Happy Leap Day

Happy Leap Day everyone.  The mystical February 29th is once again upon us. 

For most of us today is just an extra day in February that doesn't much affect our day-to-day lives.  But, for a rare few, it's a VERY special day.  Those few include Ja Rule and Antonio Sabato Jr.  What could these two characters possibly have in common?  Today, February 29, is their birthday.

Being born on leap day can cut both ways.  On the positive side, when your actual birthday rolls around it is far more special than the average once-a-year-birthday.  On the negative side, in the non-leap years you're forced to choose a date other than your birthday to celebrate.  There's probably something a bit lackluster about celebrating your February 29th birthday on February 28 or March 1.

I wonder if more women schedule c-sections for February 29 than the average day?  Or is it a day to avoid?  And now for some Ja Rule...

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Tom Petty and those Heartbreakers said it best:

Making the decision to try to get pregnant is HUGE.  For some, it's a decision that was made a long time ago, but other factors (and parties) had to get on board.  For others, it's a decision that came after a lot of thinking and waiting and considering and waiting and more thinking.  In either case, once this HUGE decision is made it's then time to go ahead and get pregnant.

Whether trying to get pregnant means casually pulling the goalie or purchasing an ovulation test kit and creating spreadsheets, it's impossible to know when it actually happens.  The word "it" in that prior sentence does not stand for "sex"...you know when sex happens.  Rather, it stands for moment that one actually becomes pregnant (fertilization then implantation... look it up), which is impossible to determine without some sophisticated medical equipment.  And so, whether your approach is laid back or full throttle, there will be a period of waiting to see whether you get your period, or not.

When you've made that decision that it's go time, that you're ready to get pregnant, that you're as ready as you'll ever be to become a parent...waiting can be hard.  It can be excruciating.  Typically it's two weeks between the day that a woman can get pregnant (ovulation) and the day that a woman should get her period (menstruation...I had to write it).  Even if a woman's cycle is a little unpredictable, it's still about two weeks before most pregnancy tests will give an accurate reading.

Thank you Wikipedia for this helpful chart.  

Taking a pregnancy test before the two week mark, while tempting, isn't a great option.  The results are not necessarily accurate, which will lead to waiting another few days to retest while coping with potentially false information in the meantime.  So, if you have to wait, how can you make it a little less hard?  In true Family Feud style, I've polled a bunch of ladies and the number one answer on the board is "Stay Busy".  Fill your social calendar.  Start (and finish?) a new TV series, I recommend Homeland.  Bake yourself, your friends, your co-workers some cookies.  Learn to knit.  Do anything that will take your mind off waiting and do it constantly until the waiting is over.  An idle mind is the devil's workshop (it's a proverb of some sort), so keep your mind full of thoughts other than "how much longer do I have to wait?!".

A New Top 1,000 List (seriously)

Yesterday I gave my Top 20 list of the most popular girl names from 2010.  The list was based on the social security administration's statistics, but lumped all spellings of the same name together.  Today, I'm ready to discuss my Top 20 list and give you the full and newly calculated Top 1,000 girl name list.  Technically, it's not 1,000 names because after combining all the different spellings of the same name (Haley, Hayleigh, Hailey...etc.) the list was shortened to a mere 672.

First, how interesting is it that Isabella wasn't the most popular girl name of 2010?  Since May, we all (admit it) whole-heartedly believed that Twilight's Isabella Swan was an unmatched pop culture phenomenon.  Little did we know that all the Sofias and Sophias were the real dominating force.  Actually, the percentages were very close between the Top 2 names: 1.3784% of girls born in 2010 were named Sophia/Sofia and 1.3121% of girls born in 2010 were named Isabella/Izabella/Isabela.  Meaning, we can still credit Stefenie Meyer and Kristen Stewart for programming our brains enchanting our socks off.

The purpose behind this wildly tedious project was to find the true percentage of the population that chose each name, regardless of how each member of the population decided to spell it.  By combining the multiple spellings, the percentages for many names increased.  But, even the increased percentages didn't come close to the percentages of the most popular names from 100 years ago.  In comparing the newly calculated 2010 stats to those from 1910, the difference is still glaring.  The top name in 1910 (Mary) boasted %5.4454 of the little lady population.  All the Top 10 names claimed over 1% of the population in 1910.  Last year, only Sophia and Isabella beat the 1% mark.

That's a lot of math...maybe a visual aid will help?

Top girl name 2010 = SOPHIA (1.3121%)

versus

Top girl name 1910 = MARY (%5.4454)

another visual aid:

(Sophia Loren)

versus

(Mary J. Blige)

Popularity really isn't what it used to be when it comes to girl baby names.  A hundred years ago nearly 20% of the girls born were named one of the Top 10 girl names.  Last year, less than 10% of the girls born were named one of the Top 10 girl names.  Relatively speaking, Mary was a more popular name in 1910 than Sophia was in 2010 even though both were the most popular name of their year.

Next up: boy names.  By "next up" I mean in the next few days weeks.

Below is my newly calculated Top 672 girl names.  Like yesterday, where I found more than one spelling for the name, the most popular spelling is capitalized and the alternative spellings follow in order of popularity.

1. SOPHIA - Sofia
2. ISABELLA - Izabella, Isabela
3. OLIVIA - Alivia, Alyvia
4. CHLOE - Khloe, Kloe
5. EMMA
6. EMILY - Emely, Emilee, Emmalee, Emilie
7. MADISON - Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson
8. AVA - Avah
9. ABIGAIL - Abagail, Abbigail, Abigale
10. HALEY - Hailey, Haylee, Hayley, Haleigh, Hailee, Haylie, Hayleigh
11. ADDISON - Addysin, Addyson
12. ZOE - Zoey, Zoie
13. LILY - Lilly, Lillie
14. RILEY - Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie
15. LAYLA - Laila, Lailah, Leyla, Leila, Leilah
16. MIA - Miah
17. NATALIE - Nataly, Nathalie, Natalee, Nathaly
18. ELIZABETH - Elisabeth
19. KAYLEE - Kayleigh, Kailey, Kaylie, Caylee, Kaleigh, Kailee
20. KAITLYN - Katelyn, Caitlyn, Katelynn, Caitlin, Kaitlin, Kaitlynn
21. ELLA
22. ALLISON - Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson
23. BRIANNA - Briana, Breanna, Bryanna
24. MAKAYLA - Mikayla, Michaela, Mikaela, Mckayla, Micaela
25. ARIANNA - Ariana, Aryanna, Aryana
26. SARAH - Sara
27. PEYTON - Payton, Payten
28. KYLIE - Kylee, Kyleigh, Kiley
29. AALIYAH - Aliyah, Aliya, Aleah, Aleigha, Alia
30. ALEXIS - Alexus
31. SAMANTHA
32. BROOKLYN - Brooklynn
33. MADELYN - Madeleine, Madilyn, Madalyn, Madelynn, Madalynn, Madilynn
34. GABRIELLA - Gabriela
35. MACKENZIE - Mckenzie, Makenzie
36. JASMINE - Jazmin, Jazmine, Jasmin, Jazmyn
37. LEAH - Lia, Lea
38. MAYA - Mya, Maia, Myah
39. ANNA - Ana
40. ALYSSA - Alisa, Alissa
41. HANNAH - Hanna, Hana
42. GRACE
43. AUBREY - Aubree, Aubrie
44. AVERY - Averie, Averi
45. LILLIAN
46. KATHERINE - Catherine, Kathryn
47. ASHLEY - Ashlee
48. EVELYN - Evelynn, Evelin
49. SAVANNAH - Savanna, Savanah
50. NEVAEH
51. VICTORIA
52. TAYLOR
53. ISABELLE - Isabel, Isabell
54. JOCELYN - Joselyn, Joslyn, Jocelynn
55. CAMILA - Kamila, Camilla
56. AMELIA
57. CHARLOTTE
58. CLAIRE - Clare
59. LILIANA - Lilliana, Lilyana, Lilianna, Lillianna, Lilyanna
60. BELLA
61. KAYLA
62. LAUREN - Lauryn
63. ALEXA
64. SYDNEY - Sidney, Sydnee
65. AUDREY
66. JORDYN - Jordan, Jordynn
67. BAILEY - Baylee, Bailee
68. JULIANA - Julianna, Giuliana
69. JULIA
70. GIANNA - Giana
71. SOPHIE
72. JADA - Jayda, Jaida
73. MELANIE - Melany
74. KAELYN - Kaylin, Kailyn, Kaylynn, Kaylyn, Kaylen, Cailyn, Kaelynn
75. ADRIANA - Adrianna
76. CARLY - Karlee, Carley, Carlee, Carlie, Karly, Carleigh, Karli
77. DESTINY - Destinee
78. MORGAN
79. ALEXANDRA
80. LONDON - Londyn
81. KIMBERLY
82. MOLLY - Mollie
83. MACI - Macy, Macie, Macey
84. BROOKE
85. NATALIA - Natalya, Nathalia
86. TRINITY
87. FAITH
88. CADENCE - Kaydence, Kadence, Caydence
89. LUCY
90. MADELINE
91. ANDREA
92. NAOMI - Noemi
93. ADALYN - Adalynn, Addilyn, Adelyn, Adelynn
94. AUTUMN
95. SCARLETT - Scarlet
96. MARIAH - Miriyah
97. SERENITY
98. KENNEDY -  Kennedi
99. STELLA
100. MARIA
101. RACHEL - Rachael
102. CAROLINE
103. GENESIS
104. EVA
105. ASHLYN - Ashlynn
106. JESSICA
107. DANIELA - Daniella
108. ANGELINA
109. VALERIA
110. JAELYN - Jaylynn, Jaelynn, Jaylin, Jaylyn, Jaylen
111. GABRIELLE
112. ANNABELLE - Annabel
113. JADE - Jayde
114. RUBY -  Rubi
115. REBECCA - Rebekah
116. CALLIE - Cali, Kali, Kallie
117. JAYDEN - Jadyn, Jaiden, Jaden, Jaidyn
118. NORA - Norah
119. PAIGE
120. CAMERON - Kamryn, Camryn
121. LILA - Lilah
122. MEGAN - Meghan
123. ELLIE
124. VANESSA
125. KEIRA - Kiera, Kierra
126. REAGAN - Regan
127. MARY
128. ALAINA - Alayna
129. JAYLA - Jaylah
130. LYDIA
131. STEPHANIE - Stephany
132. AMY - Aimee
133. MALIA - Maleah, Maliyah, Maliah
134. ANIYAH - Aniya
135. VIVIAN - Vivienne
136. ALANA - Alanna, Alannah
137. LYLA - Lylah
138. AMAYA - Amiyah, Amiya
139. KENDALL - Kendal
140. SADIE
141. JENNIFER
142. HARPER
143. NICOLE
144. VIOLET
145. JACQUELINE - Jaqueline, Jacquelyn
146. MICHELLE
147. GISELLE - Gisselle
148. ALLIE - Ali, Ally
149. GRACIE
150. SKYLAR - Skyler
151. REESE
152. JENNA
153. ALINA - Alena, Aleena
154. PIPER
155. CHRISTINA - Kristina, Cristina
156. ELIANA - Elianna
157. LESLIE - Lesly
158. VALERIE
159. ELISE - Elyse
160. CHARLIE - Charlee, Charley, Charli, Charleigh
161. ARIEL - Arielle
162. DAISY
163. CHEYENNE - Cheyanne, Shyanne
164. VALENTINA
165. JULIET - Juliette
166. SIENNA - Siena
167. KIRA - Kyra
168. CASSIDY - Kassidy
169. LEXI - Lexie
170. MELISSA
171. MARLEY - Marlee
172. ANGELA
173. KATIE
174. HAYDEN
175. JANIYAH - Janiya, Janiah
176. ELENA
177. SUMMER
178. MARISSA - Marisa
179. ELEANOR
180. MAKENNA - Makena
181. CLARA
182. JILLIAN
183. ALICE
184. ALICIA - Alisha
185. ABBY - Abbey, Abbie
186. MIRANDA
187. MILEY - Mylee
188. EDEN
189. MARGARET
190. SHELBY
191. JOSEPHINE
192. DELILAH
193. KELSEY - Kelsie
194. KINLEY - Kynlee
195. AMANDA
196. AYANA - Aiyana, Ayanna, Aiyanna
197. DIANA
198. BRIELLE
199. ANGEL
200. DANIELLE
201. TEAGAN - Tegan
202. KARA - Cara
203. CECILIA - Cecelia
204. MELODY
205. KYLA - Kylah
206. PENELOPE
207. AURORA
208. MARIANA - Mariana
209. ANNABELLA - Anabella
210. CASSANDRA - Kassandra
211. Laura - Lara
212. ALEXANDRIA
213. KENDRA
214. DELANEY
215. KATE
216. MILA - Myla
217. ERICA - Erika
218. LOLA
219. TALIA - Taliyah, Thalia
220. ERIN
221. HADLEY
222. SIERRA
223. SABRINA
224. TESSA
225. CHELSEA
226. ANYA - Anaya
227. AMBER
228. BRYLEE - Briley, Bryleigh
229. HEIDI - Heidy
230. MAGGIE
231. CRYSTAL - Krystal
232. KARINA - Carina
233. MCKENNA
234. COURTNEY - Kourtney
235. KARLA - Carla
236. PAISLEY
237. DANICA - Danika
238. ELIZA
239. TIANA - Tianna
240. ALEXIA
241. LINDSEY - Lindsay
242. EMERSON - Emersyn
243. HOPE
244. KAREN
245. NADIA
246. ALONDRA
247. HARMONY
248. QUINN
249. NYLAH - Nylah
250. FIONA
251. KAIA - Kaiya, Kaya
252. JAZLYN - Jazlynn
253. JOSIE
254. EMILIA - Emelia
255. ZARIAH - Zaria, Zariyah
256. HAZEL
257. LUCIA
258. DANNA
259. ESTHER
260. LELIANI
261. REYNA - Raina, Rayna, Reina
262. FATIMA
263. XIMENA
264. CAMILLE
265. PRESLEY
266. CORA
267. ALEJANDRA
268. GENEVIEVE
269. ANNIKA - Anika
270. BIANCA
271. MALLORY
272. ESMERELDA
273. LENA - Lina
274. ARIA - Ariah
275. BRYNN
276. DAKOTA
277. JAYLEEN - Jaylene
278. WILLOW
279. VERONICA
280. ISLA
281. IVY
282. MIRIAM
283. JOANNA
284. KELLY
285. KINSLEY
286. HALLE - Hallie
287. PHOEBE
288. TIFFANY
289. EMERY
290. JOURNEY - Journee
291. LANEY - Lainey
292. CARMEN
293. IRIS
294. NINA
295. GEMMA - Jemma
296. SANIYAH - Saniya
297. ADELINE
298. HEAVEN
299. KIARA
300. GEORGIA
301. PARIS
302. GUADALUPE
303. SELENA
304. BRAELYN - Braelynn
305. EVANGELINE
306. LIANA - Leanna
307. TATUM
308. ROSE
309. AUDRINA
310. FERNANDA
311. LUNA
312. SASHA
313. SAGE - Saige
314. ANGELICA
315. LORELEI - Lorelai
316. RUTH
317. AYLA
318. ANABELLE - Anabel
319. AINSLEY
320. YARETZI
321. RAEGAN
322. ATHENA
323. MONICA
324. TATIANA
325. GRACELYN - Gracelynn
326. ANASTASIA
327. NOELLE
328. JULISSA
329. BETHANY
330. IMANI
331. KENZIE
332. RAELYNN - Raelyn
333. JAMIE
334. APRIL
335. YASMIN - Yazmin
336. CYNTHIA
337. ALESSANDRA
338. JANE
339. CASEY - Kasey
340. ARABELLA
341. MIRIAM - Maryam
342. NAYELI
343. CAROLINA
344. JULIE
345. GIA
346. JANELLE
347. ANNIE
348. ELAINA
349. JIMENA
350. LYRIC
351. SHANIYA - Shania
352. FINLEY
353. DULCE
354. RYAN - Ryann
355. ANNE - Ann
356. ITZEL
357. HOLLY
358. ANGIE
359. ELLE
360. ESTRELLA
361. ELLIANA
362. SARAI
363. BRENDA
364. BRITTANY
365. HARLEY
366. DAHLIA - Dalia
367. ADELAIDE
368. HELEN
369. KARISSA - Carissa
370. CIARA
371. JOHANNA
372. LACEY
373. SHAYLA
374. BRIDGET
375. TERESA - Theresa
376. LILIAN
377. PAOLA
378. SERENA
379. CELESTE
380. TENLEY
381. NATASHA
382. AMARI
383. BRISA
384. DANA
385. PARKER
386. AILEEN
387. NIA
388. BRENNA
389. KIERSTEN - Kirsten
390. DESIREE
391. JALIYAH
392. ANAHI
393. DAYANA
394. KAYDEN
395. LANA
396. LUCILLE
397. IVANNA - Ivana
398. LOGAN
399. VIVIANA
400. JOY
401. PRISCILLA
402. DAPHNE
403. DENISE
404. SKYE
405. ROWAN
406. FRANCESCA
407. ELISA
408. AMIRA
409. LIZBETH
410. KENLEY
411. KIMORA
412. GLORIA
413. MELINA
414. BRYNLEE
415. LIBERTY
416. ARACELI - Aracely
417. CLAUDIA
418. MIRA - Myra
419. SANDRA
420. JAYCEE
421. NANCY
422. MIRACLE
423. ANNALISE
424. AZARIA - Azariah
425. CINDY
426. MARISOL
427. YARELI
428. ELOISE
429. ASIA
430. HELENA
431. MAEVE
432. JUSTICE
433. WHITNEY
434. OLIVE
435. MARILYN
436. CLARISSA
437. FARRAH
438. ADA
439. AMANI
440. JANESSA
441. SYLVIA
442. MCKINLEY
443. SKYLA
444. BRISTOL
445. GWENDOLYN
446. KALIYAH
447. ROSA
448. TORI
449. AYLIN
450. DYLAN
451. KRISTEN
452. MARIE
453. KIANA
454. RIHANNA
455. WENDY
456. REGINA
457. EVE
458. ROSALIE
459. SLOANE
460. AMYA
461. KATHLEEN
462. JUNE
463. ASPEN
464. ELSA
465. PERLA
466. MEREDITH
467. RAQUEL
468. SAMARA
469. RAVEN
470. VIRGINIA
471. JAYLEE
472. PATRICIA
473. SHERLYN
474. SHILOH
475. ISIS
476. LINDA
477. ANGELIQUE
478. PAITYN
479. ANSLEY
480. DIAMOND
481. MARINA
482. TABITHA
483. SELAH
484. ELSIE
485. LEIGHTON
486. HAVEN
487. AMARA
488. ARELY
489. SARIAH
490. AMERICA
491. BRINLEY
492. TARYN
493. MILAN
494. GRETA
495. MERCEDES
496. PHOENIX
497. CHRISTINE
498. ELLEN
499. VERA
500. TARAJI
501. KEYLA
502. SIMONE
503. AMELIE
504. AISHA
505. CATALINA
506. HEATHER
507. SHANNON
508. JESSIE
509. ZION
510. LUCIANA
511. ADRIENNE
512. IRENE
513. YESENIA
514. PALOMA
515. JANAE
516. JOLIE
517. AMINA
518. EVIE
519. BARBARA
520. MARTHA
521. ABRIL
522. DEANNA
523. ALANI
524. KENYA
525. SONIA
526. ZARA
527. LISA
528. ROSEMARY
529. PAULINA
530. ELIN
531. ARIELLA
532. CORINNE
533. JAKAYLA
534. CHAYA
535. CAROLYN
536. CELIA
537. EMMALYN
538. LUZ
539. ZANIYAH
540. ILIANA
541. GIADA
542. CHERISH
543. GIOVANNA
544. CAMPBELL
545. LARISSA
546. FELICITY
547. JULIANNE
548. TAMIA
549. INGRID
550. YOSELIN
551. BRIA
552. DEBORAH
553. HARLOW
554. TARA
555. FRANCES
556. JENNY
557. SAWYER
558. MORIAH
559. RYLAN
560. SANAA
561. YARITZA
562. SUSAN
563. LIBBY
564. ELAINE
565. MATILDA
566. PATIENCE
567. ANALIA
568. SHARON
569. ALIANA
570. MARITZA
571. TESS
572. KARSYN
573. CHANEL
574. ARMANI
575. AZUL
576. CHANA
577. PAULA
578. EDITH
579. ALIZA
580. AMIRAH
581. EMBER
582. LIVIA
583. LEIA
584. AKIRA
585. BEATRICE
586. EILEEN
587. IRELAND
588. KENNA
589. HADASSAH
590. DEMI
591. MALAYA
592. MICAH
593. ALAYAH
594. ALMA
595. ANGELINE
596. AYLEEN
597. CHARITY
598. NOLA
599. MAYRA
600. BELEN
601. BELINDA
602. BREE
603. KATRINA
604. MARA
605. MILLIE
606. RENEE
607. JOYCE
608. KYNDALL
609. LILIA
610. SHYLA
611. JUDITH
612. MEADOW
613. SALMA
614. TANIA
615. NEVEAH
616. RAYNE
617. SARAHI
618. BRIELLA
619. JANET
620. LANIYAH
621. STACY
622. KARMA
623. LIZETH
624. MARLENE
625. PRINCESS
626. RIYA
627. DOMINIQUE
628. ADELE
629. BRITNEY
630. ADELINA
631. DIYA
632. ESME
633. KAYLEEN
634. DIXIE
635. ROSELYN
636. YAMILET
637. ARYA
638. DAMARIS
639. JEWEL
640. MATTIE
641. YAMILETH
642. EMMY
643. AUDRIANA
644. ESPERANZA
645. JAMYA
646. KINSEY
647. KAI
648. PRECIOUS
649. KIMBER
650. LORENA
651. MINA
652. PEARL
653. WILLA
654. JASLENE
655. JOLENE
656. KAIRI
657. RIVER
658. SHAYLEE
659. INDIA
660. MILAGROS
661. ZURI
662. AMIAH
663. DEVYN
664. DONNA
665. MAE
666. PAMELA
667. XIOMARA
668. LEONA
669. LILITH
670. ALAYSIA
671. VIOLETA
672. DANIA

Lesson learned: the silent "h" is almost always the less common spelling.  Other lesson learned: this was the most difficult project I have undertaken in the name of Next Stop Baby.  So, when I wrote earlier that you could expect the boy name equivalent in weeks, make that months...

What did I miss?  Did I lump any names that you would have kept separate?  Should I have lumped more names together?

Rockin My Baby Stella...ella...ella

I am tone deaf.  Not quite William Hung tone deaf.  But relatively close.  And yet, I have dreams of soothing my imagined bundle of joy each night with a whispered lullabye.  Or more like multiple times each night...and day.

What do you think William Hung sings to his baby?  Does William Hung have child?  I'm too embarrassed to google the phrase "does William Hung have a child?" and find out.  Watch THIS while thinking about it and let me know if you have an answer to either of these important questions.

Singing to babies is standard parent pratice.  Lullabyes are a whole category of music dedicated to little ones.  Singing about babies is also quite popular.  Sweet Baby James, to name one.  

Many a baby has been named after a song, including a few well known babies.  Moses Martin was named after a song that Chris Martin wrote for Gwyneth Paltrow.  Jude Law's namesake is the Beatles' classic "Hey Jude."  The 1951 Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon made famous the song "They Call the Wind Mariah" and Mariah Carey's parents found inspiration to name their future daughter.  Unlike the parents of Jude and Mariah, I don't think I or we (I suppose my husband should be included in this decision) have been that inspired by a single song.  I love dancing to Michael Jackson music, but I don't intend to be the proud mother of a Billie Jean.  

So, even though it would be fitting to sing "Brandy" (by Looking Glass) to my daughter Brandy, a less obvious match will have to do.  And by letting go of the apropo aspect, I could choose a song that I love and that makes sense to the parent-child relationship.  Let's face it, the song Brandy leaves a little to be desired in terms of lullabye substance ("Brandy, you're a fine girl, what a good wife you would be, but my life, my love and my lady, is the sea").  

With this in mind I came up with the part disturbing part genius idea of singing Umbrella, by Rihanna, to my future daughter, Stella.  Taking a slight lyrical liberty, of course.  

Now that it's raining more than ever

Know that we'll still have each other

You can stand under my umbrella

Rocking my baby Stella

Ella...Ella...ay...ay...ay

Rockin my baby Stella

Ella...Ella...ay...ay...ay

Rockin my baby Stella

Back to the drawing board?