! 9/5/07I wish I had an excuse to get one of these
Anyway let me tell you about the oh so Mod and oh so cool Changing Table by ubi! Stylish, hip and incredibly quick. Not words one would typically associate with changing diapers, but the Ubi changing table is all that and more. Both the basic and deluxe tables make changing diapers a breeze by always having a fresh diaper laid out ready for the next change, while the retro-mod prints and clean wood lines appeal to today’s modern parents. Don't settle for traditional. Embrace change. This table comes in two variations the Basic and the Deluxe. You also have the option of choosing Natural Wood or Cherry and have 6 different prints to choose from!  The Basic Table: The basic table is made of bent wood and upholstered with an easy-to-clean surface. It also features fasteners on the top surface which holds the diaper in place while changing baby.  The Deluxe Table:The deluxe table is made of bent wood and upholstered with an easy-to-clean surface. It features fasteners on the top surface which holds the diaper in place while changing baby. In addition, it also has a built-in diaper dispenser, which stores a small stack of diapers and automatically feeds a diaper to the top surface after baby is changed. Get your ubi changing table at the A.B. Baby Boutique or sign up for a registry and have someone else pick it up for you! 9/4/07Just a cute thing
I love being a Mom. I have friends that don't have kids that call me their birth control. I am serious! It is funny but I can see where they are coming from. Sometimes my kids can drive me up the wall. Like us, kids are not perfect! Meltdowns are common, spilled drinks and an occasional crayon scribble or sharpie (EEK) on the wall are common too! Temper tantrums and fits do come with the territory but there are also many more moments of joy and laughter. These little miniature people can perk you up on a bad day and bring you to tears of laughter! They don't make you want to rip your hair out ALL the time! No matter what kind of day you are having, one look from your little person can make up for all the yucky things that a day can bring! What sparked this post? While visiting family in South Carolina this past Labor Day weekend, my youngest son said " I am going to live forever because I pray a lot and I eat healthy!" That one little phrase made my day! I love being a Mom and I love my kids! I would not trade them for anything in this world!
8/28/07Moms we have a new friend
When Ashley Mohr on behalf of Church & Dwight contacted me to let me know she was sending a slew of products for me to test out I was excited. Little did I know that I would have a new best friend! I am not talking about the human kind I am talking about the "what would I do without this product" kind. Some of the products Ashley had sent I was already familiar with so I dispersed those to my girlfriends in which they will do their own review. There was one teeny tiny product that I had never tried, the Oxi Clean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover. So I kept it. It claimed to "POWER OUT STAINS INSTANTLY" (can you hear that booming commercial voice?). OK so that would be cool! Now it was just a waiting game until a stain occurred. Normally stains occur for me when I wear white so I did. Stains are always occurring when my son Brennan eats or drinks anything but this time, it was like the stains knew I had a tool to fight them and it just wasn't happening. Until the day I put on my brand new white shorts! Let's call this STAIN DAY. My friend Cindy (Cindy don't get mad at me please!) came over with her kids and while hovering with a chip loaded with salsa over my "NO KID" couch (yes I have a no kid couch but don't worry I also have a very friendly kid couch too) she completely missed her mouth and the salsa landed right there on the cushion. AHA! No problemo I have Oxi Clean Spray Away! This little tiny purse size spray bottle covers the entire stain with one spray! Stain instantly disappears and my beautiful straw colored cushion looks brand new. It worked WONDERS later that evening when (still wearing new white shorts) my glass of red wine landed in my lap! Thanks to my husband bumped into me (don't get mad hubster you know it's true!) That was the true test. White shorts an entire glass of red wine, if this Spray Away Stain Spray works on this it will be my new best friend. So there you have it, Oxi Clean Spray Away Instant Stain Remover is my new best friend! This product is a MUST HAVE! I give it a 10 out of 10! I dare you to find a stain this sucker can't remove! Pick up a few on your next trip to the store (they are only $4.99)and keep one in your car, your purse, your "junk" drawer (you know you have one). Go get a few more and give them to your friends, they may think it is a weird gift but trust me they will thank you later! For more information on this and other Oxi Clean products visit http://www.oxiclean.com/
8/27/07Scraps, Scraps & More Scraps
After cutting pattern after pattern after pattern each and every day, my studio can quickly be overcome with fabric scraps. To some sewers and crafters this can be quite burdensome, but for me it is a wonderful opportunity to be anything but wasteful. Never does a scrap go to waste! These annoyances can easily become works of beauty and works of art! I save my scraps in clear bags assorted by color and stored. When the bags begin to overflow or the urge to use them arises these scraggly pieces full of strings and raw edges are cut and pieced together to be come functional items! This particular assortment (shown) will become a very funky, one of a kind, gender neutral quilt soon to be available for purchase in the A.B. Baby Boutique! We will be sure to post it when completed!
8/21/07When your kids get bored get out the paint
With school about to start, my kids suddenly become almost unmanageable. Too much fun in the summer and not enough structure? You think it would kill them to be home for just one day. They are bored, they have nothing to do (yeah right). So what does a Mom who happens to be an artist with all this crafty stuff at her fingertips do? Does she dare take out the acrylic paints and Oh My Gosh (gasp) let the kids use them? Yes, she does and you know sometimes these little boogers can really surprise her! Oh no did my kids inherit the artsy gene? Yup they did, but hey that is not such a bad thing! Sometimes you just have to channel all that boredom and turn it into creativity. Sometimes it works and sometimes they just make a mess that only Mom can clean up completely. In this case, the art turned out fabulous and yes, Mom has a lot to clean up. You gotta give my little guy credit though he did try. The soap dispenser is proof of that now that it is covered in paint. The sink and counter and drips from the table to the sink are proof that he meant well right! That is all that matters. Throw him in tub (before the mess travels through the entire house) amd give that boy a good scrubbing. You can deal with the mess in the kitchen later because you first have to admire the great works of art your little one created! These two Picassos are going up on the wall for sure! Not bad for a 6 year old don't you agree? The top is a pirate ship (like Mommy's Painting he says) and the bottom is a car out for a drive! 8/20/07Urban Baby Slings
Meet Rencie, the Owner, Mama and Designer of Urban Baby Slings! Born and nurtured in Chicago Illinois, Cortez and Company started as a one woman operation. After much local demand for Rencie's pouches, she decided to open an on-line store in December of 2005. Now the very tiny one person operation turned in a small business which is steadily growing. Rencie is striving to bring the same convenience to families everywhere at affordable prices. Cortez and Company makes sure that every family could own there own Urban Pouch by offering discounts to parents who participate in low-income programs such as W.I.C. They also donate pouches to a variety of organizations and local offices. Buy from Cortez and Company and know that every purchase allows them to help families a less fortunate than others. Rencie, What makes Urban Baby Slings exceptional? Our line of fitted pouches and adjustable ring slings express the many sides of today’s mama in a most attractive way. Just because you became a mom doesn’t mean you lose your style. Urban Pouches and Urban Baby Slings are all about expressing the true life of today’s mama, while dipping into the fabulous world of glamour.
What do the experts say about Baby Wearing? 1. Sling babies cry less. Parents in my practice commonly report, "As long as I wear her, she's content!" Parents of fussy babies who try babywearing relate that their babies seem to forget to fuss. This is more than just my own impression. In 1986, a team of pediatricians in Montreal reported on a study of ninety-nine mother-infant pairs. The first group of parents were provided with a baby carrier and assigned to carry their babies for at least three extra hours a day. They were encouraged to carry their infants throughout the day, regardless of the state of the infant, not just in response to crying or fussing. In the control, or noncarried group, parents were not given any specific instructions about carrying. After six weeks, the infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43 percent less than the noncarried group. Anthropologists who travel throughout the world studying infant-care practices in other cultures agree that infants in babywearing cultures cry much less. In Western culture we measure a baby's crying in hours, but in other cultures, crying is measured in minutes. We have been led to believe that it is "normal" for babies to cry a lot, but in other cultures this is not accepted as the norm. In these cultures, babies are normally "up" in arms and are put down only to sleep – next to the mother. When the parent must attend to her own needs, the baby is in someone else's arms. 2. Sling babies learn more. If infants spend less time crying and fussing, what do they do with the free time? They learn! Sling babies spend more time in the state of quiet alertness . This is the behavioral state in which an infant is most content and best able to interact with his environment. It may be called the optimal state of learning for a baby. Researchers have also reported that carried babies show enhanced visual and auditory alertness. The behavioral state of quiet alertness also gives parents a better opportunity to interact with their baby. Notice how mother and baby position their faces in order to achieve this optimal visually interactive plane. The human face, especially in this position, is a potent stimulator for interpersonal bonding. In the kangaroo carry, baby has a 180-degree view of her environment and is able to scan her world. She learns to choose, picking out what she wishes to look at and shutting out what she doesn't. This ability to make choices enhances learning. A sling baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver. 3. Sling babies are more organized. It's easier to understand babywearing when you think of a baby's gestation as lasting eighteen months – nine months inside the womb and at least nine more months outside. The womb environment automatically regulates baby's systems. Birth temporarily disrupts this organization. The more quickly, however, baby gets outside help with organizing these systems, the more easily he adapts to the puzzle of life outside the womb. By extending the womb experience, the babywearing mother (and father) provides an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby. Picture how these regulating systems work. Mother's rhythmic walk, for example, (which baby has been feeling for nine months) reminds baby of the womb experience. This familiar rhythm, imprinted on baby's mind in the womb, now reappears in the "outside womb" and calms baby. As baby places her ear against her mother's chest, mother's heartbeat, beautifully regular and familiar, reminds baby of the sounds of the womb. As another biological regulator, baby senses mother's rhythmic breathing while worn tummy- to-tummy, chest-to-chest. Simply stated, regular parental rhythms have a balancing effect on the infant's irregular rhythms. Babywearing "reminds" the baby of and continues the motion and balance he enjoyed in the womb 4. Sling babies get "humanized" earlier. Another reason that babywearing enhances learning is that baby is intimately involved in the caregiver's world. Baby sees what mother or father sees, hears what they hear, and in some ways feels what they feel. Carried babies become more aware of their parents' faces, walking rhythms, and scents. Baby becomes aware of, and learns from, all the subtle facial expressions, body language, voice inflections and tones, breathing patterns, and emotions of the caregiver. A parent will relate to the baby a lot more often, because baby is sitting right under her nose. Proximity increases interaction, and baby can constantly be learning how to be human. Carried babies are intimately involved in their parents' world because they participate in what mother and father are doing. A baby worn while a parent washes dishes, for example, hears, smells, sees, and experiences in depth the adult world. He is more exposed to and involved in what is going on around him. Baby learns much in the arms of a busy person. 5. Sling babies are smarter. Environmental experiences stimulate nerves to branch out and connect with other nerves, which helps the brain grow and develop. Babywearing helps the infant's developing brain make the right connections. Because baby is intimately involved in the mother and father's world, she is exposed to, and participates in, the environmental stimuli that mother selects and is protected from those stimuli that bombard or overload her developing nervous system. She so intimately participates in what mother is doing that her developing brain stores a myriad of experiences, called patterns of behavior. These experiences can be thought of as thousands of tiny short-run movies that are filed in the infant's neurological library to be rerun when baby is exposed to a similar situation that reminds her of the making of the original "movie." For example, mothers often tell me, "As soon as I pick up the sling and put it on, my baby lights up and raises his arms as if in anticipation that he will soon be in my arms and in my world."I have noticed that sling babies seem more attentive, clicking into adult conversations as if they were part of it. Babywearing enhances speech development. Because baby is up at voice and eye level, he is more involved in conversations. He learns a valuable speech lesson – the ability to listen.Normal ambient sounds, such as the noises of daily activities, may either have learning value for the infant or disturb him. If baby is alone, sounds may frighten him. If baby is worn, these sounds have learning value. The mother filters out what she perceives as unsuitable for the baby and gives the infant an "It's okay" feeling when he is exposed to unfamiliar sounds and experiences. FATHERS WEARING BABIES As a father and certified babywearer, I feel that it's important that a baby get used to father's handling, too. Father has a different rhythm to his walk, a difference that baby learns to appreciate. The snuggle hold and neck nestle are favorite wearing positions for father. BABYWEARING THE PREMATURE INFANT A premature baby, especially one with medical problems needing weeks or months of intensive care, is deprived of those final weeks or months in the womb. Instead, baby must grow in an outside womb. The problem is that outside wombs are static. They don't move. Research has shown that a premature baby whose "womb" moves gains weight faster and has fewer stop-breathing (apnea) episodes. Specialists in newborn care have fabricated a variety of moving wombs, such as oscillating waterbeds.A group of newborn-care specialists in South America made an ingenious discovery. Some hospitals could not afford incubators and all the technology needed to care for prematures. They were forced to use the mother. These preemies were wrapped around their mothers in a sling like wrap, a custom called "packing." To everyone's amazement, the babies thrived as well as, or even better than, the technologically cared-for babies.The researchers concluded that the close proximity to mother helped the babies thrive. Being close to mother entices baby to feed more frequently. Mother's warmth kept the baby warm; mother's movement calmed the baby, enabling the baby to divert energy from crying to growing. Mother's breathing movements stimulated baby's breathing, so that these babies had fewer stop-breathing episodes. Mother acted as sort of a respiratory pacemaker for baby's breathing.As soon as a premature baby no longer needs oxygen and intravenous therapy and enters the growing phase, we encourage mothers to wear their babies as much as possible, a practice called "kangaroo care" . BABYWEARING HANDICAPPED INFANTS Parents often spend more time and money on infant stimulation techniques and better-baby classes when the best stimulation available at the lowest possible cost is right in front of them—babywearing. The handicapped baby especially profits from being worn. Picture the stimulation baby gets: He hears what you hear, sees what you see, moves like you move, because he is near your eyes, ears, and mouth. Baby is in constant touch. Babies with cerebral palsy who arch and stiffen are greatly helped by babywearing. The contoured, bent position of the cradle hold and kangaroo carry competes with baby's tendency to arch backward, and lessens this annoying back- diving posturing. BABYWEARING FAILURE-TO-THRIVE INFANTS The infant who fails to thrive also benefits from babywearing. Some babies, for a variety of medical reasons, are very slow to gain weight, the condition called "failure to thrive". In our pediatric practice, and for one of our own babies, we have used babywearing as a therapeutic tool to stimulate thriving. My doctor's orders to parents are very simple: "Put your baby on in the morning and take him off at night. Wear him down for naps and to sleep. Wear him when you go out and about the house. Take long relaxing walks while wearing your baby. This will help both of you thrive."How does babywearing help babies thrive? Motion does good things for growing babies. It has a calming effect on infants. They cry less and therefore divert the energy they would have wasted on crying into growing. Also, proximity increases feeding frequency, another reason that babywearing stimulates growth. Frequent feedings are a potent stimulus for growth. Perhaps babywearing promotes growth hormones and body enzymes that enhance growth. This has been shown to be true in experimental animals. I believe that in addition to these growth- promoting effects babywearing helps babies thrive because of the organizing effect on baby. The baby's overall biological system seems to work better when she is worn. 8/10/07Weekly Free Giveaways! Woo Hoo!
In the past we have held special giveaways at the A.B. Baby Boutique. Usually by placing an order you would automatically be entered into a drawing to win the product of the month. Well, while the concept was great it sometimes did not end so well for everyone. You see, it had a glitch. Let's say you placed an order and were entered into the giveaway automatically. Let's say the giveaway product was a bib and your child is 5 years old! Bet you would not have use for that bib! If you were to win, you would get the bib! Others who were entered and would have loved to win the bib would lose out! To fix this, we have decided to host the product giveaways right here on our blog! Even better, you only enter if you are interested in winning the product posted! All you have to do is send an email to kristen@abbabyboutique.com and let me know that you are interested in entering. Please put in the subject line "Product Giveaway" and be sure to put the name of the product that is up for the week! To kick off the first FREE PRODUCT we are offering one pair of Getting On Argyle BabyLegs! If you would love to be entered to win this fabulous pair of babylegs, plese send me an email with "Product Giveaway Argyle BabyLegs" in the body of the email, please put your first and last name along with your address and if you win, you will be notified via email and on the blog! Good luck to all!
7/25/07Gotta Have these knobs!
What an inspiration! Thank you Mickie for sharing your talents and wonderful story with us! If you are a boutique or store owner and would like more information on how you can add these fine knobs to your inventory, please contact Mickie directly at: laryschdesigns@hotmail.com
6/28/07Where have I been?
Where oh where have I been? You may have been wondering that. Let's see, school let out, the kids are home for the summer and I decided to take a break for 2 weeks. Sort of. Well I did for the most part. I mean orders still came in that I had to fill and ship, but for the most part I did my best (the best any business owner can do) and stayed mostly out of the office (studio) and played with the kids. Some necessary fun is always good for you. So after 2 weeks at the beach, on our favorite island, on the boat and in the pool, I am back with tons of ideas, a re-charge of motivation and a tan I am hoping won't age me too much. Up today is a new line of fabulous cozy and gorgeous Textured Quilts. Modeling my favorite one, is Alexa, the adorably cute daughter of my best customer and biggest fan Alessandra. I know the baby is just edible, but no, she is not for sale. If she was well, let's just say I would take her (remember I have boys)! However, the blanket is and you can find it right here! These blankets are full of texture, something babies crave and actually need to develop their senses. These Textured Quilts come in a few different sizes from mini lovey sizes to full crib quilts and nap blankets. All are of course handmade and double washed for softness and to give it that textured frayed quality. Look for many new styles to come in the next few weeks. These Textured Quilts make a fabulous baby shower gift or gift for yourself. They are great to take on road trips, cozy to take on your next flight and are just as wonderful placed on the floor for tummy time! As always I love to hear your comments so if you have something to say, please do! See you tomorrow & Happy Summer! Kristen :) 6/14/07Thomas the Tank Engine trains recallToymaker announces recall of Thomas the Tank Engine trains due to lead fears 6/9/07Crayon Rollup in Babytv.comIt may have been quiet over here, but it has not been quiet over at the A.B. Baby Boutique! The "My Little Crayon Roll-up" is in the spotlight once again, this time at Babytv.com as the Editor's Pick. What a fantastic review, you just have to read it! 5/25/07We are having a baby shower and you are invited!!! Enter for a chance to win a baby shower basket valued at over $1000!Did you know that in the United States, more babies are born in the summer months than any other season? And the most popular month for babies to be born is July!In celebration, we are giving one lucky mom-to-be a Baby Shower Basket filled with all the essentials that every new mom will need. It is so easy to enter. Just click on the links to visit each sponsors' website and look for the answer to their question.Be sure to answer all 32 questions because only complete and correct entries are eligible to win.While you are at the our sponsors' site, be sure to check out all the beautiful products and save with the special discount codes offered! Have fun and good luck! ENTER NOW! 5/23/07More Press
We were just featured in the What's Hot for Summer Baby Showers! Don't be afraid to snag this coupon but you have to read the ad to find the code! It is only available for a limited time so use it while you can. It will save you 10%! See it's deals like this you'd never know about if you hadn't read our blog! Just click me to start shopping now! I love this
We have recently added a few really cute tops to our inventory. This is one of my favorite new items. I just love this top. It reminds me of the carefree days as a young girl oh maybe about age 7 or 8. It reminds me of running around in the summer with an ice pop, a pair of athletic stripe knee high socks and pony tails. I think I had a top just like it. I also know I had stickers in my sticker book just like it too. Those of you growing up in the early 80's or late 70's probably feel the same way. It is just so cute. Details: Unicorn embroidered in metallic thread under rainbow. Soft 100% cotton vintage washed tee. Will soon be her favorite top too! Want it? Click here! 5/17/07Moms Helper
Moms I am sure we can all agree that having kids (especially babies and toddlers) things seem to get disorganized. I mean we can never find the phone and where did that Binky go? Baby is crying and I need to find that Binky! How about stepping on those matchbox cars? Ouch that hurts! I have the greatest product for you! Moms Little Helper Apron is super cute! It is small and has 4 pockets to keep all these things that we need to have available when needed! Put your house phone and cell phone in one pocket so when it rings you actually know where it is! Put a Binky in another so when baby wants it you know it is there. Did you step on that matchbox car for the umpteenth time? You can go put it away upstairs later, for now it goes in the apron until you get there. How about your trip to the grocery store? You really don't need to lug the entire diaper bag and purse with you. Leave them at home or in the car. Put on your super cute apron, stick in your wallet, keys and of course the Binky and you are fully prepared, hands free and everything is where you need them! This adorable "life saver" comes in a variety of fabrics so there is sure to be one that suits your taste. Or if you are super fashion conscious pick up a few to match your different outfits. P.S. This also makes a fabulous gift for grandma ;) Want it now? Click here! 5/9/07In the Press
Mother's Day in Hollywood May 17, 2007  I am thrilled to announce that one of the A.B. Baby Boutique's hottest must-have items, The Wristlet Key Ring is getting some glamorous attention this Mother's Day. See who will be receiving them below! Angelina Jolie, Denise Richards, Faith Hill, Marcia Cross, Heidi Klum, Kelly Ripa, Gwen Stefani, Reese Witherspoon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Angela Bassett, Rachel Griffiths, Debra Messing, Britney Spears, Calista Flockhart, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brooke Shields, Jane Kaczmareck, Celine Dion, Jennifer Garner, Tori Spelling, Nancy O'Dell, Sharon Stone, Keri Russell, Leah Remini, Jenna Elfman. 5/4/07Great Resource for Work at Home MomsIf you are a work at home mom or a mom with her own business I have an amazing group for you. A few months after I opened my boutique online I somehow came across a yahoo group called The Mompack. What a fantastic group of women! This group is 100% about helping out one another, providing support and working as a team. Being a member of this group has been nothing but rewarding for me. Everyone is there to support one another. 5/1/07A very clever gift
Our Crayon Roll-Up is your little artist's perfect companion. Roll-Up comes with 18 assorted crayons with room for up to 38 of your favorite colors plus 2 large pockets for a glue stick scissors or other small items. Crayon Roll-Up is machine washable. Enjoy hours of fun with this handy item! It makes for the perfect birthday gift for any age! Our Price $23.00 4/25/07Special Savings & Free Gifts for Mother's DayWe want this Mother's Day to be extra special so we have put together some very special offers for you. From now until April 29th we are offering FREE SHIPPING and 15% off your purchase of $50 or more! We also have a number of free gifts with purchase valid today through Mother's Day! Read on to learn about our special Mother's Day Promotions. These deals are only available for a limited time, so take advantage of them! That is what they are for!
Have a wonderful Mother's Day! With Love, Kristen Lemoine  Free Set of BellyUpsGet a free set of Belly Ups with any purchase from our Maternity Department. Belly Ups are the World's First Maternity Suspenders, keep your under-the-belly maternity pants up! Bellu Ups are mini-suspenders that attach from your bra to your waistband and are undetectable under clothing, completely comfortable to wear, and not at all damaging to even the finest apparel. This unique new accessory is the answer to many clothing dilemmas and puts an end to the constant pulling and tugging on your waistband! They even keep your bra in place and your skirts from spinning! They can be worn from the beginning of pregnancy up until the end (and beyond!). You can still wear BELLY UPS after pregnancy to keep your low-rise jeans fitting perfectly and you feeling great!Retail Price: $13.00 Price with any Maternity Purchase: FREE  FREE PAIR OF BABYLEGSReceive a free pair of BabyLegs in the with the purchase of any Girl or Boys outfit. BabyLegs are one size fits most and are great for newborns too! Our Price: $12.00Price with Purchase : FREE We love to hear from you too, so keep those emails coming! 4/19/07Why shop online?I remember when the whole .com thing started. Shopping online was supposed to be the "biggest thing". I don't know about you but quite frankly it freaked me out. It was just weird and I didn't want to trust these people you could not see to take my credit card information and do as they pleased with it. It was new and scary to me. I wasn't ready for it. So I waited and wondered, why would people buy on-line and give their information to a stranger and then pay shipping when they could just go to the store and get it right then and there and not have to pay shipping or wait or worry about their credit card information (as much). By the way I have no patience so the part about getting it "right now" is totally me. Yes it is a fault of mine. Well look at me now. How silly I was. Shopping online is the greatest thing! I mean who has time to go to the mall? They are only open from 10am - 8 or 9pm and after working all day that is the last place I want to go. Shopping online is fantastic! You can be in your p.j's at midnight and find the perfect dress or that funky pair of ballet flats you have been ogling. With so many companies offering free shipping or discounted shipping it is so worth it! Credit card security is almost guaranteed anywhere you would "want" to shop and with our busy life styles it just makes sense. If you have a friend or relative having a baby, but say they live like 5 states away you can just shop online at the A.B. Baby Boutique, have it gift wrapped and sent directly to them and you don't even have to do any of the work. This last holiday season I did ALL of my shopping online. It was perfect, I was done in a day or so and I never fought the mad, crazy lines and pushy, ridiculous shoppers. You know the ones with that scary look in their eye pushing people around buying stupid things that nobody wants just because it is on sale. Not only did I find everything I was looking for, I also came across some great shops I never knew existed. I love shopping on line. I am thankful to be able to do it. Not only is it great for my shopping splurges (much to the hubby's dislike hee hee hee) but hey, it is now my business; my source of income! Who would have thought the anti-online shopper I was a few years back would not only be shopping online but have her own shop on line boutique? Crazy I know. Such is life! So shop online, save gas, save your sanity and get exactly what you are looking for. Oh and do it in your pj's! It is more fun that way and you can shop on-line in my boutique with FREE SHIPPING! I hate paying shipping fees so why should you?
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