There's no perfect one-size-fits-all Father's Day gift, as all dads have their own distinctive tastes and interests. That's why, this year, we've lined up a collection of gifts that are perfect for the head of your family, whatever his lifestyle.

My 1st Years have put together a range of gifts for Dad to include the Quirky Moustache Collection to include this Personalised Travel Mug and Ipad Case!

And not to forget to wonderful Grandparents who also need that great Gift to tell them how amazing they are! 

My 1st Years are asking you to tell us why your Dad is the Best Dad and we will send the Winner one of our No. 1 Dad Aprons to be Personalised with your name!

The name game begins for the royal baby!!

It's only 2 months until the royal baby is due to make its way into the world.

Kate has already admitted she's nervous about giving birth, which will come as no surprise to any mother as it's a pretty nerve-wracking experience!

But having a baby is just a bit different if you're part of the Royal Family.

The importance and sense of tradition involved in giving birth to a Royal means it's altogether more of a procedure than the usual 'childbirth' experienced by the rest of us.

There have been loads of Rumours and speculation about the baby's sex that are flying around, but nothing official has been confirmed.

Apparently Prince Harry was telling friends the baby is a boy. Reports in the Press also hinted a boy is on the cards when Kate apparently bought a very fancy pale-blue baby buggy. Then again, other reports suggested Kate almost let it slip she's expecting a girl.

So the question on everyone's lips is.... What will they call 'it!?'

Check out My 1st Years Royal Inspired Range which will turn your little one into a perfect Prince or Princess! The range includes a blanket, bodysuit, sleepsuit, hat, bib and booties, all in white with gold embroidery to add that special touch!

Here at My 1^st Years HQ we have a few names in mind but we are sure there are some more!

So please comment with your thoughts on what the Royal Baby will be called and our favourite will win a My 1^st Years HRH Pair of Sheepskin booties as seen above!!!!

Number 1: It would of course be a gift from My 1^st Years!

Start selecting your products for Mothers Day now - http://www.my1styears.com/mothers-day

Remember that the last day for ordering is Friday 8^th March.

Number 2: To have a nice hot bubble bath with a large glass of wine and a good book.

Number 3: A nice

lie in followed by breakfast in bed - so get that cooking apron on and start frying some eggs!

Number 4: To receive a nice bunch of flowers, - you do not even need to go out, as they can be ordered to your door – head over to Interflora http://www.interflora.co.uk

Number 5: Take mum out for a meal (No cooking for Mum on Mother’s Day)

Number 8 A big hug from the family!

Let us know what you would like this Mother’s Day below….

The top 3 sellers of The Baby Show were:

1. Navy High Top Trainers
2. Painting Apron
3. Poncho

At the show the beautiful Chantelle Houghton and her adorable daughter, Dolly popped by to say Hello and also mentioned how ‘gorgeous’ our products were!

If you attended ExCel we would love to know what your favorite part was except for visiting the My 1^st Years stand of course.

We loved it so much that we are all booked in for next year!

Competition

If you came by our stand you may of entered our fab competition to WIN a selection of goodies from My 1^st Years!

We have now selected our winner who is……… Natalie Jones!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS

So if you are not a winner this time, make sure you follow us on Facebook & Twitter and sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive discounts and be in for a chance of winning some exciting products.

The Baby Show is at ExCel, and from Friday My 1^st Years will be able to showcase the online collection of Baby Gifts on stand B28. You will be able to touch and feel the products for yourself and even let your child try some products on.

Customers will be able to make their personalised orders available for next day delivery or FREE standard delivery.

My 1^st Years is also running a COMPETITON to win a My 1^st Years Gift Set worth over £200 and with every entry or purchase every customer will receive a goody bag, which includes £5 off your order.

So come on down to stand B28 to enter, have a browse and even let your little ones play with some of the products!

#1 Get the right ingredients & measurements for the mixture

• 110g/4oz plain flour
• A pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 200ml/7ft oz. milk mixed with 75ml/3fl oz. water
• 50g/2oz butter

#2 Make sure the kids get involved

This is a great family fun activity so make sure the whole family is involved, even if it does get a little messy.

#3 Decide if you want something a bit different

Who said you have to have round pancakes, how about something fun like these zoo animals:

#4 Follow instructions carefully

Pancakes seem so simple but if rushed your batter can become a doughy mess that no one eats and we can’t be having that! Follow these simple steps for perfection:

1. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl
2. Start whisking the eggs
3. Slowly add the milk and water mixture while whisking.
4. Whisk until all the liquid has added and the batter has consistency of thin cream with NO LUMPS.
5. Put a little butter in a non-stick pan
6. Spoon a small amount in the pan, depending on how big you would like them to be or pour into the molds as instructed.
7. [TIP: Lightly grease the pan just before each pancake]
   
8. Use a spatula to loosen the edges while cooking
9. When one side starts turning golden, flip it over (Not too extravagantly!)
10. The other side will only take a few seconds to turn golden.

#5 Now it’s time to decorate

My favouite is Icing sugar, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream topped with hot chocolate sauce BUT we all have our favourites so put a few bowls around the table and let everyone pick, some more suggestions would be:

-       Strawberries

-       Lemon

-       Maple Syrup

-       Nutella

-       Banana

-       Ham & Cheese (For a savory suggestion)

We have launched our Valentines collection (http://www.my1styears.com/valentines) wiht lots of of gifts for your loved one and the little love in your life!

Last month the most popular name was HENRY, so we thought we would dig a little deeper and see what’s behind the name and why it could be so popular.

Henry has been on the Top 100 list of names for the past thirty-five years according to Nameberry.com and today it is at its highest point in popularity.

Henry is from the Germanic name Heimrich meaning ‘Home Ruler’ and is seen as a solid and strong name going back centuries and is a popular name used by royalty including, Prince Harry who is actually Prince Henry of Wales.

Some Celebs that have taken note of the name and chosen it for their sons include Colin Farrell, Heidi Klum and Julia Roberts.

Henry in different countries can be called translated to:

• Arrigo
• Enrico
• Enzio
• Enrique

And the female version of Henry would be Harriet or Henrietta!

So is your little one a Henry, or have you purchased a personalised gift for a Henry?

Below are some of our favourites:

The overall winner of the Jamie Teddy Bear is....

‘Simba Chips’

Shakira went into labour last night (22^nd January) and named her bundle of joy ‘Milan Pique Mebarak’.

The name ‘Milan’ is of Slavic origin meaning Dear, beloved, loving and gracious. In Ancient Roman, it means eager and laborious and in Gaelic the meaning is, ‘In the middle of the plain’.

Milan is also the main city of Northern Italy, if you did not already know.

• The female version of Milan is Milana

Adele has been staying away from the limelight since the birth of her baby boy but she did make a fabulous appearance at the Golden Globes and when winning a Golden Globe for Best Original Song she dedicated it to her 3-month-old son and Boyfriend. The singer quoted ”This [award] is for my boyfriend Simon, who convinced me to do it, and my lovely son. Thank you so much."

We have not seen much of ‘Little Peanut’ but he is already getting used to the celebrity lifestyle. Angelo has already been getting his fair share of designer clothes, last week he was spotted with Mummy wrapped up in a Missoni blanket.

Here at My 1^st Years HQ we think ‘Little Peanut’ is one of the cutest nicknames we have heard in a while but there must be some more!

So please comment with your little ones nickname and our favourite nickname will win a My 1^st Years, Jamie Teddy with that Nickname on!

So what’s your little one called…?

Competition closes next Thursday

Tip 1.  Where is your Snowman going to go?

If you want your Mr. or Mrs. Snowman not to melt straight away, the middle of your garden is not the best place as he/she will be melting away. BUT…. if you find a nice spot under a tree your little one can be in awe a bit longer with the Snowman standing tall for days to come.

Tip 2. Start from the bottom

Start off with a handful of snow and pack it into a small sized ball and then roll that ball around on the ground in front of you until it is large enough to support the rest of your snowman (Get you little helpers to join in). Then do the middle, and the top part of your snowman’s body the same but slightly smaller, use a shovel to help lift the head on to your Snowman’s body.

Tip3. Personality is the key!

You need to decide what personality you want your snowman to have. Will He / She have a hat, a wig?  Add eyes, a nose and a mouth and your Snowman will need arms!

Bring your snowman to life.

We want to see your snowman pictures so please send them in to us, email: Fiona@my1styears.com.

Happy Birthday to Us

Happy Birthday to My 1st Years

Happy Birthday to Us!!!!

My 1st Years turned 3 years old on Saturday and we are celebrating by giving away 10 Jessie The Lion toys!

We have 5 to giveaway on Facebook (www.facebook.com/my1styears) and 5 on Twitter (www.twitter.com/my1styears).

You can also enter below which will count as an entry on Twitter!

Good Luck

'Ends Friday'

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have celebrated two Christmases here at My 1^st Years but we have never had a Winter Sale and it's finally here!

We have chosen a range of products that are discounted up to 30% off from our current Christmas range to some old favourites, so take your pick: http://www.my1styears.com/http-www-my1styears-com-sale.html

Here are 5 products to get you interested in the My 1^st Years sale:

1.  Mocassion Knit Slipper in Pink & Blue

These warm and comfortable slippers have slip proof flexible leather soles, protecting your child when walking on slippery wooden or tile floors. 

Was: £9.00

Now: £6.30

2.  Wellington Boots in Pink & Blue

PERFECT for wet and snowy conditions. Lightweight with bendy soles so really help early walkers to move with ease. The velcro tab at the back of the welly opens up and the handles and sided of the wellies pull right down to allow childrens ease of putting the shoes on and taking them off. They have fur lined inners make them warm and comfortable.

Waterproof and machine washable. Suitable from size 3 up until size 8.

Was: £20.00

Now: £14.00

3. ‘Nelly Loves’ drawstring bag

One of our favoured products, this beautiful 'Nelly Loves' applique embroidered baby toiletries organiser drawstring bag can help to keep your nursery clean and tidy, helping to store wipes, nappies, lotions and potions, nail clippers etc. Co-ordinates wonderfully with our 'Nelly Loves' nursery range of bedding and accessories making a wonderful personalised gift for any baby in their first year. Makes a very convenient little day pouch for when you only want a few things for the baby to bring out in your adult day bag. Can also be used as a water bottle holder. 100% supersoft cotton.

Was: £9.00

Now: £8.40

4. Union Flag Shoe

The iconic union jack is a real trendsetting shoe. For the patriotic this design is perfect. Navy shoe with union jack detail.
Suitable from newborn up to 24 months.

Was: £12.00

Now: £8.40

5. Special Gift Sack in Pink & Blue

These sacks are 100% cotton and are just perfect for filling with presents. The sack comes in either pink or blue with gingham trim design. 'Special Little Girl' or 'Special Little Boy' is embroidered.

Was: £12.00

Now: £8.40

The enjoyment of a Christmas, especially when we are young,
Is a stocking with our name on it, hanging next to dad and mums.

Full of many different gifts, all special in their own way,
A teddy bear chosen just for you, to cuddle on Christmas day.

A set of penguin pyjamas or a plush snowman toy,
All the ideal presents for your little girl or little boy.

And what about their siblings, they need something too,
We have exactly what you need, personalised just for you.

Making your 1st Christmas, as special as can be,
And sharing lots of memories as a family,
Choosing a perfect present is something you no longer fear,
We wish you a very Merry Christmas from the team at My 1st Years.

Romeo has always taken on board his Mum and Dads fashion sense, looking stylish at every occasion and now as the face of the new Burberry campaign he is definitely following in his Mum’s footsteps, making his mark in the Fashion World at the age of 10.

Romeo is featured in the classic Burberry trench coat and an umbrella with the trademark Burberry pattern.

The other models featuring in the new campaign are Edie Campbell and Cara Delevingne.

We wonder what campaign will be next for Romeo?

At the weekend, I headed out to a 1^st Birthday party for the cute little Ivy and how was she celebrating this special occasion?

With a ‘Baby Rave’ – The ultimate modern baby party!

If you are stuck with what theme to have for your child’s birthday party, because your NCT class has stolen all the good themes or because you want to throw your little one something a bit different – A baby Rave ticks all the boxes.

Check out the setting: Balloons, tunnels, bubbles, flashing soft play balls, sparkly wigs, silver blankets and a parachute with glow sticks galore!

This sensory experience will amaze your little ones as they make new friends and have a dance with Mummy and Daddy to the funky rave music.

There is even businesses that will come round and set up your baby rave or set it up in a hall. I personally think the homemade version is just as fun and provides a fantastic environment for the kids.

So if you are confused on what to throw your little one for their Birthday go for a Baby Rave!

Written by

So How Do You Win?

Just Like My 1^st Years on Facebook and head over to the Competitions tab on our page, there is a big button to click…easy right?

What can you win?

• Rudolph red top and striped PJ bottom set with slippers – Worth £20

• Rudolph Sleeping Bag – Worth £25

• Plush Santa Hat – Worth £7

• Christmas Tree Cotton Stocking – Worth £15

So what are you waiting for get over to Facebook and enter!!!

What is Black Friday & Cyber Monday?

The end of the world? NO Black Friday is a shopping extravaganza and originated in the US as the name given to the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally marking the last holiday before Christmas and the start of Christmas shopping.

So after you have eaten your Turkey, everyone heads to the shops which used to open at around 6am, as the years went on the times have been getting earlier and this year the big retailers are planning to open at around Midnight. Every shop will have plenty of discounts to keep you shopping until the morning.

Over the years Black Friday has grown in popularity in the UK with retailers wanting a slice of the action and Customers loving the deals!

With online business booming E-retailers began to coin the following Monday ‘Cyber Monday’ launching similar deals and allowing shoppers even longer to grab great bargains for Christmas or just for themselves.

Black Friday has been described as one of the busiest shopping days of the year with Cyber Monday being the busiest for online shopping, as the years go on the deals get bigger and better and retailers put more time and effort to give shoppers a shopping day to remember.

My 1^st Years is getting involved this year and doing one better by running a fantastic discount across our entire collection! From Black Friday (23^nd) through to Cyber Monday (26^th) – we will reveal the discount on Thursday!

We will also be running exclusive competitions on our Facebook and Twitter pages so make sure you LIKE and follow to get involved.

So make your Wish List and come back on Friday to grab exclusive deals!

Happy Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Yes we are now allowed to officially talk about Christmas and start writing our Christmas gift lists.

 So start feeling Christmassy and make your first Christmas buy this year, here are a few personalised products for inspiration:

What’s in the name ISLA

This popular girls name derives from Scotland named after a Scottish Island and from a Scottish river. The variant to Isla is Islay again from Scotland meaning Island.

Its popularity has risen over the past few years, this may have been helped by a number of Celebrities like the beautiful ‘Isla Fisher’.

This time instead of taking our embroidery machine we decided to let our products speak for themselves and had the website set up for customers to make orders, we felt like this reflected our brand nicely and looked pretty good!

The best sellers of the weekend were:

1. Rudolph Applique Cotton Stocking 
2. Pink Hessian Gift Sack 
3. Blue Hessian Gift Sack 
4. Navy High Top Trainers 
5. Peekaboo Animated Bear 
6. Penguin PJ Set with slippers

We were also featured in The Baby Show Fashion show with our cool Denim Jeans and College top.

We will be back in February at Excel 22^nd – 24^th 2013 for the Next Baby Show – Will you be going?

Theodora Rose or ‘Teddy’ has become the latest Celebrity baby to be showered with gifts from My 1^st Years.

On Capital Breakfast, Monday morning Robbie Williams was presented with a My 1^st Years gift box from Lisa Snowdon and Dave Berry to celebrate the birth of his and wife Ayda Fields daughter, Theodora Rose.

Robbie Received:

• A Pink Cotton Blanket with ‘Theodora Rose Our Little Angel’
• A pair of Pink High Tops with ‘Teddy’
• A pair of Sheepskin booties with ‘Teddy’
• An Ashley Bear with Teddy’s 1^st Christmas embodied on a cream jumper

Check out the video of Robbie recieving his gifts on The Capital Breakfast Website and on You Tube.

Here at My 1^st Years we are busy getting ready for a fun filled weekend at The Baby Show, Earls Court from the 26^th – 28^th October!

The My 1^st Years team will be on hand to showcase the new collection and Christmas range. You will also be able to make your personalised orders available for next day delivery.

At The Baby Show we are also launching the ‘My 1^st Years Gift Card’, so if you are struggling for something to buy for a new Mum or Dad they can make the decision for you. Gift cards will range from £5 - £100 and can be purchased at The Baby Show.

We are also going to have a fab COMPETITON with a winner every day of a £50 gift card to spend at My 1^st Years. So come on down to stand B36 to enter, have a browse and even let your little ones try on some of the products!

Here is a selection of the new Christmas products so you can start your Christmas shopping early:

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

Well My !st years has done it again!  On the day that he leads the victory parade for our Olympians, the double gold medal winner himself Mo Farah has been tweeting about us!!

Yes "Fly MO" has been raving about how awesome My 1st years shoes and blankets are, as his twin girls Amani and Aisha become the latest celebrity babies to have our personalised gifts!!

Mo says "Thanks to My 1st Years for the awesome gifts for my litte girls...!! Me and the wife love it.... shabba...!!

Babies as young as six months old start to have an independent sense of humour, according to new research. The study was carried out by Dr Gina Mireault of Johnson State College and Dr John Sparrow at the University of New Hampshire, US.

Dr Mireault says: "Humour might seem like a frivolous topic, but it provides a vehicle for understanding infant development".

The project was the first to explore humour and a phenomenon known as 'social referencing' - when babies look to their parents for emotional guidance - in this case during absurd events.

The researchers studied 30 babies in their homes at six months and twelve months of age. Each baby watched their parent react naturally to two ordinary events: being read a picture book and being shown a small red foam ball.

The events were then changed so that they became absurd: the open picture book was bounced on the researcher's head while she said, "Zoop! Zoop!" and the foam ball was placed on the researcher's nose while she poked it and said, "Beep! Beep!" During these odd events parents were asked to either stare at the researcher with an expressionless face or to point and laugh at her. The events were videoed so that babies' responses could be recorded accurately.

The study found that, although six-month-old babies stared longer at the absurd events, showing they were unfamiliar to them, their reactions did not depend on their parents' reactions. However, babies watched their parents closely when they laughed.

The combination of paying close attention to absurd events and to others laughing at those events might explain how babies develop the sophisticated sense of humour they possess at 12 months. By their first birthdays, infants laughed at the absurd events, even when their parents remained expressionless.

Dr Mireault said: "Our findings suggest that six-month-olds are starting to see parents as a source of emotional information, and this is likely to be an important step on the way to being able to obtain  emotional advice from parents when this is needed.  By 12 months, infants seem to have had just enough life experience to make up their own minds - at least about what is absurdly funny."

"In fact, toddlers continue to use social referencing - the classic example being when they look at their parents after taking a tumble. Adults do as well - as in trying to decide if it's appropriate to laugh or display some other emotion - in an unfamiliar/ambiguous context."

It is known that eight month old babies look to their parents to establish if a situation is threatening or to be feared but it was not known if social referencing ocurred earlier or in other situations.

Other research has found that 18-mon-old babies can make jokes with other toddlers before they can talk by making gestures, noises and shared play.

The name 'Darcy' has been given to Darcey Bussell, the ballerina and the GMTV presenter, Kate Garraway, has a daughter called Darcey.

During our market research in May, it was made clear that 66% of all mothers preferred the spelling 'Darcy' as opposed to 'Darcey.'

We cannot wait to see what the most popular girls name is next month!

Next week we will announce the most popular boys name in May!

Reports over the last few weeks have suggested that the couple had been rowing and that 8 month pregnant Chantelle, who was recently pictured struggling with shopping bags, had even moved out of their home and was sleeping on the floor of her unfurnished flat.

Speaking at the time, Chantelle turned to Twitter where she confirmed what had happened, tweeting: “To confirm I did take time out from alex and stay at my flat last week after an almighty row. Last couple days been trying to sort things.”

The rows are thought to have steamed from Alex’s lack of support whilst he has been touring with a stripper-based play, Wildboyz, but with him now back at home, Aex has taken a more hands on approach by putting himself in his wife-to-be’s shoes to understand how she has been feeling (although this may be taking it a bit too far).

Alex was fitted with his very own baby bump and posed doing household chores for a photo shoot, whilst joking: “How are we going to have sex with both bumps? That’ll be interesting!” Speaking to the magazine, Reid admitted: ”We have fights. Who doesn’t? But all her stuff is still at my place, er, I mean our place. “I still love her and can’t wait to marry her and bring up our family together.” Then it appeared that the cage fighter got sick of living as he went on to blame Chantelle’s hormones for the rows, rather than his lack of help, saying: ”I wish I knew. There are only two things I do wrong at the moment: everything I say and everything I do…. “I breathe wrongly and I get my throat jumped down.” It sounds like interesting times in the Reid household.

Lets hope they sort everything out and love the personalised baby gifts that My 1st Years send them next month!

Below is an image of Alex in his own baby bump!

Harper Beckham isn't even a year old, and the job offers are already pouring in.

My1stYears.com, the U.K.'s leading manufacturer of personalized baby gifts, has offered David and Victoria Beckham 9-month-old daughter a modeling contract, E! News confirms.

In a job offer letter written to Harper, My 1st Years tells the tot she has "impecable style and taste" and was their "immediate first choice" to be the face of their campaign.

"Both your parents are fashion icons, and we can see no reason why you shouldn't start our own career in the fashion industry even at your young age," the letter says.

Of course, "due to child labor laws" the company cannot negotiate a contract or salary directly with Harper. "That is why your Mummy and Daddy have been copied on this letter," they explain. "We are happy to speak with them about your fee; however, we are prepared to pay you a significant amount to be the face of our new range."

My 1st Years "would be delighted" to supply a sample of products to Harper's parents. The company hopes the tiny fashionista's potential position "would make [her] Mummy and Daddy very proud."

A rep for the Beckhams told E! News, however, they "would never consider doing this."

1. Supper sorting
 
By now you've faced the fact that your baby is going to play with her food just as they play with blocks, reels, and anything else they can pile up and scatter. Serve them "Japanese style" foods in little containers, and at least they'll learn to sort shapes, practice picking up and dropping things, and sharpen up lots of other new skills.

Skills developed: fine motor, hand-eye coordination
What you'll need: several small bowls and Tupperware-style containers with lids; finger foods.

What to do -

Fill small bowls with a colourful assortment of your baby's favourite finger foods - like small chunks of soft fruits or well-cooked veggies, cereal, little cuts of chicken or fish, and cubes of cheese or hard-boiled egg. Give them some empty containers as well, and encourage them to mix and match, transferring the foods from one bowl to the next. If they have enough dexterity to open and close lids, provide some small plastic containers and let them open them herself - a great way to make a meal last long enough for a grown-up conversation.

Once your baby has had their supper fun, the next game is as follows...

2. Bubble surprise

The surprise of "now you see it, now you don't" is especially fun with sparkling soap bubbles. Your baby will love the excitement of discovery, and you'll be pleased that they stay in the bath long enough to get clean!

Skills developed: understanding of object permanence, hand-eye coordination
What you'll need: soap bubbles.

Get your baby safely settled in a bath seat or in the tub. (If they are not enclosed in a seat then make sure they do not stand up or this will ruin the game and also may be dangerous). Duck down so they can't see you, then blow clouds of bubbles, letting them cascade down on them. Pause for occasional intervals, then blow some more. Each surprise soapy shower will elicit fits of giggles - somehow, not being able to see you but knowing you're there producing the bubbles is endlessly funny to babies.

Safety note: no matter how much fun you're having, never take your eyes off your baby for more than a second or two while they're in the bath. It's crucial to have fun and let your baby learn whilst always being safe!

The UK’s leading retailer of personalised gifts for babies has announced their most requested baby names – with Lexi a surprise number one.

The girls name was closely followed by Harry as the boys favourite, according to leading personalised gifts company My1stYears.com.

Lexi ranks a lowly 46 in the Office of National Statistics list of names, with well-known Lexi’s include Amanda Holden’s five year old daughter.

Oliver and Olivia are the most popular baby names in the UK according to the most recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics.

Other well-loved names chosen by mums and dads included the traditional Oliver, Jack, Isabella and Emily.

The site, which specialises in personalised baby gifts including sheepskin and leather booties, high top trainers, clothing, blankets and gift sets, has been monitoring names since it launched two years ago. It has seen a growing trend for less traditional names among its shoppers.

The top ten includes

1.     Lexi

2.     Harry

3.     Sophia

4.     Oliver

5.     Daniel

6.     Isabella

7.     Levi

8.     Emily

9.     Jack

10.  Alexa

A spokesman for My1stYears.com, said: “It’s great to see something different to Olivia and Oliver at the top of a names poll – and Lexi and Levi are great modern day alternatives. They’re certainly not gimmicky names, and if our top ten is anything to go by, are growing in popularity.

“Picking a name for your baby isn’t as easy as it may sound. Parents go through lots of alternatives until they both find a name they love and one that will suit their new arrival. Some parents will always opt for traditional names for their children, others are prepared to pick something a little different.

“The important thing to remember that this will be their name for life – so while something outlandish may seem like a good idea at the time, your little one may not agree as they get older.”

A baby is a miracle, and fills ones life with joy,

A darling little princess, or a precious baby boy,

So a gift is only necessary, but I don’t know where to start,

It has to be so special, and also touch the heart.

A present to remember, something cute but also sweet,

A luxury eight-piece gift set, small shoes upon small feet.

My 1st years had the answer; it seemed too good to be true,

Lots of different gifts, wrapped in a box of turquoise blue.

Tied elegantly with a ribbon, it all looked so divine,

With wonderful things inside it, I couldn’t believe that it was mine.

Clothing and soft Blankets, looked handmade and so high-end,

And a cuddly little teddy bear, to be my baby’s friend.

But even more than that, they personalize them too,

Unique and Individual gifts, made personal for you.

It just all seemed so perfect; I ordered it straight away,

And what made it even better; it came quickly the next day.

A present that was made with love, mothers no longer may have fears,

To find the perfect baby gift, just go to “My 1st Years”.

Please see an image below which shows the founders on the show discussing the range of products My 1st Years offers.

The article quotes Daniel as saying “The business has grown at an incredible rate… we’re No.1 for personalised baby gifts but we want to be No.1 for gifts every time someone buys for a baby”. With this level of ambition, you can expect to see great things from our company including even more innovations in personalised baby presents. In the picture above, Jonny (right) is holding a Jessie the Lion, from our range of personalised teddies and Daniel (left) is displaying a pair of our luxurious sheepskin bootees, both of which make ideal baby gifts. These are just a sample of the great range of personalised baby presents on offer from My 1^st Years.

Our other products include cuddly personalised baby blankets and both baby girl and baby boys gifts. Our products are a great way to welcome a little one in to your world and the personalisation of these gifts adds an extra layer of love. Think in years to come as the child looks back at these baby gifts and remembers the love with which they were given. Our personalised baby clothes are lovely ways of letting everyone know who your new baby is! We stock various outfits and bibs in white, classic blues and pinks. If you are looking for the ultimate collection of personalised baby presents, then why not opt for our luxury 8 piece baby gift set? This set includes various personalised baby clothes, a teddy, 3 styles of My 1^st Years exclusive booties and a hooded towel.

The number 4 is very important to the couple with Beyonces' birthday being September 4th and Jay-Z’s being December 4th. The couple were married on April 4th. Beyonces latest album being named 4 which is fitting.
 
So there you have it! The reasoning behind the name.

On New Year's Day, Bobbi Jo and Kurtis Ketcheson became the proud parents of Grace Olivia, the first baby born in 2012 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Believe it or not, Grace arrived exactly 365 days after her older brother Jack – who was the first New Year's baby in Regina, in 2011.

That brings the Ketcheson family to six, including another son born in late January, 2010, and who will soon be two, and an older daughter who was born in November, 2008 and who just turned three. Quite a handful for any young family.

Like her brother Jack, baby Olivia was born prematurely, arriving five weeks early and weighing just 4 pounds, 8 ounces. She is currently at the neonatal intensive care unit at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, where she is expected to remain for another two weeks or so.

But her mother, Bobbi Jo, says her newest baby is doing well.

"She's doing a lot better than Jack was doing on Jan. 3 last year. So we're really happy about that," Ketcheson told CTV's Canada AM via Skype from Medicine Hat, Tuesday.

This latest pregnancy was a bit of a surprise – but then again, so were all of Ketcheson's other pregnancies as well.

"I don't know if ‘surprise' is the right word anymore. We have managed to get pregnant four times on four different methods of birth control," Ketcheson said. "So like I joked, we are probably two of the most fertile people in Canada."

In fact, Ketcheson was only hours away from signing a consent form to have "her tubes tied" and undergo a tubal ligation when she found out she was pregnant with Grace.

Doctors gave the Ketchesons a Feb. 6 due date. So the couple was quite surprised when Graces decided to arrive extra early, on her older brother's birthday.

"It's not something we expected. It's something we joked about, but not something we thought would actually happen," Ketcheson says.

"We kind of knew I wouldn't make it to my due date because I'm usually so sick when I'm pregnant. But we didn't think it was going to happen on Jack's birthday," she added.

Not a single one of Bobbi Jo's pregnancies – or deliveries – have been what doctors would call "normal." In every one, she has suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness.

"I literally throw up from the moment of conception to the moment of delivery many, many, many times a day, even with lots of different medications," says Ketcheson.

"And then when I go into labour, it's extremely fast. I get vomiting and a headache, there's no contractions; I just have to push."

That's what happened on Jan. 1, as Ketcheson was doing laundry with her father. She gagged, ran to the kitchen sink, and then got a terrible headache that lasted about a minute.

She looked at her dad and said, "Oh no, call 911; I have to push."

Ketcheson made it to hospital only because Grace's chin became stuck, which slowed the delivery. Doctors were preparing to rush her into surgery for a C-section, when Ketcheson gave one final push and delivered Grace on the operating table.

The Ketchesons have now delivered one New Year baby in Saskatchewan and another in Alberta. So does this mean they might try for yet another in 2013 in another city further west?

"No it doesn't mean that; not even a little bit. We are not trying to take the West, so we won't be heading to B.C. next year," Ketcheson said with a laugh.

"We are done now. Two girls and two boys. We're going to do something a little more permanent in terms of birth control methods this time."

Until then, the family is enjoying their latest New Year's baby, clipping out the articles about their amazing story from local newspapers and pasting them into what will be a very interesting baby book for little Grace Olivia Ketcheson.

See the photo below of when My 1st Years met with Capital Radio.

Below is the gift package we sent to Lisa and she tweeted the image earlier on today!

To hear Johnny & Lisa's reaction to the My 1st Years products sent then check out the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/my1styears#p/a/u/0/IfPeFYcDybc

See below the gift set that Harriet kindly uploaded on to Twitter!

Beyonce Knowles has been married to rapper Jay-Z for three years and has now announced that she is pregnant with their first son! The announcement was made when she was on stage after her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Despite the pregnancy she managed to give an energetic performance before unbuttoning her sparkly blazer and rubbing her belly revealing her news to the world. From Jay Z's reaction backstage it is clear that the couple are over the moon about the news.

Beyonce has always said that she wanted to have a child by the age of 30, and she has just celebrated her 30th birthday announcing her pregnancy one month prior. Speaking to Piers Morgan in June, she hinted: 'I always said I was going to have a baby at 30. I'm 29 now." Her fans therefore expected her to reveal news of pregnancy sometime soon. There was speculation when she posted on twitter that she would be announcing some big news at the VMA's , and this was taken over by overwhelming joy when she confirmed all rumours.

She looks amazing with her bump getting more visible. Especially when she showed it off in a beautiful floor length Lanvin gown, diamonds and emeralds, on the VMA's white carpet. She warns however that this does not mean she is retiring!

Pop-culture expert Rob Shuter, says that the power couple's private nature made the revelation all the more joyous. "I love that this couple who has made it a policy to not talk about their personal life would once again do that, let us in on this huge secret, without ever really uttering any words." Beyonce is known for becoming very shy whenever her private life is bought up in interviews and so this announcement brings with it much excitement.

She set the record for the most mentions on Twitter per second with 8,868, helping make the show the most watched broadcast in MTV history, pulling in 12.4 million viewers. This gives us a better understanding of the impact of her announcement and shows us how much love and support she has.

Hopefully the power couple will choose to dress their child in a My 1st Years outfit set, or maybe they would prefer a personalised cotton blanket. Whichever they choose we're sure their child will be adorable, especially if he/she picks up some of Beyonce's beauty.

The couple were spotted in Venice, Italy leaving a hotel just a week after Beyonce had made her announcement. She wore a maxi dress that beautifully highlighted her bump. They were there to celebrate her 30th birthday.

We cant wait to hear more from her and about her pregnancy. Congratulations Beyonce!

What gift do you think we should send her? Tell us your thoughts!

A few facts about the name Oliver:

- A variation of the French name Olivier.

- Used in English-speaking countries since medieval times.

- Influenced by Oliver Cromwell, the 17th century British military leader who was lord protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

- A literary name for Charles Dickens' title character, "Oliver Twist."  Also popular in Scotland and Sweden.

A few facts about the name Olivia:

- William Shakespeare is credited with inventing the name for the rich heiress wooed by a duke in his play, "Twelfth Night".

- Possibly taken from the Latin word "oliva" which means "olive."

- The name was influenced during the 1970s by Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John and first entered the top 100 in 1990.

Below an image of the infamous Oliver Twist, 1968

Below an image of Olivia Newton John in the hit classic Grease, 1978

My 1st Years have noticed this trend occur with the personalised names used for each gift sold. Olivia and Oliver have been extremely popular names on the website and we can certainly see why they have been voted most popular names in the UK.

6. Once a location is decided decorate it so that it provides a great atmosphere for the event. Paying attention to detail is vital here so ensure everything from the table decorations to balloons and candles if used are nothing short of perfect.

7. It is important to plan the day so everyone knows what to expect, perhaps you could arrange for some games to be played as they could also act as an ice breaker – not all of the attendees may know each other, as it isn’t necessary all of the woman’s friends are friends with each other too! Some suggestions for fun, ice breaking games could be to suggest names for the baby, guess the sex of the baby, or the weight of it when it is born.

8. Food and drink for the baby shower party should be designed with the expecting mother in mind. This means no alcohol either! Non-alcoholic cocktails and soft drinks are the way to go, with a good traditional cup of tea also working well. The food can’t be too formal as it would take away from the ‘gathering’ element of the day, so perhaps something like cupcakes, sandwiches, and other party food would work fine. Above all, the mother to be should feel spoilt by the spread of food and drinks as they should be completely to her liking.

9. The most important part of any baby shower is the baby gifts. These should be opened by the expecting mother when all the guests are present so everyone can see what has been bought for the baby.

10. Opening the gifts at the right time is a fitting climax to a wonderful day, but it can be a let-down if the gift doesn’t meet everyone’s expectations. It isn’t about the price of the baby gifts but how much thought has gone into them that counts. Trying to imagine what would look nice on a baby or what would be useful for it is a great way to choose the best baby gifts.
Something that can add that extra special touch to the baby shower is a personalised baby gift. Although true that the baby is not born yet however many parents like to know the sex of the baby in advance and subsequently choose a name, if you are privy to this information make use of it! Personalised baby gifts are a great way to show much you care and will go down a treat. It’s also fun and quirky to nominate a name, get a gift personalised to and give it anyway so it can be kept as a souvenir of what you wanted the baby’s name to be!

However you choose to arrange a baby shower, it should be a beautiful day for the expecting mother where all her closest friends and family rally around to make her feel special and loved, and so that the unborn child can feel the affection from the world it is yet to see from the outside.

There may be many different ways women choose to celebrate the occasion, but the sense of excitement and caring at the baby shower does not erode from family to family.

As the tradition of throwing baby showers grows amongst the public, methods used by women for throwing the perfect baby showers are developing into guidelines each woman’s friends and family may follow.
Although sometimes the expecting woman would arrange her own baby shower party for friends and family, tradition dictates it is the women closest to the expecting mother who would arrange a surprise baby shower for other women close to the expecting mother.

If you are interested in learning how to throw the perfect baby shower for someone you know then read on:

1. The best time to throw the baby shower is during the last couple of months of the pregnancy, so the baby is developed and the bump at its peak!

2. Throwing a surprise baby shower is great but throwing an inconvenient baby shower isn’t – so make sure the invitees and the expecting mother are free on the day that you arrange the baby shower.

3. Take care in making sure all the women closest to the expecting mother are invited. It would not be a nice feeling to realise you have left someone important out and it will almost entirely wipe the gloss off the baby shower party.

4. Once you have picked a date and selected the invitees it is time to look at choosing a theme. Although not paramount to creating a perfect baby shower often themed showers are the most memorable; these can be based on something close and personal to the expecting mother such as a favourite colour or movie. This could influence the food and the dress code for example.

5. Choose a good location. The humble home is usually the first choice for such occasions and rightly so since it's comfortable and relaxing. However there are many bars, restaurants, and tea rooms that now cater for baby showers, so it will depend on the personality of the mother to be as to what she would prefer.

The next 5 steps for throwing the perfect baby shower will be posted in a few days!

My 1st Years decided we’d step in and help at this delicate time, and bring you up to date with trends in the baby name’s world. We will be explaining some meanings, helping settle those niggling arguments about what's new & cool, and what you could possibly name that adorable baby of yours with the My 1st Years top 10 most popular baby names.

Setting us off starting at the bottom at number 10 is:
Olivia - girls
Quickly becoming more commonly used, it’s a sweet name that sounds lovely for babies and for grown-ups alike! Taken from the world ‘Olive’ it signifies fruitfulness, beauty, dignity, and peace.

Number 9:
Ethan – boys
A biblical name made cool by the character ‘Ethan Hunt’ from Mission Impossible, it means solid, enduring, strong and optimistic. It widely signifies more masculine undertones and is a favourite baby boys name amongst many dads.

Number 8:
Sophia – girls
The name has Greek origins, but is now widely used by many different cultures. It means “wisdom”! There are many variations and different spellings, with some of the more common alternatives being ‘Sofia’ or ‘Sofiya’.

Number 7:
Ruby – girls
The name was popular in the 1870’s but is fast coming back in to fashion as parents look for shorter, snappier names that are easy to understand. A name with English origins, it quite simply means a red gemstone. There are variations across the world, such as ‘Rubina’ in south Asia and Rubianne, used in parts of Europe.

Number 6:
Charlie – boys
Charlie was originally a nickname for people called ‘Charles’ or later those also called ‘Charlotte’, but nowadays is commonly used as a standalone name and is very popular amongst both sexes, mainly
amongst males. Many places and sources of reference describe this name as meaning ‘free man’. It is also famously the name of Tiger Woods’ daughter.

Number 5:
Harry – boys
Often used as a nickname for people named Henry or Harold. It’s also the spoken name of Prince Henry of Wales. Harry Potter seems to be an inspiration amongst some parents who cite the character as a reason for naming their son Harry.

Number 4:
Isabella – girls
It’s regal and classy, and parents are fast adopting it for their daughters. Traditionally it’s been the name of princesses, such as Isabella of Castile who became queen of Spain, Isabella of France who was the third wife of English king Edward II, and the latest being princess Isabella of Denmark born in 2007.

Number 3:
Ava – girls
A return to the short snappy baby names, Ava has become a retro name inspired by Ava Gardner, the famous 50’s actress, but is now used by lots more parents as its popularity grows further.

Number 2:
Jack – boys
A robust, laddish name, it is thought to be the English name for the French ‘Jacques’, which is in turn a variant of the Hebrew ‘Jacob’. A very popular boy’s name on its own, a variant- ‘Jackie’ is equally popular, mostly amongst females.

Number 1:
Poppy – girls
The most popular baby name on My 1st Years, it is taken from a flower. The name of Jamie Oliver’s daughter, it is one of those modern names that constantly crops up amongst the favourites. It’s short, cute, snappy, modern, and a huge hit amongst new parents.

1) Preparation

• There will probably be quite a few babies joining you for the party so make sure you move away anything that could be potentially hazardous and then you will be able to relax without fear that another baby could get hurt during the 1st birthday party.

• Make sure your baby has a nap during the day as the worst timing for the party is when your baby is tired!

2) Party Food

• Finger foods are perfect for both the babies and adults. The kids probably aren't going to eat so much so focus on presentation and colour instead of having lots of it. Although most mothers bring their child's preferred drink, have water, milk and diluted fruit juices at the ready.

• Avoid snacks like peanuts that represent choking hazards for the little ones.

• Birthday cake is always fun. You can try to bake one yourself or simply buy one from a supermarket or bakery. Make sure you don't let your baby too close to the candle though because at this age they will probably try to grab it as oppose to blow it out!

3) Party Theme

• You can go for a theme such a Dora the Explora or Thomas the Tank Engine and buy the appropriate matching paper plates and cups or you can just go for a simple colour theme. The theme is mainly for the benefit of the photographs because your baby is probably too young to fully appreciate it!

4) Presents

• By now your baby will have loads of toys so maybe focus on buying him/her clothes and just one or two more long lasting toys like a swing.

• For clothes you could dress them up in the 6 piece baby outfit set from My 1st Years personalised with the child's name or maybe even "Happy 1st Birthday" for their big day. Personalised baby clothes always go down a treat!

5) Party Bags

• At this early stage the typical party bag including sweets and balloons can be quite dangerous so stick to giving soft toys or a board book to all the kids. The Charlie Doggie Bear is a good toy appropriate for young babies which you could have personalised for the youngest guests. They would definitely love that!

So these are the most important things to note for your babies 1st birthday. Don't forget babies love attention so just make them feel special. Good luck!

Many cultures around the world have their own unique traditions and customs associated with the pending arrival of the bundles of joy, involving celebrations, personalised baby gifts, gifts for the parents, and the spreading of goodwill and cheer.

In India for example, the 7th month of pregnancy traditionally marks the baby shower celebration which is usually arranged by the sister in law or the other female family members. This is different from the baby showers in the US and the UK because they have far less emphasis on the baby and a lot more on the expecting mother.

Gifts are brought for the mother and traditional food is shared amongst the attendees, with several rituals being performed by the elder females in the family to symbolise the significance of the occasion.

In Japan, there is no real tradition of baby showers, but there is the Festival of Dolls on March 3rd, also known as Girls Day. There is also a Boys Festival on May 5th but these are typically for slightly older children.

There are also other festivals for young children in Japan but nothing specifically about the birth of a baby.

In Africa, some of the many cultures that exist have rituals around pregnancy, but the birth of a baby is not as widely celebrated as some other countries, which is down to the high levels of poverty and disease.

Some cultures do not celebrate baby showers the way in which we would like, and others have many traditional methods of celebrating this wonderfully joyous occasion. You can rest assured that with the personalised baby gifts available at My 1st Years you can take forward a tradition of your own and touch the lives of the people closest to you.

My 1st Fleece Blanket ... My 1st High Top Trainers ... My 1st Bear ... My 1st Sheepskin Booties

View the video below which shows the moment Harriet gave Elton and David the My 1st Years gift set!

'The shoes are adorable and something he will be able to keep as a special keepsake – we will include them in his ‘Life Box’ when he grows out of them!'

To see Archie's High Top trainers please check: http://plixi.com/p/35567767