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Baby Name Story: Fyodor - Given by God

By Elmar Alex

It’s always a lot of thinking when you need to choose the name for your baby. There are many good names but this makes the task still harder. Some people can’t explain why they’ve named their baby so, but the others tell you exciting stories about choosing baby names. I collect these stories and here’s one of my collection.

It is believed there’s something mysterious about naming a baby and that the name can determine the future of the child. That’s why some parents try to find out the meaning of the names before choosing one. Often a baby is named after the great person – the King or President, Olympic champion or movie star.

In Russia there’s a tradition to name the first-born son after his grandfather. This makes the naming process somewhat easier if the family follows this tradition.

Pavel Medvedev, an engineer from St.Petersburg, Russia, and a father of three sons tells this story.

“My name is Pavel. I was named after my grandfather according to our family tradition to call a first-born son after his grandfather. Now, my father’s name is Mikhail and I thought I would call my son after him – Mikhail.

“The problem was that my wife asked me to name our son after HER father, i.e. my father-in-law. Well, I had to yield (after all it was her who borne our baby, so she deserved to name him) and we called our son Vitaly – after my father-in-law.

“Now the problem was that my wife didn’t want any more children. For the next ten years I tried to persuade her to have one more baby. When I managed to do so and our second son was born I naturally called him Mikhail – after my father to follow the family tradition.

“Now, everybody was happy and satisfied. Neither my wife nor I wanted more children, but suddenly 18 months later the third son was born. Actually, we didn’t plan to have him but this smart guy appeared notwithstanding! Well, there’s a fallacy that a nursing woman can’t get pregnant. I think many couples make the same mistake. At least whenever I see children of whom one is a year older than the other (like our second and third sons) I think their parents thought that way.

“We did a lot of thinking to name the third son and then suddenly I said he would be called Fyodor. Neither my wife nor I had relatives or ancestors with this name and everybody was surprised and unhappy with my idea. But I insisted because I was absolutely sure that it was the right name for the boy. Later on I found in the book describing baby names meanings that Fyodor means "given by God". Indeed the boy was given by God. All our relatives later on agreed I had made the right choice.

Q – Pavel, you say this son was given by God. But don’t you think any baby is given by God?

A – Oh, yes, of course. But people believe they can plan their family: how many children to have, when to get them born, even to choose if it will be a boy or a girl. Fyodor was absolutely out of planning. God decided for us that we would have him. And something interesting that I didn’t know the meaning of the name when I thought he would be called Fyodor. But the meaning of the name proved to be just to the point.

El Alex collects information about baby names and baby name stories all over the world. His collection is big and still growing. He is a father of three boys. People gladly tell him their stories. If you have an interesting baby name story please send it to him. Russian baby names can be found at http://russian-baby-names.com
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This article courtesy of http://uniquebabygirlnamesguide.info/.
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Creating Good Feng Shui in Baby's Room

By Kathryn Weber

Getting ready for a new baby requires a lot of thought and planning from what diapers the baby will wear down to the decoration and arrangement of baby’s room. Today’s parents want to create a haven for their little one that will help the baby feel comforted and nurtured, as well as stimulated enough so that they thrive. Increasingly, parents are going beyond the traditional coordinated “theme” rooms to ensure baby has a healthy environment by incorporating feng shui.

Feng shui, the Chinese system for arrangement and placement, so often used in businesses and homes is now making its way into the nursery, and for good reason, too. Feng Shui proposes that by arranging and aligning the room correctly, energy will flow better in the room and that all who reside in the room will thrive and prosper better than if the energy is the room was incorrect or did not flow smoothly. Understandably, no one needs to thrive and prosper more than a baby.

To maximize the energy in baby’s room, there are several important factors to consider, such as room location, safety, colors, and furniture arrangement. Using feng shui in the nursery will help to make babies less fussy, who will feel more comfortable in their surroundings, and who will be healthy and flourish. What does it take to accomplish this? Following some basic considerations will help both baby and parents create a room that makes them both happy.

Select a good location for the baby’s bedroom. A new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom also shouldn’t be located where there is excessive noise that might keep the baby from sleeping, such as close to a living room where the TV is on, or close to a noisy street or neighbor.

Bed placement is important. The bed should not be against a window or be directly in line with the door. Put the baby on a solid wall with the head of the crib against the wall, rather than lengthwise. Make sure the baby does not sleep or is placed against a slanted wall. These press on the baby. Avoid placing the baby against a wall that is shared with a bathroom, toilet, storage, or utility-type room.

Opt for soothing colors. Children benefit from bright colors in play areas, but if these are used in a baby’s room, infants can be over stimulated to the point that they do not rest well. Because deep sleep in babies is necessary for healthy growth, be sure to select restful, muted colors. Whites are excellent for children, but avoid black and white color scheme because there is too much contrast. Select color palettes that are close to one another and harmonious, such as green and blue, white and beige, or pink and yellow.

Create soft movement in the room. A room that is too still becomes stagnant and this is not beneficial for the growth of the child. To create good, but soft energy and movement, hang mobiles close to a window to move gently in the breeze and keep soft music playing in the room. You can also place a small fan on a dresser turned on low to keep air moving in the room. Avoid placing the baby under a ceiling fan as these disrupt their body energy.

Watch for pointed objects. Make sure there are no hard corners from dressers or changing tables pointed at the baby’s head or body. Move these to another part of the room where they are not pointed in the direction of the bed.

Select design motifs with care. Make sure that designs do not have harsh points, such as arrows, crosses, diamonds, or triangles. Nature designs are excellent and promote growth. Animal designs should also be chosen carefully. Ferocious or aggressive animals, even when they are made for a baby’s room, should not be chosen. Some of these are found in jungle motif designs and include lions, tigers, bears, and reptiles. Motifs with fish are fine as long as the watery theme is not overly dominant. Otherwise, respiratory, lung, nasal, or kidney problems could develop.

Keep lighting balanced. During the day, the light in the baby’s room should neither be too bright or too dark. Install blinds that can be lowered or raised as needed to keep the room at a pleasant level of lighting. If the room is too bright, the baby won’t rest deeply. If too dim, the room would be too “yin” and the baby could fail to thrive or have respiratory problems.

About the Author

KATHRYN WEBER is the publisher of The Red Lotus Letter (http://www.redlotusletter.com), the Web's largest weekly feng shui ezine. She is also a certified feng shui master practitioner whose been featured in Seventeen and Martial Arts Professional magazines, among others, and is sought after for her expertise with a witty, down-to-earth style.
kweber@redlotusconsulting.com

This article courtesy of http://uniquebabygirlnamesguide.info/.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in
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The Ease and Convenience of Homemade Baby Food (Really!)

By Meredith Edwards-Cornwall

Giving your baby superior nutrition doesn't have to be a huge hassle.

Baby in a highchair, mom in front with a small spoon and a jar of baby food. It looks like something right out of a parenting magazine, and its a scene that is played out several times a day in the majority of homes with small babies. Unfortunately, its also a powerful marketing image that can cost a family a great deal of money in the long run.

The Convenience Factor

Most parents would say the main reason for using commercial jarred baby food is the convenience aspect. After all, with the busy lifestyle many of us have today, no one has time to specially prepare a meal for each member of the family. It doesn't have to be a special event to create your own baby food, however. Baby can usually eat what the rest of the family is eating with very little special preparation.

Good Nutrition

Everyone worries about proper nutrition for growing babies. Iron, calcium, and vitamin D all of these things are legitimate concerns in children's nutrition. However, fortified and processed foods aren';t necessarily better than whole foods. Homemade baby food, created from fresh ingredients, offers your child superior nutrition as well as encourages a taste for simple, unprocessed foods ; a taste that will possibly prevent obesity-related problems later in life. It's not necessary to offer commercial baby foods in order to have a healthy child.

Economics

Why pay more for an inferior product? Beginning baby food often runs between forty and seventy cents for two ounces. It's entirely possible to purchase half a pound of produce for the same amount, and baby will reap the benefits of eating fresh, nutritious food. Buying produce in bulk can result in even more savings, and even frozen produce is preferable to what you find in the jars.

Getting Started

It's important to know when baby is actually ready for solids. Introducing solids too early can lead to an increased likelihood of food intolerances and food allergies. Most medical associations agree that starting solids around six months of age is ideal, and many people find delaying solids for allergy-prone babies is even better. Signs of readiness for solids include: Increased nursing for more than a few days, which is unrelated to illness or teething, or, if baby is fed artificial baby milk, consuming more than 32 ounces daily. Ability to sit up unsupported. Absence of the tongue-thrust reflex. This life-saving reflex causes babies to push foreign objects (in this case, solid foods) out of their mouths to avoid choking. Ability to pick foods up and place in mouth independently (or development of the pincer grasp).

What About Allergies?

Experts recommend introducing new foods between three days and a week apart. This helps parents and caregivers identify signs of a food allergy or intolerance. Common signs of food allergy/intolerance are: Increased bloating and gassiness, painful discomfort. Sandpaper-like raised rash on face, often where the offending food made contact with skin. Runny nose and watery eyes. Diarrhea or mucous in the stools. Blood in the stool can also be an indicator of a food allergy, usually dairy or soy. Red rash around anus, or an unusual diaper rash. Vomiting or increased spit up with discomfort.

Ideally, it is best to introduce foods that are less likely to produce an allergic reaction in baby. Avoiding foods such as egg whites, certain nuts such as peanuts, cow’s milk, corn, wheat, and some berries such as strawberries is recommended, as they are more likely to cause reactions. Instead, start with foods that are easier on baby's system. Some good ideas include: Apples Bananas Peaches Pears Carrots Squash Sweet potatoes Asparagus Oats Barley Brown rice

Tools of the Trade

Fancy equipment isn't necessary to make healthy food for your baby. Things that might be helpful include a blender, a food mill, a steamer basket and ice cube trays if you want to freeze small portions. Most people have blenders already in their kitchens, and a food mill (or baby grinder) isn't necessary if you have a good blender or food processor. Steamer baskets can be found in most grocery stores for only a few dollars, and fit easily into saucepans. Many beginner foods require nothing more than a small pan and a fork.

Sequencing

Many doctors recommend starting your baby on rice cereal first. Many parents find, however, that fruits go over better for beginning eaters. It is a myth that babies will prefer sweet things if they are given fruits first - nature's first food, breast milk, is naturally sweet, and that is what baby is accustomed to. Banana is a wonderful first food, as its creamy consistency is similar to mother';s milk. After introducing banana, try another fruit or vegetable. Continue adding fruits and vegetables until baby has a wide variety of tastes. Then consider adding whole grains in the form of cereal. Many whole grains have naturally occurring iron, so there is no need to supplement baby's iron unless there is a medical indication for doing so. Brown rice, oats, and barley are all good choices. Next, introduce a meat or poultry such as beef or chicken. If you are a vegetarian, introduce another protein source such as tofu or lentils. As time goes on, introduce a combination of tastes, such as cereal mixed with applesauce or peas and carrots. This is also a great time to introduce finger foods, especially if baby has teeth. As baby learns to self-feed, you can move away from making purees and offer small baby-sized portions of the family meal.

Getting Started

Bananas make an ideal food for a baby starting solids. To serve, let bananas ripen well (the more ripe, the better - brown spots are desirable), cut into small chunks and mash with a fork. Pears are an excellent source of fiber and can be cooked like apples: peel and cut into chunks. Place in small saucepan and just cover with water. Cook until tender. These can then be mashed with a fork, run through a food mill, processed in a blender or food processor. They can also be offered as finger food if they are cut into small enough chunks. Carrots, another popular first food, should be scraped with a vegetable peeler, sliced and steamed or boiled until soft. Process in blender or food mill. Carrots can be a choking hazard for children, so do use caution if offering as a finger food.

Sweet potatoes are extremely easy to make, and one potato can last a long time if frozen after cooking. Place sweet potato in a microwave for about eight minutes, remove and let cool. Open up and serve right out of the peel - the potato is very soft and needs no further processing. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of B6.

Winter squash such as acorn or butternut makes an excellent first food. Cut squash in half and clean. Place in one half inch of water in a baking pan and bake at three hundred and fifty degrees for half an hour. Use a spoon to scoop out squash and feed directly to baby.

Avocadoes are an extremely nutrient dense food and offers important vitamins and minerals such as iron and potassium. Cut avocado in half around the pit, grab each half and give it a twist. Scoop out meat and mash or dice.

Making cereal for baby is very easy. Take a cup of the whole grain if your choice such as brown rice, oats, or barley and process in the blender until the desired consistency is reached, usually about two minutes for very young babies. Store in an airtight container. To cook, mix with liquid of your choice and heat over medium heat on stove until thick.

Enjoyment

Enjoy this fun stage in baby';s development, and rest assured that baby is getting superior nutrition and developing good eating habits which will last a lifetime!

About the Author

Meredith Edwards-Cornwall is the owner of http://www.AttachedMamas.com and http://www.BeachDesigns.net. She is an attached mama to two children, Alexander and Elizabeth.

This article courtesy of http://uniquebabygirlnamesguide.info/.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in
your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author
name and URL remain intact.

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