Until We Meet Again

Guess Who.

What is soft and pink and fuzzy all over and usually smells like spit-up?


What hides lint between its toes and cheese between its chins?


What smiles and squawks and sings when it's awake and smiles and grunts and moans when it's asleep?

And speaking of sleep: what has slept through the night twice?

Yep, it's me, Matilda!

Thank you, Babywise.

"Uh... is that a family name?"

How do you know when someone doesn't like your kid's name? I'll tell you how, now that I'm the expert on the subject. Dislike of a name can be manifest in many ways. Nonverbal disapproval usually comes in the form of a look, a wrinkling of the nose, the raise of an eyebrow, the absence of eye contact, the stutter or stammer followed by a compliment on the child's looks, outfit, blankie, etc. Those who venture to comment on the questionable name in question usually say something like:

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"Oh! Uh... is that a family name?" (What other excuse could there be?)
"Now... where did you come up with that name?"
"Well that's... (insert favorite euphemism here, eg. unique/unusual/different/interesting, etc.)"
"That sounds like a name westerners would pick." (Whatever that means! I shouldn't jump to conclusions--it could be a compliment!)
"Has he/she got a middle name?" "Yes, it's Beauregard/Maude." "Oh good. Then, when he/she grows up, he/she can just go by that rather than his/her first name."
"I just heard a great name for your baby. Let me think... I've forgotten it, but it's the perfect name for your baby!" (Never mind that said baby was born and named a month ago...)

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Or, if they're really tactless, yet trying to maintain some semblance of propriety, they'll talk to the victim rather than the victim's parents (which is safer since the babe assumedly can't yet understand any dialect other than baby talk, right?):

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"Where did your parents get your name???"
"What were they thinking when they named you _______?"
"Oh well, I love you anyway!"

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You're probably wondering why I am an expert on this subject? Well, because there's been about a 50/50 response to Matilda's name. Which means that the 50% who can't bring themselves to say "Oh, what a darling name!" have to figure out something else to say/do. Some of them carry it off quite gracefully and say something ambiguous like, "How sweet!" leaving it to me to determine whether they're talking about the name or the baby. But others are less subtle. And yes, believe it or not, I (or Tilly) have actually been the recipients of all of the above comments and more.

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So why did we name our firstborn Matilda Jane of all things? First of all, we happen to rather like the name! Secondly, in terms of popularity, it's currently ranked #829 in the U.S.-- right where I like it! You've heard it, so it's not made-up. Yet you probably don't know anybody else who's got it! The nicknames aren't too obnoxious. In fact, we think they're quite cute: Tilda, Tildy, Tilly, Milly (in our case, not Mattie. There are already plenty of those.) I especially like the meaning: "Its source is maht hild, an ancient Germanic name meaning mighty in battle." I'm not a stickler when it comes to names needing to have some profound meaning, but in this case, I think the meaning is pretty profound. And I have a feeling that she will be a mighty little force to be reckoned with in this world--at least, I hope so.

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So, if you don't like my baby's name, that's okay. I don't mind. Chances are I don't like your baby's either. The world is full of different people with different likes and dislikes, and that's what makes life fun! And I try to follow Miss Manners' advice and choose to "believe that everyone means well, and that if anyone seems to be doing something wrong, it is probably not from intent, but from forgetfulness, busyness, absence of mind, or illness." So people may say what they will. But I dare you to hate the name Matilda for long once you meet this little girl.

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Scratch that. I double-dog-dare you!

Missing Mima

I think few can boast of having a mom like mine. She's kind and beautiful and talented and vivacious. She's a champion talker, and it's okay because almost everything she says is either wise or entertaining. She brightens the world wherever she goes. That's why my home has been extra bright for the past ten days. And my flower beds look a lot better too!

She left this afternoon after a wonderful visit, and boy are we missing her. Chace and Tilly even tried the puppy eyes to convince her to stay.

And when that didn't work...

Inconsolable.

Pinky's First Bath!

Better pictures of the little pinky mouse next time--the lighting (among other things!) in that bathroom is atrocious, and I'm still figuring out how to use this camera...

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Another first this week: I looked out the window and what did I see? My lawn getting its first haircut (much to the relief of all our neighbors and our HOA, I'm sure!)

I guess there's just something empowering about mowing one's own lawn. Hope the novelty never wears off, Honey!

Words to Live By

I picked up an old favorite the other day while feeding Tilly: Judith Martin's Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior (I don't think I'll mind this nursing every three hours business a bit! More time to read!) If you have never read this gem of a book, do. It's a delightful and edifying read, and you'll be better for it! In fact, I think it will merit a regular quoting-from in future posts. For now, here's an excerpt I particularly enjoyed:

"...As dear Erasmus said, 'It is part of the highest civility if, while never erring yourself, you ignore the errors of others.' Miss Manners prefers to believe that everyone means well, and that if anyone seems to be doing something wrong, it is probably not from intent, but from forgetfulness, busyness, absence of mind, or illness. Miss Manners may be mistaken in this now and again, but she leads a happier life for believing it."

Heaven: Week Two

Week Two of Matilda's little life brought a visit from her Auntie Mimi and cousin Sam, who is 5 1/2 months her senior. All Miriam wanted to do during her visit was remodel Tilly's room.

All Sam wanted to do was eat Tilly.

All Tilly wanted to do was make faces.

We can't believe how fast Tilly is changing. Her 2 week stats were all the same as her birth stats except that she's made back her birth weight plus 6 ounces, bringing her to a whopping 7 pounds, 8.5 ounces! She's in the 25th percentile for weight and the 75th for height. Here are some other pictures of her second week of life. I tried to narrow them down to just my favorites, but... there are lots. Get used to it!

Heaven: Week One

It's been a week since Miss Tilly came to us and we've never been happier. We just have no complaints about this girl! She is a champion eater, sleeper, squeaker and snuggler. For the past four nights she has only woken up her mama to eat twice, at about 12 and 4, and during the day she sleeps, eats, plays, sleeps, eats, plays, only meowing like a little kitten when she needs to burp or be changed! She gets more darling by the minute, and her only flaw is that she's so cute that when her mama should be sleeping, she can't bring herself to do it! All Rivka wants to do is sit there and watch her eyebrows grow and smell her sweet milky breath! This is the honeymoon, right? Here she is at 3 days old.

She loves her Papa. They just understand each other.

Yes Pa (Grandpa Mikkelsen), her index toe is longer than her big toe--the toes of a genius.

When she's not eating or sleeping, she can usually be found stretching out her loooooong arms and legs. Many words have been used to describe this girl:

-kitten (because of the way she meows whimpers when she's sad and how her little tongue licks the air when she's hungry),

-birdie (because of her skinny, boney little frame),

-puppy (because of her oversized hands and feet).

But I think the most apt description of her came from Chace, who called her his little orangutan baby because of her impressively long and lanky arms and legs and her browny-pink skin.

And, of course, her pokey head fuzz!

This is Miss Matilda at one week old.

Till next time...