baby talk
JUNE 2010 - CURRENT
I would love for you to follow our current promotions, contests and baby information. You can find all of this information and correspond with us on directly on Twitter and Facebook! Please join us by clicking one of the links below. Thank you, Julie Hines Owner of All American Baby Boutique
MAY 2010
Well it's May and Mother's Day will be here soon. I plan on adding some delicious recipes to this article later on tonight. Also, I am in the process of adding many new and exciting products to our store. In addition I am going to be looking for a good cause in which a percentage of sales can be donated to a local charity that helps soldiers or there family's. I am open to any suggestions.
FEBRUARY 2010
Just wanted to post information about PFAPA. There may be children you know or perhaps your child has this as well. In my case, my daughter gets fevers monthly and you can set a watch to when they will come. Doctors just old me "It's a virus" it will come and go, she is a baby. But nobody else was sick. So, we got our diagnosis and she will grow out of it as soon as her tonsils come out or by the time she turns 5. And just one dose of prednisone gets rid of her over-active immune system. I wish I had known this before. Sorry it's off topic. LOL
JANUARY 2010
All American Baby Boutique would like to wish it's customers and vendors a Happy New Year! This year will bring many changes to our store. We are bringing more items to our online store including christening gowns, toys that are made in the usa, items for expecting moms and dads and a new forum will be set up for new parents to chat.
I am very excited! I am also open to advise and suggestions that will help improve our site.
Thank you again and Happy New Year!
Julie Hines
NOVEMBER 2009
Your little pumpkin: Baby names for Thanksgiving
Nancy J Price & Betsy Bailey
When it comes to baby naming, holidays and seasons are are very popular sources of inspiration. Here are some fun and seasonal name ideas for Thanksgiving babies -- inspired by the Pilgrims, the ancient Greeks... and even your very own family. 
If you want to choose a first name for your baby to celebrate Thanksgiving, you're not alone. In fact, the holidays and seasons are very popular sources of inspiration. There's a virtual cornucopia of fall names out there, if you know where to look.
So where to begin? You might want to consider what really were some of this nation's first names: Those of the Pilgrims who celebrated the First Thanksgiving in 1621.
"A few of those names -- Joseph, Christopher and Sarah -- are still on our country's top 10 list almost 400 years later," says Nancy J Price, co-founder and editor of Pregnancy & Baby. "Other names from that era are less common now, but they still have a traditional flair." The site's top five Mayflower picks for boys are Bartholomew, Elias, Jasper, Gilbert and Myles. For girls, they recommend Alice, Constance, Eleanor, Priscilla and Susanna.
Not every name back then was what parents would consider "typical" by today's standards. For example, three girls on the ship were descriptively named Remember, Desire and Humility. There were also three boys with similarly expressive monikers, including a lad called Resolved, and two brothers named Love and Wrestling.
Based on reader feedback, we have learned that many parents like to put last things -- or at least last names -- first. "A few of the Pilgrim surnames are exactly the kind of given names that really appeal to a lot of parents today, especially for boys," says Betsy Gartrell-Judd, co-founder and editor. Our top five choices from the passenger list are Allerton, Chilton, Hopkins, Latham and Tilley.
When celebrating this season, the Native Americans thought to be at the First Thanksgiving can't be forgotten. Among them were Massasoit, Quadequina, Squanto, Hobbamock and Tokamahamon.
If you want to look beyond our shores, why not consider names that mean "thankful"? For girls, there's Jendayi (Egyptian) and Shakira (African). If baby's a boy, you might think about Jaden (Old English) or Zikomo (African). "Harvest" is also another seasonally relevant term, and the lovely Demetria (which is Demi Moore's real first name) is known as the Greek goddess of harvest. Not quite right? Well, that same goddess is Ceres to the Romans, Mimis to the Turks, and Annona in Latin. Along those same lines, Charmaine is French for "bountiful orchard." Finally, there's Autumn. "It's pretty, it's seasonal, and most people know how to spell it," says Gartrell-Judd.
If these names are just not "it" for your little pumpkin, the most perfect name this season may be the sweetest of all. "Just think of someone in your life, past or present, who you're especially grateful for," says Price. "Celebrate Thanksgiving by naming your baby in honor of someone special."
Still need help finding the perfect baby name? Check out BabyNameCentral.com or BabyHold.com for more tips and ideas.
OCTOBER 2009
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Pumpkin in Baby Food Recipes - When Can Baby Have Pumpkin?
Age for Introducing Pumpkin: 6-8 month
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The Goodness of Pumpkin:
A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae). This family also includes squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons. Pumpkins are actually fruits. We, and many of our visitors, always think of pumpkin as a fruit so we have included it in our Fruits area. Of course, there are also many people who think of pumpkin as a veggie. So how do you think of pumpkin?
Basic Pumpkin Baby Food Recipes:
Pumpkin Puree Baby Food Recipe (6-8 months)
1 sugar pumpkin
water
cinnamon, nutmeg (optional - sprinkle into the cooking water or when you puree/mash)
Pumpkin is best when baked though you may peel, cube and steam it. Bake a pumpkin exactly as you would bake a winter (Acorn, Butternut etc.) squash. Pumpkin is after all a squash.
1. Halve the pumpkin, de-seed
2. Place halves face down in a baking pan with approx 1-2 inches of water
3. Bake between 375-425 F for approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour
Skin should be "puckery" and/or wrinkled and pumpkin should feel soft when pressed
4, Scrape out the pumpkin "meat" and then mash or puree as needed for your baby.
Apple Pumpkin Puree Baby Food Recipe (6-8 months)
1 sugar pumpkin
3 Apples, peeled & cored (use Macintosh, Gala, Braeburn or Granny Smith)
water
cinnamon, nutmeg (optional - sprinkle into the cooking water or when you puree/mash)
1. Halve the pumpkin, peel and de-seed it then cut into cubes
2. Slice the apples
3. Add 3 inches of water to a pot and then insert a steamer basket - add the pumpkin cubes and apples
4. Bring water to a boil and then steam gently until soft and cooked. Be sure to check on the water level
Puree or mash as needed for your baby.
Pumpkin is very watery so baking is the best method - you may peel, de-seed and steam chunks of you prefer.
Apple, Pumpkin & Oatmeal Breakfast Baby Food Recipe (6-8 months)
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cup (cooked) oatmeal
Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and/or ginger
Mix spices, applesauce, pumpkin puree and oatmeal together
Stir thoroughly or blend if needed
Pumpkin Baby Food Recipes - Yummy Bananas & Pumpkin (6-8 months)
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
2 small bananas
Mash 2 small bananas and add the pumpkin puree
Mix thoroughly, blend if needed for your baby's texture preferences. Makes a yummy addition to baby's cereal or yogurt.
Baby's Pumpkin & Pears (6-8 months)
½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
1 pear, peeled & cored & diced
Mash the pear and then mix in the pumpkin – puree if needed.
Pumpkin, Banana & Peaches (6-8 months)
½ cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
1 pear, peeled & cored & diced
1peach – peeled, pitted & diced
Combine all food (steam pear and peach together if need be and mash or puree if needed.
Savory Pumpkin Puree - A Yummy Baby Food Recipe (8-10 months)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup diced onion
1 to 2 cups pumpkin peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (butternut squash may also be used.)
2 cups vegetable stock
pepper, rosemary, basil
pinch of turbinado sugar if desired
Heat the oil in a medium saucepot then add the onion and squash cubes. Saute until the onions are soft and translucent then add the vegetable stock.
Bring the mixture to a slow simmer and simmer until the squash is tender enough to puree. Season to taste with pepper, rosemary and basil
You may make this a sweet puree by using nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon as the spices instead of the savory spices and herbs.
Toss this mixture with cooked brown rice, couscous, lentils or even quinoa for a hearty meal.
Baked Pumpkin Slices (8-10 months)
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halve a sugar pumpkin then cut into slices as you would a melon
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pat slices with a wee bit of butter (or olive oil if you prefer) then place slices on a greased (olive oil) baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with water
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drizzle with pure maple syrup or sprinkle slices with brown sugar (if desired) and then sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of ginger.
- We like to mix these spices together first for an even mix so that no one spice overpowers the other.
Pumpkin Risotto (8-10 months)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 cups arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine (or apple juice for baby)
About 6 cups of hot chicken stock or vegetab