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Getting Ready for the Gift Onslaught!

Submitted by JaneUK on Thu, 11/25/2010 - 11:53

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Everyone loves a baby! Having a baby is such an exciting time for everyone, and as a new mother you often end up with a load of goodwill in the form of presents, flowers, baby clothes and homecooked meals. It seems like the whole world wants to show their joy!

This is great, but then comes the problem- how to thank all these generous people?

Baby photo thank you cards are a fantastic way of introducing your new baby girl or baby boy to friends and family or simply to say thanks for the presents and flowers. Having a photo on the card creates a beautiful keepsake for the receiver and is a lovely gesture as people can pop these into their photo albums and you can put the baby card into your baby's treasure chest for later. It also is the best way to involve even the most distant relative in the joy of a new little person arriving into the world.

In order to prepare yourself for the gift onslaught and to stay as organised as possible, it is best to create yourself "a little thank you box" before the birth. Gather up all your addresses and contacts and make sure you have them all in one place so you don't have to go searching. In your thank you box you will need:

  • A good pen
  • A box of stamps
  • A list of all your contacts, including name, address, postcode, space to note down gift received and extra pages for those unexpected surprise baby gifts
  • Any glitter or stickers you are planning on using

This may seem a simple thing, but in the post-natal haze of having a new baby in the house, you will be so grateful to have all these things on hand, in the one place, especially the stamps!

As the presents come in, note down the gift they gave you on your list. Then, it's the fun task of choosing your card, uploading your photo, writing your personal message and creating your cards online. When your baby cards arrive, you simply sign, lick and stamp!

Keeping it simple is the key to making sure that everyone gets a peek at the new baby and you have as much time as possible to rest up and enjoy time with your new addition.

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Baby Names - What's in a name?

Submitted by JaneUK on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 15:54

Choosing a baby name is a very personal and precious undertaking for new parents. It's amazing how the mere mention of a name conjures up an image.

It might be memories from the first boy you ever kissed, the boss from hell in your first job or the name of your first school friend. Names have so many different meanings for different people and it's impossible to please everyone with your baby name choice.

To avoid enticing unwanted opinions on your shortlist of baby names it would be wise to keep them a closely guarded secret. Any name a Mom-to-be suggests before the birth of a baby is sure to conjure up an image with someone. "No, you can't possibly call them Smedley. I once worked for a guy with that name and he was such a chauvanist, he had no respect at all for women! I remember being 8 months pregnant with my first born, when my best friend called me up and told me the happy news she was 3 months pregnant. I was delighted to hear her news but I was not so happy when she insisted on telling me the baby names they had chosen. I didn't want to know them. My baby was going to be the first one to be born and what if, on the off chance we had chosen the same names! She could have accused me of stealing her baby name even though I had already chosen it all on my own! Thankfully, our baby name choices were different so it all worked out well. There is no doubt all kinds of emotions surface when choosing a baby name which is strange because really choosing a baby name is supposed to be an enjoyable expoerience and the naming of your baby marks the start of your important journey into parenthood.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a baby name. Do you want your baby to have a traditional name such as Elizabeth, which has stood the test of time or are you considering a more modern name such as Evie which is emerging up through the baby name rankings? Is your preference for a popular name such as Emma or are you wanting to stand out from the crowd by choosing a more unusual baby name such as Ellianna? There are many books and websites which list an array of baby names and meanings for you to consider. Whilst it is a time consuming exercise to read through all the names and meanings it is often an enjoyable one which conjures up many images as you read through the names. Research shows Moms-to-be spend more time on the internet researching baby girl names than baby boy names.

Baby names and their meanings often have social, historical or biblical connotations. Parents-to-be also have to consider if a family tradition is going to be continued or whether they would prefer a name which suits the current trends. The majority of baby names are undoubtedly religious inspired such as Matthew or John, but other name categories becoming more popular take their inspiration from precious stones, such as Jade or flowers, such as Lily.

Whatever baby name you choose and however long it takes you to finally agree on a baby name, you will choose one which is right for you and your baby. Whatever opinions were expressed by friends and family during your pregnancy will fade into insignificance as loved ones cuddle and caress your new baby. 

 

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Tips for Taking Perfect Baby Photos

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 17:14

To find out more and view our full range of baby thank you photo cards click here

Taking a photo of a baby can be a tricky and time consuming business. However, with the advancement in digital camera technology in recent years, the job just got a little bit easier since you can click away until you finally get the perfect photo.

Babies tend to be naturals in front of the cameras, they often have great facial expressions and it's great to be able to look back in years to come at some great baby photos.

Below are some digital photography tips to help you take the Perfect Baby Photos:

Tip 1 - Take Plenty of Pictures

The greater the number of pictures taken, the greater the likelihood of attaining the perfect baby photos. So keep clicking away and eventually you will capture the perfect shot.

Tip 2 - Find a Partner to Help You

Of course you can always take the pictures yourself but sometimes it is often helpful to have a partner to assist you. They can play Peek-a-Boo or shake a favourite toy to try and make your baby giggle and smile. Having a partner to help you often makes the process more enjoyable and fun. the burst mode or sports mode on your digital camera can often be a great help as you can take a number of photos in quick succession to ensure you capture all those perfect baby smiles and cute facial expressions.

Tip 3 - Choose the Right Light

To get great baby photos it is important to capture them in the right light. If you are taking photos outside the best time of day to do this is early in the morning in partial shade or early in the evening. These times of day experience softer light and capture warmer tones, plus you have the added benefit of your baby not squinting to avoid sunlight.

If you are taking pictures inside try to use natural light. Window light is great and diffused lighting provides for a softer feel. Try to avoid taking pictures with the flash. Flash can often wash out colours and babies in particular are sensitive to bright light.

Tip 4 - Avoid Distracting Backgrounds and Colours

Place your baby on a neutral rug or against a neutral background to obtain the best baby photos. Avoid bright toys in the shot as these can often detract from the main focus, which is of course your baby. Dress your baby in simple clothes for the same reason as noisy, bright clothes can leave your baby's skn tones looking washed out.

Tip 5 - Choose the Right Time

Before you attempt to take your baby photos make sure your baby is well rested and fed to guarantee lots of smiles. Make photographing your baby fun for both of you and try not to set your expectations too high, know when to put the camera away! There will always be another time. When your baby is tired after their photo shoot, it's always an idea to use this naptime to get some great shots of your little one sleeping like a baby!

Tip 6 - Add Family and Friends

Photos of your baby with someone special create a great story and are great to look back on. Be creative with your photos, they can be tiny fingers against an adults hand, or pictures of family welcoming the new arrival.

Tip 7 - Explore Black and White Photos

Black and white photos are timeless and often add a feeling of fine art and capture features and subtle details which are often missed in colour. Why not take a collage of black and white photos and use them to tell a story.

You've read some useful tips on digital photography so now it's time to put them to the test and see if you can capture the Perfect Baby Photo.