Uh Oh

Bebe's learned to climbed

Baby Naming Backlash?

I read an interesting article about baby names today.  A year ago, I was all over baby naming websites, books, lists, and the like seeing that little bit was on her way.  We had basically had her name picked before I even got pregnant, but that didn't stop me from the fun of second guessing myself.  There are even neat, little baby naming polls that you can generate and post on things like blogs or facebook or to just email out to family and friends.  I love baby names; there are just so many good ones out there.  There are, however, those that I loathe.  Interestingly enough, some of those names made the most hated list.  I think burnout plays its part in getting names on this list.  The "Mc-names" of the nineties really got under my skin, Mackayla, McKenna, McDonald's.  Eh?  Too, I find myself frustrated with the shift of once masculine names toward the feminine.  My husband and I both liked Sidney Alexander for a boy, but most of my friends frowned at that saying it was a girl name.  We eventually ruled it out, not for my friends' comments, rather the acronym "S.A.D."  As much as I loved the name, I couldn't imagine having that looming over our child's head : ) 

It's interesting to see the differences in the styles of our daughters' names.  One is not very common and the other's is a family name, very old-timey, but making a shift back up the list.  I find myself drawn to looking back through the family tree to pull inspiration.  I love names that have been around awhile...not sure that we will ever have another child, but I'm always playing around with names.

Here are some that I like:

Boys                   Girls
James                 Jane
Emery                Hazel
Alexander          Elizabeth
Thomas             Camillia
Davis                 Evelyn
Evan                 Stella
Maxim               Rose

Five of the boy names and two of the girl names are family names.  I used up two family names (first and middle) for our baby girl so the pickins are getting slim on family names for a daughter. 

One thing that I discovered that I thought was neat was the many Elizabeths in my family because the women named their daughters after themselves.  Kuddos to them.  Women hardly ever pass down their own names, but men do all of the time.  On a similar note, my grandma told me that it was common for women's maiden names to be included as their child's middle name back in the day.  Too bad that tradition has faded, I liked it a lot, too. 

Are there any traditions in naming that you like/dislike?  Were there any traditions that you liked, but couldn't follow because they clashed with your new last name?

What say ye?

Parenting advice is a tricky topic.  Often, it comes unsolicited.  Well intended, I'm sure, but unwanted none the less.  Then, there are times that leave a parent wondering "What the heck?!", and "what should I do?"

photo found on google images..not mine.

Today would be one of those days.  Baby has been teething, lately.  She got her bottom two months ago and, now, it's the top teeth's turn to work their way down.  Her gums have been swollen for weeks and the center top two finally broke through over the weekend.  We've felt the jagged edges of the new pearly whites and gushed to anyone who would listen, but this morning something unexpected happened.

It sounds like mon petit bebe, after just getting her teeth, has promptly started grinding them.  Does anyone have experience with this?  How did she know how to grit her teeth together after only having them for a day?  I'm concerned because I don't want her to do any damage before they've even fully come down.

When she's making the atrocious sound I try to distract her with something to get her mind off of what she's doing, but eek, this could get tough.

Thoughts welcome.

Have a wonderful MLK Day!

The Kitchen Witch

Recipe for Sleep

For bebe, the recipe for sleep goes a little something like this:

100 sways back and forth
259 booty pats
Soothing Sounds projector
1 night time bottle
a teeny burp
1 dry diaper
momma's bosum
1 cuddly blankie
25 back pats
and complete and utter silence once asleep because if she hears you backing out of the room, you have to start all over again.

Works every time : )  Of course, cuddling Daddy on the couch with the TV blaring seems to do the trick, too! ; )

New! Vintage Baby Gift Registry at The Baby Gardner

New! Vintage Baby Gift Registry at The Baby Gardner

One of my favorite baby sites. Cool stuff at her store, too!