Planning for a new baby’s arrival can be a joyful time, but it is almost always stressful with a busy schedule of doctor’s visits, parenting classes, and planning for the baby’s future. In What Goes With What for Baby Rooms: Decorating Made Easy, Shauna Evans, helps new and experienced parents determine their own decorating styles and make wonderful rooms to surround their babies with comfort as they grow up. “With a new baby on the way, your to-do list is long and continues to grow with appointments, things to buy, and goals to accomplish before your due date,” says Shauna. “One of the most important and meaningful things to do includes designing and decorating a room for your baby.”

Answer these questions to uncover your decorating style:

1) What is your car color preference?
a. metallic (silver, bronze, gold)
b. red
c. white
d. blue
e. green
f. black
g. other

 
2) What is your favorite ice-cream flavor?
a. mocha
b. vanilla bean
c. chocolate
d. rocky road
e. soy-based berry
f. fresh strawberry
g. rainbow sherbet


3) What is the predominant color in your wardrobe?
a. black
b. tan/khaki
c. white
d. denim
e. earth tones
f. soft faded colors/pastels
g. bold bright colors

 
4) What type of music do you listen to most?
a. classical
b. jazz
c. rock-n-roll
d. country
e. folk
f. oldies
g. ‘70s or classic rock

5) If you had one free leisure hour, how would you most like to spend that time?
a. tour an art gallery or museum
b. browse through a bookstore
c. walk on a sandy beach
d. go hiking
e. stop at the local library for a poetry reading
f. stroll through an herb garden
g. go roller blading

 
6) What patterns do you gravitate toward?
a. polka dots
b. stars and stripes
c. rugby stripes
d. plaids
e. solids
f. floral prints
g. swirls, tie dye

Now it’s time to add up your answers and discover your style preference.

If you have more letter a’s, then you have a classic, traditional style. You don’t follow trends. Quality fabrics and finishes are important to you.You love things with a touch of class and simple elegance. Your look is polished and fashionable. Pastels and fine woods are your choices for a baby’s room.
 
If you have more letter b’s, your style is all-American. You fly the American Flag in your yard and wear blue jeans every chance you get. American icons and themes are sure to find their way into your interiors, including your baby’s room, with stars and stripes making a strong showing.
 
If you have more letter c’s, then you like nautical and sporty things. You love the ocean and dream about seaside retreats.  Primary colors, crisp clean lines, and large doses of white refresh your spirit.

If you have more letter d’s, your style is rustic.You love the mountains, fresh air, gurgling streams, and cabin getaways.  Knotty pine, rough-hewn wood, sherpa, and plaid flannel fabrics are elements that bring you comfort and warmth.
 
If you have more letter e’s, then you are drawn to natural materials and elements. You are earth wise and patronize local artisans. Wood, stone, baskets, glass jars, dried flowers, and sisal rugs are elements you incorporate into your living spaces – no plastic or veneer here. Country living and wide-open spaces are where you prefer to live, play, and grow. You incorporate natural fibers, such as cotton and flax, into your home fabrics and clothes. Earth tones, such as cornflower blue, sage green, oatmeal, buttermilk, and wheat are your colors of choice.

If you have more letter f’s, then you like a vintage look. Flea markets and estate sales are your favorite places to shop, and you also haunt antique shops and thrift stores. You love the thrill of the find and are not daunted by the challenge of turning junk into treasure by refinishing and restoring.  You have several collections of nostalgic items and prefer country living over city dwelling.
 
If you have more letter g’s, then you are groovy, hip and trendy.  You are a free spirit and march to the beat of your own drum. If the style is hip and happening, you’re there. Bold brights, tie-dyes, swirls, and beach motifs energize you.
 
If you are equal in three or more categories, then you have an eclectic style. Go ahead and have fun mixing together a number of themes. Balance is important. Each style should be represented in equal proportion.
 
What Goes With What for Baby Rooms is a decorating primer for parents who want to create functional, beautiful, safe, and nurturing spaces for their babies to grow up. Paperback, 151 pages. Capital Books; $15.95
 

Cord blood is easily defined as blood retrieved from the umbilical cord after the birth of the child. The cord blood contains stem cells which are considered the building blocks of blood and immune systems in the body. Stem cells can also be found in the bone marrow and blood that circulates within the body. However, cord blood is the most desirable because they are the youngest and have not endured much aging or damage.

The majority of growing families do not even know of the tremendous advantages of saving their child’s cord blood at birth. This is the only time in the life of the child that we can obtain and store this life saving cord blood containing stem cells that may be used to treat a host of serious illnesses for mothers, babies and possibly family members.

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord provides a lifeline between mother and child. Now, it may also give life to the child years from birth. The blood within the umbilical cord contains stem cells which can only be collected at the time of birth. These precious stem cells from the umbilical cord are a perfect and unique match for your child. In the unfortunate event your child develops a disease, such as leukemia, these stem cells can be used as a potential cure for your child.

Stem cells are the special cells of the body that have the ability to develop into any cell type in the body. Although a new area of study, stem cells can already be useful for treating a wide variety of ailments such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia, as well as greatly improve the chances for bone marrow transplant matches.

Many believe that, in the near future, stem cells found in cord blood will even allow organs to be regrown, and more studies are being conducted to unlock the potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells in future applications for diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart and liver disease, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke. This makes these cells very valuable. Regardless, saving these stem cells represents one of the most promising and exciting medical treatments on the horizon.

Provided by Cord Blood Solutions, Inc.
For more information, visit www.cordbloodsolutions.com
or call 1-866-584-STEM

Created to stimulate and entertain baby, while cultivating important sensory and motor skills. The Easy EntryTM Tray features learning tools that help introduce animal names and sounds into a child’s early learning vocabulary. The sounds, dancing lights and playtime melodies are fun and interactive. This learning tool uses word association with real-world imagery and other identifiable sounds, which stimulate a child’s mind and foster an understanding of cause and effect.

The Discover & Play Infant Swing features a variety of lullaby tunes, as well as a six-speed control for an array of speed choices. For added enjoyment, the swing features a fabric-covered spiral mobile, which rotates with the swing’s motion and does not require batteries. The spiral mobile also features three soft toys, which spin and bounce to provide overhead visual stimulation for baby.

The Infant Swing is recommended for babies weighing up to 25 pounds. SRP $99.99.