Lizzy Story, Part 2

It's been a while since I posted a Lizzy story. What's a Lizzy story you ask? Some of you will remember this post. My dear sister tends to leave long winded voice mails where she holds entire conversations - all by herself - for several minutes. This is not a rare phenomenon.

Today I received this Lizzy story, which really, is an audio comment about yesterday's post/photo shoot. Part way through her message it goes silent, but just for a few seconds before she beeps back in chatting away. In exploring ways to publish audio files without video, I also found a way to add an audio greeting to the top of my blog. It was fun to see if I could figure out the techy stuff. In any case, feel free to listen in on my hilarious and sweet sister as her love and passion for her niece and nephew shines through the airwaves.

Love ya Liz, but don't teach little Emma your ways!

And now, since I'm doing dorky techy things, I'm off to research custom built navigation bars. Anyone have any tips? (Renee, I'm thinking of you)

Valentine Photo Shoot

We played photo shoot at home today.

Here are my favorite two shots.



I couldn't help but play with my blog photo header as well. I also have a cute Valentine's Day card, but I'm saving that one for later.

Way to Go Lilly Ledbetter!

(from MomsRising.org) About the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: Lilly Ledbetter, a manager at Goodyear Tires, endured pay discrimination (and thus the loss of significant wages) during her 19 years of employment--just for being a woman. She won a substantial settlement in a lower court and then the the Supreme Court ruled against Ledbetter, saying that pay discrimination claims must be made within 180 days after the pay is initially set. This effectively gutted the ability to hold employers accountable when they pay women less than men--even if the discrimination continues for years. The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed into law today by President Obama reversed this bad Supreme Court decision, putting us on better ground for getting fair pay!

Did you know that right now women without children make 90 cents to a man's dollar, mothers make 73 cents, and single moms make only about 60 cents to a man's dollar? We've got a long way to go for equal pay for women, but today was a great step forward.

"Thank you for working so hard on this bill to close the loophole created by my Supreme Court case last year. Today is a historic day in the fight for equal pay, and even though my bill passed there is so much work to do. I'm going to keep up this fight and I hope you will join me. Let's keep up the good work ladies! Together we can win equal pay." --Lilly Ledbetter

And thank you Lilly!

Sit, Walk, Run, Win, Fly

I am struck once again by the enormity of the election of the person, Barack Obama (putting aside politics for a moment). Discussions are happening everywhere about the impact of having an African American president. I don't consider myself a writer. Its been written about - and better - elsewhere. However, I am one of millions who has been changed and inspired by what has happened.

Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's famous words, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" speaks not of evolving to a place in our society where we are all 'color blind.' It’s about seeing the whole person without passing judgment based on our preconceived ideas regarding color. Equality isn't about making everyone the same. It’s about equality of value.

Recognizing Obama's color is important because in acknowledging it, we honor the significant history of an entire group of people that goes along with it. The oppression, violence, racism, hatred, suffering, and hard work experienced by African Americans is recognized and remembered.

I can only speculate on the impact this is having on people of color. Overnight, a whole group was raised up. Ideas of self worth and identity have been shifted. I think specifically of the generation of children growing up right now. Of African American boys and girls who have the first family to look to, to dream their own dreams. It’s not just Barack that is making an impact. Michelle's strength, grace, and comfort in her own body inspires me. Their girls bring with them great hope and will be a joy to watch.

Racism isn't over. A lot of work still needs to be done and I hope we never stop talking about this. I want to read about the studies done years later on the impact Barack and his family has made, and not just in our own country. I believe the effects will extend beyond those in the minority group of African Americans but to other minority groups as well. People of other colors, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, and different abilities are given hope to dream bigger dreams. Because it’s about striving for equality for all while embracing our differences and honoring the history that comes with them. I have a dream that one day Sophie will not be judged by her diagnosis or the shape of her eyes but by the content of her character. It is possible and there is much work to be done.

Rosa Sat so Martin could Walk. Martin Walked. So Barack could Run. Barack Ran. He Ran and he Won so all our children could Fly. Thank you Libbey for sending me this simple but powerful song.

Valentine Layout

Now that this site is back up and running, I gave my blog a new (free) background in honor of St. Valentine's Day. I've had some of my Valentine decorations up at home for a week, so no, its not too early. This is way too much fun. The hardest part was picking from the many choices. I plan to learn to build my own layouts, but for now, this is a great solution.

Wordless Wednesday

What's in a name?

Mark says that it is my job to think up names for Maybe the May Baby, and his job to veto them. So far he's done a pretty good job shooting my suggestions down. For the name to fit in with Alexander and Sophia, it must be a strong, old/ancient (perhaps even Biblical) name. I don't have a preference for length or letters that it must start with. To have a good name meaning or famous people in history is a plus, but not a deal breaker.

My favorite two are Elizabeth and Katherine. Just think of the gazillion nicknames that she can choose from if she so desires? However, these are the names of my 2 younger sisters. So, according to Mark, they are currently used names and are out.

The name we agree on the most is Heleana or Helena (Hel-A-nuh, not Helen-uh). Think of the beauty of Helen of Troy, or Saint Helena, the mother to Emperor Constantine the Great (first Christian Roman Emperor) who is credited with finding the relics of the true cross. Nicknames could be Lanie or Lana (L-A-nuh) but not necessarily Helen (after all Alexander is Alexander, not Alex). It means sun ray or shining light. To say the name you have to exhale the Hel part (breathy) and the rest is melodic and pretty.

I also like Magdalene but Mark prefers the version Madeline, which is pretty good too. Maddy, Maggie, whichever would be fine. Sarah (previously Sarai before she and Abram had name changes in the Old Testament) is also good, but is already a cousin's name. Kennedy is good too, but is not really ancient enough. Still, they're on the list.

So, do you have a suggestion for a name that might work for this little girl? Maybe just isn't cutting it anymore. I've looked through baby name books and searched on line until I can't see. Leave a comment but please refrain from telling me why you DON'T like the names on our list.

Oh and Mark's only contributions so far have been Nicole, Amabo, and Seven. Help!