What's in a Name?

One of my oldest and best friends just found out she's having a girl, and I couldn't be more excited for her. We chatted about all things baby on the phone last week, and the conversation inevitably turned to names. It seems she and her husband are having difficulty agreeing on a name, and this is all too common. Fortunately, Marcos didn't really have an opinion. I don't think he offered a single name, but he vetoed plenty. There's a lot of pressure when it comes to naming a little human. I mean, we don't get to choose our names, yet we're stuck with them for the rest of our lives. You want the name to be a little unique, but not so unique that no one can pronounce it. My sister goes by her middle name, McGuinn, a beautiful family name, but not one that the average Starbucks barista can spell without some help. Choosing a name is not something to be taken lightly, and that's why there are a few basic rules to consider when naming your daughter or son.

1. The name should mean something. 

There doesn't necessarily need to be an elaborate story behind your child's name, but there will come a day when your son or daughter asks you about the meaning of his or her name, and you probably want to have a better answer than, "We closed our eyes and randomly chose a name in our baby name book". As a kindergarten and first grade teacher, one of my first day of school activities each year consisted of reading the book "Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes and discussing the meaning behind all of our own names. The students' "homework" for the day was to ask their parents about the story behind their names, and the next day everyone would share what they had learned. Some of them were meaningful, but most of them were pretty lame. Imagine that your child's future teacher will do this same activity. What would you want them telling their classmates?

2. Consider family names and heritage. 

When all else fails, check your family tree. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the names you will find when you go back a few generations. Many people name their children after special people in their lives, and I don't think there's any greater honor on earth. Rory's middle name, Keiko, is Marcos' mom's name. Not only do I love the name, but his mother is also a very kind, smart, and hard-working woman, who I would love for Rory to take after one day. Rory's first name is a nod to my Irish heritage. I figured if she wasn't going to look like me, she could at least have an Irish name. (Also I love Gilmore Girls.)

3. Think about the future. 

Bear may be a cute name for a toddler, but not so much for a 25-year-old trying to move up in the corporate world. Your baby will have whatever name you choose for the rest of his or her life...driver's licenses, passports, job applications. There's a study that found that kids with "normal", classic names (think Joe, Sarah, etc.) spend their lives trying to stand out, while people with obscure, strange names are constantly trying to blend in. (Lady Gaga's real name is Stephanie. Think about it, people.) Our last name is Fukumoto, so Rory will forever be saddled with a horrible/awesome (horribly awesome?)  surname. The least we could do is give her a somewhat normal first name.

4. Consider ALL possible nicknames. 

One of the families I babysat in Dallas told me once that they considered naming their son Porter, but then realized that Portly Porter would be a terrible nickname if he happened to be a little on the chubby side. They went with Beckam instead. Tucker is cute, until you think about what it rhymes with. Also, write down your child's initials. You don't want to get home from the hospital and realize that your son's or daughter's initials spell out something horrific like KKK or IBS.

5. Check out the name popularity lists. 

I think it's always a good idea to see a list of the year's most popular names before deciding on your baby's moniker. You don't want your child to be one of five "Isabellas" when they enter kindergarten. This isn't always a sure thing, though. My good friend Karla named her son "Lincoln", a name that was virtually unheard of a few years ago, but one that is steadily gaining popularity. Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd even named their first daughter Lincoln. The point is, you never now. Rory is pretty unique now, but in a few years, it could be in the top 10 list of names. Or maybe you want your child to have a more common name. Two of my good friends had babies in the last year. One named her son Noah, and the other named her daughter Olivia, both of which are in the top 10 names for 2014, but both are beautiful names that fit their babies well.

6. Look anywhere and everywhere for inspiration. 

I think baby name books are the absolute worst resource for baby names. They are incredibly over-whelming, and not very inspiring. When I was pregnant with Rory, I kept an ongoing list of names on my phone, and every time I heard a name I liked, I would add it to the list. I would later run it by Marcos, and if he vetoed it or I discovered later that there was a serial killer with the same name (true story), I would cross it off the list. I found names in the oddest of places: Novels I was reading, movie credits, and eavesdropping on random people's conversations. All you have to do is go to a park on any given day, sit on a bench, and listen to the mom's call after their children. (Warning: you may look slightly creepy. Bring a book or something.)

7. Bring a short list of names to the hospital. 

I went out to dinner with my friend a few nights ago, and she made the comment that she doesn't feel as though she can name someone she hasn't met yet. She wants to hold her baby and see her before deciding on her name. I totally respect this, and think there is some truth to this. If you feel this way, just make sure you have a short list of names ready, or you may end up choosing a name you don't really love  or leaving the hospital with an unnamed baby. I'm pretty sure this is frowned upon.

8. Say the name out loud. 

It might look good on paper or sound good in your head, but it's important to say the name aloud. Some first or middle names may not sound great with your last name. (Ahem...Fukumoto.) Or perhaps when you say the full name quickly, it morphs into something else. My cousin's daughter's name is "Lily Claire", and I remember my cousin making the comment that when she hears the name spoken quickly, it sometimes sounds like "Lil' eclair". Not that there's anything wrong with this. Eclairs are delicious.


The only other Rory's I know...

Rory McIlroy

Rory Gilmore 

And for your reading pleasure, a list of awful celebrity baby names: (Seriously... Tu Morrow?!)

http://www.babble.com/celebrity/33-worst-celebrity-baby-names/

A List of Things I've Fished out Of Rory's Mouth in the Last Week

1. A gum wrapper

2. Marli's food

3. String

4. A popcorn kernel (Marcos, if you're reading this, when is the last time we had popcorn?)

5. Wood chips

6. An unidentifiable object from the playground sandbox

7. Foil from a package of Rolos that she grabbed from the shelf at the gas station. (We now have a package of Rolos in our pantry.)

8. Toilet paper

9. A grape stem

Three Things Thursday

1. Don't cry over spoiled milk. 

Marcos asked me to get more milk at the grocery store yesterday, and I did...the problem is it never made it in the house. I guess between taking Rory out of her carseat and making sure I didn't spill my iced coffee, I forgot the groceries in the car. Good thing it's trash day.

Milk that's been sitting in our hot car for over 24 hours. 

Get it together, mom. 

2. "So, they're just toy logs?"

This is the conversation that occurred between Marcos and me last weekend when I got home from the consignment sale.

Marcos: How much did you spend?

Marcos' Loving, Money-Saving Wife: That's not important. What's important is that Rory has lots of new, imagination-inspiring toys...including a huge bin of Lincoln Logs that I scored for six bucks.

M: What are Lincoln Logs?

MLMSW: Excuse me? You've never played with Lincoln Logs?!

M: I grew up in Brazil. I had never played Candy Land before until two years ago when you forced me to play....after the kids you were babysitting went to bed.

MLMSW: You were so deprived. It's a good thing you have a wife like me who cares enough about you to make sure you don't miss out on some of life's most important moments, like your first trip through the Candy Cane Forest.

M: (Peering at the container of Lincoln Logs) Wait, so they're just toy logs? What do you do with them? I'm not sure I understand the appeal.

MLMSW: You bite your tongue! This is a classic American toy. Rory will spend hours using them to construct all kinds of things.

M: Okay, but they seem pretty lame.

Fast forward to two days later at 9 pm. (Rory has been asleep for two hours.)

Lame, indeed.

3. Yay for fall! 

Starbucks just announced that they're releasing their Pumpkin Spice Latte early this year due to the unusually chilly temperatures all over the country. I, for one, cannot wait!

Autumn in a cup. 

Love Is....

My best friend and college roommate, Shannon, used to collect a comic strip called "love is...". Her mom would sometimes send her one in the mail and she would pin it up on her bulletin board in our dorm room. To be honest, I always thought it was a little creepy that the man and woman were naked in the comics, but they are sweet none the less.

Definitely.

I haven't thought about these comics since sophomore at UNT (Go mean green!), but for some reason I was reminded of them yesterday when Marcos came home with a huge container of chocolate mousse from Del Frisco's. An Oracle salesman took him and a few of his colleagues out to lunch at the famous steak house where he had a four course meal, which included jumbo shrimp and filet mignon. (I had leftover lentils and grilled cheese for lunch, in case you were wondering.) He texted me after lunch and told me that he had saved his dessert for me. It's probably because he was so full from the three previous courses, but I like to think it's because he was thinking about me and my affinity for anything chocolate.

Love is...bringing home chocolate mousse for your wife...even though she hasn't made dinner in over a week. 

Date Night at Red Rocks

Last night Marcos and I left Rory with our neighbor while we attended a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was the longest we've ever been away from her, and I'm not ashamed to say that I enjoyed every minute of it. We danced, we sang, we drank overpriced beers. Of course, we used our baby monitor app to check on Rory no less than 20 times, but it felt good to let loose and think about something other than diapers and baby proofing for a few hours.

The concert was Jack Johnson featuring Alo, and it was by far the best concert I've ever been to. Jack Johnson sings our wedding song "Angel", and Zach Gill, lead singer of Alo, sings "Watch Them Grow", the song I danced to with my dad at my wedding, so both artists are pretty meaningful to us.

Jack Johnson could sing in a public restroom and still put on a great show, so having the opportunity to see him perform at one of the greatest venues in the world was like a dream come true.

Red Rocks is an outdoor amphitheater in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It's surrounded by giant red rocks that serve as natural acoustics, and the view is amazing. There isn't a bad seat in the whole park. If you ever make it to the Denver area, make sure Red Rocks is on your to-do list.

Obligatory selfie. 

Check out that view. 

Homemaker

Last week I had my annual physical with a new doctor. The first ten minutes of the appointment consisted of me answering a series of inane questions. (Do you do street drugs? Um, no. What is your stress level on a scale of 1 to 10. An eleven. How many drinks do you have per week? One. Okay, fine...three.)

And then she asked me a perfectly normal question: What do you do?
What do I do? How do I even begin to answer this question? How much time do you have, lady?

I spend my mornings making sure my daughter doesn't stick her hand in the toilet, and I change a lot of diapers... cloth diapers, so then I have to wash them. I cut up bananas and kiwi and grapes into pieces that are small enough so they're not a choking hazard yet large enough that my daughter can easily pick them up and shove them in her mouth. This is harder than it sounds. 

I spend a large part of my day preparing my daughter for her depressingly short naps. I read the same three board books about 5 times, sing off-key versions of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "The Wheels on the Bus", and do my best to zip up her sleepsack before she can wiggle out of it. Then I rock her, place her in her crib, and pray that she will sleep long enough for me to eat my lunch. 

My daughter hates the car, so we don't venture too far, but we go to story time a few days a week at the Highlands Ranch Public Library where she completely ignores the story and prefers instead to take random books off the shelf, so I'm left trying to put them back in the right spot while simultaneously keeping her from shoving another child's toy in her mouth. 

I also do a lot of laundry and cleaning. Our "stainless" steel refrigerator is never without tiny handprints and I find Cheerios in the oddest of places. My daughter has an obsession with the vacuum, so sometimes when I feel as though the day is dragging, I vacuum not because the floor is dirty, but because I don't know how else to distract my daughter until dinner. 

We go on several walks each day, usually to the park. Once we're there, I push my daughter in the swing (Does this count as a form of "regular exercise"? If yes, please change my answer to your previous question.) and then spend the remainder of the time stopping her from eating the sand in the sandbox. 

I'm a former teacher, so I spend about 30% of my day obsessing about my daughter's development. I narrate my every move in an effort to prevent speech delay, and I show her alphabet flashcards, which she inevitably ends up either a) shoving into her mouth, or b) hurling in the general direction of our 5 pound chihuahua. 

When my daughter is finally napping, I scarf down my lunch (usually whatever happens to be left on her high chair tray) and google normal-ish phrases such as, "Can ear infections be fatal?" and "potty training at 12 months". 

At some point between 8 am and 3 pm I remember to let our dog out. 

About four three times a week I attempt to cook dinner,but despite spending $100 a week at the grocery store, we never seem to have any actual food. While I cook, my daughter crawls around on the kitchen floor and plays in the liquor cabinet. Every once in awhile she complains just for the sake of complaining and because it's 4:00. 

When my husband finally gets home from work, I have to make the decision to either go workout or hide in my room and read. If I'm feeling really ambitious, I'll read People magazine on the elliptical machine. 

After feeding my daughter and myself, I get her bath ready and shower while my husband bathes her. While in the shower I have to make the decision to either shave my legs or wash my hair because I almost never have time for both. 

After my shower, I chase my daughter around in an attempt to put on her diaper before she pees on the carpet. I brush all 4 of her teeth and nurse her to sleep. While I breastfeed, I send emails with ridiculous typos and pin things on Pinterest I will never look at again. 

But despite the monotony and lack of intellectual stimulation, my days go by way too quickly. I go to bed with a full heart, looking  forward to repeating it all over again the next day. I'm even planning on having another one of these time-sucking, house-wrecking, tantrum-throwing creatures. So, to answer one of your earlier questions, yes; maybe I do have a history of mental illness, because I've never been happier. 

Of course, I didn't say any of this aloud. Instead, I mumbled something about how I used to be a teacher but now I stay at home with my daughter.

"Oh," said the doctor, "So, you're a homemaker."

*sigh*

Bargain Hunting: MOMS Consignment Sale

My friend Paige and I went to the MOMS consignment sale this morning, and I made out like a bandit. I practically ran out of there before someone could block the exit and say, "Did you really think you were going to get all of that for only $122?" (And then he/she would laugh maniacally.) Fortunately, that didn't happen. Here's a list of what I bought:

• A huge bin of Lincoln Logs for $5.99 (retail $55)
• A 72 piece Quatro Lego set with the bin for $10 (retail $50)
• A 5'X7' car rug for $8 (retail $40)
• Wooden blocks (all shapes) for $8 (retail $20)
• An ABC light up toy for $2 (retail $18)
• Child-proof cabinet locks for $2 (retail $5)
• Padded corner protectors for our coffee table $2 (retail $7)
• Brand new Robeez tan moccasins for $10 (retail $25)
• A Taggies blanket for $2 (retail $25)
• A handmade Brown Bear Brown Bear mini blanket for $2 (Rory is obsessed with this book, therefore I consider this my find of the day.) (priceless)
• A fleece pumpkin costume for $2 (retail $25)
• A Khaki Gymboree zip-up jacket for my new nephew for $5 (retail $25)
• 2 Hanna Andersson zip-up fleeces for $15 (retail $45 each)
• A white Hanna Andersson tee for $3 (retail $16)
• 2 pair of Hanna Andersson organic cotton Christmas pajamas for $5 (retail $35 each)
• 2 large Halo sleepsacks for $10 (retail $20 each)
• A brand new infant life vest by Marine West for $15 (retail $55)
• A cute (tacky?) Thanksgiving outfit for $5 
• A pair of Carters flowered leggings for $2 (retail $9)
• A pair of gray Nike sweatpants for $2 (retail $20)
• A Gap hooded sweatshirt for $3 (retail $25)
• A pair of pink fleece mittens for $1 (retail $5)

Total Spent: Approx $120

Total Retail: Over $600

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Rory's Picks

1. Xuxa

There are lots of good things that come from Brazil...caipirinhas, Havianas, and samba, just to name a few. Well, now you can add Xuxa to the list. She's like the Brazilian nanny I'll never have. As soon as Rory hears the first rift of any of her 100+ catchy songs, she immediately stops what she's doing (most likely terrorizing Marli or eating week old Cheerios off the floor) and stares at the TV, completely entranced. I'm not a big advocate of using TV/electronics, especially with babies, but for those 15 minutes between dinner and bath, Xuxa is a lifesaver. Plus, it's helping her learn Portuguese, so it's practically educational.

2. Ikea Sippy Cups



Rory has probably tried every brand of sippy cup under the sun, but none of them worked for us until we tried these cheap-o ones from Ikea. The nicer/ more expensive ones usually require some sort of sucking motion that Rory just couldn't seem to figure out, but these don't have a stopper, so all she has to do is put it in her mouth and out comes the water. This is great until you find one turned upside down next to her in the high chair. For the third day in a row.


My Picks

1. Lou and Grey
My friend, Karla, recently told me about this line of lounge wear from The Loft, and I'm pretty sure Marcos wishes she would have kept it to herself. I've ordered several pants and tops from this line, and I'm very impressed with the quality and comfort of each piece. I've dubbed these clothes my "fancy sweatpants", which is basically every mom's woman's dream. Here are a few of the things I bought as part of my 37 piece capsule wardrobe:

Lacy sweatpants? Yes, please!

I love this moto-jacket. 

2. Loreal Evercurl/Plopping



I have wavy/curly hair that one random guy at a bar in college said made me look like Taylor Swift. Thank you? I'm always trying out new shampoos/hair products in an effort to tame frizz and define my curls without making them stiff and crunchy. I've had the most luck with the Devacurl line, but it's expensive, and it's literally just money down the drain. Devacurl is sulfate-free, which is important when it comes to curly hair because sulfate dries out curls, making them limp and frizzy. I did some research and learned that Loreal recently created a sulfate-free line for all types of hair, and it happened to be on sale at our grocery store, so I decided to give it a try. It's amazing, and much cheaper than the other sulfate-free shampoos I've tried. I'm actually looking forward to finishing my curl cream so I can try the Loreal version. It's the little things.

I learned long ago that you should never towel-try your hair because it creates frizz, so I've been using old T-shirts for years now, but I recently read an article about something called "plopping". The name alone is intriguing, isn't it? Basically, you wash your hair, put in your product, wrap your hair in a t-shirt (using a special method) and wait until it's dry (or dry enough). Here's a link that gives you step-by-step instructions:

http://www.gurl.com/2014/03/13/how-to-plopping-plunking-curly-hair-tutorial/#6





3. Online Garage Sales
If you read my blog, you know I love a good deal. Almost everything Rory has is used, and I always check Craigslist and other sites before purchasing anything new. My town has an online garage sale through facebook that's awesome. People post pictures of things they're trying to get rid of  at (mostly) great prices, and you can go "shopping" without ever having to leave your house. I like this group better than Craigslist because everyone lives in the same town, which means you don't have to travel far to pick up your purchases. I bought Rory's wooden kitchen for $60 through this group. It's in near-perfect condition and retails for $160 on Amazon. I also bought a tricycle, an REI rashguard, bibs, and a travel placemat that sticks to the table, all for way less that what they would cost new. Check Facebook to see if your area has a group of its own...I'm willing to bet it will quickly become one of your favorite things.

30 Things Rory Should Know About Me: Part 8

List 5 of your passions*

*I seriously contemplated skipping this 30 things post. The first 5 things that popped into my head were chocolate croissants, binge watching on Netflix, napping, finding bargains on Craigslist, and rainy days. Don't worry, I eventually dug a little deeper.

1. Healthy Living
I wasn't always passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle. As a child growing up in the time of Lunchables and Pop-Tarts, weeks would go by before anything green came inches from my mouth. My school lunch consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, Doritos, a banana, and an oatmeal cream pie. I threw the banana away. But, the older I became, the more I realized that I'm not going to live forever, but I can take steps to make sure I'm around as long as possible. I began exercising and changing my eating habits, and I quickly realized that a healthier lifestyle had its benefits. I felt more energetic and confident and I was sick less often. I slowly phased out processed foods and began eating a diet composed mostly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I was a psuedo- vegetarian for four years before I became pregnant with you, but it was difficult to get all of the necessary protein I needed during pregnancy, so now I eat organic meat a few times a week. I've done a lot of research regarding preservatives and food additives and the negative impact they have on our health, so I'm going to go ahead and apologize now for the lack of junk food in our fridge and pantry, but I promise you will thank me one day. There was a time when I was a bit too obsessed with being healthy, but I've since learned that moderation is key. I no longer care as much about counting calories as I do about consuming "real" food. So, I still see lots of cookie-making in our future...as long as they're from scratch.

Hiking with friends in New Hampshire. 

2. Family
It's true that you don't always know what you have until it's gone, and I didn't realize how important family is until we moved to Denver and you were born. It's hard being so far away, especially during the holidays. I never realized how lucky I was to be able to drop in at Gammy's house whenever I wanted during college. She would send me home with groceries and clean laundry, and I'm ashamed to say I took this for granted. Now there are days when I would give anything to have a home-cooked meal and a babysitter I know I can trust right around the corner. When we moved to New Hampshire, we were only a few hours away from your Poppy and your Mom-Mom, but we didn't make the drive to see them as often as we should have, and now we're a four-hour plane ride away. Now that you're here, I understand the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child"....I just wish we didn't live so far from the village. It's easy to take family for granted. They have to love you, no matter what. The important thing is to realize how lucky you are to have them before it's too late. It is my hope that eventually we will live close to family and you will grow up around lots of aunts and cousins and grandparents. Until then, thank God for Facetime.

3. Travel
Before you were born, your dad and I traveled to lots of places, including Romania, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Austria. We had a lot of fun and had the privilege of experiencing many other cultures. I learned a lot about myself during our trips abroad, and I hope that we are fortunate enough to continue traveling now that we have you. I want you to realize that there is more to this world than Highlands Ranch, CO. Traveling abroad helped me realize that different doesn't necessarily mean better or worse. It encouraged me to be grateful for what I have and to strive for more. It broadened my horizons and helped me view the world from a different perspective. Traveling has made me a better person. There are so many beautiful places in this world, and I can't wait to experience them with you.

In Molveno, Italy. One of my favorite places. 

4.  Simplicity (The best things in life are free.) 
This is a new one for me, and one I often struggle with. I've noticed that many people are so busy with work and other obligations that they hardly have any time to simply enjoy life. I don't want to fall into this trap...even if that means having less, because I'm beginning to realize that sometimes less is more. We have everything we need and more, and rather than focus on things, I'd rather focus on providing you with meaningful and lasting experiences. Your dad and I made the choice to live on one salary so that I could stay home and raise you, so I guess you could say this "passion" stems from necessity. We've have to be more careful with our money and watch our spending habits, but it's been worth it. I wouldn't trade these past 9 months with you for anything. Even though we have less money, our lives feel more full. Our society is one based on consumerism, and it's easy to become caught up in the materialistic trap, but it's your character that defines who you are, not what's hanging in your closet. Don't get me wrong, I see no problem in owning an expensive purse or designer jeans. We all like nice things, but I hope to raise you to find joy and happiness in serving others and in being a good person. I want your self-worth to come from who you are, not what you have. Simplicity doesn't mean saying "no" to everything or avoiding spending money at all costs, it's simply a reminder to enjoy the little things and focus on life's simple pleasures.

5. Learning and Discovering New Passions
I wish I could go back to my college days for many reasons...sleeping until noon, flip-cup tournaments, and One Tree Hill marathons, just to name a few. But I also miss the learning and research and the seemingly endless amount of papers I had to write. I miss feeling challenged. I enjoyed going to class, and I was eager to learn as much as I could about child development and teaching before graduating. I consider myself a life long learner, and I love discovering new interests and passions. As strange as it sounds, I'm passionate about having a passion. Everyone needs something that drives them and promotes growth and change. I pray that you will discover many passions in your lifetime...and I have a feeling that I will develop a passion for supporting and encouraging you during your own journey of self-discovery.

A List of Reasons I'm Glad Rory Won't Remember Her First Few Years

1. That one time I screamed at her to go to sleep. It didn't work.

2. Her Kate Gosselin hairstyle.(You know, long on the sides, spikey in the back.) There's only one word that adequately describes her hair right now, and that is tragic.

3. Breastfeeding. Because, ew, who wants to remember that?

4. All of those times she's hit her head on the wood floor. Our house is 80% carpet, and yet...

5. Picking her nose is one of my favorite pastimes.

6. Now that she's mobile, she is forced to go to the bathroom with me. Sorry kid.

7. She had to go with me to my annual women's wellness check. (Read: pap smear.) If there were ever a reason to move close to family, this would be it.

Oh you know, just hangin at the gyno. 

7. People still refer to her as a boy. That's a pink bow in her Kate Gosselin hair, people!

8. Sometimes, when I'm reading a really good book, I just read aloud to her in a high-pitched voice to keep her entertained. (I was especially grateful for her baby brain when I finally got around to reading the last "Fifty Shades of Gray" book.)

9. I sometimes often always look for stray (stale) cheerios in the crevices of her high chair before giving her fresh ones.

10. Sometimes daddy dresses her. Although, I feel as though we'd be doing her a disservice if she can't look back at her baby pictures and say, "I can't believe you dressed me like that!" 

Rory Keiko 9 Month Update

Dear Rory,

Yesterday you turned 9 months old. Nine months! Your dad and I decided that you've gone through the most changes from 8 to 9 months. We are in total awe of how much you've grown and learned this past month.

You are an expert crawler now and you love to pull yourself up on anything and everything. Recently you've started letting go of whatever you're holding onto and let yourself stand freely for as long as you can hold your balance. You look so proud of yourself for standing without any help, and I don't think it will be long before you attempt walking by yourself as well.

Even though you've gained several new skills, there are lots of things that you're still learning. Unfortunately, you have to learn the hard way sometimes. Just yesterday you slammed your play kitchen cabinet on your fingers, and I could tell that it hurt because it's unusual for you to cry for more than a few seconds. I undergo a constant internal struggle: Do I let you explore and learn on your own, or do I hover over you and watch your every move in an attempt to shield you from any pain? Luckily your dad is over-protective enough for the both of us, so I'm usually the one encouraging you to discover things on your own. You love opening the kitchen cabinets and exploring what's inside. The tupperware cabinet is very exciting. (I wish I shared your enthusiasm for plastic containers.)

You are basically inhaling food at this point. You're happiest when you're in your high chair shoving mango pieces or organic off-brand Cheerios in your mouth. Even though I feel as though you're constantly eating, you're only in the 40th percentile for weight and the 30th for height. (You can blame this on daddy's family.) I'm amazed at how big you've become. Every night it's harder for me to lift your sleeping body and put you in your crib.

In the morning, you love watching daddy get ready for work. You crawl around in the bathroom while he showers and giggle when he shows you his face covered in shaving cream. Nothing makes me happier than watching you watch your dad while he plays the guitar. You are totally entranced. (I have to agree that there is nothing better than watching the man you love play the guitar and sing.)

Your great-aunts, Mary and Kelly, came to visit you this month, and we had so much fun with them. We went shopping, to the farmer's market, and to Red Rocks. They spoiled you with attention and cute outfits.

The older you get, the more I think about your future. I want so much for you, but more than anything, I want you to be happy. I want you to enjoy life and be the kind of person that radiates happiness and positive energy. Judging by your constant smiles and endless giggles, I'd say you're well on your way to becoming this person. We love you, Rory, more than words can say.

Going for a walk.

What? How do you think I get my skin so baby-soft?

Hanging with Daddy after a soccer game.

Your first taste of sorbet at Sweet Action. You were a fan.

Who knew baby gates could be so much fun?

Mommy's newest Craigslist find. Now you can slam your own kitchen cabinets. 

Spaghetti! And jazz hands.

At Park Burger with your great-aunts.

But first, let me take a selfie. 

Is It Okay That I'm Not Okay With This?

As of late I've seen several links flooding my Facebook newsfeed to articles about moms who are speaking out against the impossible body standards created by the media. These moms advocate for "real" women to be featured in magazines and on TV. They speak out against magazines that photoshop models and celebrities, and don't even get them started on the "thigh gap" trend.  Several of these women even posed nude to show what real women look like after having a baby, stretch marks and all.

Trust me, I get it. I'm still not at my pre-baby weight, and my thighs have more stretch marks than I can count. I have come to terms with the fact that my body will never be the same as it was before Rory, but when Marcos or someone else tells me to relax about my weight, because I just had a baby, I resist the urge to use Rory as an excuse. I didn't just have a baby. I had a baby 9 months ago, and that's plenty of time for me to get my body pretty darn close to pre-baby shape if I'm making healthy choices a priority. I don't expect women to leave the hospital wearing their skinny jeans or to bounce back as quickly as a Victoria's Secret model, but I do think too many women use babies as an excuse to indulge in bad habits and put off getting in shape.

It's not that I have anything against overweight people, it's just that I think displaying large, naked women all over the internet and calling them "average" sets a bad example. Yes, it's difficult to find the time to workout when you're caring for a baby, and eating well when you're busy and running on very little sleep seems next to impossible, but I don't think posing naked when you're clearly above what would be considered a "healthy weight" is any better than a too-thin model posing in the latest issue of Vogue. Both set bad examples and play a role in promoting negative body-image. A size 18 may be the average in America, but that doesn't make it okay.

I recently read a Huffington Post article encouraging moms to put on a bathing suit and enjoy pool time with their children, no matter their size. While I don't think heavy women should be ostracized or banned from the beach, I think we should step back and think about what articles like this are promoting. In short, an unhealthy lifestyle. No woman should feel ashamed to put on a bathing suit or miss out on opportunities to spend time with their children at the pool or beach, but parents are responsible for fostering healthy habits in their children, and encouraging women to "bare it all" and to be "proud" of their unfit bodies sends the message that it's acceptable to be unhealthy. I'm okay with stretch marks and saggy boobs...but not 40 inch waists.

Balance is key. I don't think it's healthy for young girls to flip through magazines and see only bone-thin models, but I also don't want my daughter growing up thinking it's okay to be 30 pounds overweight. I want Rory to understand the importance of leading an active lifestyle and making healthy food choices. And not so that she can look good in her bathing suit. I want her to feel fit and confident and strong. So, even though I'm also suffering from post-baby chub, you won't see me jumping on the bandwagon and supporting the "real body" movement. Let's focus more on promoting a healthy lifestyle and less on shock value. A woman's body is a beautiful thing, no matter the size, but we seem to have forgotten that size is an indicator of health.

Rory Vs. The Dish Towel

There's a war raging at our house, y'all. And even though it doesn't even come close to what's happening between Isreal and Gaza, I'm a bit worried. In order for you to truly understand the ins and outs of this fight and decide who's side you're on (No Swiss allowed), you will need a little background information.

Around the time that Rory started to crawl and stand up, she became obsessed with the stove. (I know.) This isn't really a problem because as I've said before, I don't really do much cooking.
Like the rest of America/the world, we always leave a dish towel hanging from the oven handle for hand drying and quick clean ups.

For some reason, Rory cannot stand to see the dish towel hanging from the oven handle. I first noticed it when she would crawl around the kitchen while I put the dishes away in the morning. This wasn't too surprising considering the dish towel was directly in her line of vision, taunting her, and basically begging to be pulled down. She would pull it down, I would put it back, and she would pull it down again. Typical baby behavior.

But it didn't stop there. One afternoon I noticed Rory crawling all the way from the living room to the kitchen just to pull the dish towel down. Once it was on the floor (it's rightful place, apparently), she crawled back to the living room and continued to carry out her important business of sticking plastic blocks in her mouth.

This bordered on odd behavior, so I hung the dish towel back up and waited. As soon as Rory noticed that the towel was hanging back up, she crawled back into the kitchen just to pull it down again. Okaaaay. 

Over the next few days, I did some more experimenting. I hung up various colored and textured towels, but no matter what the towel looked like or felt like, it obviously belonged on the floor.

Eventually, I gave up and began putting the towel on the counter where Rory couldn't reach it, but then Rory learned how to open up the kitchen cabinets, and I quickly discovered that her favorite cabinet (second only to the liquor cabinet) is the cabinet under the sink, which so happens to be where I store, you guessed it...the dish towels.

One day I came into the kitchen from the laundry room to find that Rory had strewn the clean dish towels all over the kitchen floor. Everything else remained untouched. Apparently she doesn't have beef with the sponges.

Over the last week, Rory and the dish towel seem to have come to an agreement. She only pulls down the towel when she's in the kitchen and wants to pull up on the stove. (I know.) Otherwise, they leave each other alone. Which begs the question...If a 9-month-old and an inanimate object can agree on a cease-fire, why can't Israel and Gaza?

August 4, 2014

This day will forever be remembered as the day that Rory slept past 5:30 am. I would like to thank my aunts, Kelly and Mary, for tiring Rory out during their visit and making this day possible.

Note the time. I promise her eyes are closed.