Baby Names - Hot or Not?

I wouldn't say that I'm OVERLY interested in names, but I have always been curious about what people are naming their kids nowadays.  Some people actually get OBSESSED with names and it's a hobby.  For me, I just like to check the list each year to see what new names are added.

Each year, lists are published which show the most popular names so I thought I would share the most popular names so far in 2013.  I used a variety of sources and according to BabyCenter, one of the most popular pregnancy/baby sites, here are the Top 20 names (in order) :

1. Liam - Emma
2. Noah - Olivia
3. Ethan - Sophia
4. Mason - Ava
5. Jacob - Isabella
6. Jack - Mia
7. Lica - Emily
8. Jackson - Charlotte
9. Logan - Amelia
10. Aiden - Abigail
11. Benjamen - Ella
12. James - Lilly
13. William - Madison
14. Oliver - Chloe
15. Elijah - Avery
16. Alexander - Harper
17. Michael - Sophia
18. Jayden - Hannah
19. Luke - Addison
20. Daniel - Grace

Now, let's do a recap of 2012.  Some 2013 names are on the list, however, others have obviously moved down the rank and are no longer in the Top 20 today

1. Liam - Emma
2. Ethan - Olivia
3. Noah - Sophia
4. Mason - Ava
5. Jacob - Isabella
6. Jack - Mia
7. Aiden - Ella
8. Logan - Emily
9. Jackson - Lily
10. Lucas - Chloe
11. Jayden - Madison
12. William - Abigail
13. Benjamin - Amelia
14. Ryan - Charlotte
15. James - Avery
16. Michael - Harper
17. Alexander - Addison
18. Elijah - Sofia
19. Matthew - Grace
20. Daniel - Hannah

Looking at another source, the tally is a bit different, but many of the same names have similar ranks:

I know everyone has their own taste with names, but I would probably have a nameless child if  a) it came down to resorting to the Top 3 Baby Names due to lack of creativity or b) I had to make up a name.  I cannot believe some names people choose for their children that they will be stuck with forever.   I don't know what is worse - having a super trendy name that tells everyone you were born between 2005-2010 because there were ten million "Olivia's" OR having a completely made-up name that sounds like you drew syllables from a hat.   When someone had the bright idea to name their kid Aiden, it evolved.  Jayden? Cayden? Brayden? Zaden? Javen? Raven? Maven? Crayzen?   You may have not heard of all those, but trust me....they are already out there or are coming soon to a town near you.

IF I were forced to, I would be much more likely to choose a classic name, even if it happens to be popular at the time.  I don't think you can go wrong with biblical or more traditional names because you won't see Matthew, Mark, Luke or John hiding in the corner because of their made up name....it will be little baby Crayzen Elixir all because his mom wanted to name her son something "different."  Yeah, it sounds "different" alright.

Here are some popular biblical and more classic names to consider:

• Aaron - Abigail
• Adam - Anna
• Alexander - Maria
• Benjamin - Hannah
• Daniel - Catherine
• Eli - Elizabeth
• Ethan - Isabel
• Jacob - Naomi
• Jared - Mary
• Joshua - Leah
• George - Julia
• Matthew - Katherine
• Nathan - Rachel
• Noah - Rebecca
• Samuel - Sarah
• Zachary - Jane

I'm not a huge fan of the many of the above names for first names, but nearly all of them would make excellent middle names.

How about you?  What do you think will be popular in the upcoming year?

I am SO thankful that the couple names I have in mind are not in the top 20.  In scrolling down the entire Top 50 lists, I do see my favorite boy name (which I cannot disclose) towards the bottom and hopeful it will not move up the ranks too much.  The primary girl name I like (probably for a middle name) isn't on the list at all so here's to them both not becoming trendy and popular within the next couple years!

[ Bedtime ] Routine ?

I have always strongly believed babies do best with structure and I plan to enforce this in the future. In my babysitting days, it was so easy to tell those babies and kids who were in a steady routine compared to those who ran wild and didn't have any consistency - - eating dinner at random times, consuming way too much junk food, having full control of the TV and not having a bedtime routine.  Trust me when I say I could tell by their behavior if they lacked consistency in their lives.

You might think a routine is only important for older kids, but that's not true.  By having a schedule, even if it's occasionally a touch on the loose side, there are not as many surprises.  This is especially the case in when establishing a bedtime routine  (insert : trying to get a screaming, overtired baby to sleep or dealing your crabby first grader who was up until after10:30PM instead of going to sleep at 8:30PM).

I think the key to having success in establishing a routine is by starting early!  Surprise!  Literally, you can start having a routine the day baby comes home from the hospital.  By having a sleep routine, you teach baby that certain events will be followed by going to bed and they are much more observant than you think.  In time, they will know exactly what to expect because they will pick up on your cues... the fresh scent following their bath, the dimming of lights, the rocking and snuggling in the glider. They will become relaxed, physically and mentally, and will be prepared to fall asleep.

I've read over and over again that by putting baby to bed earlier, they are able to sleep better and longer.  Literally, there are 100s of blog posts where moms have sworn by this and attested that their kids stayed up until 8:30PM, when in reality their first signs of sleepiness showed at 7:30PM.  When they tried earlier bedtimes, their kids actually slept more deeply and longer the following morning.

If nursing (or giving a bottle, if that's your thing), I've always been told that feeding should always initiate the bedtime routine, not end it.  This makes sense to me because if you end the routine with nursing, baby will become dependent on the comfort of nursing to fall asleep.  Obviously I am speaking in general, as sometimes baby will want to comfort nurse, especially when teething, approaching a growth spurt or preparing for a milestone. Baby's nourishment is always most important, so you must understand growth spurts and cognitive leaps during their first few years.  With these things come increased wakefulness and fussiness and a desire to eat around the clock, be soothed and snuggled.

I believe there are some elements of a bedtime routine which if done consistently, can aide in establishing a routine you'll want to follow.  The basic steps I plan to follow are :

• bath
• nursing
• burping
• clean diaper
• sleepy clothes
• rocking and/or soothing, accompanied by a book
• room and crib

I also plan to use a sound machine, low music on the radio or a fan for some "white noise."  I don't remember having any of these things, which I honestly believe is why I am such a light sleeper and once I'm awake, I can never fall back asleep.

That's it for now.  I'm looking forward to the day when I can let others know if these steps are "tried and true."

Establishing... Family Traditions

Just like a couple must make holiday plans, a new family must also decide where to go for each holiday, when and in what sequence,  for how long and what traditions you'd like to start or continue.  Though I have no personal experience, I suspect it can be tricky adding a baby to the holiday mix and it's something you will need to discuss with your SO.  Hanging out with each others' families on the same day or on two separate days is nice, but some definite planning will need to happen beforehand so you're able to do the things you want to do as a family and so you don't drive all over creation.   Since I never grew up having any hardcore family or holiday traditions, it is something that I definitely want to do with my kids and I've thought a lot about it.  Traditions are a way to add some fun,  foster togetherness and make each year unique and more memorable.  I hope that one day we have the opportunity to establish our OWN traditions, not just do things others expect us to do around the holidays.

Thanks to Pinterest, I have a few things in mind that I would love to try and hopefully make a habit out of doing.  This post is to recap some of my ideas so I can re-visit it down the road...

Wintertime Ideas (December, January, February) :

• Go sled riding, play in the snow, or build a snowman, followed by hot chocolate atleast once
• Make snow-cream, something I've never done
• Go to the Festival of Lights at the Zoo
• Cut paper snowflakes and hang them in the house       
• Make pinecone bird feeders with peanut butter and seeds  

•  Christmas-
• IF "Elf on the Shelf" is still around, have either A) our Elf arrive on December 1st with the "First Gift of Christmas" for each kid.  In a wrapped box, bow included, have new festive PJs, popcorn, cocoa or other snacks, and a new movie to watch during the season or B) have arrive on December 1st and do the PJs/movie idea at home every Christmas Eve
• The night before Christmas, put out "Reindeer food" and cookies for Santa
• Put Christmas lights on the house.... of if C has anything to do with it, make the house look like the Griswold's
• Decorate the Christmas tree together
• The weekend before Christmas, get the kids in PJs and all ready for bed, but instead of going to bed, surprise them with a drive around the area to look at Christmas lights.  Find out where the coolest lights are ahead of time and if they're old enough to not make a mess, allow hot chocolate in the car with popcorn too
• Do a "New Year's Interview" for each kid and save them to show things they learned things they enjoyed, what they look forward to and depict their personalities.  It would be cool to look back on these        

•  Valentine's Day-
• Host a mother/daughter Valentine's Brunch
• Have an "all-red or pink" meal with family, even if it's pink eggs, strawberries, yogurt, toast with strawberry jam

Spring (March, April, May) :

• Plant a single tree for each child at the farm.  I think it would be so amazing to do this so that over time, my kids could watch it grow and mature, just like them
• Dye or decorate Easter Eggs, something I have not done in a VERY long time.  Seeing as I love hard boiled eggs and we eat lots of them, why not make them pretty?
• Go for a walk in the rain (umbrellas optional)
• Draw family chalk portraits on the sidewalk and driveway
• Play putt-putt golf
• Go watch a Memorial Day Parade to honor those who died in the armed forces, watch the people and cars, collect candy

Summer (June, July, August) :

• Pack some picnics and eat outside, even if it's just for at the park across the street.  Going to a lake, the beach or under the shaded tree at the farm would be cool too
• Go for family bike rides and walks regularly
• Make dad breakfast in bed
• Measure everyone's height at the beginning of each school year on a chart (you could also measure at the end of the year, or throughout the year)
• Eat snowcones and icecream
• Watch and/or light fireworks
• Blow bubbles
• Create a summer scavenger hunt

 Fall (September, October, November) :

• Roast marshallows and make smores
• Have movie nights in front of the fireplace
• Rake leaves into a huge pile and have a photoshoot
• Take a walk though the woods at the farm right before the leaves fall to see the beautiful colors
• God trick-or- treating
• Go to a pumpkin patch or for a hayride 
• Host a Modern (vs. Traditional) Thanksgiving
• Make or eat caramel apples

Breastfeeding 101

Throughout 2012, I've thought a lot about future plans for future baby.... You heard that right.  One of the things I've given a lot of thought to is if I plan to BF or formula feed. After talking to others and doing my research, the decision was an easy one for me: I plan to BF.  In this post, I thought I'd include my goals, expectations and some helpful tips and interesting facts that may help others decide as well.

First off, here are some of the most interesting things I've learned about Breastfeeding.

Did You Know...

• While breastfeeding is instinctual, it is also LEARNED by both Mom and baby and takes lots of practice.  
• Breastfeeding is the most normal and natural way to feed your baby, despite how society has distorted the world's view... how do you think babies were fed 100s of years ago?  We, along with many animals, are mammals and are able to produce milk for a reason
• You can expect there to be difficulties in the beginning, which is why having a good support system is absolutely essential to nursing mamas.  The more people you have encouraging and supporting you, assuring you that you're doing what's best for baby, the better
• Latch is key. All Moms can expect to experience pain and discomfort during the first few weeks of nursing - this is normal. If pain and discomfort persists, or if you have cracked and bleeding nipples, an improper latch is likely the culprit and you should try adjusting your latch and/or seeing a professional. Having an improper latch and experiencing pain and discomfort is primary reason women become frustrated and give up on nursing their babies
• Immediately after giving birth, most women question if they are producing "enough" to sustain baby since their milk is not yet in. This shouldn't be a concern since baby's stomach is super tiny when they are born and just a few drops each feeding fills them up. Your body first produces colostrum, which is very fatty and high in calories, thus all your newborn needs. As the days pass, their stomachs get gradually bigger as your body begins producing milk. It's very common for babies to do what is called "cluster feed" at the beginning - it is their way to cue your body to produce milk. Very few women are unable to produce milk
• Your milk changes over time based on baby's needs. Baby's saliva tells your breasts what kind of milk they need, which can even give them an extra boost if they are feeling sick.  How cool is that?
• Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. It's literally all your baby needs and is extremely easy for them to digest compared to formula
• Formula was created to "mimic" breastmilk but it does not contain the antibodies found in nutrient-rich breastmilk
• Many studies have shown breastfeeding contributes to a lifetime of good health and the World Health Organization currently recommends nursing to age 2
• Many who used formula may not be familiar with bottle feeding a breastfed baby. While away from baby, paced feeding is very important to ensure baby is not over or under fed
• -There are some good benefits for Mom too...not only can BF help you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight sooner (you burn around 500 calories day!), but nursing helps reduce your risk of breast and ovarian cancer later in life + it's a pretty effective form of birth control up to 6 weeks postpartum
• Bigger isn't better. Lucky for me, it's a fact that the amount of milk you produce has absolutely nothing to do with your breast size
• Nursing babies triggers the release of the hormone "oxytocin," which relaxes both you and baby
• Your body knows the difference between baby and a pump. Don't freak out of you aren't pumping much milk - it's not indicative of milk supply since baby is the expert at getting milk. In fact, most women can only express 30% of their milk
• If you feel you are not producing enough or if you need an extra boost, there are many foods you can consume to boost your supply. Popular food/drinks that are extremely effective are: oats (steel cut, not instant), coconut water, almonds, almond milk, mother's milk tea, gatorade and of course lots of water
• "Food before one is just for fun" is something I believe in.  Many slowly begin introducing solids and different textures around 6 months (generally not sooner), but nearly all of baby's nutrition should still come from breastmilk
• If a Mom quits breastfeeding early on, it's possible to "re-lactate" months down the road after having baby
• There is now a federal law that requires employers to provide a private space for nursing mothers to express and store their milk. Thankfully, my employer has established several mother's rooms at my workplace
• Many refer to expressed milk as "liquid gold" for a reason. While some women with an oversupply choose to donate to mothers who are unable to produce milk, others sell their breastmilk for up to $4 per ounce. That’s about 262 times the price of oil. Many adoptive moms choose donor breastmilk over formula for their babies, which is great!
• There is an international organization called the La Leche League that provides mother-to-mother BF support.  LLL encourages information and education and promotes a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.  When the time comes, I plan to actively attend LLL meetings and will likely visit a few times toward the end of my pregnancy so I can be around other like-minded women

While I have only touched on the surface of breastfeeding and why I think it is important, those are some very interesting things that stood out to me in my information gathering.  Though I've heard it can be very tough and painful during the first few weeks, there are so many reasons that breastfeeding is best for mom and baby and I know that if difficulties arise, "it too, shall pass."

At a later date,  I'll share some helpful pictures and charts related to breastfeeding I think are helpful.

Nursery Inspiration: Turquoise, Orange and Lime Green ?

At times, I can be one of those Pinterest fanatics. I've even created my fair share of secret boards, one of which has various nursery design elements I am in love with. Everyone is crazy about owls and chevron - and the new "cool" wall color is gray. While I could live with those things, I've always been a fan of bold prints and my favorite color has always been lime green, followed by orange and turquoise blue.   Therefore, one day of course, I'm planning on creating a one-of-a-kind room for my little one, without it being too trendy or child-like. I plan to incorporate several DIY projects into the design to save some change and and to help create a completely unique custom look I'm happy with, that won't be outgrown within 12 months.

Here are some nurseries that are my inspiration for the FUTURE room.  They can also all be found on my PINTEREST PAGE linking you to the original sources :

http://projectnursery.com/projects/kasens-nursery/

 http://heart-attack0.blogspot.com/

http://projectnursery.com/projects/grahams-bright-and-modern-nursery/

http://projectnursery.com/projects/baby-t-nursery/

http://www.chiccheapnursery.com/2011/real-rooms/childish-and-serene-nursery-featured-real-room/

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/2f/27/8a/2f278a8dcdc991c73d982cc9b28859fc.jpg

http://projectnursery.com/projects/orange-and-teal-nursery-with-dog-accents/

http://www.thelennoxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2.png



(Pinterest is a great source for ideas, but I'd also recommend you checkout projectnursery.com. There are so many great ideas on this site - it's like the Pinterest of nurseries...except you unfortunately cannot save rooms you like)

Now, let's talk about my game plan to create a fairly gender-neutral, bright and cheery space. First off, window treatments.  Many of the crib bedding sets have matching window valances, but the more I think about it, I can't justify paying $150-$350 for some cheap bedding set that comes with a comforter or quilt (that's too cute to actually use...so instead of a comforter, we'll just call it a decoration), a bumper set (these are not functional either due to being a suffocation hazard), a crib sheet, and a diaper stacker (which may or may not ever get used). Want matching valances and a mobile? Plan on forking out another ~$75 on accessories to match. No thanks. Instead, I've got 2 other options for window treatments and I don't have to spend another penny. I've got some lined, tangerine orange window panels from Pier 1 that I've been waiting to hang AND a pair of spare bright turquoise panels that are grass lined. Not one curtain option, but 2 - both of which likely fit into my ideal color scheme? Score!

Here, I thought I'd share some of the design elements I plan to incorporate into the room. I fell in love with these owl planters sold at Kirkland's. They're so multi-functional - I'm thinking about using one to hold baby socks and/or other misc items.


I picked up this ADORABLE mama and baby dog plush toy at TJM for only $5. Not only is it super adorable but it fits into my color scheme perfectly and I can already envision it sitting on a shelf until little one is big enough to play.  It's also made by Skip Hop, which I believe has the cutest toys on the market.

With the Pinterest and Etsy phenomenon, there are so many cute prints you can customize and frame.  These are fairly inexpensive and sometimes, you can even find free printables.  Please note that color schemes can be changed, but here are a few that I think are super adorb:

First Post

Just experimenting with the format

Long overdue